Copyright J Hardy Caroll
“What if it doesn’t end?”
“How do you mean?”
“If it’s not all over… when you die… suppose it just changes into something else?”
Billie lights a cigarette, discards the match over his shoulder.
“Like what?”
“Something worse, perhaps.”
“What could be worse than this, then?” Billie spits.
“You know what they say, just because you can’t imagine it, doesn’t mean it can’t exist.”
“You know what your problem is, Joe… you think too much.”
“Don’t you wonder though?”
“Nah… life’s too short.”
Joe doesn’t think so.
Billie lunges too late, as his comrade scrambles out of the trench.
If you think you saw a different post earlier on, you did. Trying to do a million things at once, I didn’t look at the prompt carefully enough, didn’t connect with the date, and posted something inappropriate for today. I’ll save that irreverence for another day. 😦 Thanks to Rochelle at Friday Fictioneers for her leadership and support, not to mention her speed in taking down my earlier link when I asked her to. 🙂
castelsarrasin 
I thought I saw your link and then refreshed to check mine had gone up and you were gone. I thought I was going mad!
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I’ve had that kind of a day myself! 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
For all the vets worldwide, this is a sad and realistic reality. Well done…twice. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle! 🙂 Twice.
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Such a terrible time and I’m sure conversations like this were common. It wasn’t the match, was it?
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🙂 Thanks for reading Patrick. I think it must have been one of history’s lowest moments, trench warfare.
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Imminent danger often makes folk grope for an impossible alternative.
Good piece.
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Thanks Mick. 🙂
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Very nice. Crisp, clean and all the more poignant for it’s sparseness.
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Thank you. 🙂
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Good story, Sandra. The WWI trench warfare had to be the worst. My dad signed up early for the U.S. Navy to avoid slogging through the mud of those trenches..He was on a battle ship made into a troop transport ship, and served for five years. Well done as always. —- Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne. Either prospect, trench warfare or sailing rough seas in wartime, would have been terrible. Thanks for reading Suzanne.
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Didn’t expect that tragic end …I’m sure Billie didn’t expect it too. Beautiful written – I’m sure this is a real story of atleast one soldier fighting a war that makes no sense to him.
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Thanks Ansumani. 🙂
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I hope my comment shows up because my internet is wonky. WWI was a terrible war. You gave a good description of soldiers in the trenches. I read a poem on Word Press that was written by a soldier who had died in the trenches. He was talking about the possibility of dying. Did you see the classic film, ” All’s Quiet on the Western Front?”
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No I didn’t see that film Deborah. Although all wars are terrible, WW1 always seems to be that tiny bit more horrifying.
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A good tribute for today, and as always, an enjoyable read.
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Thanks Dawn. 🙂
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“Don’t you wonder though?” Joe doesn’t think so though ~ the repetition of though threw me off a bit.
I’ve watched more than my share of movies about trench warfare, even taken classes about WW I. A gluten for punishment? Perhaps. You’ve caught the scene perfectly.
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Not a good day for me, yesterday. Only half a mind on the job… the worst half too. 🙂 Thanks.
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Oh well done. I cannot imagine what those poor men went through in the trenches.
Perfect post for today.
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Thanks Dale.
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Well done, Sandra. I missed your first story. It must have been horrible in those trenches to lose a comrades so suddenly. (I think the second to the last sentence needs a period. Or, it could be my eyes.)
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No, you’re right Amy. I had so many ‘spinning plates’ yesterday, I think I let one or two of them drop! Thanks. 🙂
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Missed all that confusion about your earlier post, this had an intense impact on me. Very powerful story, excellently structured and delivered.
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Many thanks for that. 🙂
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Nice dialogue, a fairly common conversation in the trenches I imagine.
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I wonder about that. I almost believe the opposite might be true.
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Very moving story.
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Thank you!
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Those poor, brave soldiers! This is why men don’t talk enough about the real grit of the wars they fight; it’s too horrific.
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Thanks for visiting Jan. Yes, there are some things that aren’t helped by discussion.
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a gripping scene from world war i. it was so realistic i felt like watching a movie.
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Thanks Plaridel.
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I take it that Billie could not conceive a hell worse than the one they were living at that moment. I’ve heard several old soldiers speak of battlefield religion. If there’s ever a time to want to get right with the Lord, that would be the time and place.
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Spot on Russell.
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You captured the essence of war here Sandra. Horrific.
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Thanks for reading Irene.
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I have always found it better to think in the long term. Life is not quite so short that way. Great capture of a fateful moment.
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I suppose it depends where you’re starting from. 😦 Thanks for reading Joseph.
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I suppose so
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Oh, I hate to think of something different being something worse. But I suppose when you’re in the trenches you don’t lean toward optimism…
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I think you’re right Lorna.
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Beautifully done, and that match may have been a target for the enemy. So sad! But a great tribute for Veteran’s Day!
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Thanks Yolanda.
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My dad told my sister a story about this type of interaction in the trenches. I image being together and not knowing what’s ahead can create a dialog such as this. How sad we need to write about our men being alone and fearful about what’s to come and wishing they were somewhere else.
A beautifully told moment, Sandra. Have a wonderful weekend.
Isadora
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So true Isadora. Hope you had a lovely weekend too.
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I have no doubt I would have enjoyed the other too, but this is a meaningful story for Veteran’s Day. So many young men and women have lunged too late… Such a very scary place to be; I imagine this is the very dialogue many would have. Very nice, Sandra.
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Thank you Dawn. It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it?
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Ah gee!! I never expected that ending! a great story and perfect for remembrance day we’ve just passed.
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Thanks for reading Oliana.
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So terribly sad – both very strong voices that give the end a real poignancy.
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Aweaome little piece
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Awesome little piece
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Despite such sad stories it seems like we haven’t learnt much in the last hundred years or so. Nicely done as always.
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