PREFACE
Why? Why did my generation have to go through this war? Why do I have to watch my friends die? Why did I have to go through this pain? I didn’t just see the war… I lived it. I saw the bodies, I know the smell of gunpowder and burning flesh, and I saw my friends dead on the cold ground, but all I want to ask is…why?
Chapter 1
My always talked about how we should have a war, but I’m sure he never that his little girl would be in this war…not as a nurse or a WAAC, but as a solider. Why did I do this? Well to be quite honest, I don’t know.
I throw my shoes on and put on my coat and look at my father, “Daddy, I’m going to hang out with my friends.” He stands up and walks over and kisses my forehead, “Be safe.” He says before sitting back down in his chair. I exit the house and walk to the park near our neighborhood. I smile and wave to Nicole and Rebecca. “Lily! Over here!” Nicole waves me to the bench they’re sitting on. I’ve known Nicole and Rebecca since junior high. Now it’s my senior year and the friendship continues. I sit by them smiling, “Where’s Jessie?” I look around for him. Jessie’s one of our friends. I’ve known him all my life; our families have been friends a long time, so we’re very close.
“I don’t know,” Rachael shrugs, “we thought you knew.”
“Why should I know?” I ask crossing my arms.
“Well you’re always together, Lily. I wouldn’t be surprised if you got married to him.” Nicole nudges me playfully.
“Oh please! You guys always think that! Maybe I want to marry someone else, not Jessie!” I stand up and stare them down.
A voice clear and beautiful as the sky speaks, “what about Jessie?” I turn around to this blonde haired, tall, blue eyes boy smiling down on me.
“Umm…we were wondering where you were.” I stutter trying to cover up my marrying rant.
“Well I got this,” he hands me a velvet box, and smiles, but before you open it look at this.” He hands me a folded up piece of paper from his pocket. I open it…
Jessie Spark has been assigned to squadron 15 in the U.S army and will be deployed to Great Britain on February 13.
Thank you for your services.
“What…” I look at him, “why…what were you thinking?”
“I’m serving my country.” He spats at me flatly.
“You’re serving your death.”
“Lily, I thought you’d be happy for me.” He says disappointed by my reaction.
I stare him down, dumbfounded by his response, “well, you thought wrong. Why on earth would you think I’d be happy for you?”
“Because I thought you were my friend!” he yelled.
“Well you thought wrong.” I pout.
He walks away as I say, ‘I’m going home.” I walk away from Nicole and Rebecca, and as soon as my I touch my bed my tears overflowed. My friend, my best friend going to war…please let it be a joke please. I start to fall asleep my years still moist on my face, the gentle sound of tapping on my window…window? I jump up and look to see Jessie at my window. I open it, “what are you doing?” He crawls in and takes my hands, “lily, I didn’t mean it, you’re my best friend. I can’t lose you.”
“Let me go with you.” The words poured out of my mouth, and it was like I just stabbed him in the heart.
“Never say that again,” he looked at me, “I couldn’t live with myself if I lost you.”
“Why?” I ask looking into his eyes.
“Because I love you, Lily.”
“You do?” I freeze my mind swirling.
“Yes, but I have to go now.” He kisses my lips and smiles as he jumps out the window. I lay down, “I have to protect him, but I can’t be in the army unless…” I turn over as my head starts thinking of a brilliant plan.
“Daddy, I’m going to Nicole’s for a week.” I yell downstairs.
“Okay sweetheart!” my father yells back, before heading to work.
I then go into my older brothers room and rip his clothes of the hangers. He won’t miss these…I think to myself. My heart starting to race as I shove them in his bag; I walk down the hallway and grab a picture of my family, and shove it in the bag also. I run out the door leaving behind just a note on my bed.
I round the corner to Jessie’s house and smile as I see him on the porch swing with a small velvet box. I walk up and hear him say, “Lily would you…no, no…Lily I would like you to…no, no…Gosh!”
“Lily what?” I ask walking up the steps.
“Oh, Lily! Umm I was going to ask…uh…” he got down on one knee, “Lily would you please make me the happiest boy in the world and marry me?”
“What?” I asked sort of dazed.
“Please Lily, you’re the only girl I care for and I’m going off to war tomorrow, and I want to know your mine and safe.”
Oh no…was the only thought that entered my mind.
“Jessie can’t this wait till you get back?” I ask my tears escaping. He cradles my face in his hands, “You’re the one for me…please.”
My tears overflow as I close my eyes embracing him in a long hug. “Yes…” I look up at him, staring into his deep blue eyes.
“What?” he asked forgetting about his question.
“My answer is yes.” I say before kissing him on the lips.
He broke down sobbing as he slipped the ring on my finger. Picking me up shouting, hollering, and screaming to the world my reply.
“Write me everyday. Promise?” he whispered as we sit on the porch swing.
“Promise,” I guarantee, “what time is it?” I ask my future husband.
“Almost four.” He says kissing my forehead.
“Oh…I have to go.” I sit up and in a panic almost fall down the stairs.
“Hey! Be careful Lily!” Jessie says grabbing my arm.
“I will be. Bye.” I run downtown, where no one knows me, where no one cares.
I open the door carefully to the beauty shop. “Hello?” I call out as I walk in.
“Hi! Welcome to our shop. How may I help you?” A young girl maybe a year younger then me asked.
“Well I need my hair cut,” I freeze realizing that my hair is getting cut off, “all of it cut off…”
“Really? Why?” the girl ask me quizzically.
“Well, I’m going into the war.” I say trying to make a random comment to throw her off.
“Umm…that’s against the law?”
Damn… “Well…ok listen is there anyone in here?”
“No just me, my mom told me to work today. So now will you tell me now?” she said walking towards two chairs. She offered me a sit.
“Well my best friend is going in the war and I have to protect him…because I love him. And it would be nice to see Europe. Are you going to tell anyone?”
“No, but I do want you to do something if you manage to make it over to Europe.”
“Okay, what is it?” I ask wondering when she is going to cut my hair.
“Well, my brother is in Germany. If you make it will you give him this?” She hands me a letter but it’s heavier than a normal letter.
“Sure I answer. Now can you help me look like a boy? Oh and what’s your name?”
“Lauren Lloyd, and yes I can help you. Just follow me.” She points to another chair where she washed, and cut my hair. When I looked in the mirror I was shocked, my hair cut down short… “Wow, I look like a boy,” I smile and give her a hug, “thank you. Oh! I have one more favor to ask. I need a place to sleep. I’ll be gone tomorrow. I promise.”
“You can stay here ok,” she smiles, “what’s your name?”
“Lily Rochester, why do you ask?”
“Because I know you’ll be famous someday.” She smiled
“Well, let’s hope not.” I giggle.
