A Family Embraced with Tragedy

By Chris McMullan, Daniel Lango and Matt Hughes

Imagine being in love at 14. Conflict raises in your country. As war is declared you are faced with an ultimate choice. Put yourself in a battlefield facing a relative on the opposing side. Would you run or perhaps fight?
Characters in the story have to cope with these issues. 14 yr. old Pete deals with a frightening dream of Robert's death in battle, whom is his older brother.
Against his mother's decision, Pete run's away from home to join Robert's confederate regiment. Pete's love, Michelle, cuts her hair disguising herself as a man to follow him. He is unaware of her identity. Pete's dream becomes more frightful and haunting as they travel in search of his brother. Does he and his love make it? Will Pete find closure with his haunting dream? If they were to become soldiers, will they escape the dreadful fate Michelle foresees? Find out in this novel, A Family Embraced with Tragedy. Warning the book is tragic, suspenseful, and contains graphic content.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 31, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450245647

Chris McMullan

I'm a civil war reenactor and educator of this era. I did eight years of research on my book. Part of my inspiration came from civil war soldiers making the ultimate sacrifice. The other came from my friends father, Mr. Hughes, an author whom passed away before completion. Eight years ago I promised myself I would finish what I started. Today, I have fulfilled that promise. Daniel Lango is my name and I'm 24 years old living with autism.

Book preview

Prologue:

The red burgundy doors of the church swung open with a loud bang from a young man helping with Sunday services. He wears what a priest would wear, a pure white robe that covered his body from his neck to his polished shoes. His bright smile cheered up Michelle’s family as he escorted them to the pew. People slowly began to enter the church.

A reverend discovers a young girl sobbing alongside her mother within the line of people. He notices the child’s mother is upset staring straight in a daze. Poor family, he thinks to himself, must be a loved one fighting in the war. The reverend shows a cornering expression towards the girl.

She stops and looks at him for a moment. Tears drip out her left eye and down her check. Her mother tugs her along. She expresses to her daughter, Come Sheila. Let’s not have our emotions get the better of us. Sheila follows alongside her mother and adds,

Yes momma. The reverend gives off a friendly smile toward Sheila tipping his black hat. Sheila forms a fake happy expression while walking past him.

Sheila bravely walks down the aisle. A young man touches her shoulder lightly and states, There, there, you’re in God’s house now. He’s always with you and is watching over us all from above.

Inside the church, there are over a dozen pews on both sides. People are entering silently. Each person went to his or her assigned sits. Some of the people bend down to their knees and make a prayer before continuing to their seats.

Sheila follows her younger brother, Daniel, and her mother to the front pew. Sheila pats her tears with a handkerchief. They sit down in the fourth row of pews to the left of Michelle’s family. Each family glances upon the other in silent sorrow. They faced toward an enormous wooden cross, which is behind the podium. Hanging on the cross, like the sorrow of those sacrificed in war.

Music from the organ fills the church with a hopeful refrain. The sound seems to lift the mood of the faithful.

Sheila and Daniel glance over to see the reverend walking into the church. He ascends the podium. Conchetta, the two children’s mother, glances at Sheila and Daniel. She places her arms around their small shoulders. They look at her and smile.

The reverend lifts his hands and glances upon the people in the pews. He notices and feels the heavy sadness that is shadowing the hearts of his flock. He begins the service and everyone stands.

They sit down and the reverend begins his sermon,

On this beautiful Sunday that God has given us, I welcome of you all to mass. I’m here to perform a special speech and your priest is in the back relaxing today. My name is Nail. He stops hearing Sheila cry out sobbing putting her head up against her mother chest. Daniel tries to hold in his emotions turns away from Nail. Nail turns to the sobbing child and expresses,

Why? What’s wrong my dear child? Everyone turns to Conchetta and her children as Sheila could not hold in her tears. She turns to the reverend all upset. She glances upon his happy face.

Reverend Nail it is my brother Pete... Unable to continue she quickly turns barreling her head to her mother’s chest. Conchetta puts her hand upon her back grasping hold of the child. Nail strolls toward the child from the podium. He stops in the center and lifts his hands up in the air expressing,

What about this brother of yours? Daniel feels such sadness remembering his brother last words before he ran out of sight upon a horse. He begins to shed tears slowly with his eye filling up with tears. He then turns to Michelle’s family as they watch seeing them up as they too are trying their best to hold in their emotions. Daniel glance his eyes to Nail. He feels his eye slowly fill with watery tears. Unable to hold it in he cries as Sheila just kept sobbing into her mother’s chest,

Pete ran away to fight in the war reverend, we miss him very much so. Reverend puts his hands down strolling to the sad heartbroken children. The reverend liens closer to the children as Michelle’s family watches Nail. Nail puts his hands upon Conchetta. She too starts to flow out tears as she just stares into Nail eyes. Everyone in the room feels for them, as there is dead silence. Nail puts forth his hands to the child and replies,

Oh! There, there, my children. For god is watching from the heavens. He’ll make sure Pete your brother comes home. Sheila cries out,

Really! Nail expresses,

Yes why you must have faith my child. God is stronger than this war will ever be. For god watches all his children. Daniel and Sheila reply,

Oh reverend! Can you bring my brother back to me? Nail replies,

Oh! There, there, children. Here, I want you to have this with you to help. Ok. She glances up to Nail’s face. Nail glances down to her saddened face. He puts his hand within his pocket and pulls out a rosary. She sees the black pearl rosary within his hands. She turns to him puzzled as he explains,

Oh my child it will help with the pain and worrying. She grasps the rosary and puts it into her small pocket as he stands up and smiles to Pete’s family. The reverend turns to walk back to the podium. Turning around to the people within the church he lifts his hands up and replies to the people,

I ask you all to pray for this child, Pete, to return home to his family safe, untouched by this horrid war. I ask you also to pray over all those who are off fighting within the war. All the people within the church cry out,

Amen. …

Chapter: A wind’s voice in the mist of battle

The sun is shining brightly dotting the open ground with a golden hue. Tiny green hills form waves within the land. There are large open fields dotted with forestry. A soft breeze blows the scent of pine, oak, and cedar through the air. Fallen leaves and pine needles cover the ground acting like a carpet. The forest is a place where one would expect to see deer springing just over the next hill, and yet, there are no signs of deer. On the limbs of trees not even a single gray squirrel are around. It is as if nature is aware of the coming storm. Her animals have all fled. There is a small farm behind the forest on top of the grassy hill, known as Henry’s Hill, and it is deserted. Manassas is so quiet and so peaceful, like an empty meadow on a partly cloudy day.

There came beating drums barreling throughout the forest, which followed by the thundering booms of what appears to be thousands of footsteps. In the short distance, a flag appears in view. It has bright cherry red and an x in ocean blue fabric. Bright white stars sparkle from the sun’s reflection within the ocean blue x. It acts like god himself sprung out touching the fabric.

The flag is begging carried by a twelve-year-old boy. He holds it by a heavy pine wood pole. His dark crystal sea blue eyes stare upon the flag. His gray uniform acts like a light gray cloud moving in constant harmony. Both of his small soft white hands held firmly against the wood pole. The boy’s plush rosy checks quiver from the harsh lashing of the wind. His equipment shuffles every movement of his young legs.

A young drummer boy follows marching in sink near the flag bearer. He beats his drum setting the pace of the march.

Behind the child are about two-thousand men and children in gray uniforms. They march in two long lines. Each line is moving parallel with the other. They act as if they were all like oiled machines moving at the same time.

Their rifle muskets rose past their heads in a diagonal position. Each wears a black leather belt. It consists of a cartridge box, cap box, and bayonet.

The young child with the flag suddenly comes to abrupt halt along with the drummer boy. The long lines behind them immediately follow as if linked by a chain. They become still as death.

Each stares straight ahead. Some of them are frightened beyond death as sounds of explosions pound the ground near them. Explosions are so violent it causes the ground to quack vibrations. Some of the men could pick up their hearts pounding with every quivering vibration.

The young child holding his flag feels sweat beginning to form from his eyebrows. He jolts up from explosions as if an electric current flew through his feet. His eyes catch trees spit in half from the large blasts. The child’s ears decipher trees cracking out as loud as thunder. The child nervously whips off sweat from his forehead. His heart beat faster than his friends drum had ever played. The child fears for his life as he glances up toward the flag. He briefly closes his eyes. Swallowing hard he reopens his eyes. He stares upon three teenagers staring straight and deep in thought.

Robert, at the age of 16, is standing firmly in the middle. His watery eyes sparkle from the sun’s refection. His wool cappy conceals his hair and causes his head to sweat like a pig. Robert’s ears and feet pick up continuous explosions. From the thought of death, he glances down to his right hand shivering. He tries to hold back from showing emotion but fails miserably.

He envisions his first meeting with Sandy, the love of his life, wearing the dress that astounded him. Her pure olive green dress swayed from each side. She wore white leather gloves concealing her soft hands. He then remembers her curly hair, loving green eyes, beautiful smile, and rosy checks. He tries to grasp his wonderful memory with his left hand.

Parry nudging Robert causing him to come out of his vision. Harry grasps Robert’s arm with his free hand. He gives a quick glance to his two friends and nods in thanks. Both his friends smile with an understanding and stare straight. Each becomes poised and ready. Robert slowly arches his head to the sky. He begins an unspoken prayer to god. He squints before spotting a single large cloud. It moves slowly toward the sun. Robert could only think it is a sign. This sign acts like an omen of death’s shadow washing over the field. Robert stands by his friends sides as thoughts of his death flooded his mind and soul. His eyes catch the grassy hill acting as if they are stuck in a pile of muck. He starts lip-speaking acting as if her sprit could hear him,

Sandy, my love… If I were to parish, I want you to know that I love you. After finishing his pupils spot the flag bearer watching him. He notices the child’s eyes filled with fear. Robert fares for his family reminded if they fail.

A sudden rage sparks in him like a fireball bursting from a lava pit. The young boy can feel Robert’s rage. The anger spreads like a wild fire to others. The entire brigade engulfed with this burning rage, drives them to a point of blood thrust. The men and children stand strong like readied beasts waiting to be freed from their cages to destroy their enemies.

Behind the flag bearer, a horse comes galloping toward them. The animal’s four hooves pound deep into the ground causing dirt to fly. The man riding the beautiful horse is dressed in gray. He rather abruptly halts his horse next to the flag bearer. His uniform has two sold gold stars across his collar. The man wears huge black boots from his feet to the upper part of his knee. The officer gets down off his horse pounding the ground underneath each of his two boots. He swiftly takes out his sword into the air past his head. The general swirls it in circles and screams out,

First line, kneel!

He continues to turn his head in the opposite direction. He thrusts his arms further in the air. He fails to realize his right arm fell asleep from focusing ahead of him so intensively. The officer’s cripple hat bent down enough to conceal his forehead. The man’s eyes moved to each side. His belt has a gun holder along with a small cartridge box. In two rows, connecting to his lower portion gold brass buttons ran down the middle of his uniform.

His two lines of men are anxiously waiting for his next orders. These brave men and children are convinced in fighting to the death. Their faces are nothing but strong expressions as their bodies are side by side.

Robert kneeling in position begins to have dirt sting up against his face from a strong wind. He could hear the sounds of the trees’ leaves swaying violently against another. It makes a sound like a violent storm coming in the distance.

Sounds of playing instruments come over the hill suddenly. It rushes to them like beast warriors roaring in their ears. Three flags peak over the tip of the hill. Each has apple red and pure white strips of thirteen going across both sides. In the upper corners of the flags, a navy blue square has sparking white stars in a large circle.

Robert’s eyes distinguish stripes and colors of their foes coming over the grassy hill. His foes seem overwhelming as thousands of them carry muskets and instruments passing by the abandoned house. Their drums where pulsing and flutes where whistling.

Each man marches vastly forward toward Robert’s position. They outnumber the gray lines by the thousands. The enemy could almost be mistaken as one gigantic vast swarm ready to kill. Their uniforms were blue with gold buttons down the middle of their chest. Each of them carries their muskets in a straight line. The tips of their muskets are superior to their heads. Robert’s eyes sight them cock their guns with fiery. His eyes perceive them wearing blue cappies upon their heads.

Robert thought, not much longer. He blinks several times staring the enemy pounding their feet forward. Parry turns to Robert and Harry. He glances into Robert eyes sensing the battle is only seconds away. The rage from before only begins to burn brighter in his heart. Harry brakes the silence whispering to his two friends leaning closer to Robert,

Reckon a heap of fighting is about to start.

Before Robert reacts, a vision of his Irish relatives comes to his eyes acting like a transparent piece of glass. The relatives stand side by side. Each glancing upon Robert saddened.

One of his cousins, Laim, takes a step closer to Robert. He starts pouring out tears like if his inner soul is weeping. He has on his St. Patrick’s outfit. It consists of a green vest and dark emerald pans. Robert sees his black shoes with his shoe laces tried neatly in the center. Laim turns around from Robert giving him the cold shoulder.

Robert’s eyes tremble with sadness while he spots his uncle Shan. He notices his uncle in the outfit he has last seen him wearing. Shan gazes upon the rest of his family as each despair walking back to the city of Boston. He turns to Robert and points toward his lower pocket. Robert sees his uncle becoming a bright simmer of white light. Just before Shan vanishes, a wind blows upon Robert. His ears could almost distinguish the wind acting as his uncle’s voice. This wind spoke to Robert,

Remember who you are. Tis wrong Robert, me nephew. You cannot fight your own people me lad, tisn’t right. Look at the ring and remember your Irish heritage. The imagery image of Shan and his relatives disappear just as mysteriously as it came.

Robert squints glancing at the opposing side. He feels the ring in his pocket. Robert grasps it deep within his pocket. He pulls it halfway out of his pocket. Robert begins to remember a tragic memory. He remembers seeing his uncle’s reaction from him joining the southern cause against the US. Pulling away the ring, he looks to the sky and straight ahead of him.

Parry nudges Robert’s shoulder concerned. Robert comes out of his daze. He takes a deep breath of fresh air feeling the coldness of the air travel from his esophagus to his lungs. Softly he huffs adding to Harry’s earlier statement,

Gosh almighty Harry, it certainly looks like a heap of tremble is coming our way. He swallows a mouth full of saliva down his esophagus. Robert stares at his friend Parry. Thoughts of his relatives possibly on the opposite side come to mind. He speaks as his voice acts like a squeaky mouse, Hope my relatives aren’t on the opposing side.

Gosh almighty! You have family in the north. The young flag bearer expresses. A strong wind thrashes forcefully the flag to each side of the boy. The young flag bearer waiting a response whips his body toward Robert. Harry and Parry bend their heads downward in sadness. Robert gazes into his beady little eyes expressing,

Yaw sure does. The child grasps his cappy upon his head. He places it upon his chest gently and glances down toward the ground. He implies a sad yet admiring tone,

Wow! You truly are giving the ultimate sacrifice for our cause. I will pray and hope you never have to fight against your family. Robert implies a thank you gagster adding,

It seems that way; although, it seems you are to at such a young age. What’s your name kid? He nervously replies,

The name is Steven. Robert expresses,

Well Steven, I’ll say a prayer that we both might survive to see another day. How‘s that sound. Steven adds,

Yaw! Sounds good to me. Harry ends the conversation adding,

My condolences to you Robert and on that note, amen to that.

Parry nodes slowly. He stares toward the enemy like a hock flying over view of its meal. He takes out his pipe and puts it toward his mouth. Parry puts in tobacco and begins to inhale. Exhaling tiny puffs of smoke, he thinks, in a moment’s notice our cause would into a deadly slaughter.

The pipe finishes releasing clouds of bellowing smoke. He in return stops sucking upon his pipe and sloppily slides it back in his bag. He grasps his weapon and smiles with a sick joy at the rush of battle. Robert having Irish blood in him looks at Parry knowing all too well his joy. This briefly gives his own soul excitement from remembering his uncle‘s Irish personality. He sets his mind in living to see his family together again and his future wedding.

At the same time, the general stares at the blue stripes and men in strong numbers. The general suddenly glances back to his own men. His eyes widen with a furious warrior’s pride. He whips his head back and forth. The general thrusts his sword to his left side. He looks down upon it as if it became the very sign symbolizing the battle over America and its fate has begun.

Kneeing in position Robert watches him using the corner of his eyes. His ears pick up a very strong wind leading to him. Its cold harshness whips past him acting like a bucket of water bashing his body. Robert’s ears could almost distinguish a faint whisper within the wind. It is almost like his true love Sandy speaking to him. Robert closes his eyes listening to the strong wind as if Sandy screams out,

Please, my loving Robert, come back to me. For you will only discover death here. Turn away now and never look back. He glances behind him. Slowly, Robert closes his eyes feeling and hearing all his surroundings. His eyes slowly turn to the general’s silver sword. Blinking several times, Robert hears another whisper once more from the briskly wind. He glances up past the general seeing a large cloud blocking the sun. He begins to lower his head again down to the general’s sword.

At that exacted moment, a bright light pushes through the cloud upon the sword. Robert suddenly feels his own body beginning to shake and quiver with excitement. His eyes have a deadly glare from the bright light reflecting off the general’s sword. He acts as if the sun’s reflection sprung down from the heavens, directly into his inner soul.

At that time, the general sights the opposing side only three hundred yards away. He points his index finger to the drummer boy next to Steven. The boy jumps up to attention staring back at the general. The general spits out to the child frightened to death,

Quickly soldier! The drum signal to ready the entire brigade must be given immediately!

Steven jolted to the side by the drummer boy, stands straight up holding firm the flag post. The boy quickly starts to smash both his drumsticks against the base of his drum. Loud beats entries into the men‘s ears. The general immediately screams out,

Prepare to fire by brigade!

Soldiers begin to grab their carriage box. Parry and Harry nudge their friend Robert from both his sides. They quickly break his concentration from the light striking him. Robert shakes his head downward staring at his hands in a tremor from his rage of losing his love.

His friend Parry continues to load his weapon thrusting the cartage to his mouth. He clenches down on the end of it with his front teeth. He tears open a carriage in half. Parts of the gun power get in his mouth. Parry makes a facial expression in disgust from the nasty taste of sulfur. He quickly shoves the bullet and gun power down the barrel. He grasps forth his rammer causing sounds like lead poles bashing pipes. The noise barrels out his rifle musket. Harry leans to Robert whispering,

Reckon you’re scared that you’ll die. Robert’s heart begins to beat faster and a stern look comes from his eyes. He replies,

No….not scared of death, but afraid of killing a relative from the other side. Making a huff Robert replies, Although, I’m more pissed then an Irishmen spilling his last pint. These damn Yanks are threatening our way of life and our love ones. Maybe it’s the Irish in me but I have never been more ready to fight! Parry takes pride in his friend’s words and nods to him focusing on loading. Harry stares to the advancing enemy columns of blue,

Reckon I’m frightened to death of them Yankee blue coats in the yonder too. Just look at the overwhelming numbers they have. How are we to beat them? The commander walks over hearing the boys chatter and motions to the enemy,

However, it’s more important I reckon to die for our home state Virginia, and then let them destroy our home... He turns to the men and continues yelling aloud, I ask that we stand together and face them Yanks. Although death may be imamate, we must face it to save our home state Virginia! Thus, our children will be safe from these invading Yanks! Let’s show them that hell is paradise compared to the hell we will unleash on this day!

Robert, inspired by his commander’s words, grasps his musket and slams it down to the ground in front of him. He could only think of his family and one true love Sandy. His mind shouts to his love Sandy,

I must do this Sandy. Our way of life is in danger and so too are you and my family. The men and Robert could still hear the drummer boy beating his two drumsticks into the base of his drum, as the general screams,

Take aim! Robert, Parry, Harry, and the others lower their muskets. Each of them immediately cocks their muskets. Robert’s slants his head down just behind his muskets hammer. He looks down the barrel of his musket.

The commander hesitates holding his sword in the air and his Colt revolver toward the ground. Parry, Harry, and Robert wait for his command sweating.

One of the men looks at the general and wonders. What is he waiting for? Is it until the enemy is upon us, or is it, when we are running hell dead at the harassing with defeat? The general put down his sword as he shouts in an exploding voice,

Fire!

They begin pick their targets in front of them. Robert’s arms begin to shake including his right index finger around the iron trigger. His emotions caused him to quiver with what ifs. He begins to think, what if I shot a cousin of mine. He quickly shacks his head and glances down his barrel once more. Robert spots a union soldier within the long blue line in front of him. He squints and grabs the trigger firmer still holding back. Oh god please don’t let this be a relative of mine from Boston thought Robert. The general spits out in disgusted due to the hesitation from his men,

Take them down boys! Open Fire! Blasts explode down the gray lines. Two muskets from each of Robert’s side blast open yellow flames with smoke. This causes his ears to ring like a church bell. Robert takes a deep breath filling his lungs. He thrusts his finger against trigger. The musket kicks into his right shoulder bone. His eyes catch a lemon flame erupt out the end of his musket’s barrel. The bullet fired from Robert’s musket rams into a Yankee soldier’s chest. His eyes witness the Yankee soldier smashed backwards. Robert watches the man’s facial expression filled with terror. He turns away from noticing the man’s eyes quivering. The wounded man’s mouth leaks out blood, like a bathtub.

A union officer’s attention turns to his men in the near distance. He notices tiny pockets of holes within his lines. He spits out orders to fill them with reserves. He orders his men to open fire afterwards. The Yankee’s lower their muskets and blast away. The smoke caused by both sides cover the field.

The smell of rotten eggs enters Robert’s nose. It causes him to turn toward his front. Smoke blinded his vision while covering his body and face. His eyes undergo a stain from so much stress in the battle. Robert begins to shake. He hollers out from his vision begging blinded by the color white. His eyes act as if a thick white sheet of paper shielded his eyes.

Both his friends within the fierce fighting around them fail to notice Robert in trouble. A piece of a bullet rips into his left hand. Robert falls to the ground in shock.

Parry and Harry turn sighting their friend. They try to rush over to him; however, a rather venomous whistle sprang above them. It causes both of them to hit ground. Both look up to the sky. Ringing begins to start within their ears drums. It causes them to become dizzy as if a frigate train’s whistle happened inside their ears. Parry and Harry shield their ears with the palm of their hands. Parry shuts his eyes in response from the high pitch whistle echoing inside his eardrums. It causes him to open his mouth screaming,

Oh god, make it stop! Parry spots yet another yellow flaming ball spiraling down toward Robert. It lands into a nearby tree far enough away from Robert. He huffs out in relief.

A union soldier comes darting over to Harry. He looks to the union soldier and raises his hands in surrender. The union soldier forms a sick twist smile. He thrusts the butt of his rifle down into Harry’s head. Harry hollers out sighting the butt come crashing down. He tries bracing himself; however, his forehead received a struck. It causes him to crash into the ground headfirst while knocked out cold, like a car ramming into a tree at full speed.

Parry turns sighting the union soldier standing over Harry. The man starts to load his musket. Cocking the trigger, he aims it down to Harry’s unconscious body.

Parry gets up dashing over to the Yank. He sights the union soldier tit his head sideways looking down his barrel. Parry screams bloody murder,

You damn Yankee folk aren’t going to touch him! The union soldier twists around lowering his gun. He spots Parry. His reaction causes his eyes to widen. He trusts up his gun to his shoulder bone as Parry charges at him screaming, Yaw hear me yank!

Parry comes to a halt whipping his head to his side. The union soldier shows a puzzling expression. Parry’s reaction causes him to turns to his right. His eyes discover a yellow flaming ball spiraling toward him. He whispers dropping his musket to the ground unable to get out of the way,

Shut! Parry drives to the ground.

The flaming artillery shell prices the ground causing an explosion. The union soldier went soaring through the air like a dog tossing its toy. The man’s neck snapped almost instantly from his head impacts against the ground. His body bounced in circles several other times like a pinball. It sent shrapnel into Robert’s body and causes Parry to fly into a tree like a paper airplane. He gets the wind knocked out of him. Parry lands in a prone position coughing up blood. He raises his head slightly toward his two friends. His head quivers and body trembles from the crash. Spitting out blood he whips off the substance from his chin. He lost his will to continue and knocked out cold. Parry’s head bashes up against the ground.

Seconds later within the battle, Robert finds himself lying face up. His musket lays upon the ground to his right side. Robert’s legs spread apart as tiny shrapnel spread across parts of his body. A breeze comes crashing up against him. He could feel the chilling breeze zip into his left ear. Robert closes his eyes. The wind acts like Sandy’s voice crying out,

Oh my beloved Robert please don‘t leave me. He moves to his right thrusting out his right hand into the air. He screams toward the direction of the breeze,

Oh Sandy, I love you so very much. How could I ever leave you? My love.

The surrounding battle noises begin to fade away due to him slowly loosening consciousness. He begins to relive through his past while his hand strikes against the ground at his side…

Chapter: St. Patrick’s Day

The cries of hurt soldiers, raging gunfire in battle, along with darkness begins to grow fainter from Robert’s state of conscious. He sinks deeper into a significant memory feeling like a ghost trapped in his past. The vivid memories crowded his mind, as he traveled slowly through a mist of grayish fog; he brought to old memories. These memories engulfed his mind like a moving picture gallery. These moving pictures circle through his mind like changing colors of a kaleidoscope. Pictures of his past illuminate his mind and body vividly recapturing each memory. A particular event reaches out toward him, pulling him back to the fateful day that changed his destiny forever.

Robert’s ears pick up Irish bells of joyful singing. He could only see pitch black around him unable to move his head. He suddenly appears into an enclosed room completely moist with chilling air. Darkness flourishes throughout this room blinding him. Trapped in this dream Robert discovers a door. He uses both of his hands to open it. He pushes what appears to be a closed door while twisting the doorknob clockwise. A click sprung forth from the insides of the doorknob. Robert braces himself slowly pushing the door forward causing it to shriek.

His vision replenishes from the darkness. He finds himself back at home on top of his very own bed. Laying face up Robert stares at the sealing. Robert sitting up discovers his bed sheets where completely saturated of sweat from a frightening moment, which he would later experience. Glancing around his room, he finds a picture of his loving Sandy. It is upon his desk next to his dresser. He was overwhelmed at her beauty and time stood still for those few special seconds. Dazing into his lovers picture he swelled up with happiness and love. Robert thinks to himself, I’m the luckiest man alive. I feel so blessed that this loving angel took me as my love. Robert forms a smile of joy as he was contemplating with asking her hand in marriage. Pete interrupts his thought by rushing in and bashing the door open. Pete anxiously approached with a smile and said,

Robert! Stop dazing off and hurry up. Tonight is going to be a special concision. Robert taken off guard shows a complexes expression and replies,

Why is tonight unlike any other? Pete rushes over and grasps Robert’s arm yanking him out of bed shouting,

You don’t know Robert, my brother. How can you not know? Robert replies puzzled even more,

What do you know that you’re not telling me? Pete chuckles with joy. Daniel, one of the youngest children, flocked through the hallway. He hears Robert, his oldest brother. Daniel twists around in laughter,

Why it’s Sandy, momma invited her to the family party.

Sheila was in her Irish dress and her hair was in a ponytail. It went down to her middle waste. She, the youngest in the family, cries out toward their uncle Shan, from Boston,

K, i, s, s, i, n, g, first comes love, then comes the baby in the baby carriage. Robert blushes as Shan laughs out in laughter. He holds onto his stomach crunched over. Standing up Shan strolls toward his little niece. He pats her gently several times while she looks up at him. She, afterwards, passes by skipping toward the downstairs.

Robert’s cousin, Laim, comes into view exciting the bathroom. Pete and Robert leave his room. They bump into Shan their uncle. Shan grasps Robert’s hand and gives him an Irish family embrace. Pete grasps Laim’s hand and laughs. Laim said as he used a greeted voice,

I always do love this time of year; especially today, considering its Saint Patrick’s Day. Shan stood up straight and adds,

Brings up joyful memories me Irish lads. Robert expresses toward the little group,

Reckon so uncle Shan. How was the trip from Boston? Laim turns toward the door below. Shan shuts his eyes as, hate that damn factory we work for, came into mind. Shan reopens his eyes. He glances toward the outside from a window below him next to the front door. Laim refocus on Pete and Robert. Shan replies out,

Tis tolerable. Pete expresses,

That’s good, how’s life up in those Yankee parts. Laim rolls his eyes around like a ball rolling down a hill on an angle. Shan arches his back. He chuckles out as, the air is so clean here and the area is quite as a mouse, came to him. Shan glances all around him un-arching is back thinking, where’s the big furry rates here? I have yet to find one. Robert and Pete stood there staring at both Laim and Shan. Shan replies out,

Awful me lads. The rest of me family had to stay in Boston to pay the rent, tis too expensive Laim expresses out,

Yaw, tis constant filth too from the factories leaving the air polluted. Shan folds his arms cross his chest over one another. Laim puts his back against the wall lending against it. Before Robert was able to speak, Shan also expresses,

Me lads where are the rats? I’ve yet to find even one in your home. Pete chuckles from Shan’s question. Robert forms a smile. Pete turns to Robert and glances back at Laim and Shan. Robert sarcastically replies out in somewhat of laughter,

Sounds like Yanks can’t keep things clean up there in, those parts. Laim and Shan begin to chuckle. They join in as they all being to laugh as a group.

Sheila in her little dress stops and glances out the window. She spots Sandy riding up to the house on her white horse. She notices Sandy’s gown from her waist down has blue fabric in circular patterns. The top part of her dress shows some cleavage around her breast in the form of a v-shape. However, there is cleavage revealed by a single top part of a red rose. The base of the dress is a pure white almost like a white rabbit. Her black boots bounced upwards as the horse gulped toward the house. Sheila begins to shout out toward her mother, Conchetta,

Sandy is here!

Conchetta in the kitchen hears her youngest and drops the flower for the cheek cake. She turns to Shannon replying, I‘ll be right back it seems are surprised guest has arrived. Shannon in her violet gowned mixing the eggs and water turns to her and replies,

Tis ok, I’ll go greet the guest. Besides, I’ve got to go see what me love is doing, your hands are covered in flower anyway. Conchetta glances down at her hands covered in flower. She smiles and sights Shannon strolling out of the kitchen to the door. Conchetta expresses toward Shannon,

The guest is Robert’s girlfriend Sandy.

Sheila looks up at Robert near the top stairway. She starts to chuckle as Daniel hops toward her. Standing next to Sheila, he spots Sandy halting her horse. He watches has she gets down off her hoarse. Sandy can see Daniel and Sheila at the window, while she trots toward the front door. She smiles waving toward the two children. Daniel laughs out loud getting the attention of the others upstairs. They turn to spot the two little children dancing in circles excited. Each have their arms raped around one another. They begin to sing out,

Sandy and Robert are sitting in a treat. K, i, s, s, i, n, g, first comes love, then comes the baby in the baby carriage. Robert blushes, as his whole face turns red as a bright cherry. Pete falls to his knees laughing so hard he almost pisses his pants. Laim falls flat on his butt laughing out so hard he holds his stomach. Shan chuckles out as few laughs as while replying,

Sure like to meet this Sandy!

When Sandy knocks at the door, the children stop dancing. Daniel opens the door and lets Sandy inside. She walks in happy and looks up to Robert. He stares back into her greenish eyes forming a smile. She waves to him. Robert lefts his right arm up slowly waving back. Her shrubs her shoulders toward him along with creating a loving smile. Robert fails to realize his dazes as he stares at her beautiful gown. He also starts to stare at her chest with the rose over her breasts.

The others around Robert stop laughing and admirer Sandy’s beauty. The two children grab onto Sandy dress and tug gently to get her attention. She glances down at the two children and begins to have a conversation with them.

Laim replies,

Robert you’ve found a nice lady me lad. Shan points his index finger in the air agreeing with his nephew Laim. He turns to Robert noticing him in a dazes toward her. He smacks his right hand up against Robert‘s back. He expresses out,

Yaw too bad for you lad. Cause she’ll be rushing for me two Irish pipes! Robert snaps out of his daze and turns toward Shan. His eyes catch Shan having both arms up in the air. Shan starts to kiss his strong muscles. Pete and Laim laugh out. Robert shacks his head and rolls his eyes at his uncle. Sandy replies toward Robert in a loving affectionate tone,

Hello my love. Robert forms a smile to her and replies with a wave. Shan shouts expressing out,

Hey Sandy! You’ve found a real good lad; but, his two Irish pipes aren’t as big as mine! Shannon comes in view standing next to the children from below and shouts out hearing her husband,

Shan! Laim and Pete start snickering. Shan lowers his arms as Shannon folds her arms giving him the look. The two begin to laugh out toward Shan. Robert even joins in on the laughter as the three acts like a bunch of drunken fools. Shan expresses toward his wife,

"Oh