Josephine and William had a quiet, happy life.  Judging by the furniture in their bedroom, they didn’t have much, but they had enough.  I loved watching them whisper together as they fell asleep at night, often giggling quietly. 

It felt right to be part of this house, even if Josephine didn’t stare into me as much as most of her ancestors had.  I didn’t feel unwanted, I felt needed.  I liked the peace and love that filled the house and settled in my wood.  I liked that Josephine didn’t glare into me, but instead used me to beautify herself to surprise William. 

One of those times she surprised William, she had a bigger surprise than just a nice dress and makeup.  Months later, baby James was born.  Then came the twins, Sandra and Evon.  And last came baby Marshall.  With each child, the love just grew and grew inside that little house. 

Yes, things were going well.

Then one night, there wasn’t the usual smiles and giggling under the covers.

“Darling,” William said, “I really think I should join.”

“No, dear William!” Josephine gasped, “You’re too old.  Think of me!  Think of the children!  What will we do without you here?  What would we do if you di… if you didn’t come back?”

“I’ll come back, Darling,” he said, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her eyes.  “I promise I’ll come back.”

“You can’t make a promise like that!” Josephine whispered harshly, tears rolling down her cheeks.  “You have no idea what will happen on the front!”

“You don’t know I’ll be sent to the front.  Besides, we have far superior weapons to the Germans and the rest.  This war will be over in no time.  I feel like it’s my American duty to help it move along faster.”

“Curses to your duty,” Josephine spat, with more vehemence than I had ever heard from her before.  “You have a duty to your family, as well.  Please think about us!”

“Oh, Darling,” William said, with an expression of utter sadness, “that’s all I think about.  I want to protect you and keep you safe more than anything.  If we strike the Germans first, then they can’t come attack you.  Jo, listen.  My conscious will not be quiet on this.  I have to enlist.”

Josephine couldn’t respond.  She just clutched his shirt with two white-knuckled fists, buried her face into his chest, and wept bitterly.  He held her as long as she cried, gently rubbing her back.  He remained silent.  A few tears of his own slipped out.

Within the week, William had left.  From what I could gather, there was a ‘great war,’ and much of the modern world was fighting in it.  I began to hear Josephine mutter words like, “rations” and “duty” more often. 

Although she had rarely bought new clothes before William left, after he left, she quit buying new clothes altogether.  She still put on makeup, but just the minimum.  Her cheeks started to grow hollow. 

She put on a brave face for the children.  They obviously missed their father, but their upbeat spirits were probably the only thing keeping Josephine going on some days. 

The letters from William also kept her going.  Anytime she received a letter from any place that she thought was the army, she rushed into the bedroom and shut the door, terrified to receive the news she dreaded. 

The letters were almost always from William, with updates and forced cheerfulness.  He always told the truth, so she knew how hungry and cold he was.  His shoes were wearing out and often in the winter his feet were numb.  Some of his comrades had developed frostbite.  But always at the end of the letter, he would say, “Each day brings us closer to the end of this horrendous war, to victory!  Stay strong, my dear.  I will be home soon.  All my love, William.”

One day, the letter from William was short.  Josephine read it, gasped, and got a strange expression on her face.  She dropped the letter where I could read it and sat staring at me.  She sat starting, but not seeing. 

Since she wasn’t paying attention to me anyway, I read:

“Dearest Jo,

As you read this, keep in mind that I am writing you, so I am very much alive and able to think clearly.  Our troop was ambushed recently and I was injured in the battle.  When I am recovered enough to travel, they are sending me home.  I will look different, but I am still the same William that you know and love.

I miss you so much, dear one.  I am so excited to see you and the children again.  Warn them that I look different.

William.”