Edwardsdecision to enlist in the army. When I told a leading member of staff that Edward hadenlisted, he said disapprovingly, Thats the last thing I should have expected him to do. This hurt me terribly and I hated him for it.Dear Diary, (only days before Edward leaves for the Western Front) 1915The past few days have been very busy. Everyone is coming to the housebringing presents for Edwards departure and wishing him well. They joke with himabout his new short, army haircut and about his newly grown mustache. They joke withhim about how perfect his army salute was. It all seemed so happy, but when all of ourfriends had gone, our good-byes would be hard. Edward reminded me where all of theimportant documents were. He gave me the key to the box that held our marriagecertificate and the childrens birth certificates and his life insurance policy. This brokemy heart when he mentioned his life insurance policy. I wouldnt need it, would I? I justnodded as he went on.I remember when my father was going away to fight in the war. I had been sayinggood-bye to him for weeks. I prayed every night for his safety on the ship. to me thisseemed to be the most dangerous part of going away to war. It was a horrible picture inmy head, with the huge waves crashing up against the little helpless tugboat filled withsoldiers. The only thing I could do was pray for my father every night.I read on and I came to the entry in my mothers diary about the day my father left.It read:Dear Diary, (Edwards departure for the Western Front) 1915It was a quiet day. No sounds except for a train whistle off somewhere in thedistance. I stood watching Edward leave me to fight in the war. In a way I was proud ofhim and happy for him, but I was sad to be losing him too. We called out to each otheruntil I could no longer hear his voice. There was nothing but the mist and snow and thesilence of death. Then I stumbled back to the empty house....
