And Now I'm Here: A short story
They sat around the campfire, rifles resting within arms reach, and a pot of stew bubbling. Alexander was the first to speak up, “So, what jobs did this war pull you all from? I was a bookstore owner, had a vast collection, filled with books on any topic or subject imaginable. Then the war came, and now I’m here…”
Walter spoke next, nodding to Alexander, “I was a butcher, and a wealthy one at that. Not a single sliver of meat sold in my town outside of my shop. At first, I sold surplus meat to the army for the war effort. Then I was called upon to serve, and now I’m here…..”
Frank nodded to both and mumbled “I was a mechanic… I could fix just about any vehicle imaginable, even those without engines, like boats or bicycles. The army decided I was better suited fixing trucks on the frontlines… now I’m here…”
Martin was the last to speak, shivering a bit in the cold “I worked in a factory, first building car parts, then tank parts, and then everyone was called upon to serve. Now I’m here….” The sudden, faint sound of machine gun fire was heard, followed by yelling and an explosion. The men grabbed their rifles, and stood ready, preparing for conflict. After a short while, one that seemed hours to the men, the noise died down, then faded away. The men carefully set their weapons down, then sat back around the campfire. The stew began to steam heavily, signalling it was done. Each man took as large a mug-full from the pot as possible, eating all that they could.
Alexander broke the silence.
“They said this war was necessary...that we would have riches, and wealth, that we would be heroes…. not that we would be slaughtered needlessly in this cold, hellish land… I’m… I’m beginning to wonder if following him was the right choice…. I-If there were a better way, God knows I would have taken it.”
“That I can agree with…” said Frank, the others nodded in agreement.
“I was told I would be made a hero, to be loved by all… not to be murdered in the snow, buried under rubble and forgotten like trash…” said Martin. They sighed and shrugged, shivering in the cold, wrapping blankets around themselves. They thought about their hopes, and dreams. They thought about wives, children, mothers, and fathers. They thought about home. But despite what they thought, what they assured themselves of at every passing second, each and every one of them knew the truth: now they are here, forever, in Stalingrad.
