The Write Place

Under The Fruiting Tree: Chapter 32 – The Write Place
Under the Fruiting Tree: Novella Table of Contents – The Write Place

“Well so much for sticking around for a while,” Jason sighed in deep resignation.  “We’re going into Afghanistan.  And I’m being called up again.” Jason was standing facing the sun in his leather jacket. 

“At least we had a honeymoon,” Amanda replied. She looked at the rings on her finger, fiddling with them as the thoughts spun around in her head.  “I know it’s for a good cause.  Yet.  It hurts,” she said before looking forward to the valley.  She pulled her black jacket tight to fight the gentle fall breeze as her long hair flowed gently in the wind.

“It always does, doesn’t it?  Guess getting out has to wait.  Picking colleges, tech schools will have to wait,” Jason said, clenching his jaw slightly.  “I was considering something more stationary in the Corp like recruiting.  But now, it all has to wait.  Everything’s changed,” he added with an air of finality.

“The whole world we know.  The world we knew is gone, just like that,” Amanda said, sitting down on the bench.  She shook her head gently in disbelief.  “I mean, my cousin Robert died,” Amanda continued.  The heaviness of loss was evident in her words.  The empty yet heavy feeling of sudden grief coursed through her mind.  A grief joined by the knowledge she was far from the only one in the world wracked with it. “Second tower.  I saw it fall,” Amanda added as tears welled up in her eyes.

Sharing the thought, Jason shook his head in disbelief.  “I liked Robert.  Like him or not though. . .  This.  This is awful all around,” Jason added looking up to the sky as he attempted to take it all in. It seemed odd how the world kept on moving after it had, in a way, ended.

“Who would do such a thing?” Amanda said, looking up at Jason. He sat down next to his wife.  He leaned forward, his face twisted in a range of emotions.

“Wicked, sick people.  There are far too many of them in the world.  I look forward to reducing the number,” Jason said with a quick look back to Amanda.  

“Marine talk?” Amanda responded with a tilt of her head in amusement.

“Sincere Marine talk.  And Marine promises,” Jason affirmed before reaching an arm out and pulling her closer to himself. “Just a moment…”

“All of it changed, right?” Amanda added.  Jason nodded his head slowly.  She offered a feminine touch upon his shoulders.

“All of it.  All our plans with it,” Jason added, looking to Amanda.

“I can’t stand the thought of the danger.  I know you have to go.  I didn’t like it when you joined up.  I still don’t like it,” Amanda declared feeling the frustration in all of her being.

“You worried about me even then,” Jason asked, stating an intriguing fact rather than a question, a mixture of sorrow and satisfaction in his voice.

“Yes, and I’ll worry about you the whole time you’re gone,” Amanda said in a sad honesty.  She rubbed his shoulder both to calm him and herself.  The thoughts of what may come raced in their minds.

“I appreciate that,” he said leaning back, stifling a pained smile.  Jason put a hand on his wife’s knee.  Amanda’s hand joined his as they sat looking thoughtfully in the bright fall colors of the valley.

“Who knows what’s on the other side of this?” Amanda asked .  “If there is another side.  Can’t worry about that forever,” she said, shaking off the thought.

“Right.  The leaves are changing.  Strange as it seems, the world keeps going on,” Jason said, eyeing the tree line in the valley.  Cars drove on the roads through the valley as people went about their lives.  Children played in the park at the base of the hill.  Some on slides, some at sports.  Life continued, both the same and not the same.  

“They’re beautiful at least,” Amanda said, joining him in looking over the trees.

“And, this tree is in season,” Jason said, standing.  He  walked a few steps over to the now fruiting  tree.  Stopping at the foot of the tree, he reached up to pull a piece of fruit, he then handed the apple to Amanda.  Taking it from his hand, she took a bite.

“Forgot to eat,” She said, “Didn’t even realize I was hungry.  You want a bite?”

“Of course,” Jason answered.  Together, in that quiet moment together, they found peace in each other’s arms as they ate of the fruit. They passed the apple back and forth as they sat together watching the world around them springing to life.