A life changing anniversary

The memories came flooding back like a tidal wave inside his brain. Every splash was another moment in 1936. It all started when a tall looking man with a mustache walked in on him and his wife, Eleanor. George remembered every little detail of that muscular man at his doorstep. 

“I am looking for George Waterdale.” said the man in a gruff voice. At that moment, all of the safe moments with his wife were gone. Sitting in the rocking chair by the fireplace, baking cookies on special occasions, gone. George looked at Eleanor with a worried expression on his face. Eleanor took George’s hand and very slowly, they walked to the door. “Yes sir?” spoke George in one of the most shaky voices he had ever spoken in.

‘All men older than eighteen must join the war. No exceptions.” George felt very light headed at this point. The war? He heard about it, but he just had his marriage to Eleanor a year ago. EXACTLY a year ago! This was going to be the worst anniversary yet. Eleanor looked at George one last time before the muscular man took George by the hand, and pulled him outside. 

George saw about two dozen other men waiting outside. They were all in a perfect line in front of his house. “Get in line or there will be consequences.” spoke the man.  It seems like all the men in the lineup had a bruise on their face. George did not want to be in the same boat, so he stood behind a very tall guy with a green hat. Suddenly the muscular man came up to him with the same green hat and camouflage clothes.

“Put those on before we have to move!” spoke the muscular man.  George rushed over to the outhouse and got changed. When George was done changing into the tightly fit clothes, he started walking inline with the other men.

He had to witness young men getting taken from their poor crying family. It was one of the worst sights George had ever seen. Once another four dozen were in line, they started walking out of the village. Out of the village that holds memories of everything George ever knew. Leaving Eleanor behind had been hard, but George imagined men younger than him getting taken away. The thought made him shudder.

At last, the peak of the war training center was coming in view. No more crying men and children. The thing that George did not know was that it was just beginning. Harder and more challenging things were coming. More children and men crying; that was a piece of cake compared to what was going to happen.

George did not think much of how much he had to work out to even hold a gun, he just looked at the bright side. If there even was a bright side. Right now nothing seemed bright except the fact he was fighting for his country. George had to stay loyal. 

As George got into his position in the training center, he thought about Eleanor and what might happen to her during the war. Right now she is all alone in our house. Who knows what she was doing. Weight in hand, George started going to the next station. This was the station where a gun was involved. A gun, George’s worst enemy.

For his whole life George tried to keep guns away from him. Ever since his dad died from one, he had been scared to even look at them. Now he had to actually use it! George pointed the shiny gun at the target. Just as he was going to shoot, the instructor took it from him and gave it to the next person. “Back of the line punk, your aim is horrible!” spoke the instructor in a very deep voice. George went to the back of the line very carefully so he did not anger him anymore. This was going to take a long time to even train properly. 

9 months later

George walked in line with the other men. It was war day, the day they have been preparing for. George took out his shiny black gun and started practice shooting. His hands still shook a little while he was doing it but he had definitely improved. 

While George was practicing, he heard footsteps in the distance. “Thump Thump”. They were getting louder and louder as all of the men started lining up. “CHARGE.” yelled a voice off in the distance. The war has officially begun. 

Everybody charged with their swords up. There was shouting and blood everywhere. Swords were colliding and clinking, every man had a soldier to fight. George jabbed his sword at the guy in front of him. The man blocked, it went on like this until George jabbed his dented sword right in his heart. It seems like all the men did the same because everywhere there was a body on the ground. George suddenly realized they won! “Ten hut!” spoke the muscular man with a gruff voice. Everyone lined up and they headed back home.

“George! called Eleanor. You have been sitting there ever since you put that silly outfit on!” George finally snapped back to reality. The reality with Eleanor and her sweet pumpkin pie.