The Music Box

Alternative title "Beautiful Dreamer"

                                                    The Musical Box

Author's Note

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

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Ah the war years. Life was so tough then. The separations from loved ones so painful, and the not knowing whether you would ever see them again. The music box a symbol of their love, it became really important to Ethel. I also have my own music box memories which are also sad which you have reminded me of. You have written this in the style of those times. Some reserve, perfect manners. Very different behaviour from today. A moving write and nicely told.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Pam saw the box > we liked it > Then I thought why not make a story
I have been requested a sequel
Oh my Dad was away from 1941/42 ish until 1944/5 ish with no home leave > we did get letters

Perfect manners yes I know > Son ia an officer in the local ATC . they keep getting comments as to how the cadets have good manners > From high up local dignitaries > Think all the cadet forces and scouts teach hat

[Just Kim]

This is so touching and wonderful, very nicely written

[Wild Rose]

It was a compulsive purchase > My wife saiu I like that
While playing it I just had the thought of it being a parting present & the story just grew

[Celestial]

I really like how you portray the loyalty of the 2 persons in love with each other. Great story! I hope that they will be able to wake up next to each other in the future:)

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Celestial
Yes I did a follow up (Somewhere on here)
When he came home > Never ever talked about what he had been doing > Not many of them did

[Stella Armour]

aww, my mother was called Ethel, and my dad used to sing "Beautiful Dreamer" so this brought back memories for me.

A lovely story of her waiting and being faithful without complaint...

[Wild Rose]

Please to bring back happy memories

The music box was bought on a chance whim
She saw them in a shop and said how nice they looked > The story just followed

[Stella Armour]

people don't have music boxes anymore which is a shame :(

[wordman]

you always write great stories,touching writes,i enjoyed reading

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Wordman

The music box was bought on a chance whim
We saw then in a shop. She said she liked them - Just sat listening to it & the story just came to me

[wordman]

that`s the way inspiration works

[LazerRays]

ah music boxes are adorableeeee and i had this one with little animals. Though it started playing randomly at night and scared me so i had to get rid of it

[Wild Rose]

Thanks Sarah > The music box was an ' I like that ' and she got it pressie _ Well it was near our anniversary
It was sitting on a table and the idea came to me of the story - It had to be a romantic one - wh y would she want to keep it by her bed - why was it so special > Pt 2 is on line


Sad when these items go so wrong > We have a cuckoo clock from Switzerland the cuckoo just keeps singing until it runs down the clock keeps time but the bird isn't allowed out

[LazerRays]

hahahahaha, thats sad about the clock. best wishes! :D

[bigfootprint]

This is a touching narrative, and the conversation comes across natural and sincere. The military secrecy and the music box give us solid focus and flow. I was relieved the drama ended well. This sounds like a family legend. It is a pleasant read. Thanks for sharing, Wild Rose

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Big foot All fiction except my wife's anniversary present (well it told her that's what it was for)

As far as travelling with no ticket _ I did that often during national service

Based on what ex solders have said

[bigfootprint]

Still a touching narrative

[Paul Bell]

Great story. The forces have always had their secret armies around wars and conflicts. Sometimes they get mentioned, most times not. For some reason, they are always unassuming, but without them, more people are killed. Hope he played a good tune.

[Wild Rose]

The box plays 'Beautiful Dreamer'
He managed to get through the war unscathed
His final return is in Music Box Pt 2

[Einstein Noodle]

lots of mystery in this couple's life .... he must be way into the spy world to have changed the branch of service ... or maybe he's a deserter and serial thief or killer or something ... crazy he had to walk and has no money .... and not once contacted his wife for years ... hmmmmmmmmmm in reading my sense is he is in WW2 ... but could be 1 as well .... many women waiting at home worked building aircraft ... pretty easy to follow ...has a natural flow all its own in my opinion ... as a reader, i am pretty intrigued by both your main characters ... hope there is more to come that clears up some of those big question marks in me noodle ;)
E.
ps. me Da sand very little ... mostly when joy demanded it ... "Beautiful Dreamer" was one he sand as one of his standard picks ;) he sang it to me Ma

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Mr E
I just wanted to use the musical box as an item > sort of keepsake
It grew as I wrote direct into the post space
My dad went away 1941/42 ish & returned 1944/45 ish with no home leave - we did get letters and parcels
No money they were no supposed to be out of camp > he went AWOL (wouldnt be missed over the weekend) & it takes time for the Pay Corps to get organised >> I once moved camp on the Tuesday and my records didn't arrive in time for the Thursday pay day
Lets assume he was part of what is now Combined Services force > wrote a Pt 2 > He is home

[Einstein Noodle]

i will check that out ... ;)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

This is a story told many times over during the great wars and even in modern day times with the conflicts we seem to get into from time to time. It is a sensitive story filled with Ethel's love. What it lacks is any passion and George seems a little cool about matters? I am of course confused about his change of service but wondered if you had posted this as a prequel to a longer piece?

[Wild Rose]

I was just putting the picture of the musical box on to play to you
But I cannot post videos so nu music
I made this up as a comment . live no pre-thought

Change of uniforms? Just a bit of mystery for Ethel >> Yes a sequel is now called for
> what was he doing all that time ????

[John Alexander McFadyen]

To post a video simply search for your music on the internet You Tube/Vevo right click on the music vide and copy the embedded code then paste on your page.