Ghost Carrier: They Died to Fight Another Day (13 page)

“Is this real, Pop? I mean is this some kind of crazy, wonderful dream and I’m going to wake up any second? If it is, I don’t want to wake up.”

“I really don’t know, son. I feel real. I’ve got new aches and pains I never felt. You look real. How is this possible?”

Joe pondered a moment then glanced out the window to strange modern day sights. He chose his words carefully, “Frankie, I’m not smart enough to dream this or make this stuff up. This world. This car. The way you look. I’m just not that clever.” Then he smiled.

Frank laughed. His apprehension eased.

“It sure feels real to me, Frankie. The only thing that’s never changed is my love for you, son. It’s the only thing I had in ’43 and it’s the only thing I still got.

“Me too.” Frank said as his eyes teared once again and he continued to drive.

RUSK HOME, DAYTON, OHIO

Frank found the address that was listed on his driver’s license. It was in a nice part of town on Crestwood Avenue. As he pulled in the driveway with his Dad he thought, 1291 Crestwood Avenue seemed strangely familiar.

“Nice home, son, looks like you’ve done well.”

“Yeah, sure does. This world’s new to me too.”

Frank and his Dad approached and finally stood at the door.

“Well?” Joe asked.

“Yeah, right.” Frank said as he knocked twice.

“It’s your house, Frankie.”

Frank laughed hard. His Dad had a great sense of humor. Of course it was his house. What was he thinking? He found what looked like a front door key and used it to unlock the door. The door opened.

“SURPRISE!”

Frank and Joe entered to see thirty of their family and closest friends welcoming them to Frank’s surprise seventieth birthday party.

Scanning the room Frank finally caught sight of her…Katie. Thank God! He didn’t think it possible, but she was even more beautiful in this new parallel world. And, yes, oh yes, there was his son Ben and the twins in the middle of the crowd. It was perfect!

“Who’s the beautiful woman?” Joe asked his son, nudging Frank from his moment of wonder as Katie approached them.

“We were starting to wonder about you two. What took you so long?”

Frank kissed his wife and said, “We had some catching up to do.” He winked at his father who grinned.

“Well, come on in. Come on in. Let’s get this party started.”

Frank had never been so deeply and truly happy in his entire life. His impossible wish had defied time and the laws of the Universe to come true.

After cake and coffee, Frank and his Dad began to pour over the old photo albums that the kids had hauled out. So many moments. So many memories. So much love.

They came to one particular album with a green canvas cover and Katie said, “Oh, looks like the kids brought out one of your old albums too, Joe.”

Joe lifted the photo album to his lap. He opened the cover and on the first cardboard page under the cellophane, the face of Theo Akins stared back at him. In the yellowed photo from the 70’s, Theo and Joe were standing in front of a group of flags with some other men at some veterans’ event.

Joe gasped. “My God. Theo Akins?”

Katie laughed, “Theo? You used to call him Cousin Akins.”

Joe agreed with Katie, “Oh, yeah right. Hey, how is ah…Cousin Akins? I want to give him a call.”

Katie looked at Joe and said sweetly, “Don’t you remember? He passed away last year. You attended his funeral.”

“Oh, of course, how stupid of me. I forget sometimes.” Joe said as he mourned the loss of his friend once again.

“It was so nice of his son to give you Cousin Akins’s things from the war. He really felt you should have them.”

“What things from the war?” Joe asked not catching himself. He really did have to get up to speed with this new world.

“Oh, you remember, just some small things that he thought you’d like to have including Cousin Akin’s dog tags.”

THE NEXT DAY

Joe had Frank drive him out to Green Lawn cemetery where Theo had been laid to rest. Frank maneuvered the car up the narrow drive and spotted Theo’s gravestone near the front.

“There it is, Pop.” Frank stopped and put the car into park.

Joe sighed, “Someday I’ll tell you the story of this great man. I just don’t think I got it in me today.”

“I understand, Pop. You go visit him.”

Joe gathered himself and reached in his windbreaker pocket.

“I also gotta return something.” His hand closed around something tucked safely in his pocket. Theo’s Navy dog tags from Molokai.

Frank nodded as Joe exited the car and approached the grave.

Frank decided to get out of the car too in case his Dad needed him.

Joe stood a moment in silence ten feet from the grave then spoke. “Theo, you made me want to live again. You convinced me never to give up hope. No matter which world we were in, I guess we were always meant to be friends. You made me believe in heroes. You made me believe in getting home.” Then Joe’s trembling hand reached into his pocket for the dog tags, and he placed them on top of the granite gravestone.

“These rightly belong to you.”

Then Joe snapped and held a salute. In his mind he heard soft and distant taps play.

Frank bowed his head as his father brought his salute back down and turned back to him. “Son, maybe there’s something almost as strong as the love of a father and a son.”

Frank nodded for his father to continue.

“Maybe one more thing that can never die. The love for a friend.

***

Author’s End Notes

I’d like to thank you for reading
Ghost
Carrier
. It was written over the span of three years during a very intense passage in my life. Perhaps though that backdrop served to allow me to intensify the emotions in the story as well. Or at least leave a lasting impression as a book you could not put down and will remember for a while. One can only hope.

I’d like to gratefully acknowledge my editors who helped with this effort. First, Sandra Tabor, a terrific writer in her own right and the best copy editor I have ever worked with. She always brings things to my attention that I’d never even considered. And second is the invaluable Lee Heinrich at Write Way Publishing. Lee edits as an avid reader and knows what needs to be in a top notch story. She worked hard with me to make this book the best it could be and I can’t thank her enough.

If you enjoyed this book I’d be grateful if you took 30 seconds out of your day and left some kind words on Amazon. Heck at the very least it creates good karma that could come back to you. You never know.

Again thanks for reading the book and check out my other titles. I’ll even send you two books free if you visit my website and sign up for the monthly newsletter. It takes seconds to sign up with just your email at this address:
www.robchild.net
.

All my best,

Rob