Family Ties

Another man died at the hospital. Not of his wound, but of a disease sweeping through the camps. Jacob and Jacob Junior hadn't been infected with the disease... yet.

"Father, why did you come after me that day?"

"It was mostly by accident. I was at the front lines again, and something made me aim with my rifle. I saw a gray mound, or you, but I didn't know it. I ended up shooting two Yanks, then was shot through the shoulder. When I was wounded, I went back behind then lines. Then I figured out that the gray mound was a person, so I went in after it."

Jacob Junior stopped to think for a second. Then he said, "Have you heard from Sean at all?"

"No, neither has your mother. Have you?"

"Yes."

Thank You God. Thank You. Jacob Senior thought. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought he contacted you too."

"Well, he didn't write me. Or your mother. What did he have to say?"

At this Jacob Junior started sniffling and crying. Tears flowing down his cheeks. "Well, it was his one letter that he was allowed to--to write." More tears. "He--he became a p-part," Jacob Junior started sobbing, "He became a prisoner. In a Union prison camp." Jacob Junior broke down completely.

Jacob Senior sat in disbelief. His mouth was agape, and eyes wide. He just lay back down, in total shock. Damn. Damn. Damn. WHY! WHY MY SON! Why did you take him? Silent tears started falling.

"T-that's not all. The U-u-union prison al-l-lowed him to write a letter to a f-family member. In case of death," Jacob Junior sobbed out loud, "That--that letter I-I got today."

He handed the letter to his still-stunned father, who opened it, not knowing what he was doing and read:

Dear Father, Mother, and Jacob,

If you are reading this, well, then I'm not with you on Earth anymore. Yes, I've died. Of what, I don't know. This was written in preparation of my death. Oh, I love you all so much. Momma I love you like the day is long. Daddy, I can't express in words my feelings for you. Jacob, you grew up with me, taught me how to sow seeds, how to pick cotton. You are my only brother. Please, stay healthy. Momma, take care of yourself, as you have one less son now...

///

"'... I will see you in Heaven. Hopefully, my killing of Yankees won't condemn me to hell.

Love always and forever,

Sean

"Oh my gosh! Look at the pain and suffering of this family. Two men wounded and one dead," Hermione said in awe of her ancestor, Mary Granger, "How she survived, I don't know. If I lost you or one of my children, I'd be devastated. And she wasn't even with him when he died." Now Hermione was crying.

Harry embraced his wife, "Honey, don't cry. She was like a million others. Some women had it even worse off. But, man, women of war have major guts."

Hermione smiled, "Yeah, she still has her husband, and eldest son."

"But the parents are supposed to go first," now he was crying.

So they embraced, swayed, and grieved for the long time gone Sean Granger.