Read Of Windmills and War for Free Online

shoveling in all kinds of weather, so he stuck it out. By five o’clock , he’d
finished the McPherson’s, the Lendowski’s, and the Langley ’s
houses, and decided to stop. The streetlights helped, but shoveling in the dark
could be dangerous. He’d have to do the other two tomorrow. Hopefully the snow
would let up by then.
    His mother opened the door as he stepped onto the porch. “I
was about to come looking for you. It’s late, Danny. Come inside and get warm.
I don’t want you catching your death of cold out there.”
    “Be right in. Something sure smells good. What’s for
dinner?”
    “Fried chicken.” She suddenly covered her mouth with her
hand. “Oh, for goodness sake. I forgot to tell you earlier. You have a letter
from Hans.”
    “Yeah? It’s about time. I was starting to worry.”
    “I know, that’s why I’m so sorry I didn’t mention it
earlier. It’s up on your pillow.”
    “No problem, Mom. I was in a hurry this afternoon and never
thought to go up and check.”
    “Do you want me to get it for you?”
    “No, I’d rather read it after dinner and a bath. That’ll
give me something to look forward to.” He set the shovel in the corner of the
covered porch and sat on one of the rockers to take off his boots. He hadn’t
heard from Hans in over two months. From the beginning they’d always written at
least once a week, though their letters often took three weeks to be delivered—two
if they were lucky. Danny assumed the recent long delay was probably a Dutch
postal problem and tried not to worry.
    Sophie broke his train of thought, standing inside the
window behind him, barking in delight, her breath frosting the glass. “Hey
girl, I’ll be right in. Did ya’ miss me?” He could swear she smiled at him.
“Well, just for the record, I missed you too, Sophie.”
    After dinner, Danny dragged himself up the stairs. He pulled
his sweater over his head and tossed it on his bed. He was tempted to read
Hans’ letter but decided he’d rather take a nice hot bath first. Once he was
clean and finally warm again, he picked up the letter and noticed something
different. That’s strange. It’s from his address but the handwriting is
definitely not his. He sat down on his bed and carefully opened the letter.
     
    Dear Danny,
    I have tried to write you many times, but I simply could not
find the words. I am so very heartbroken, but I must tell you of the recent
death of my brother Hans. It happened back in December on a day of skating. We
had such a wonderful day, all of us, skating the canal. Late in the afternoon,
as we skated our way home, there was a terrible scream from behind us. Hans
immediately skated back and found our young friend Rieky had fallen and hit her
head on the ice. Hans tried to calm her down as we all turned back to see what
had happened. Just as we approached them we heard a loud crack in the ice. We
know whenever that happens we must get off the ice as fast as possible. We all skated
away as fast as we could, but Hans stayed with Rieky who was crying
hysterically and clinging to him. Suddenly, with a sound I shall never forget,
the crack split wide open. We could not see Hans or Rieky! I started to skate
back to them, but the others held me back. Some of the older boys tried to
reach them, but the ice kept cracking and they had to turn back. We could hear Hans
and Rieky crying out for help in that freezing water, but we could not reach
them. I yelled and yelled, screaming at Hans not to give up. But soon their
cries were silent and we knew the water below had pushed them beyond the gaping
split in the ice.
    Even now, these many weeks later, I cannot forget the sound
of their desperate cries going silent. I cannot erase from my mind the image of
my brother and little Rieky dying in that icy water. I will never forgive
myself for not breaking through the arms of those who held me back. I could
have saved them! I know I could have saved them!
    Our home is filled with sorrow.