19Hi there! I'm DarkestAngel1! This is my first Summer of my German Soldier story so please be nice, yet critical at the same time. I first read this book for an English class assignment, and I fell in love with it. I really wanted to know what happened after the story ended, so I decided to write my own.
Dedication: To my English teacher, Mrs. Bingham for making us read this book, and to my friend Emily, who is forcing into posting this. Thank you both.
Disclaimer: I don't own Summer of my German Soldier, because if I did, why would I be writing this? All rights go to Bette Greene.
A/N IMPORTANT! I made it as thought eight years had gone by so Patty would be twenty and Anton (if he's dead or alive?) would be about twenty eight, according to the ages in the book. BUT I made it so Patty was Twenty and Anton was about twenty four. So please forgive me on the dates here!
Playlist:
Miserable at Best - Mayday Parade
Realize - Colbie Caillat
Still Breathing - Mayday Parade
Hangin by a Moment - Life House
So here it is:
July 29, 1951
It's been nearly eight years since my world was thrown into chaos, since I first found hope in my less than perfect world, since I first saw him. Frederick Anton Reiker. Or as I called him: Anton.
I've been sitting in this same position for so long that my leg has gone numb, but I barely even notice. This is because I'm thinking about Anton again. It's the anniversary of the day Anton was shot and killed. Eight years and I'm still not over him. I tried my hardest to forget him when I was cooped up in the reformatory school, but nothing ever seemed to work. After a while I gave up trying to forget him and just let the thought of him envelope me, until all I thought about was what could have happened if I had stopped him from leaving or if he was still alive. Anton was my first and only love, the only person who had ever looked upon me as more than a child. I learned a lot from him, like when he said I was brave, I finally believe him, to an extent.
But the one thing that I will never forget that Anton told me was when he said "I want you to always remember that you are a person of value, and you have a friend who loved you enough to give you his most valued possession."
When I was sixteen I stood up to my father and told him that I wanted to go and live with Grandma and Grandpa. He told me that was perfectly fine with him because he didn't want to deal with a hormonal teenager who wouldn't listen to him, even if her life was on the line. After that I went to live with my grandparents,until Charlene offered to help me find an apartment close by. Charlene also offered me an internship at the Memphis Commercial Appeal and I gladly accepted it. Now I'm the youngest to ever get a full time job there and be one of the lead investigators in the most current stories.
My grandparents say that they love having me around and I really believe that they do. Right now they're just finishing packing for their trip to New York tomorrow. They asked me if I wanted to go but I just couldn't shake this crazy feeling I've had all week, like something's gonna happen. I'm not sure if it's a good something or a bad something, but either way I'm staying home. Who knows with the weather we're having right now, their train just might be canceled. Just then a lightning strike struck across the moon. I jumped at the sudden light. To top it all off, it was pouring down raining, not the regular light drizzle, no it was more like giant rain droplets, the kind that if your outside for more than a couple of seconds, you will get completely soaked. This weather is basically expressing my feelings right now, kind of confused, scared and most of all anxious. I'm not even sure what I should be anxious about, but I still am.
"Patty, we're going to leave in a few minutes." My grandmother said as she came around the corner holding her suitcase.
"Are you sure that you really wouldn't like to join us? It's completely alright if you stand by you first answer, but remember you can always chance it." She said this with a small smile on her face. I know that whenever I'm unhappy, then I make her worry. So I try to put on a good show for her.
"No, Grandma, I think that I'm going to stay here when you're gone. I really need to catch up on the report I'm writing about President Truman." I smiled a little to show her that I was okay, but this smile didn't even reach my eyes. She came and put her arm around my shoulders for comfort.
"Well, alrighty then dear, your Grandmother and I are off." My grandfather said as he came into the room. He picked up Grandma's suitcase and headed out to the car, wit my Grandma and I in toe.
My Grandparent's housekeeper, Ruth, who was our old caretaker back in Jenkensville, came over to say goodbye.
"Have a safe trip now, ya'll! Patty, hon, you have a visitor waiting outside for you." She said with a mischievous smile.
Cliffy! I hope that you enjoyed the first chapter!
I will be posting chapter 2 tomorrow!
I want to give a shout out to my friend Emily, whose Birthday is today! This is your present! Not!
Please Review and tell me what you think!
Read and Review!