1940s: The Aftermath
As the dust from the attack settles, many who are not dead are still in need of care. The hospital, unprepared for such massive influx of patients with serious wounds, hold on best they can, until the worst cases are treated, the less serious cases put to bed, and the dead transported elsewhere. Left are the nurses, too tired to think or even stand in some cases. Some find their rest on a couch in the staff room while the patients are sleeping, others get off their shifts and rush across the yard to the nurses quarters for a well needed shower. Upstairs the wounded soldiers are sleeping, or are unconscious. As of yet, no one has had time to look at their dog-tags, but tomorrow the job of identification - of living and dead - will begin.
But also the job of comfort, of helping the soldiers deal with the losses and trauma. The emotional and physical alike. To tell them of friends who are no longer there, of letting them cry about scars that will never go away or limbs that might have been lost. Some are in better shape than others, but many are still unconscious after surgery and treatment.
Identification takes time. The amount of dead and wounded, the loss of records in the attack, the many who are under water... the job of making sure information is correct is hard and arduous and communication with the mainland partly crippled. In homes across the country, families are gathering around their radios, listening for news and hoping no army car will drive up with a telegram - the way bad news is delivered.
In Willow Creek, Emily and Frank's house are filling up with family members as they wait for news of Harold. Margot, Nash's sister, comes too, as she cannot stand to wait "alone" in the house for news of Victor. Emily doesn't point out that she would hardly be alone with both Rhett and her daughter-in-law in the house, but instead take all the comfort she can get from a mother in the same position as herself. Because as much as she loves her children, and as happy she is to have them around, none of them understands the pain of a mother not knowing if her child is alive or dead.
For Frank it finally gets too much. Though his drinking has been in control (mostly) after his stunt in jail, this is more than he can handle. With James (always James) in tow he sets off to the bar, and before the night is over he's passed out on the floor. At least this way he can forget his worry for a while.
In another Willow Creek household, Harrison and Bernadette has just had a baby girl. Born just days after the attack, they name her Pearl. Harrison is enamoured with his girl, but also worried sick about a brother who was also his best friend. Unable to find peace of mind, he makes up his mind to answer the call and volunteer, to Bernadette's absolute horror.
"But Pearl!" she argues.
"He's my brother!" Harrison argues back. "I can't just do nothing!"
"You don't even know that they'll send you to Sulani," Bernadette tries. "Or if you'll find him if they do. And what about her? What about me? Who will take care of us if something happens to you?"
But nothing she says can make Harrison change his mind. "I'm not a man if I don't go. How can I look Pearl in the eyes as she grows up if I dodge this? I need to go. And my brothers and mother will help you if you let them. Especially John. Just ask."
A few days later he comes home wearing his uniform. His orders came quick, and he's being shipped off to training. Bernadette just can't stop crying, and even Harrison feels a twinge of doubt as he holds his baby girl for the last time for... how long? As if she knows, she too won't stop crying, and Harrison leaves feeling both proud for his decision and horrible for abandoning his girls at the same time.
Scenes like these are not unique. All over the US men are leaving their families to head to war. In Britechester Ida's only son Preston does the same. The boys are only two of the 6 million volunteers who go. In San Sequoia, William, is not even given a choice. As he and Amanda have no children, he is among the 10 million drafted. Amanda is not happy about it, but unlike Bernadette, she has no arguments to make. When the government orders you to go, there is nothing to do about it.
"At least I'll be here, in San Sequoia," he tells her.
"You don't know how long that is true," she says. She is not an optimist by nature, and doubt they'd be so lucky.
"I will come back," he says as he holds her tight.
"You can't promise that," she whispers. She's watching through the window as he says goodbye to little Doris before he heads off to Fort Robles.
Once identifications start coming in, news are sent out. Far from everyone are happy with the news they get. In Oasis Springs, Josephine is comforting her neighbor, Mrs Hook, who lost her husband in the attack.
"And the two didn't even have children yet!" She later tells Anna on the phone. "So now she has no one to carry on living for. I feel so sorry for her." Anna bites her lip and forces herself not to tell her sister that you don't need someone to live for to live a meaningful life, but instead recalls the pain she once felt, and how long that pain lasted.
"You'll have to be there for her," she tells her sister instead.
"Oh, I'll intend to."
In Willow Creek the news are happier. After a far too long wait, Emily gets the call she's been waiting for.
"Mom! It's me, Harold!"
"Oh thank the heavens!!! But why in the world did you not call sooner? Do you want me to worry myself sick?"
"I was in the hospital. I still am, but I'll be fine soon enough, so they, well one of the nurses here, allowed me a phone call. But only a short one because I'm not really allowed on this side of the counter. But I wanted to tell you myself."
That night the mood is celebratory in the Whittaker family, but it is a tentative celebration, with fear and worry just below the surface. Harrison, Preston and William are all a part of this war now, as Harold already was and will stay. Three mothers, and three wives are left behind, but no one in the Whittaker family can rest until the war is over and their men returned home safely.
But also the job of comfort, of helping the soldiers deal with the losses and trauma. The emotional and physical alike. To tell them of friends who are no longer there, of letting them cry about scars that will never go away or limbs that might have been lost. Some are in better shape than others, but many are still unconscious after surgery and treatment.
Identification takes time. The amount of dead and wounded, the loss of records in the attack, the many who are under water... the job of making sure information is correct is hard and arduous and communication with the mainland partly crippled. In homes across the country, families are gathering around their radios, listening for news and hoping no army car will drive up with a telegram - the way bad news is delivered.
In Willow Creek, Emily and Frank's house are filling up with family members as they wait for news of Harold. Margot, Nash's sister, comes too, as she cannot stand to wait "alone" in the house for news of Victor. Emily doesn't point out that she would hardly be alone with both Rhett and her daughter-in-law in the house, but instead take all the comfort she can get from a mother in the same position as herself. Because as much as she loves her children, and as happy she is to have them around, none of them understands the pain of a mother not knowing if her child is alive or dead.
For Frank it finally gets too much. Though his drinking has been in control (mostly) after his stunt in jail, this is more than he can handle. With James (always James) in tow he sets off to the bar, and before the night is over he's passed out on the floor. At least this way he can forget his worry for a while.
In another Willow Creek household, Harrison and Bernadette has just had a baby girl. Born just days after the attack, they name her Pearl. Harrison is enamoured with his girl, but also worried sick about a brother who was also his best friend. Unable to find peace of mind, he makes up his mind to answer the call and volunteer, to Bernadette's absolute horror.
"But Pearl!" she argues.
"He's my brother!" Harrison argues back. "I can't just do nothing!"
"You don't even know that they'll send you to Sulani," Bernadette tries. "Or if you'll find him if they do. And what about her? What about me? Who will take care of us if something happens to you?"
But nothing she says can make Harrison change his mind. "I'm not a man if I don't go. How can I look Pearl in the eyes as she grows up if I dodge this? I need to go. And my brothers and mother will help you if you let them. Especially John. Just ask."
A few days later he comes home wearing his uniform. His orders came quick, and he's being shipped off to training. Bernadette just can't stop crying, and even Harrison feels a twinge of doubt as he holds his baby girl for the last time for... how long? As if she knows, she too won't stop crying, and Harrison leaves feeling both proud for his decision and horrible for abandoning his girls at the same time.
Scenes like these are not unique. All over the US men are leaving their families to head to war. In Britechester Ida's only son Preston does the same. The boys are only two of the 6 million volunteers who go. In San Sequoia, William, is not even given a choice. As he and Amanda have no children, he is among the 10 million drafted. Amanda is not happy about it, but unlike Bernadette, she has no arguments to make. When the government orders you to go, there is nothing to do about it.
"At least I'll be here, in San Sequoia," he tells her.
"You don't know how long that is true," she says. She is not an optimist by nature, and doubt they'd be so lucky.
"I will come back," he says as he holds her tight.
"You can't promise that," she whispers. She's watching through the window as he says goodbye to little Doris before he heads off to Fort Robles.
Once identifications start coming in, news are sent out. Far from everyone are happy with the news they get. In Oasis Springs, Josephine is comforting her neighbor, Mrs Hook, who lost her husband in the attack.
"And the two didn't even have children yet!" She later tells Anna on the phone. "So now she has no one to carry on living for. I feel so sorry for her." Anna bites her lip and forces herself not to tell her sister that you don't need someone to live for to live a meaningful life, but instead recalls the pain she once felt, and how long that pain lasted.
"You'll have to be there for her," she tells her sister instead.
"Oh, I'll intend to."
In Willow Creek the news are happier. After a far too long wait, Emily gets the call she's been waiting for.
"Mom! It's me, Harold!"
"Oh thank the heavens!!! But why in the world did you not call sooner? Do you want me to worry myself sick?"
"I was in the hospital. I still am, but I'll be fine soon enough, so they, well one of the nurses here, allowed me a phone call. But only a short one because I'm not really allowed on this side of the counter. But I wanted to tell you myself."
That night the mood is celebratory in the Whittaker family, but it is a tentative celebration, with fear and worry just below the surface. Harrison, Preston and William are all a part of this war now, as Harold already was and will stay. Three mothers, and three wives are left behind, but no one in the Whittaker family can rest until the war is over and their men returned home safely.
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