Riley's Dreams

During the Great War

RILEY

I closed my eyes in 2018 and opened them in 1918. I was in Great grandpa's brown jacket with a newsboy type hat. It was raining and the water dripped off the rim onto my good jacket in continuous rivulets mixing with tears that I knew were coming from my eyes.

I felt a physical ache in my chest and realized I was in the middle of a funeral. In front of me was a white casket. It was only 3 feet in length and it broke my heart to such a small box. It had to be a toddler.

The flowers and a placard read Melissa Breen beloved daughter of Riley and Mary Breen. 1913-1918.

Mary sobbed and hugged a baby. The name "Nathan" came to mind. He looked to be about 2 years old.  It dawned on me that Nathan was Grandpa's first name. I was seeing him as a baby and it was both jolting and marvelous at the same time.

To see him in this state was mind blowing. My image of  grandpa was as a stooped over skinny man with alligator skin in baggy pants with suspenders and a blue aluminum cane. This chubby little baby with the light red hair bore little resemblance to the old man I'd spoken too only the day before.

I reached over and patted his head and he grinned up at me before turning away and turning his head  back in play.

Mary began sobbing uncontrollably and I reached over and hugged her shoulders as she looked away trying not to look at the casket as it was gently lowered into the ground by 2 workers.

An old pastor was speaking to us but his words were incomprehensible as I tried to nod in acknowledgement. Eventually he shook our hands and walked us to our car as the clouds above began to let loose with a downpour that was only matched by the heaviness in our hearts.

"You'll have to show me where to drive Mary my minds not thinking straight." I said.

She nodded and began directing which roads to turn on until we came to a dead end road with only one small home. I pulled into the drive and parked knowing this had to be the right home.

Without hesitating the 2 girls in the back jumped out and dashed towards the front door laughing as they splashed through the puddles of water along the way.

I rushed out and opened an umbrella to keep Mary and baby Nate dry as they stepped out of the vehicle.
I could see the girls opened the front door which wasn't locked and left it swinging open.

"Girls don't leave the door open you'll let all the heat out!" Mary said. But they were already inside and couldn't hear.

""Don't worry we'll be there in a minute ourselves." I said.

"It just don't feel right to not have my baby girl  here." Mary said before breaking down into tears. I grabbed her shoulders and held baby Nate afraid she might accidentally drop him.

"I know but it's out of our hands now."

"Why us? Why Melissa? She was so young."

We walked in where the girls had the radio on. It was broadcasting the news: ...the President has announced that the end of the war is going in our favor and the Germans are in retreat. On the local front the Spanish flu has taken an estimated 40,000 lives to date and officials are now classifying it as a deadly pandemic. People are advised to avoid crowds and contact with others as much as poss-"

Click!

"I don't want to hear another word about that disease!" Mary exclaimed before handing me the baby and rushing off to the bedroom in a state of distress.

I closed the front door and motioned for the two girls to just leave her be.

"Mommy needs a little quiet time girls. Maybe you should play in your bedroom for a little while?" I suggested.