perfidia

chapter 3

The clock hand hits 6 o'clock and I knew it was time for me and Sofia to help the men with their dinner. Sofia passed out the food and drink and then I helped the men if they needed assistance sitting up. 

I gave each man a bowl of the warm stews and a glass of luke warm water... that's the best we get nowadays. I think back to dinner time at my home back in Falmouth, huge turkey dinners, sometimes pork, pies, cakes, puddings, and now I'm eating sludge everyday. But I can't complain I'm helping my country.

I walk towards Luke and Franks beds and hear them talking to each other, but I keep my head down not wanting anything to get hurled at me or crude remarks.

I hear Frank say something along the lines of 'All the girls here are stiff, especially Clive... she's the worst one... gives us nothing to work with'. I assume that's my name now to them, Clive. Along with Abble Grabble and I'm sure many other absurd names they've came up with behind my back.

I push the trolley back to the entrance of the ward, and begin my other duties, trying my best to ignore Luke and Frank.

Hours pass by, more men are rushed in and some men are discharged, which is nice. But it does make me sad because some of the nicer men have been discharged which leaves me with the awful ones.

I finish my shift, and head to the cafeteria to have my dinner. Once I am done I head back to the ward, it is around 11 when I arrive. Goodness... I didn't know how late it was.

I walk around the ward and make conversation with a lot of them, which I enjoy because I get to learn a lot about them as I see them everyday. I learn about their life before the war which most of them enjoy talking about.

I sit on the end of a man named Walter, who is around 40. He has the bed next to Luke.

"Hi Walter, how are you today?"

He smiles as best he can. He lost an arm during the war, but still is a very positive man, I think it's his southern nature.

"Hello there miss Addie, I'm as good as I can be. How are ya?" he says with his southern American drawl.

"I am good thank you Walter. Miss Addie is what a dear friend from home used to call me, I miss him dearly. Who do you miss most?"

"I gotta say I miss my sweetheart Caroline the most miss Addie. She is the most beautiful bird to ever walk" he smiles looking like he's in a love struck trance, he lets out a sigh "oh of course you are too miss Addie! You are very beautiful indeed!", I blush not used to being complemented. Back home I got some attention from boys, but I was always too busy with school work, painting, dancing and other chores to care.

I hear a scoff and murmurs coming from Franks bed, deciding to ignore it.

"Thank you Walter, I am sure Caroline is very beautiful and I'm sure she cannot wait for you to return home."

His smile fades slightly and he looks down at the space where his left arm should be.

"Ya... that's if she still wants anything to do with me. Who wants a one armed man?"

"Oh Walter..." I rub his right arm to comfort him, "I'm sure Caroline will just be happy to see you, she won't care as long as you make it home alive. When people are in love, like you and Caroline, I'm sure they push all things aside because they love the person, whether that be blemishes or scars she will still love you".

"...And if she doesn't I will come down to Alabama myself and tell her what a brave and noble man she's lost", I say with a smile on my face.

He lets out a bark of a laugh which makes me giggle. "Thank you Miss Addie, made me feel a whole lot better".