Beautiful Dreamer

The Music Box

The music box sat on her bedside table
It had been there since the time he left
For where?
For how long?

He came home for a weeks embarkation leave
The place they were going was unknown
Their task was an official secret
Only known to the Army top rank

He went shopping with her
She saw the music box and liked the tune
'Beautiful Dreamer wake unto Me'
Each night as she got into bed
She would turn the box on to play its tune

The days turned to weeks - months - years
No letters to say where or how he was
Her letters were returned
'Unable to deliver'
His army pay was paid every month without fail
He was alive but where?

She rose every morning at six o'clock
Made her breakfast
Prepared something for the evening meal
Then left for her work
Assembling instruments for aircraft

There was a knock on the door
Who is it at this time
I hope not a telegram
We have to inform you......
She opened the door

Standing there was a man in navy uniform
Who can this be?
She looked again
Was it her man he looked familiar but;
Different
This man was bronzes but thinner
The uniform of a naval officer
Her man was a sergeant in the army

He spoke
"How are you Ethel"
He knew her name
It sounded like his voice
She asked
"Is it you George? Its been so long"
"Can I come in" He requested
"Oh yes! Of course! Its been such a long time!

G) "I cant tell you anything about where I have been,
Only That we arrived back in UK yesterday afternoon and I have to be back bt eight o'clock Monday morning I anm not supposed to be here. I got a train to York last night> I missed the last connection and walked here."
E) "But York is over thirty miles! And you walked all the way home?
G) "The only way I could get here. Oh and I had no money to pay for a ticket, so I had to sneak on board.
But we have been doing lots of that"
E) "You must be tired do you want a lie down and I will stay home today, I will make you a meal for when you get up"

Ethel got his nightclothes out and layed them on the bed ready for him. Then wound the music box.
When George was in bed she turned the music box on

It played is little tune
George listened to it then asked "Is this the music box I bought before I left"
Ethel replied "Yes dear I have played it every night when I got into bed to remind me of you and our love"

Sunday George left to return to his unit before he was missed - This time he had a single ticket paid for by Ethel
He played the music box before leaving "Soon we will wake up to each other" he remarked
It was a further two weeks before he came home for good

Wild Rose
March 2019