|
Silent Battlefields
"Experience reading two pages from Silent
Battlefields: A novel by Hugh Rosen.
By the time Thomas parked in front of the home of the Eisenstadts, he felt
ready to face the enemy like a trained warrior. Yet he was a peaceful warrior
and
hoped that he could evade combat. If he had to, though, he would defend himself
against assault and rescue his captured comrade, as well.
Mathew, standing between Thomas and his parents, made the perfunctory
introductions. The four of them then adjourned to the living room to chat
before
dinner. Eva was the first to speak once they were seated.
“Thomas, we’d like you to know how very thankful we are for your
helping
Mathew when he was in such a tight spot that night a few months ago.”
“Yes, from what Mathew tells us things could have gotten a lot worse
if it
hadn’t been for you,” Nathan said. “What you did was actually
rather heroic.
You could have just looked the other way and not gotten involved.”
“I guess it was a lucky thing that I was nearby. Anyway, I was glad
to help out.
I’m sure Mathew would have done the same for me.”
“No doubt about it,” Mathew said, “but I hope I never have
to. Besides, I’m
not sure I would have been quite as successful at it as you were.” He
sealed the
end of his statement with an impish smile.
“How about if we not talk about it anymore?” Thomas said, feeling
somewhat
awkward over the unexpected attention and praise. He punctuated his plea by
raising his index finger to his pursed lips—a gesture he had picked
up from his
father. Suddenly, Eva was startled by an illumination. It was as if the young
German
soldier who had spared her life almost three decades ago during the war were
sitting before her.
“Eva, are you all right? You look so pale and frightened suddenly.”
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Mathew echoed.
Thomas sat uncomfortably, baffled as he watched Eva. She was staring at him,
yet it felt more as if she were staring right through him into another time,
another
world.
“Yes, yes, I’m all right,” She hastily assured them as their
voices pulled her
back to them. “My mind had just begun to wander. I’m sorry,”
she said, directing
this last comment to Thomas.
She hadn’t planned on serving dinner this early, but the need to be
alone was
overwhelming. Eva excused herself and went to the kitchen for final preparations
of the meal. Memories of that fatal day long ago marched through Eva’s
mind as
she went about the task of putting the finishing touches on the dinner. When
she
looked up, she saw Nathan coming into the kitchen. He took her in his arms
and
gently drew her close to him.
“Nathan,” she whispered in his ear, “Thomas looks so much
like the young
German boy who was in the attic with us the day my parents died. It’s
uncanny.”
“He obviously resembles him in some way, and that startled you.”
“The moment he first entered I thought he looked vaguely familiar. But
it
wasn’t until he put his finger to his lips—it was like seeing
a phantom.”
“And that’s all it was—an illusion.”
Eva kissed Nathan on the cheek with gratitude for his tenderness toward her.
Their love for one another had been calm and steady over the years, if never
one
distinguished for its passion.
Thomas and Mathew remained silent in the living room. The situation had
left them both feeling a bit awkward. Thomas was the first to speak.
‘I don’t understand, Matt.”
“I can’t say I know, either. Remember, both my parents have been
through a
lot during the old days, and sometimes it seems that even the slightest thing
can
trigger off a reaction. I’m sure this had nothing to do with you at
all.”
Mathew was not above telling a little white lie if he thought it would put his friend
at ease.
“She sure seemed upset about something. Do you think I ought to leave?”
“Are you kidding? Then she’d really be upset.”
“I can’t help thinking that it has something to do with, you know,
my being
German.”
“Nah, my mom doesn’t hold all Germans responsible for what happened
to
her during the war; especially people who weren’t even alive at the
time.”
“A lot of people do, you know.”
“Probably not as many as you think.”
“I’d like to believe you’re right.”
“Heck, it would be like those Christians who say all Jews are guilty
of Christ’s
death.”
“Yeah, but you’re talking about making sense, Matt. What makes
you think
people are so rational all the time?”
It did not escape Mathew’s notice that this was the first time Thomas
had ever
addressed him by an informal version of his name. He didn’t want to
read too
much into it, but he hoped that perhaps this signified the emergence of a
new
stage in their developing friendship.
“You’ve got a good point there.”
“I guess I’m just antsy today, meeting your parents for the first
time and all.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read the whole story now. Get
the book from
www.HughRosen.com
or
www.Amazon.com
Email the author : seanplato@aol.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hugh Rosen, the author of three books and the co-editor of three other books about cognitive development, moral reasoning, constructivism,
and psychotherapy entered the Creative Writing Program of the English Department at Temple University and earned an M.A. degree at age seventy. In 2005 at the
age of seventy-four, Hugh is pleased to present Silent Battlefields: A Novel. Visit his site at http://www.hughrosen.com
or contact him at : seanplato@aol.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 