Page 8 - Crossing the Deadline

Chapter Thirteen

Mother stands stoic beside Uncle Clem beneath a barren
oak tree. She’s wearing a flowing black mourning dress with
crinolines. A widow’s cap rests snugly on her head. Light bounces

from a piece of golden jewelry. It’s a brooch with a quarter
moon and stars and is clipped near the base of her throat.
Suddenly something catches Mother’s eyes, and she points
frantically to a body being carried to the cemetery. To my

horror, I realize the next soldier to be buried is my brother,
Robert. His eyes are open and blinking. He struggles to free
himself but is unable. In desperation, he turns his head toward
me and yells at the top of his lungs, “You have to save me,

Stephen!”

Noise from a gathering crowd wakes me. Mothers,
fathers, and girlfriends have come to say good-bye and wave

handkerchiefs to loved ones. Some men mingle around the
platform, shake hands, and tell one another they’re from
Rushville, Batesville, or Connersville. Watching them hug
family and friends makes me wish I had said a proper good-

bye to Mother. “I’m so proud of you,” one father says as he
shakes his son’s hand.
I take off the extra clothes I wore for the night and pack
them and my blanket into my bag. There are few open seats

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