Our work

The war was over. The lads would be coming home today along with Tim's big brother, John. We hadn't seen him for years .We forgot about the way he used to play soccer with us. Anyway the bus was coming down the road.  I could see a smile on Tim's mom's face . This was the day she was waiting for. Finally the bus came to a stop. They all got off, some missing limbs, some deaf, some shellshocked. Despair came over us.  Out of all the people who came off the bus Tim's brother wasn't there. A soldier came over to Tim's mother and said the words Tim's mother dreaded to hear ''Mrs, your son has been killed in action. We all went off in tears.
                         
                          The next day the funeral was held. We all cried as the soldiers sang 'In Flander's Field '.
                             "We are the dead .
                               Short days ago we lived , felt dawn
                               Saw sunset's glow- -"
That was it. That was all that Tim's mother could take.  She burst out crying . Then she was handed the flag. We were all completely shocked in what had happened . That night I heard a knock on the door . When I opened it Tim was standing at the door.
"What are you doing,Tim? It's two o' clock in the morning.''
"You're my friend, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"Would you believe me if I said that my brother was still alive?"
"He can't be."
"We buried him today. You saw the coffin being put in the ground."
"We saw a coffin with a body in it , but I don't think it was John . Have a look at this and read it."
I took the letter from his hand and opened it . "Look at the date." "Wait a minute I haven't read it yet." " Tim, your brother wrote this." "I know ,"said Tim. "But look at the date. It was clearly written 13th of November. That means your brother is still alive." " I know ,it also says he'll be back in a week . Did you tell your mother?" " Not yet . I'm going to keep it a secret." " Jesus you will give her a heart attack when she sees John is still alive.

                                                               A week had passed . Tim came in to my backyard. "Today is the day ,Peter."  " I know, bet you can't wait."  We heard a car coming . We saw in the window that it was John. I started chasing the car. Tim followed me .We chased the car to Tim's house where it came to a halt. Tim's mother came running out the door . ''John, is that you?" "Yes mam, it's me." That night John took a risk -a big risk . He went down to the local pub. Before he left his mother said be careful. But what happened next no one expected. He was walking down the street with his hood up. BANG! A gun shot rattled the whole estate. We ran out the door . Lying on the ground lifeless was John .  A man stood over him .  "Yeah it was me. I shot him.  He kicked me around like a piece of dirt. He got what he deserved."  He was gone in a flash.


                                               The End                               .
P.O.K.