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Life Arts    H4'ed 3/23/17

"My Brother's Spirit" ---A Short Story of Childhood

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"Ivanka also wanted to come along, I had no right to stop her but she was physically unable," he paused. "The bombing was very heavy that night. Searchlights and anti-aircraft guns reached high into the dark sky hoping to meet inside a British bomber. Tracer lines and flares added to the spectacle. The bombs exploded all around us, a few came very close to hitting us along the way. I asked Father Lapka if he wanted to wait until after the bombing, but I think that he understood my needs. So we kept on."

"When we got to the cemetery I dug out a small grave while all around us bombs dug out larger ones. Some gravesites were even raising the dead, it was really bizarre."

A brief headshake for the memory before continuing. "So then, I cradled our son into the past, tightening the wrap of his blanket. One final kiss as I gently placed him in the linen lined coffin. Father Lapka said the prayers, loudly, as if to defy the reason for the noisy explosions. When he finished, the Father blessed Danchik with holy water and said to me, 'Do not blame God for man's sins.' He didn't have to alibi his employer. As I filled in the earth, my only thoughts were filled with revenge. Those responsible for such an act must be punished. I vowed this, on my son's grave."

I expected Mother to say something, I think Father did too. It was hard for him to continue right away. Instead, Mother said nothing, no words but, I knew that inside, her feelings were drowning any logic.

"So, I thanked Lapka and told him to leave --- that what had to be done now was no longer his responsibility. He made the sign of the cross and returned to his small parish, where the bombs were falling heaviest. I used a rock to nail together two pieces of wood I'd picked up and carved Danchik's name in it with my pocketknife. When I finished I had only one more duty to perform, to get even for this senseless death."


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"Seems he was too late, though," Mother chided in. "As if Fate didn't ruin enough plans."

A slight snicker could be felt with his next words. "Yes, war loves death." He went on, "When I got back, the infirmary was gone, the barracks, outhouses, everything...just a bunch of big craters. I had no one left for revenge, and I wanted it --- we both did.

"Yes, it seems that the new serum that Ivan bought would have saved his life, doctors told me later it was penicillin. And we found out that the infirmary had had some available."

"And I can still see her grin when she told me Danchik was dead. I'll never forget it." Then stumbling her thoughts she finally broke down and cried from long remembered sorrows.

I peeked out again. My mother's eyes were flashing as the hanging table lamp left a clear view of her grieving heart.

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Bohdan Yuri is an Ukrainian-American and the author of "Ukraina: Sons and Daughters" (short stories) and "The Letters".

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