The Closet -- FWE, October 30, 2009, Nancy L.

The Closet ---  FWE, October 30, 2009, Nancy L.

When I was little, Dad never talked about the war. He'd joined young, as had his brothers and the only thing he told me, was never to go in a certain closet.

When I asked him why, he told me that there was a gun in there. So, I never went in it, figuring it was his gun from the war, as he went right to the front lines.

Mom told me he went right up in the ranks and was sent to the front line, whatever that was, as I was just a kid and really didn't know.

Afer his death, I looked in that closet and found the gun. It wasn't his. It wasn't an American gun, but a German one. There was something worse in that closet - a blood-stained German uniform.

All I could think of at the time and even today, was, my Dad killed someone and stole their gun and uniform.

I'll never know why. That was one of the worst surprises I'd ever gotten. I hope to never get one like that again.

Only Dad knows, wherever he is and the person he shot; that my Dad took his gun and uniform and left him there. That's how I picture it in my mind.

I do, now, understand why he never talked about the war.

mn - 2009

For today’s prompt, write about a something forgotten or a surprise that you discovered in a pocket or a drawer. If you can’t think of anything, write a fictional account of your discovery of an item. Include a description of the item and its meaning, and describe how you felt when you found it.

Remember to tag your submissions with “FWE”. These pieces will be featured today.