The Homecoming

It was a sticky and humid afternoon in Nashville. Lately, the sun has been scorching the whole Music City.
The temperature has been soaring, yet the whole city, dampened by incessant streams of perspiration
seems never to sleep. On such an afternoon Mrs. Patterson sat in her patio with Shadow, her dog. She
has been sitting on her deck since morning waiting for the phone to ring. Helen Patterson was never a
recluse before but after the death of her beloved husband Reverend. John Patterson’ she was kind of
heartbroken. However, she managed to stir up and return to work after a few months, but before long her
son got posted to Iraq and then came the final blow that left her so lonely that she would seldom go out of
her little denizen.

The Patterson’s home is in Franklin, a place few miles away from Nashville city. Little mounds and green
trees rise up like blessings of god around.

The house used to be pretty old when Rev. Patterson bought it from a family friend. Helen was excited
about her new home and Steve, their only son loved the green around. Helen would spend most of her
time in her hospital as she had been working as a nurse then, and her leisure decorating their home. After
a few months, the house looked elegant with oriental designs and monochromatic color schemes. It is in
this house that Steve grew up, The corners, the breakfast alcove still bring Helen the memories of her son
playing hide and seek with his father, Time is such a fleeting bird, it passes on so swiftly that you never
know when your precious moments are gone, Helen now realizes what tempus fugit means.

Shadow was restless all morning so Mrs. Patterson decided to take her out. “Let’s go for a walk baby.”
Wagging her tail shadow approved of the idea. She wanted to play with Mrs. Patterson but she is so old
that she seldom likes the run. Out they went into the street. Though it was hot around, the trees provided
a soft shade. Mrs. Patterson walked shadow in the neighborhood. She caught a glimpse of the boys next
door playing with their mom Molly Walker. “Hello. Mrs. Patterson, how are you doing today?” shouted
Molly. “Fine honey, its just I am getting old”
She waived to her and then decided to get back home. If the phone rang she might not be available to
pick up, besides, even the little walk with Shadow is exhaustive for her. “Let’s go inside Shadow”

In some other place in some other country a soldier had died this morning. Lately, there have been a lot
of casualties in the war. A spectrum of ebullient American boys filled with life end up in the cursed battle
ground to die and fade away. Officer Scott was upset when he was apprised about Patterson. Steve
Patterson was a brave soldier always brimming with life and enthusiasm. He had high hopes in his
country and that led him to the war. The never ending, incessant battle may never stop, the peace may
never come, yet these brave spirits would come to at least try to resolve the situation. Scott still
remembered his last talk with Patterson; He was worried about his mother who was living like a recluse
after he came to Iraq. Ever day Patterson would call his mom and say he was doing alright. The other
person on the line would shed some drops of silent tears when she heard the voice she had waited to
hear the whole day. The three words “I am doing alright mom” would bring her such a relaxation, such a
relief that for sometime she would feel rejuvenated. They never talked for long. Steve was always choked
with tears when he talked long with her, As for Mrs. Patterson, ​incapacitated by a strange numbness
she could seldom ​talk for more than five minutes with Steve. Everyday she would say “When are you
coming home son? Mommy misses you so much” Steve would dread those words, “I would call you
tomorrow mommy. I got to go. I will be home soon”

The phone never rang. The hot afternoon gave way to a humid evening. The house was a strange
chiaroscuro with the dark shades predominating. Mrs. Patterson sat in her patio waiting for the phone to
ring. She was oblivious of the passing hours. Shadow was asleep in her little bed. The Walker’s were
having a family party that evening. Helen could here the broken words and the loud guffaws. The last
party in the Patterson home was the small family dinner a week before Steve left. His girlfriend Amy and
her family came over with a few other relatives. Helen never wanted Steve to leave and Steve knew that,
but things never turned out as they should have been and he had to leave. He had to leave his country,
his mother and his love and his life. Everyday, Steve would promise to comeback but he never came.

The sky was jet black now and a little star was twinkling at some corner. Mrs. Patterson stared at it
waiting for somebody to come who was as far away as the twinkling star in the dark night’s bower.

Officer Scott was given the duty to inform Helen Patterson, mother of Steve Patterson the news of her
son’s death. He tried to call her twice but a strange emptiness in his stomach stopped him. The other
soldiers in the barrack were mourning the loss of their dear friend. It is in places like these that you realize
how ephemeral life is. One day you wake up happy and in the evening you are no more. Such apocryphal
existence can never be called a coveted journey. It’s just an existence. Most of the young men in the
barracks are too young to understand the truth about their existence and Scott knew it’s a blessing or
some unknown boon that they are still alive.

“​Sigh!” Officer Scott picked up the phone and dialed a number from Steve Patterson’s diary. It was
supposed to be pretty late in America. yet; Scott wanted to finish his dreadful task as soon as possible.
He didn’t want to hang on till next morning. “If you are in the army, you are supposed to use your head &
not your heart” that was the first thing General Scott learned as he embarked on his journey to fight for his
country. But he still cannot follow the rule. He still has a piece of heart in him that is seeped in feelings
and sentiments.

At 10 PM the phone finally rang. Mrs. Patterson could not hear it at first. It rang again. Mrs. Patterson was
in a trance and with a start woke up. She had a strange anticipation from the morning and she waited for
the phone to ring like never before. It sounded like god’s blessing. She hurriedly stood up and dragged,
almost ran to pick up the phone. A sense of ecstasy filled her. Shadow was awoke. She seemed relieved
too. “Hello. Hello Steve, why are you so late son? Mommy was expecting your call for so long.” “Steve,
Steve are you alright?” On the other side of the phone a man was choking only this time it was not her
son. “Mrs. Patterson, I am General Scott” A stream of bitter gall filled Mrs. Patterson and suddenly she felt
numb and sick. She apprehended something. She never wanted to hear what she apprehended. “I have
an information for you. I know its hard for you but Steve is no more. He was hit by an attacker this
morning and he couldn’t make it to the hospital” “you must be mistaken Mr. Scott, that cannot be Stevie,
he just spoke to me yesterday. It cannot be him. You are wrong. Tell me you are wrong, oh tell me….”

Officer Scott could not control his spoony heart, choked he hung up. On the other side, the old woman
dropped the handset and puked on the floor. There was a strange silence all round. Her whole world had
come to a sudden stop. A violent stream of tears gushed out erasing all the memories, the fond
imaginations and she could hear a voice ringing in her ear. A voice that she had heard the last night
“Mommy, I would be home soon”

By Barnali Saha Banerjee

Nashville,TN
8/06/2008 ©