Short Story – The Unseen Observer

The Unseen Observer

Through the smoke filled haze, Samuel could see only the boots of the other soldiers from his fallen position. As the searing pain began to take hold of all that was left of him, Samuel began to notice the smallest details. Like the boots that had a hole in the toe or the way the grass felt pressed against his skin. Musket shots and groans began to melt away as his vision began to narrow. This was it. Samuel would not live to see his son grow up and in his last moments, that is all that he could think about. He closed his eyes and gave way to the weary ache that beckoned him to sleep.

The sound of one single bird’s melody awoke Samuel from his eternal slumber. When he looked around, the battlefield was now clear and full of wild flowers of all colors. The shift in time was a curious thing indeed, but for some odd reason, Samuel did not feel as though something was wrong. He walked through the meadow and found a street where there was none before. Instead of stopping to question such a strange thing, he marched along down the street towards his house.

“Martha will surely be happy to see me. I must have been asleep for such a long time.” Samuel thought as he looked at all of the changes around him.

The plantations he once knew were practically empty. No more ebony skinned bodies in motion picking the cotton. Houses had been constructed where fields used to lay. Far in the distance a train whistle broke the relative silence as Samuel walked. He didn’t remember there being a train this close to this part of Missouri.

“Things sure have changed. How long have I been slumbering?” Samuel wondered as he made his way closer to his small house.

When Samuel finally made it to the doorstep, he noticed that the house looked much more run down than before. Before he could reach his hand towards the door, it opened. There stood a man who was almost the spitting image of Samuel, only he had Martha’s blue eyes. The man turned around in the doorway ignoring Samuel’s presence.

“Samantha, I won’t be home for dinner. The trains are bringing in more bricks from the west, and we will have to get the horses to pull them down to Joplin to build that city hall.”

“Okay, John.” called a voice from inside.

Then before Samuel could even respond, John walked through him and closed the door behind him. This made John shiver a little with a slight pause, then went on his way.

It all began to make sense now. Samuel knew why everything was so different. He had not survived the war, and John must be his baby boy who was nearly one when he last set eyes upon him. Samuel decided to follow John to learn more about what has changed in his absence.

His once small town was now growing thanks to the railway system. The train brought more bricks than Samuel had ever seen in his days as a brick mason. His son, Jonathan, had taken over his father’s position when he was old enough to carry the bricks. After the war, everyone had to help out rebuilding what the Yankees destroyed. By the looks of it, most of the town had been rebuilt by this point.

“Can you believe that they got these tall buildings up in New York City that are higher than the sky? They say that they pay really good money to build them too.” said a young man putting bricks on the wagon.

“Sure. I hear they pay at least four dollars a day, Frankie.” Jonathan replied.

The men filled as many bricks into the wagon as they could and then began to make their way towards Joplin. Samuel sat on top of the bricks and listened as the two men sat at the front of the carriage and continued their conversation.

“That does sound sweet like honey to my ears. This dollar fifty a day isn’t putting enough food on my table, that’s for sure.” Frankie adjusted the reins as he spoke.

Samuel wondered if his son would want to leave as well and the thought made him sad. He had just gotten used to the idea of watching his son as he grew older. When the horse and carriage crossed the road to the next town, something peculiar happened. Samuel was thrown off the bricks with a thud. Well, if he still had a body it would be a loud thud. He could only watch as the two men rode off down the road towards Joplin.

Since he had nothing to do with his time, he decided to walk back into town. That is when something caught his eye. A small cottage by the river. The same one that his wife Martha was born in. He walked closer and began to hear the sweet melodic sounds coming through the kitchen window. Samuel walked through the wall as if it didn’t exist. There was a large wooden box that was making music in the corner of the room. He had never seen or heard such a thing. The music stopped and a voice spoke.

“Votes for women is what the protesters keep chanting. President Wilson has not made any public comments on the matter.”

Samuel turned my attention towards the kitchen when he heard an oven door open. That is when he found his beautiful bride pulling a pie out of the oven. The years may have aged her, but she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

“Oh, Martha.” he sighed.

Martha, startled, dropped the freshly baked pie on the floor and spun around. Her eyes were as large as the dinner plates she would use to serve him supper.

Samuel didn’t know what to do. It was obvious that his wife had heard him and now she was staring in his direction. Could she see him too?

“I knew I would see you when my time was up. I just thought I had more time. It’s my ticker, isn’t it? I knew this bum heart would get me in the end.” Martha spoke as if Samuel was replying, but he only stood there looking at her as if it was the first time.

“Okay, Sam. I know not to fight when it is my time. Johnny is all grown up and has a family of his own.” Martha reached out her hand and grabbed Samuel’s hand as if it was solid. Her smile radiated through them both as they took there looking into each other’s eyes.

“I hope you haven’t been waiting long.” Martha said as they began to walk towards the door.

“No. I got here just in time. I just didn’t know about it until now.” Samuel said as he turned his head to see Martha’s lifeless body on the kitchen floor next to the pie.

“Good.”

The front door opened and a bright light flooded the room. Samuel kissed Martha before they walked through the door.