The Storm Breaks Forth by Terri Wangard

Author:Terri Wangard [Wangard, Terri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-06T00:00:00+00:00

21

Maren studied the poster taped to the window of Mr. Krause’s butcher shop. Touting the Navy, a sailor urged a civilian not to read American history, but to make it. Her brother, Albert, wrote that the destroyer he’d been assigned to reminded him of a playground teeter totter. Up, down, up, down. He’d laugh if she informed him he was making history.

“Mrs. Bloch, do you wish Peter had gone into the Navy?”

Maren recognized the reflection on the window and turned to face Peter’s boss. “Hello, Mr. Herdman. He’d be safer on a ship, don’t you think? But I don’t believe he ever had a choice. Not after he interviewed the National Guard major. Peter says the major arranged his appointment to the Guard and has plans for him in France.”

Bushy eyebrows bunched up. “What sort of plans?”

Remembering that she was speaking to a newsman, Maren shrugged. “He didn’t say. I think he didn’t want to worry me. Of course, for that very reason, I’m concerned.”

She suspected Peter would be spying on the Germans. What else could reconnaissance mean? Eavesdropping on the enemy meant sneaking in close. Too close. He couldn’t pose as a Frenchman in a café. Saying “Bonjour, monsieur” in an American accent wouldn’t fool anyone. Especially since those two words constituted the whole of Peter’s French vocabulary.

Mr. Herdman’s lips pressed together as he squinted into the distance. “Too bad we didn’t get him accredited to report from the field. He’ll have some interesting stories to tell.”

Maren’s throat tightened. He didn’t care about Peter’s safety. Only a possible story. What was wrong with men that made them so eager for war and fighting and killing?

“I’d best be going on my way. Next time I write, I’ll let Peter know I saw you,.”

“Do that. Do that. Let us know how he fares.” Mr. Herdman strode down the sidewalk.

He hadn’t asked how Maren was doing. Didn’t ask if she needed assistance in any way. Hadn’t asked after her father’s welfare. Did he not care at all?

Turning with a huff, she hurried home. After putting away her Red Cross supplies, she’d take Snowball to the park. A little fun ought to clear her mind of all the gossip and whining she’d heard at the sewing circle, and the aggravation of Peter’s heartless boss. She stopped short. Goodness, had her day really been so bad?

Yes. Yes, it had. She’d heard not one positive word. Maybe it was time to stop meeting with other women. She could knit and sew at home, and then turn in the finished articles. Or she might find another group. She needed laughter and lightness to counteract the stress and heaviness of Peter’s and her father’s absence and the overzealousness of the patriots.

Right now, she’s find laughter with Snowy’s antics.

Snowball loved Center Street Park. He tugged at his leash when they’d turned the corner, eager to arrive. Maren found a small branch worthy of a game of fetch and, after slipping off his leash, heaved the branch as far as she could.

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