Novembering Anew

Novembering Anew

There was something about November that made Loden McCrae especially restless. From dusk he wandered late into the night. He never had any direction in mind, and he always started on the street farthest from his home and worked back to his pretty house with the green door.

“I wonder if I need to talk to someone. I do this every November for the whole month. What bothers me so in that month, I wonder?” he asked himself every time. The walking was soothing and relaxing, so he never really answered the question he asked himself.

“But I never do this on any other month of the year, what is it about November?” Another question that never got answered.

This November as he came up to his green door to insert the key, he squinted his eyes at it.

“I never noticed this before, there’s a shadow of a marching soldier with a gun on his shoulder! He looks weary and weak. But he continues to look ahead with purpose! “He told himself with awe in his voice.

He put his nose right up to the door so he could see more detail. But the minute he did, the figure disappeared, and it was just a green door.

“I was never a soldier. My health was poor, and I had severe scoliosis in my spine. I wonder what soldier that is on my door? There’s only one way to find out!” He shakily unlocked the door and went inside.

Hours later, after he had scoured all the scrapbooks he had of the family, he was astounded.

“I have many soldiers in my family, both women and men! They all went to war. Some came home again, and others did not. All of them make me a proud descendent.”