Forget-Me-Nots

By Jim Carr

It was the worst dilemma any mother had to face.

 

When Crete and her husband emigrated to Canada from Germany in 1919, she gave birth to twins Rhinehart and Karl.

 

With one son in the German army and the other in the Canadian military, it was an ongoing nightmare every time she listened to the war broadcasts, with no news from either of them.

 

Her only consolation was that they would look after each other, and every Spring when she would look out her bedroom window to see the Forget-Me-Nots blooming on the hillside and in her mind's eye Rhinehart as a boy picking a fistful of them for her.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: jim Carr
• Release date: Sep 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215809204

Jim Carr

Jim Carr's adventure with words began as a teacher of Latin grammar, followed by a lengthy career in print journalism as a reporter, columnist and editor. He left to become a communications specialist for a number of national and international corporations and institutions. He returned to journalism in retirement and acts as associate editor of Spa Canada magazine as well as freelancing for other publications. He writes a blog about Thai resorts and spas, which is featured on Spa Canada's website, as well as fiction.

Book preview

FORGET-ME-NOTS

JIM CARR

COPYRIGHT 2022: JamesWCarr

ISBN: 9781989425435

CHAPTER ONE

Corporal Hugh McGill was only a few steps from the top of the hill and was breathing hard when he looked up at a German soldier unslinging his rifle and aiming it at him.

Hugh unslung his rifle and pointed it at the German soldier. They held their rifles at each other for a full minute before the German lowered his rifle and smiled at him. Hugh did the same and showed his watch to the German. It was two minutes to eleven.

They smiled at each other, threw their rifles to the ground, walked toward each other with outstretched arms, and laughed in their ears as they heard the artillery blasts from each of their camps signal the end of the war.

They sat down on the grass, and Hugh reached into his pocket for his pack of Players No. 10. The German soldier, whose blue eyes followed his movements, nodded, reached into his pocket, and found his pack of Eckstein’s. They traded cigarettes, and Hugh began coughing from the first puff. They lay back on the grass and watched the clouds float in the blue sky. After five days of constant shelling, the silence helped them find their way to their new reality. The war was over. No more trenches to mount and run in the direction of the enemy and no more hearing the cries of pain of their comrades.

Six German soldiers found them lying on the ground and pointed their rifles at Hugh. The German soldier at his side rose on one elbow, showed them his watch, and shouted to them. Hugh traded cigarettes with the others, and one of the German soldiers unslung his canteen and offered his canteen to Hugh, who gagged. The canteen had been filled with Brandy.

Everyone laughed as they emptied the canteen and lay on the grass. One of the soldiers began to cry, and the others followed the moving clouds for at least 20 minutes before High slung his rifle over his shoulder and invited them to do the same. He waved them to join him back to the Canadian camp. All the soldiers were sitting on the grass waiting for supper and rose when they saw Hugh come with six German soldiers. A few soldiers scrambled to find their rifles but were to drop them by one of the officers who had watched them enter.

The war’s over, lads. Let’s have no more killing. Ever again.

The German soldiers stayed with them for supper. One of them, who had studied in England before the war, offered to translate for everyone. The soldier who had met Hugh first wanted to know Hugh’s name.

And what is his name?

Konrad. Konrad Aberbach. He wants to know if you are married and where you worked before the war.

Hugh told him and asked their translator about his new friend.

Konrad comes from the coal mining Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia and is still unmarried.

Tell him I am married with one child and was also a miner before the war in Cape Breton. It’s part of Nova Scotia.

Konrad wants you to know he will visit you one day.

Tell him I have an extra bedroom for him. He asked for a piece of paper and a pencil and wrote down his address. He passed his note to the translator, who also supplied Konrad’s name and address.

Hugh and Konrad laughed and shook hands tightly. The German soldiers left a few minutes after supper and shook everyone’s hand in the camp before heading back over the hill.

A FEW WEEKS LATER, they boarded a boat for Halifax from Saint-Malo. The atmosphere differed from the voyage when everyone sang war songs and couldn’t wait to be in the trenches. This time they kept to themselves with the officers and men of their group, and no one wanted to talk about their lost friends.

Hugh spent much of his time topside. Unlike the others, the rolling waters of the Atlantic did not seem to bother him. He felt scarred inside and hoped that the horrific things he had seen would fade from his mind forever. He was going home and leaving all the killing and death behind him.

The others spent much of their time in their bunks, playing cards and getting sick. For Hugh, the Atlantic was a cure. When rough water was forecast, he headed for the deck. He held onto the railing as the waves grew in size, and the boat would rock from side to side. He looked ahead at a huge wave coming in their direction. It crashed onto the deck, and the undertow took him with him. He spotted a rope dangling from the wall, and he grabbed it and held it as tight as he could. He was in danger of being washed away with it when another giant wave hit the deck again, throwing him against the wall.

He tried to right himself when another wave knocked him off his feet. He held onto the rope and could see another wave heading his way. He stood and crawled to the doorway. The wave hit the deck just as it reached the door. It drenched him again, and he slipped inside and held the stairway railing just before the next wave hit.

He managed to climb down the stairs and crawl to the cabin where his comrades were trying to steady themselves in their hammocks.  Hugh sat on the floor and reached for his towel dangling from his hammock to dry himself. He sat on the floor and tried to rock with the boat until the sea grew calm again.

You look as though you’ve gone to hell and back, said Jack Collins, one of his mates, who sat beside him. You need to change and dry yourself. They’ll be announcing supper a few minutes from now.

Jack helped him to his feet and went inside the toilet to wash the sea off his body and don new clothes. They joined the others in the lineup for supper. They were serving beef and mashed potatoes. Some of their mates still felt queasy and settled for chocolate cake and tea. But High was starving and dug into the beef as though he hadn’t eaten in days. Jack couldn’t finish his and pushed the rest onto Hugh’s plate.

You look great, despite what you just went through topside, said Jack.

Hugh looked at him for a few seconds. You know, Jack, this is the best I’ve felt since we left that hell hole. It’s almost as though the sea washed me clean from it all. He knew deep down it hadn’t cured him but just made him feel a bit better."

THE TRAIN BACK TO THE Ruhr was packed with soldiers anxious like himself to get back home. Konrad had enough war to last him a lifetime. He removed his cap and hung it on the hanger above their seat. He sat next to another soldier who had lost his arm, crying with his face to the window. Konrad offered him a cigarette, and the soldier took it from him with his left arm and put it on his lips. Konrad lit it for him and sat back.

"Mein Gott, Konrad heard himself say. I want never to see another war. May I die before I ever do."

His companion nodded and started crying again. Konrad wanted to reach out and comfort him but wasn’t sure how he would take it.

How did we ever get into this? said the soldier. Then, after a pause, did you ever kill anyone?

I’m not sure. The only thing I can say is I had my rifle pointed at an enemy soldier two minutes before the cease-fire started. He raised his rifle at me, but we both lowered them before the cease-fire and hugged each other. We later traded cigarettes, and when some of our comrades found us, he invited us for supper at his camp. I have his name, and he has mine. We were both coal miners before the war.

The train had just come into a station, and they could see some more soldiers come aboard. The train jerked as it proceeded out of the station, where they could see the countryside and fields of harvested wheat as they passed them by.

Another soldier sat down opposite them. He had lost a leg and had to be helped into his seat. Another soldier put his crutches in the overhead rack and squeezed his hand before taking the empty seat on the other side of them. They introduced themselves to each other and sat back.

The soldier who had lost his arm reached out and shook his hand. They both tried to smile at each other. My name, said Konrad, is Konrad Aberbach. I’m on my way to the Ruhr. He shook each of their hands. The soldier who sat on the other side also joined them and introduced himself. He smoked a pipe, and his friend, who had lost his leg, offered them a cigarette.

They suddenly became friends and started telling jokes and singing some songs they had heard in cafés during the war. Konrad shook hands with them twice each before getting ready to leave and wishing them luck. He stood in the doorway as the train came to a stop.

He could see his mother and father standing behind the crowd of wives who had greeted them. Konrad let the wounded off first, helping them take the first step on the stairway. He waved to his mother and father as soon as they could see him on the stairway. His mother ran to him and hugged him long and hard, crying as she held him back and looking into his face.

You’ve lost weight, said his father, who grabbed his arm and bag. Thank God you have not lost an arm or a leg and that you’ve come back to us in one piece.

Where is Heidi?

Your sister is at home cooking a special supper for us. All your favourites.

Did you kill many of the enemy? said his father.

I hope not.

KAY WAS WAITING FOR Hugh close to the gangplank at Halifax harbour. She was wearing a new dress. It was yellow, his favourite colour, with a bright blue jumper, despite the cold wind blowing in from the Atlantic. His five-year-old daughter was waving the flag as soon as her mother pointed to him. He hugged Kay for the longest time. His mother and father had also come. It was a holiday at the colliery, and his father was dressed in his old black suit. He was leaning on his cane, talking to his mother.

They took the bus back to Cape Breton, a five-hour drive from Halifax with all the stops and starts. A few friends had gathered at the bus depot to welcome him. Even his foreman at the colliery put his arm on his shoulder and reminded him his old place at the mine was waiting for him.

A week later, his wife mentioned to him that he had changed. You’re not the same person I knew before you left. Did you find someone else while you were away?

Hugh shook his head. It’s not that Kay and all the good friends lost their arms, legs, or even their heads. Seeing it did something to me, I thought I was clear, but it keeps coming back. I cannot even describe it to you.

She put her arms around him, but he got up. I need to take a long walk. I hope you understand.

She cried to sleep by the time he returned and lay beside her.

Work came as a release, but the old images still made their appearance in the darkness where he dug out the coal seams. He knew he needed to see a doctor, but something he couldn’t explain stopped him from going to one. Konrad was in his mind for some reason, and he dug out his handwritten address, sat down and wrote him a letter to see how he was adapting to civilian life.

Two months later, he received a long letter. He, too, was waking up with nightmares and had quit his old job. One passage stood out: I am learning English and how to write it. Please do not forget me.

Hugh sat down and wrote him back immediately, this time describing his nightmares. He ended the letter: Should you find it possible to come and visit me, my door is always open to you. And perhaps, a job in the coal mine where I work.

Two days later, a loud blast from the mine signalled a major cave-in at a neighbouring shaft. The telephone rang a few minutes later. It’s Mike O’Neil, Hugh. We need you and a dozen others to help dig out 37 trapped miners in No. 3. Your father is one of them.

Count on me, Mike. How bad is it?

Really bad. They'll not make it if we don’t get a pipe down.

My father’s trapped in a cave-in in No. 3.  Go and see my mother while I get to the colliery. He fastened his jacket and tied a bandana around his neck. It was early March, and Spring was in the air as he ran into four others heading for the shaft.

Mike O’Keefe and a dozen others were waiting for them. They didn’t wait but went to work immediately. They took the elevator down as far as it would go, equipped with picks and shovels. A large canvass sling was lowered for them to shovel their dirt into. They breathed hard after ten minutes, but Mike and six others carried on until they needed to rest. Hugh and the others went to work immediately, hauling the rope to raise the sling. 

An hour later, they could push down two 12-inch pipes into the area where the miners were trapped. Hugh could hear his father shout a loud thank you, followed by a cheer from the others.

They took turns eating the supper that had been hoisted down to them. A dozen lanterns were hoisted down and placed around the platform by nightfall. They could hear voices louder now, and it made them work all the harder.

The breakthrough came just as the morning sky lit up. They helped the older ones up first to the platform and hauled on the rope to be pulled up before being raised to ground level and the wind from the sea.

Hugh barely made it out of the company car and into his house. He didn’t wait to wash but collapsed on the floor and slept.

CHAPTER TWO

Kay woke him the next morning. There are two strangers at the door asking for you. What do you want me to tell them?

Hugh rubbed his eyes and turned over. Kay had covered him with the comforter from their bed. "I can’t leave them standing there. They asked to see you. What do you want me to tell them?

She helped him get to his feet and stagger to their bathroom. His breath smelled terrible and made him wash his face and rinse his mouth. He rubbed a two-day beard growth and decided it would have to wait as he staggered to the door.

Hugh shook his head. I’m Hugh McGill. What can I do for... His face suddenly came into focus. It’s you, Konrad, he shouted as the man’s face came into view. He reached out and grabbed Konrad’s arms. Come in.

He led Konrad and the woman with him into their front room and yelled out for Kay. She entered and scanned the faces of the strangers. This is my wife, Kay, Konrad. He turned to his wife. This is Konrad, the German soldier I’ve talked to you about.

And this is my wife, Grete. We got married last month, and I sent you a letter a couple of weeks ago.

It hasn’t come yet. But sit down. He turned to Kay. Make us some coffee and add some cake we had last night. Then he realized that he had lost a day, along with sudden flashes of being at the mine and shovelling as though his life depended on it. His father had been trapped in the mine, and they had been able to rescue them.

And bring in the bottle of Brandy while you’re at it. This is a day to celebrate. He turned to Konrad. Forgive me. There was a cave-in at No. 3 shaft. My father was trapped underground, and I spent 24 hours digging him and the other miners out.

He’s been out for 24 hours and only woke when I answered the door, said Kay, placing down the chocolate cake with boiled frosting and four plates. She put them on an end table between them and returned for the bottle of Brandy, the coffee and the cups.

The floor linoleum looked unwashed and shabby. Hugh sat next to Konrad, who kissed his wife, while Kay poured the coffee and added a double shot of Brandy. Your wife is very beautiful, Konrad. I somehow had the impression you were a confirmed bachelor.

I was, but I suddenly found a stranger in the home I grew up in. I moved out and met Grete while having supper at a nearby café. Grete brought me a cup of coffee and asked for my order. I fell in love with her as soon as I heard her voice and saw her. I asked her if she was married. She shook her head and asked for my order again. I asked her to marry me on the spot. Her priest made us wait three weeks before we married.

Grete was blushing.  She spoke only a little English and rose to help Kay slice the cake and serve Hugh and Konrad. Grete pushed back her light brown hair and smiled at them. She had a round face with bright blue eyes and spoke softly.

When I told her I had a friend in Canada and wanted to have our honeymoon there, we found a ship which took us to Halifax. From there, we came by bus to your beautiful home. He looked at the sofa where Kay was sitting with Hugh and the painting of a large sailing ship above their heads. He spotted a face peering at them from the kitchen corner. And who is this beautiful lady? Let me guess. It’s Ingrid. No. Then let me guess one more time. Peggy.

Kay rose and brought her to sit between them.

Your father mentioned you to me many times, said Konrad.

You mentioned that you were learning English, said Hugh.

Konrad nodded. I want to talk the same way you do.

You do just fine, Konrad.

Kay rose, refilled their cups with coffee and Brandy, and added a second slice of the cake to their plates.

Where are you staying?

At your local inn.

Then, when you leave, you will get your things and spend the rest of your visit with us. I insist on it. There are so many things I want to talk to you about.

About the war?

Hugh nodded. Have you given any thought about immigrating here? There are jobs at the mine, in case you’re interested. Join me tomorrow and see what you think.

If there are jobs, I want to come here for good and work here. Germany has changed since the war, and even my parents are different. When I told Grete about you and Canada, she thought it would be best if we started our new lives together in a new land where people have a different view of life.

It’s not paradise, but at least you are not bound by preconceived ideas.

They left after lunch.

What do you think of them?

They’re a good couple, said Kay. Grete doesn’t say much, but her feet are planted firmly on the ground. They will do fine.

Hugh bathed and washed his hair and body repeatedly before shaving and putting on his shirt and trousers. Kay held him from behind and rubbed her nose against his back.

Konrad came alone to invite them to a special dinner at the inn. Grete told me to make sure Peggy came, too.

Kay kept them waiting while she changed into a dress, and Hugh changed into a white shirt and a suit jacket. Outside, they boarded a taxi at the door.

Grete was waiting for them at the entrance to the inn and took Peggy’s hand and led them into the inn’s dining room. They sat at a large table with five place settings, with Peggy sitting between Grete and Kay.

They ordered lobster, the inn’s special seafood chowder, and homemade buns. Hugh helped them break out their lobsters while they toasted each other to the future together with Brandy.

Konrad and Hugh swapped stories of camp life during their time in the army. They toasted fallen comrades and ordered pie and coffee to end the evening when they finished.

They returned home in silence. Peggy, who had fallen asleep on Kay’s lap, was carried into the house and put to bed while Hugh escorted Konrad and Grete inside and into the spare bedroom. He left them to unpack and invited them to join him in the front room for tea.

You and I will go to the mine together in the morning. I start at six o’clock, so you might want to shave tonight, he said to Konrad, who was nodding throughout it all.

How should I dress?

In your old work clothes. Let Hamish Campbell know you’re ready to start work immediately. A bit of advice. He hates Huns, and his brother died in one of the big battles. Blown to bits by one of your army’s big shells, he takes it out on every Hun he sees. My advice is to tell him you come from Belgium.

What about other people?

The war’s pretty well over for most people.

I’VE GOT A RECRUIT for you, Hamish.

Had any experience? said Hamish Campbell.

In the coal mines of the Ruhr.

Where are you from?

Belgium.

What’s your name?

Konrad Aberbach.

Sounds like a Hun name to me, said Hamish, looking at Hugh.

I fought with Konrad during the final stages of the war and invited him to work here with us. Then after a pause, how is your father?

Called him this morning. He seems okay.

He turned back to Konrad. You can work with McGill for the time being so that I can see if you’re as good as you think you are. Payday’s on Friday.

Konrad smiled as they were lowered down the shaft. A bit of advice. Don’t pick a fight with him. You won’t live to tell the tale if you do. No matter what he says to you.

They bent down in the mine as they approached the seam Hugh was working. Konrad showed him a new way to loosen the seam and increase their output. By the time the whistle blew to end the day, their production had almost doubled. They went to the platform to be hauled up and laughed when they saw each other’s faces.

After supper, when Kay and Grete were cleaning up, Konrad cocked his head. If you don’t mind me asking, how much do you pay the company to rent your house?

Last month, they raised it to five dollars a month. During the war, it was four.

Konrad lowered his voice. I have a bit of money set aside. How about you?

Not much. Been saving ever since Kay and I got married.

YOU MUST HAVE ONE HELL of a seam, said Hamish Campbell when they picked up their wages for the month. You live a charmed life. He turned to Konrad: I know you’re a Hun but one hell of one. If there are any more like you, send them to us.

Konrad nodded and winked at Hugh. I just showed him how we mined seams in the Ruhr. Then, after a pause, does this mean I’m hired?

You’d better believe it, even if you are a Hun. How do you feel about showing the other lads how you do it? He turned to Hugh. "That said, I must tell you that