Page 29 - The Spirit of Christmas 1940

The Spirit of Christmas 1940

Rose got up and wandered across to the soldier. It was more
curiosity that drove her to go over to speak to him but nevertheless,
she felt it was something she had to do.

As she approached the bench, the soldier seemed away with
his thoughts. He seemed completely unaware Rose was walking
towards him as if something was dominating his thought. Rose
sat down and looked at him with a smile. She noticed that his
skin seemed very pale and clammy and a little grey as if fear had
scared all of the colour out of him.

“Are you OK? I couln’t help noticing that you were here again.
Do you need any help?”

The soldier looked up at Rose, there was no expression, just
blankness. The soldier spoke.

“I don’t know. I can’t make sense of anything. All I know. is I
have to stay here until the all of the sadness is gone.”

Rose looked bewildered. “I don’t understand love, what
sadness? Do you mean from people you know? I’ve noticed that
you’ve comforted some people, Are they friends of yours? Are
you expecting anybody else to come?

“No, I don’t know them. I don’t know anybody here. I don’t
know why I’ve been sent here, All I know is I have to try to take
their pain away.”

Rose was really getting confused now. “I don’t know what you
mean love. Who sent you here?”

“I don’t know. All I can remember was fighting, we went over
the top, I was running across a field and then I was here. I don’t
know how, I don’t know why, it just happened. I can’t remember
anything else. But I do know I have a job to do here, I feel it.
When I see the famillies waiting for the ones coming home, I can
see the ones that are going to be sad and I try to take their pain
away. But when I do, I feel their pain. It hurts so much. I wish I

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