The Enemy Says Good Morning

A New Life

Life with the officers takes some time for us to get adjusted. My father is becoming full of more and more spite and my mother more and more fretful. Abigail and Cornelia continue their little games and chores, but I am faced with the worst of it. I launder the officers' uniforms and their linens, while I continue my regular duties with the other guests. There are very few now that we have redcoats in our midst, but still the work does not cease. I work very hard all the while thinking of Second Lieutenant Gray. He never leaves my mind. It's a curse and yet I do not mind.
            I sit by the fire and read when the day's toils have ended. Abigail and Cornelia lean on each other in peaceful rest. They've cuddled up under a quilt on the parlor sofa. The officers have been out since five and it's nearly eleven. I wonder what has kept them, but I'm soon to find out. My mother opens the door for them and they stagger into the main room and plop down into chairs. They're all very very drunk! I peek my head into the room. My father comes in to check on them, but is repelled by their stench.
            "Major Quick knows how to throw a party! I do say!" slurs Captain Crawford. First Lieutenant Martin laughs far too loudly.
            "And his guests! My my my! I do believe they warmed me up more than the wine!" he laughs, He says more, but I cover my ears in embarrassment. And to think King George takes pride in these men! Second Lieutenant Gray does not look well. He leans forward and vomits on the floor. His fellow officers laugh insanely at him.
            "The poor boy has had too much, I say! You had half the amount of wine the rest of us had!" says Crawford.
           "Learn to be like me, son! I could have had another barrel of the Major's fine wine! And I could have spent a whole night with those fine lady entertainers!" Martin's eyes light up, then shift to me. "Though they weren't half as lovely as the innkeeper's daughter..." Martin cackles. Crawford is laughing at everything at this point. Second Lieutenant Gray's face darkens as he turns his Martin towards himself.
         "First Lieutenant Martin, sir, you outrank me, but as an honorable soldier in His Majesty's army I cannot allow you to profane that young lady whose family has shown us great hospitality," he says while repeatedly blinking his eyes to attention. Martin looks at him in surprise.
            "I was kidding, boy! Only kidding! Now before King George has us all skinned, shall we retire to our quarters?" Martin says, leading Crawford out of the main room. I jerk back away from the door. They all pass my mother and me on their way up the staircase. Before Gray leaves he turns to us.
           "I'm very sorry," he says with all the earnestness of a sober man. He shakes his head, then makes his way to his room. My mother looks at me gravely.
            "You stay away from those men, Elinor. They're animals! Now put your sisters to bed," she says. I do and finally I, myself, crawl into bed. That night, I dream of terrible red demons and one silvery creature that pushes them away.