In writing about war it’s all too easy to focus on the trauma. The men and women involved, whether military or civilians, have moments of happiness. A letter from home, a sunset, making friends with a cat or a dog, going into a local shop. Small things in themselves but incidents that provide a rise in spirits. Anyone who has spent time in hospital will know that despite being in pain, being worried, kindness from a nurse, a cleaner, anyone at all, can bring a change of mood. An exchange with another patient can be humorous and take you out of yourself.
In A Time for Peace, Stefan, a colonel in the Serbian army, visits his friend, Rajko after he’s had a knee operation in the medical unit run by British women. His friend barely speaks to him, but rouses himself when Ellen, a medical orderly visits him. In this extract, Stefan stretches…
‘to see what Ellen was handing his friend, who seemed entranced by the small object in his hand. It looked like a whistle, the kind of thing he’d whittled out of a stick when he was a boy, but that was ridiculous. He couldn’t imagine Ellen chipping with a knife.
‘It’s not much,’ she said, ‘The men play them in the ward and it lightens us up. When I saw one in the newsagent’s in Jevo this morning, I thought you might like one.’
Stefan was embarrassed for her. It was true Rajko liked to dance; he been particularly adept at the kola until his knee injury, but he couldn’t sing in tune and expressed irritation at beggars who played the whistle on street corners.
‘I used to have one,’ Rajko said.
Ellen nodded as though she was familiar with his childhood. God knows, Rajko rarely spoke of it to him. Her sympathy, the patting of the blanket, must be an act. Convincing if he didn’t know Rajko so well.
Suddenly Rajko picked up the whistle, winked at Ellen and began to play Ruza, Ruza, Stefan’s favourite. He was back at home in Orasac, watching the village girls at the well. Nudging each other, giggling, glancing at him, a ten year old of no significance. He felt the stir of tears.
When Rajko finished playing, Ellen and the nurses, even patients clapped.
Most of us need company. For many the Pandemic was difficult. Many were isolated, people of all ages. In Leamington volunteers ran a phone line so that those on their own, could ring and chat. They were not morbid conversations about how miserable they were. Sometimes callers were sad or worried. Other times they talked about what they enjoyed doing, what they were looking forward to when the restrictions were lifted. On our walks – crossing the road as we were advised to do – we talked to strangers in a way we wouldn’t have done previously. We learned a little about each other which enhanced the day, distracted us from the concerns of Covid 19.
There’s something to be said for smiling now and again. If not now, when?
Ox drawn transport & artillery of Serbian Army during its retreat to Albania
The above image is taken from Wikipedia and is in the public domain.
Reading: Weathering – Ruth Allen nearly finished. Not only is the author a therapist, she also loves the outdoors in a way that people who live in the countryside do. She has an affinity with rocks and with the landscape in a way that I don’t. I’ve always lived in the suburbs though I enjoy being outside. It’s because the book is so different from my experience that I’ve enjoyed the read. Rachel Joyce I finished reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. It was amusing and very wise and it was a page turner. I’m now reading her second novel, Perfect which is darker. Good, but not as easy to read. I’m reading poems but in magazines and online. I’ve bought Jackie Kay’s May Day which will be great I don’t doubt. She was one of the tutors on a week’s course at Newcastle university I attended in 2006. Short stories I dip into: – Claire Keegan’s Antarctica and Best British Short Stories 2024. The latter includes Alan Beard’s Inside. Alan is a member of Tindal Street Fiction Group and lives in the West Midlands. Another great experience. Roselle Angwin’s Substack posts included many about living in the countryside and managing a smallholding. Others, equally interesting are about writing. All recommended.
Recent Comments