The lost generation. The French woman. Part four.

I am trying to write.

The lost generation.. The French woman.

November 28, 2024

The lost generation.. The French woman. Chapter four.

Pryde caressed his face till he finally was in a sound sleep. She saw the small small back-pack. She went to the small back-pack. She opened up the back-pact. She saw two books. “The Good soldier” by Ford Madox Ford and “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka. And a journal. She took the journal to her bedroom and she went to her bed. She covered herself up warmly with the heavy blankets. She felt like she was spying on another life. She opened up the journal. The first page had a story called the French mother. She begin to read the story.

“Story one. The French mother.. 1918 Paris..

Was a warm September day in Paris. My unit arrived late into the ancient city. I got paid for one years and I had 144 dollars in my pocket. We were given 10 days rest and leisure time and we given our backpay. Me and my loud friend Charly were trying to find whiskey and beer. In was 4 pm and the city of Paris was alive. A lot of soldiers from many countries were seeking the pretty girls and drink. Charly took me. Johnnie, less reading and writing. And more drinking today and tonight. I saluted him and we laughed. Charly from Mississippi was one of the last of us who fought in the trenches of France for two years. We started 160 men and today. Me and Charly was left. And Charly told me. We must raise a drink to the ones who are not here.

As we walked the shattered city of Paris looking for some drink. I saw a woman with two young girls. The girls maybe five and seven. They sat on the side of a building. They were clean and he could see. They were hungry from their faces and their eyes. The mother was young also. They had a small empty cup in the front of them. He told Charly, I want to talk to the mother and the two girls. Charly laughed at me and he told me. Can’t save everyone Johnnie. let’s drink, dance and tell the world to f**k-off. He slapped my back and he told me. Go save the world. I will be at the loudest pub I can find. Come and find me Johnnie later.

I went to her and I asked the mother. Are you alright? She spoke in perfect English. We are okay. We need a little money for some bread and some soup. I asked her. Your English is very beautiful. She smiled and she told me. I was a teacher before the war. I have found employment next week. We must pay our rent and we must eat. We would appreciate anything you can give. I had some Army chocolate in my pocket and I handed the chocolate to the girls. They took the candy quickly and they hid their faces. I told them. My name is Johnnie from Michigan. The woman said her name was Colette and my two daughters names are Julia and Louise. I smiled and I told them. I can help you. I saw in her eyes. She saw a soldier needing a bath and a shave. I told her. I left the safe zone this morning. I am looking for food, a bath and to rest. She told him. We don’t need much Johnnie. Just enough for some bread and soup. I told her. Please let me help you. I am so tired of violence, I am so tired of war. I need to do something good. Before I fall into madness. She rose up and she hugged him. She told him. My husband went to war. The war took him away from us and now. The French government told us. They can’t find him, they can’t find his body. They told us. He was in a mass grave somewhere. She held him tightly and she whispered. The war is cold and heartless. All of us. Tattooed by the ugly war.

She released him and he told her. I have too much money and please allow me to help you. She told him. Okay Johnnie. I asked her. Can we buy food in the city now? She took his right hand and the two girls followed them. Collette and the children were fairy dressed. She took him to a hidden market. She told him, it is very expensive here. We will buy some bread, some meat and bone for soup. I told her. Please buy what you need. I would waste the money on the whiskey anyway. I followed her and we bought a lot of bread, some beef parts and bone. We bought some vegetables and some kind of orange drink. It was very cheap and I paid. The children saw apples and oranges. I saw in their eyes. The hunger for fresh fruit. I felt the same. Colette told me. Too much money Johnnie. I laughed at her words and I told her. The children happiness would make me happy. She said with heavy eyes. Okay.

I walked them back to their small hidden apartment in the poor section of Paris. I helped carry the food and the drink. We arrived at her apartment and I told her. I will return in a few day and we can go shopping again. I need a bath and a slave. The children grasp his hands and they told him. Please Johnnie, eat with us. Mama can cook quickly. I looked into Colette eyes and I told her. I don’t want to interrupt your life. She smiled and looked at her children. She told him. Life is hard for us and I know life is hard for the soldiers. Please join us.

I went into her small apartment. Small kitchen, three beds and a couch. Some painting on the walls and some books on a bookshelf. He liked the apartment. He saw a small bathroom with a large tub. I sat down on the couch and the children ate the oranges and they were laughing. Colette went to the kitchen. She begin cooking two large pots of water. I watched her put the beef and bone into the soup, adding the onions and green peppers. She put some spices into the water. Then she took the other large pot with gloves on her hands. She took them to the tub and dropped the water into. She returned and refilled the pot. She put the pot on the stove and she told him. In five minute, the bath for you will be ready. I have my husband old shirt and pant. You can wear while I wash your clothing. Please accept. I looked at her sad eyes and I told her. I would be very thankful.

I could smell the soup. It was wonderful and the tub was filled with almost hot water. I closed the bathroom door, undressed slowly and I saw the entrance and exit of a bullet. I remember Red told me. Only the good can be killed. You are no good Johnnie. I climbed into the bathtub and the water was paradise. I closed my eyes and Colette came into the bathroom, closed the door. She had soap and she had shampoo. She got behind me and she used a small container filled with water. Put the water into my hair a few time. My hair was dirty and she didn’t care. She caressed the shampoo into my hair with gentle hands. She sang a French love song. La Madelon.

“Quand Madelon

Pour le repos, le plaisir du militaire,

Il est là-bas à deux pas de la forêt

Une maison aux murs tout couverts de lierre

“Au tourlourou” c’est le nom du cabaret [*]”

I closed my eyes and I felt I was in heaven. I looked up at Colette and I asked her. How do we overcome the chaos and ugly of life? Her gentle brown eyes told him. We never can. She rinsed off the shampoo and she scrubbed him with soapy cloth and she asked him. How old are you? I told her 19 years old. She told me. It is shameful we teach our young men to kill before they loved. Do you have a girlfriend in the USA. I told her. Almost a girlfriend. I don’t know will she want me as-is. I became ugly, dark and scary. She told me. I am twenty-seven and I know. Life isn’t fair. But I must stay strong for my children. She scrubbed him from feet to face. She told him. Reach forward and I will scrub your back. She caressed the bullet exit and she asked. When you were shot. Did you wish for life or did you wish for death? He told her. Both.

Her eyes held great sadness and she kissed his forehead and his face. She whispered. Soup is done, get dressed and please join us. My Army Uniform was cooking in the pot and I put on Colette husband clothing. I went to them. A small table for four was waiting. The children were desperate for some bread and soup. I sat down and Collette brought the soup and bread. She sat with us and she told the children. We will pray and we will eat. Colette told us. “Thank you for the food, thank you for the new day and thank you for a new friend. Time to eat.” The bread and soup was so good. I told her. My best meal in three years. I do appreciate. She smiled and she told him. Tomorrow I will give you a proper shave. You may look human again.

I was very tire and I told Colette. I will find some shelter in the city of Paris. I will return tomorrow and get my uniform. I need to sleep. She told him. I will sleep with my daughters and you will take my bed. I won’t accept any other answer. I told her. This is too much. She came to me and she told me. I pray someone was kind to my husband. Give him a proper grave and farewell. I saw the sadness in her eyes and I told her. Okay. The children were happy, a full meal and they adored the fruit. I laid my head down on Colette bed and I went to sleep quickly. My first time I slept in a warm bed in three years. Colette put the girls to bed. The house became quiet.

I awoke in the late hours. Colette stood nude in the front of me and she was so beautiful. I asked her. What is going on Colette? She lifted the cover and she joined me in the small bed. She whispered to me. Us women, we have suffered too. We have become scare and cautious. We were not soldiers and we know the ugly and the dirty taste of war. We have lost everything too. Today you made me know. The world can be kind, there are kind people left. I told her. I have no experience with women. The Army taught me to fight and kill. She smiled giving him soft kisses and her hands releasing his pants and shirt. She covered his body with her warm body. She kissed him softly and she whispered. Dear Johnnie. Please make me feel human again. Please stay awhile and be my friend. I told her. I would stay my kind and beautiful Colette.

I stayed with Colette for ten days. I returned later when I could. She did okay. Became a teacher and her daughters became teachers, like their mama. She taught me. I could live again. I remember our last words. She told me. Thank you for befriended me and helping my family. I owe you everything. All of us need concern, kindness and some friends. She gave me her address and I gave her all the money I had. I knew she would be pissed-off. I knew. She saved me and I hope. I helped her.”

2- “The books..

We started with 160 men and today. 10 of us are left. Smithy from California. He kept us going. Reading stories from the book “Metamorphosis”. The trenches smell of blood and s**t. Smithy, when the night was quiet. He would make us listen to him. I didn’t know. He was saving us from the s**t of war. Was early 1918 and I found Smithy, his gas mask off and he was dying. A bullet into his upper chest. He told me. Johnnie, please take care of my book. You were the only one who listen to me. I love the books. I wanted to be the next great writer. Johnnie, don’t let this damn war erase me. Please Johnnie, tell the world. You knew the great Smithy. The next Dryden. I told him as he faded into death. I will ensure the great Smithy will not be forgotten. I was told. His grave is in the unknown graveyards of France somewhere.

I took his back-pack from his hands. I brought the back-pack to my chest. I told the night. Smithy, I will keep you alive with words. Somehow I survived the war, somehow I survived the smell of death. I read part of the two books nightly and I have begin to write a journal. One day. I will tell the world. My new book is for my friend. Smithy from California. The Good soldier and the Metamorphosis are still with me.

Once I wanted to the next Donne. I became Dryden instead. I tell everyone. The stink of war cannot leave you. You learn to live with it.”

Pryde read most of the journal. She was a editor at the New York times. She knew. He was skilled writer already.

Dancing Coyote

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.