Newsies Oneshots

Goodbye

I'm sorry. That's all I have to say. Someone needs to take all writing devices away from me.

***

"We interrupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin. The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by air..." David Jacobs hadn't left the chair next to the radio all day. All morning and afternoon he'd sat, wringing his wrinkled hands as he heard about the attack over and over again. He couldn't bear to read the evening paper when his wife Abigail brought it for them.

"A Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, naturally would mean war," the man said, through the crackling radio.

"David, are you alright?" Abigail asked, face lined with worry as she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"I'm fine," he replied gruffly.

She nodded and hurried out of the room to busy herself in the kitchen.

"... and have now attacked army and navy bases in Manila." David barely reacted to the knock on the door, his eyes remained clenched shut until he heard the creaking of floorboards in a front of him.

"Robbie?" He asked, cracking an eye open. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to talk to you about something important," the young man said, gripping his hat tightly. "I'm sure you've heard about what's happened."

David nodded quickly. "I've been listening to programs about it all day."

"It sounds like Congress is going to declare war," Robert observed, shrugging off his jacket.

"Yes, I suppose they will," David agreed carefully. He raised an eyebrow at his grandson as he began to see where the conversation was headed.

"Rightfully so, don't you think?"

"If you've come to talk about joining the army again, this doesn't change anything Robert. I don't care what's happened in Hawaii, it's a silly idea and you should know that I don't approve."

"Grandpa! It's an attack on our country! We have to fight!"

"There are plenty of other men out there who can fight," David retorted. "You can stay here!"

"I've graduated and I'm eighteen! There's nothing holding me back!"

"What about your family, Robert?"

Robert sighed. "I'm going to protect them by fighting. Please, try to understand."

"I don't. I don't understand why you'd throw away your life like that! I'm telling you, as an old man who's seen worse things than you can imagine, not to go." David crossed his arms, face settled into a frown as he stared at his grandson.

"Grandpa, what about that strike you were a part of? You fought some of the richest men in the country! You didn't back down! You fought!"

"That was different Robert! That was completely different. I don't want you to go, it's a bad idea."

"Your advice is too late," Robert said, looking away.

"What do you mean?"

"I enlisted this morning just as soon as I heard about the attack. They're sending me to Virginia next Tuesday."

David's heart stopped. His eldest grandchild had signed himself up for the war. He wasn't drafted and forced, no, this was worse. He offered to go.

"Grandpa?" Robert asked worriedly after a minute of silence.

"Go. Go home," David ordered hoarsely after a minute of silence.