Chaos Before Freedom

Vira Daluth Vira Daluth had a good childhood growing up on the family farm, handed down from generation to generation. The home was a two-story crème and blue Victorian, with four rooms and a bathroom upstairs. Downstairs, it included the pallor, a living room, a formal dining room with a large kitchen. Plus, her parents' room is near a downstairs bathroom. The home itself kept the Victorian décor even inside of its outer shell, the pale blues, ivory and sage like green filled the first floor. The upstairs was much the same with more of the ivory and blue color schemes. All trimmed with in pecan wood trim and archway gingerbreads. It’s castle like appearance would make any one living there feel like royalty. The vast size of it made the old sod home pale in size in comparison. The original sod home used by the prior generations now stood as a reminder of the family roots. Safe keeping the storage of canned goodies from the garden and other things. Even often used as a playhouse for the children as they grew up. Vira was the only daughter out of the three children born to Henry and Beth Daluth. They all started out as toe heads, blonde as blonde can be. To be expected with blondish parents’ father having the darker of the two ashy blonde while mother retained her golden blonde. Henry had some of the bluest eyes in the county, in which the oldest son inherited his from. Beth had a light but rough green eyes, resembling the color of sage. The joke in the home was her eye color is apart of the reason Henry would not part with the green color in the home. The oldest boy name James, was a bit of an adventure always exploring from the time he could walk. Henry blamed Beth’s side of the family for this trait, as Beth’s eight siblings and herself spread across the winds like dandelion seeds to different parts of America. He kept that exploration trait all of his life growing into a strapping young man, tall with broad shoulders but yet he was considered a bean pole he was a strong man. The girls in town often would melt in his presents his bright blond hair and smile seen to that. Once graduating from school he wasted no time getting himself into college to become a photo journalist. He was successful in this career and traveled the world doing exactly what he loved doing the most. There was no doubt, with James more interested in being a photo journalist, that her younger brother Peter would be taking over someday. But he had time for that, being so young yet his interest laid right there at home. Rooted down like an old oak tree, he loved the land even at a young age. His exploring was more of tearing down and building up things to make them work better. He could have been an scientist with his intelligence but he knew where his heart was. He was gifted eyes like his mother’s and a darker blond that was boarder line to brown. Then there was Vira the middle child, as willful and strong as any boy claimed to be. But none of them had the amount that she had. With her dishwater blond hair, her eyes resembled that of hazel always changing with the weather. A light blue when the weather was sunny or calm, and the sage green when the storms were coming in. Funny it also changed when she was storming on the inside of her body. She was smart, sassy and blunt. He mother would often say she should have been born a boy, as she had a warrior spirt. But she was a classic beauty, a smile that would light up the room, a button nose and high cheek bones. She was tall for a girl even as a teen, and filled out nicely into an hour glass form. But she had meat on her bones not a scrawny twig like woman. Being from a well-off family, and a true beauty one would think she would have plenty of suitors. But this was not the case, her temper and not putting up with bullshit from pushy over bearing males cut the numbers significantly. Under her vibe of not being easy or a push over, was a bit of confidence lacking in herself. Others would say she was brazen and bold with confidence in what she could do. This was true, the lacking of came from the feeling that she was not good enough, or beautiful enough. Many would find her intimidating just by the looks of her, she walked with her head held high right along with her honor and strong morals. The family were not rich farmers but well off, since Father was also one of the founders of the cooperative there in town and held a good number of shares invested into the local mill. Mother being known for the best fudge pudding cake in the county, probably not completely true, but according to the locals, she sure was. She taught her children; the boys, including everyday household chores. When the boys complained, she would remind them that one day they would be on their own with no guarantee of a wife knowing how to do such things. Father would back her up with even if they do, sometimes you will have to help. Father learned that firsthand, as with Mother's pregnancy with Peter, she spent months in bed rest under doctor's orders and father always joked that is what gave him his silver sideburns and flecks in his beard. Peter was the last baby mother was able to carry to full term. The condition she developed during that pregnancy made it almost impossible to have any more children. That was alright with them. At first, the mother was fearful she would upset her husband as he came from a large family. But he reassured her that was not the case, he was beyond happy with the ones they already had and her the love of his life at his side. Vira spent most of her time out in the back garden area, reading or playing with pepper a Heinz fifty-seven mutt. He had several different shades of grays and some browns in his long shaggy fur, built like a German Shepard, including the height of one of his ears was floppy while the other stood at attention all the time. He was loyal to the bone, going almost everywhere with her when he wasn't by father's side in the field, or he would lay down at mother's feet anytime she was crafting or sewing. During the nighttime hours he was sure to found in the hall space between the children's rooms or sleeping next to the beds in shifts. As Vira got older and went out more with friends, it was up to Peter to be the main ball thrower for Pepper. Vira was a spit fire; she didn't shy away from the crude or rude comments that came from people who just wanted to be nasty to her friends or herself. Many of her friends would say she was blatantly blooming crazy or adventurous. She was, after all, one of the girls that stripped down her undergarments and jumped from the bridge into the river. No one told her that they would be swimming that day, as it was a spare of the moment type deal. Only a few of the girls would follow her lead but refused to jump off the bridge. Not even the most seasoned in sarcasm person in town could beat her. They found their match with Vira. She was quick-witted and sharp as a tack. Her circle of friends may not have been the most popular group of girls, they didn't do a lot of distasteful things. And they were far from being considered easy, which drove the more popular girls nuts. Since the young men in town enjoyed the challenge, most gave up shortly. A few didn't stop until they were married to one of the group's members. Vira had enough suitors that would try to gain her heart but only one caught her fancy... Arthur. Arthur came from a military family but when they met, he was living with his grandparents. On his mother’s side being famers or ranchers and on father’s side a long line of military men, fire fighters and or policemen. He had dazzling greenish blue eyes, golden blonde hair, chiseled facial features. Tall with broad shoulders and built for brash and harsh work, he would be described as one hell of a work horse potential. He was Vira’s match personality wise and would not get hurt by her sarcasm he would dish it out right back at her. They weren’t ever disrespectful towards each other. Only the playfulness of friendship and loves would possess. Meeting during the fourth of July town celebration, they were inseparable. It only took him about six months to decide he wanted to marry her, and then another three to get the courage to do so. He was overjoyed when she said yes. Their happiness only lasted a little while, with him going off to serve in the military. They chose to wait until 1927 to marry. A mistake at the military post office tore down the structure their happiness was built on. Thinking he had moved on from her, she had reluctantly gone on with her life. A man named Freddy took advantage of her sorrow. He pretended to be a good man that she could learn to love. At first, he made her laugh, took her out to nice places and acted as though he would treasure her forever. He was anything but good. Eventually, stripping away all that she held dear to her. It surprised everyone that she willingly chose to marry a man she in fact didn't truly love. They couldn't figure out why she felt she was unworthy of true happiness in a fully loving relationship. They thought perhaps she thought she was being punished by God above for her and Arthur's indiscretion. It was not like she slept with any other man, it was only Arthur and at the time they were engaged. Without telling her family, Freddie moved her to Omaha, Nebraska. He wanted to go back to Chicago, but at the same time he rather her be hidden away. Plus, he did not want her finding out what he actually did other than his regular job. For this he loathed her very being. There was one silver lining to this. When they moved to Oak Street, she made a friend named Doris along with her husband, Tom. ----------- Arthur Thomsen Born in the great state of Texas as they say, Arthur was a miracle baby sort of speak. His parents met late in life and had difficulties getting and staying pregnant. His father Sargent Benjamin was gone often for his duties which did not help in the process. Regina his mother was a nurse working on the base he was originally stationed at. Arthur was the spitting image of his father, and his mother had dark brunet hair and green eyes. In total they had only two surviving children Arthur the oldest and the youngest looked like mother, but her eyes were blue, and her hair was more of a honey brown. His sister was mother’s treasure and named her as such Ismenia, called Mina for short. As they grew up, they were bounced around from base to base. When the area near the base did not have a school system nearby. They were sent to live with their paternal grandparents in Texas again. Until they passed away when Arthur was about fifteen. He was then being old enough in their parent’s eyes to either stay with their maternal grandparents in Nebraska or chose to keep bouncing from place to place with them. Arthur decided he wanted to stay in one school and experience having friends for more than a year or two if lucky. Ismenia of course still being young was toted around. While attending school and living out at the family farm he was able to get a taste of life on what he called the normal life. It was hard work helping his grandfather with the animals and fields but he did without a qualm about it. He enjoyed it, not that he didn’t love his parents he did. But what he wanted was some sort of stability in his youth. His plan was to join the military do one or two tours of duty followed by becoming a civilian working an every day job. He really did not want his future family to have to live the way he did. He did not see anything wrong with it, but just not the life he wished for. While staying still, he was able to join up for sports, clubs in school and become active in the community events the school was involved in. He even had a few girlfriends, nothing serious. Some of the girls proved to be to shallow for his taste. Others consumed with going to the cities and bright lights. He expected as much from his fellow students. As some one that has already traveled all over it seemed, it was just nice to know that the bed you slept in last night would be the same as several weeks from now. There was one girl he had seen in town sometimes, but did not recognize her from school. Every time he tried to make contact with her some how she would slip out of sight. But not all of his peers went to the same school, some went to the country school if they lived farther away form town. This was probably the case with his mystery lady. -------- Arthur’s Narrative I was just out with the guys at the fourth of July carnival when I saw her for the first time she hadn’t just disappeared. She stood about five foot seven, with some meat on her bones, not overly scrawny or voluptuous. Not that there is anything wrong with either of those. However, she was perfectly in the middle of the two. She was gorgeous with her locks of blond hair relaxed down with just the top pinned back. Her button nose, with that smile and twinkle in her eyes could melt me to my very soul. And then I heard her laugh, and at that moment I knew I was done for, I had to meet her. I built up my courage to go and talk to her. I must have sounded like an i***t stumbling over my words. But she giggled and indulged me. Together we went on a few rides, even played some of the carnival games. My shoulder hurt like hell the next morning, but I did win her a goldfish. During the firework show, is when I asked her out for the following Friday. I swear my heart jumped into my throat when she said yes. I was so nervous on my way to pick her up for our date, but there was something about her that just soothed me. Going out to eat and then over to the movies. While taking her back home, we saw that there was a firemen's benefit dance going on at the community hall. Not wanting the night to end, we also attended the dance. She was a great dancer. I felt like I was horrible at it, but for her, I would fake my way through it. I fell in love with her like a rock falling off a cliff. So, it was not a surprise to anyone that six months later, I asked her to be my bride. I was so sweaty and damn near trembling like a leaf when I knelt down, taking her hand into mine. But all that washed away when she said yes, I swooped her up into my arms, slamming my lips into hers as soon as she said that magical word. Together we were so happy making plans to be wed in July, the anniversary of our first date. But before that could happen, I would be serving my first tour of duty. Leaving shortly after one of her friends' weddings, I would be on the train for transport over to Nicaragura. The groom picked an odd man to be his best man, he looked like a mobster. What I hated the most was the way he was gawking at Vira, damn near drooling while watching her. But we went about our business enjoying the celebration of the couple's union. The tearful goodbye at the train station felt like my heart was being ripped from my body. While embracing her, I found it hard to let her go even though I had no choice. My time in Nicaragura wasn't horrible, mostly just patrolling. There were men that saw more action than I did, sure some of that action was with the women of the area. Whatever trips their trigger I guess, but that is where my problems began. One of my tent mates was kind enough to take my letter to Vira's with his over to the mail room. When they moved the stack from our tent, they dropped it on the mailroom floor, causing the letter papers to escape. They didn't bother checking the pages, just slapped them into the nearest envelope, sending them off to the wrong ladies. I no longer received letters from Vira. But I continued to write, unsure if she was even getting them. With military mail it was usually slower and often missing. It wasn't until I got home that I found out why. My whole world shattered around me; I was angry. More at myself than her. No one could blame her for what was said in that letter she received by mistake. The look of it was barely readable due to moisture with no signature at the end to clarify, it wasn't me. Knowing that now she was married, seemingly happy, I took my broken heart and signed up for another tour of duty to sulk. Vira, being Vira, would not let it go just like that. She was pissed, heartbroken and wanted answers enough that she snuck away from Freddie to get them. I saw her coming right for me at the train station with the letter in her hand. Unsuspecting anything I put my bag down on the ground. I wanted to open my arms to embrace her, but once she got close enough with her free hand, she let me have it. Damn that woman could slap and I took it right across the face. The tears were flowing from her eyes, I wanted to comfort her, and it took everything I could muster not to take her into my arms. She belonged to another man now, a man that gave me the creeps. “Why Arthur? Wasn’t I good enough for you?! I gave myself to you fully heart and body and you do this to me!” She screamed out to me. Visibly shaking she was so angry and hurt. “I don’t know what you are talking about, you left me remember. Not even a goodbye no dear john letter nothing.” I snaped back, with my words a confused look came to her face with her brows knitting together. Tears just streaming down her face, she then slammed the letter into my chest. “Really then what the hell is this? You couldn’t even bother to sign it.” While reading it I was the one becoming confused, I didn’t write this letter I said nothing of the sort. My heart was still hers. “I didn’t write this Vira. I love you I only wanted to marry you.” “Then what is this, who is it from if not from you?” “My bunk mate this is the letter he was sending his girl he read this to me before he left our quarters. How you got it instead I do not know. My only guess is that there had to be a mix up in the mailroom.” I said sincerely, tears briming in my eyes my heart in my throat. If only I took my letter to the mail room that day, she would still be mine. “You expect me to believe you, I want to I really do?” Trying desperately to clear the tears on her cheeks smudging her make up. Her voice was trembling and muffled. “I promise Vira, I love you! I want you to be with me not that ass hole you married. Why did you marry him? Do you love him?” “I love you, Arthur. I do not love Freddie not like I do you. I didn’t think I could any better after loosing you. He treats me nicely and seems genuinely caring for me and my wellbeing. I… I thought I could learn to love him. All I want is you, it isn’t him I imagen when I lay with him it is you always you.” I broke down I couldn’t bare it any more I pulled her in tightly against me. Wrapping my arms around her letting her tears fall on my uniform as mine also fell. I love this woman and I wanted nothing more than to take her with me to run away with her. Want is all I could do because what I wanted would not have been morally correct. I still held her closely as the train conductor bellowed “All aboard! All aboard!” It hurt to loosen my grip around her, I touched her cheek gently before I passionately kissed her one last time. “Forgive me.” I whispered into her ear. Pulling away to look me in the eyes she said “I am sorry too. But not for the kiss for the slap I am and giving up so easily.” “Are you coming or going son?” The conductor asked me. Knowing I didn’t have a choice in the matter, unless I wanted to be dishonorably discharged for be AWOL. I nodded at him before bending down to gather up my luggage. The last thing I told her while I was standing on the train's steps was "You always have mine, and I ask it from you. If you ever need me, I will be there for you. I love you, Vira!" I stayed standing on that train step, watching her fade into the horizon. My heart breaking further, I am not sure what I was hoping for it is not like she could get her marriage dissolved easily. Nor could I ask her to do such a thing. -------- Vira’s Narrative I watched Arthur disappear wanting to break down right there on the spot, I only stood still. He loved me still and wanted me, but it was too late I was now married to Freddie. I left our little apartment in town just to see Arthur to discuss the letter. Instead I only wanted to run away with him, wishing I had on the walk back to the apartment. Deciding that I would ask him for an annulment of our marriage, it was still early enough to do so I thought. Noticing Freddie wasn’t there at the moment, I started to pack up what little I had there to leave as soon after I made my request. It wasn’t like he was a bad guy or anything I just didn’t love him the way a wife should her husband. I loved Arthur that way but not Freddie, it wasn’t fair to either of us if I stayed. I would just move back home, making a quick trip to where Arthur was going to be posted so I could let him know what I had done. My bags packed I put them by the door, grabbing a box to put my collection that I had so far brought with me. Including my bible my father gave me on our wedding day also putting them next to the door. The next step was taking the wedding ring off my finger, I felt amazing to have that off. Like a weight off my shoulders, I could taste my freedom and wanted nothing more to do with this charade. I wanted to just go, but I thought I better do this face to face with Freddie he deserved at least that. But I was in for a shock when he finally arrived home, it was later then I anticipated. He was angry and… drunk. “Freddie we need to talk.” “Oh yes we do!” He wasn’t completely drunk no slurring of speech, but I could smell it on him. He had his back to me, nothing unusual about that going on the fact that it was obvious how I started out this conversation. “Freddie. I want an annulment; I don’t love you the way you want me to and….” He interrupted me “Like hell! Till death do us part Vira that is a vow.” “Well, then you can divorce me for abandonment then. Because I am leaving tonight.” He spun around, smacking my face hard knocking me to the ground. He began to yell at me “You are not going any f*****g where Vira! You are mine!” “I am not some kind of property you don’t own me, Freddie!” I said getting back to my feet only to be knocked down again. “The Hell I don’t, you are my f*****g wife now!” “I am leaving Freddie and that is final!” Making my way to the door to leave the last thing I remember was Freddie calling a f*****g b***h before I blacked out. When I woke up, I was still laying on the floor Freddie was not where to be found. My box of collectables thrown, I am sure much of it is broken and my clothing is thrown all over the place. I rushed to my feet and began to repack my things, when I shut it some of my clothing was coming out of the small crack of the opening. I didn’t care I was leaving now I was not waiting for Freddie to come back. I had the post office send my collectables back to my parents house, keeping the bible with me. I could feel the looks from those who set eyes upon me I must look a mess. Trying to hide my face as I was sure to be black and blue from Freddie’s hand. I ran to the train station booking a ticket straight to the town Arthur would be. Finally taking a breath when I had the ticket in my hand I went outside to wait for the train. I was on it the second it showed up. Taking a deep breath and releasing it trying to calm down, soon I would be reunited with Arthur and file an annulment severing the ties to Freddie. I am going to be free; I am free. With that thought in my mind I drifted off to sleep. It wasn’t until the first stop in the morning that hell would break loose on me and my delusional dream. I was aggressively grabbed startling me out of my dream world. The aggressor would not even wait for sleep to completely leave me before starting to drag me down the isle way. The morning sun was blinding, I could hear them talk to each other while ignoring my pleas and screaming. “Do you have her bags?” A familiar voice asked. The response I could not recognize but it came from behind me still fighting the arms in which I was tightly held. “Yes, we do.” The voice paused for a moment allowing a thud sound from my bags hitting what sounds like a trunk of a car. His next words were the last I heard before the sting hit my neck “It will be okay Misses, we will get you the help you need.” And my world went black. I woke up strapped down to a hospital bed, I couldn't even move my legs. My vision was distorted no doubt from what ever was in that needle they injected me with. I could hear mumblings and cries for help outside of the cold room. Only guessing I must be in a sanitarium, but why am I here? I asked myself not realizing I said it out loud. My mind was still very cloudy and the thinking process was slowly coming back like a snail. “It is okay misses; your husband is really worried about you.” She had a kindly voice, and I could feel her touching my shoulder. I was about to plea with her to let me go that my husband was not a kind man. And she shushed me “Everything will be alright dear.” My eyes still blurry I could only see a white form leave the room closing the door behind her. Outside of the room I faintly heard a conversation, the familiar voice was back…. “Damnit Freddie!” I said out loud. I didn’t care who could hear me I was pissed off that not only did he hit me, knocked me out but somehow arranged this chaotic pile.