The Reunion

Smith settled next to his wife on the truck. The wounded were as comfortable as they could be made. All the vehicles were starting their engines, which meant it was almost time to move out. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the well-worn Bible the officer had given him. The brown cover was such that you could no longer read the printing on it, but the zipper worked well. As he unzipped it, he noticed the pages were indeed well worn. The inside cover indicated that it was a King James version of the New Testament. Smith guessed it to be from the 1940’s or 1950’s. When he opened the cover to the first page, he glanced at the inscription someone had written years before. He rubbed his eyes and read it a second time.

Catherine noticed the sudden change in her husband’s demeanor and was about to ask him what was wrong when he jumped up from where he was sitting and wildly began to look around. Gateway and Donavon were standing in the truck behind Smith’s and saw their friend looking distressed. They waved to get his attention. Smith was trying to yell something to them, but they couldn’t hear him over the noise from the big diesel engines. More jets flew over at low altitudes, followed by explosions close by.

Smith finally found who he was looking for. The officer who gave him the Bible was standing near the news crew, talking on the radio. His CAR-15 slung over his shoulder with the barrel facing downward. The officer saw the minister standing nodding to him. Smith collapsed back down next to his wife.

“What is it, dear?” she asked anxiously. “What’s the problem?”

Smith handed her the Bible and she opened it and read the inscription.

To my Grandson

Lt. Raymond Summers

From your loving Grandmother

Anna Mae Summers

September 1944