Crankiness at a funeral

Question

Write a short story no more than 500 words (give or take 20). There should be a soldier in the story and a cranky character. The soldier may be the cranky character or not. This is specifically intended for prose and not--repeat--not poetry. Two week deadline means last date March 24th...torch passes on the 25th. Good luck and enjoy the writing.

Comments

This is so obvious, but I get 'dibs' on it.  At least on this slant.  Others might feel differently.

Answer 1

An Arlington Goodbye

He had served for so many years that he has lost count. He was one of the first in and last out, part of those teams that while not infantry, had to support them. He had cleared mines (and laid them too), blow things up and set booby traps (and cleared them as well), helped build bridges, roads and air strips. Sometimes you were on foot, sometimes in a mechanised unit, occasionally with heavy armoured. Whatever was going on, you were usually there, sometimes near the front, ahead of everyone else, or making sure the last few things were sorted as everyone left, occasionally you were just there. That was the role of the Engineers.

They had been, well, everywhere. Europe, the Middle East, Far East and sometimes places where it was well known that your were not! You went wherever you were told without question and if occasionally that meant that you were not where others thought you should not be, well, so what! The need for war was not essential for the Engineer; he had spent much of his service in assisting others at home in various emergencies, as often, possible more often, as in combat zones. His only regret was that he had seen too much of the world from a face down position in the dirt, with hostile locals who seems to sell them things one day and shoot at them the next.

Not that he hated foreigners in general, though occasionally he was more than just distressed by the death of a comrade. Without foreigners there would have been no army, no engineers and no job. Even in retirement he was a veteran and that stood for something, which combined with a reasonable pension, had made life good. Sometimes he contemplated on what he had done and how this had affected others, but usually these feeling just washed over him. Unknown people who had died, often out of sight and in the case of mines years later, seemed of little consequence. Now days he did not travel and had stayed in his old home town for most of the last 20 years.

Today was different. He was travelling in style to Washington, to Arlington, to see an old friend laid to rest. There on the slopes in front of Lee’s House, overlooking the Potomac, he would say goodbye. It was not going to be easy; he had known him all his life. He had been there when he joined up and when he was discharged. The arrangements to go to Arlington had all been arranged by his nephew. Like so many soldiers, he had had many loves, but had never married. If he had any children, he did not know. His nephew was a good lad and although they only met up occasionally, he was the nearest he had to any real family.

At Arlington he would say goodbye to his body for the last time and his spirit would be free.

Comments

Yes, Saxon, yes. Justified crankiness. Well explored! Totally justified.

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A neat story.  There must be lots of people who never had any long term friendships except ones like this unnoticed association.  It's think material.

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Glad you both like this little offering. I have often visited Arlington and know the sad story of the desecration of the Lee property as an act of retribution.

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Saxon, this is a well-deserved torch-pass to you. Very solidly written and strongly stated. You hold the reader's attention from start to finish. I congratulate you on your writing ability and the core of your story. Nice job. -- Emy

Answer 2

THE CRANKY OLD MAN AT THE FUNERAL

In his younger years, some accused him

of having latent tendencies if you know

what I mean,  If you don't, that means

gay stuff, nancy, fag, queer stuff. So he

devotes his life to proving them wrong.

 

He starts a religion based on protesting

at funerals of nancy boys.  Few noticed

since it was only queers.  So he went for

the bigger picture to get attention. 

and so he did.  At least he got mine.  lol

 

Today I laid my oldest son to rest in peace forever.

I thought up a little song for him

A soldier was he - and not like me.  He died

in combat.  "Deedle-de-dee" sings the angry old man -

who shakes his fist at my son John for giving the gift

 

of his life.  He fought for the freedoms that include

even faggots.  John wasn't gay - but he'd probably say -

that it's OK.  "Gaily-de fay" shouts the angry old man

at the grave of this soldier,  "God Damn.  Somebody shut him up!"

I yelled at anyone who understood that Johnny was good.

 

"John has seen enough combat.  Do you have to fight

in his final moments with me?"  Old Man got chased off so he went

home to tuck in his own grandkids. They have an early day

tomorrow.  There was a woman shot in Arizona.  Spouting her

liberal, gay loving agenda at a grocery store.  The funeral's today

 

for a nine year old girl who got killed in the crossfire.  They're gonna have

another protest at this party.  A funeral for the damned.  They'll teach us

that he is not a nancy - never was and never will be. Deedle-de-dee to

you, old man.  I saw your website www.godhatesfags.com .  I'm sorry

they ever called you that name.  Do they know how much evil

they have unleashed?

Comments

Also if you search Westboro Baptist Church, there's more info on their "Thank God for dead soldiers" campaign

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giraffe, I can see where you think this is the best, and you are right being the only response so far. Let's see if there is anything else submitted and I can make a judgement based on the variety before me. Good luck, it definitely is among the top submitted so far. Emy O

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giraffe, I want to congratulate you for this piece of work, however, it came across as poetry to me and directions were specifically not poetry. If poetry had been allowed I would have had a very difficult selection to make since both works were excellent. Both sent emotions through me that were powerful and intent. I wish I could pass two torches, but the directions prevent me from going against myself. Great job none the less. -- EmyO