by Gunther the Dragon’s Story Continues
The man got out of the cab, paid the driver and looked at the house he used to live in. He wondered if anyone was home, it was two stories made of stone. He looked around the grounds, it needed mowing. The place looked deserted, he wondered where everyone was. He didn’t want to give anyone a shock when they saw him.
He approached the house and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so he went over to the flower pot and moved the plant. There was a small hole with a cover, he pulled on the hook. It was snug but finally came off, he would have to fix that. He was relieved a key was still there, and pulled it out. He stood up, brushing off the dirt on his knees and put the key into the lock. He heard a click and reached for the knob, turning it to open the door. He stepped inside, it was quiet, no barking or voices, he reached for the switch and flipped the switch. The light came on above him, he looked at the hanging chandelier. It threw a shadow through the hallway. He walked into the kitchen, repeating turning on the lights. He saw a strange cell phone sitting on an envelope. He moved the phone and looked at the envelope. It had his name on it, he ripped it open, his great beating fast. He started reading.
My dearest,
If you ever return, if it’s possible, I was informed all of you were lost and we had a funeral in DC with full colors for all of you. I gave the other widows money for their children’s college, I knew it would be harder for them raising their children on their own.
Grandpa is now with us in Cornwall, the only difference is that we are in the year 1290 of Our Lord. Grandpa is now our Catholic Priest, I run a school along with Jennie, my sister and Susan. Leila is a young lady now and helps me teach the violin to students. She has met a nice young knight and comes back to Luxembourg quite often. Once a year I make it back and leave a new letter for you incase you have returned. As of now I have not remarried but after eleven years being widowed I just might remarry next year if you have not returned to me. Kanani is now twelve and we have a new puppy from Germany. I have named him Jackie Lee after a friend of mine’s German Shepherd Dog. Kanani treats him like her own. I also have a friend named Gunther, he is thirteen and a dragon. Use this phone if you come home, we will come for you and show you back into our time. I can’t leave here, it’s become our home. I have Susan, Kimo, Jennie, Richard, Kanani, Jackie Lee, Gunther and many others as family. I’m friends with King Arthur, and many more as well. It’s been a long time so I don’t really expect a miracle this far down the road. Just know that I have always loved you and prayed for your safe return from the war.
Love Always,
Sophia
John dropped the letter and sat down. He had to reread it comprehend what Sophia had just told said. She came over once a year after all these years, thirteen to be exact to leave him a letter incase he was alive. Oh if she only knew what he and the others had lived through. He got up and looked in the fridge, to his surprise there was a bottle of wine in there with a tag saying welcome home John, he decided to take it out and open it. He poured himself a glass after locating the opener, and took it outside to the porch. It was early summer and the sun was just setting. It was too quiet here without Sophia and Kanani. Did he really want to live in Camelot? He was from this time, he just survived hell. He just couldn’t make that decision. Perhaps Sophia had remarried since this letter was left. He went back in and picked up the letter again, it was dated January 1, 2023/1190. It was 2024 and June, she hadn’t come back this year and there wasn’t a new letter from her. He decided he should call his hotel in Hawaii and see if he still owned it. The only phone was the cell phone on the counter, he picked it up and dialed the number he knew by heart. He got ahold of the front office and they put him through to the manager, it was still Mike his old friend.
“Hello this Mike, how can I help you?”
“Mike, I called to see what was new, this is John.”
There was silence.
“Hold on, John is this really you? I thought you were killed on that mission thirteen years ago in Afghan! Does Sophie know? Where are you?”
“Ok, take a deep breath Mike. Yes, it’s me John, I just walked into the Luxembourg house. No, I have not spoken to Sophie. You’re the first person I’ve talked to.”
“Well you know she lives in England now. I’ve wanted to go visit her but could never get a hold of her.” Mike said. “Maybe you should come here before you go see her and then I can go with you to England to break the news! That sounds like fun.” Mike was getting excited.
“Slow down my friend. Let sleep it on and I’ll call you tomorrow.” John was getting tired.
“Ok, I’ll wait until noon. Give me a number and I’ll call you.”
“Let me look at the phone number.” John pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it. There wasn’t a number. “There isn’t a number on it. I’ll call you when I get up in the morning my friend.”
“Ok, John. You get some rest and we’ll catch up tomorrow.” Then he hung up.
John put the phone down. He had a lot to think about.
He poured himself another glass of wine and went back outside to drink it. The temperature was still warm and the sun had set. It was so nice to here after where he had been all of these years. The world and Sophia thought he was dead, was he too late to go find her? Would it be fair to her? He was thinking it was better for him to maybe live alone. He was a different man now, he had seen so much horror. Then the camp the men had been drug off to was inhumane for a dog to be kept like that. Speaking of which, he slapped his knee. “That’s it, I need a dog. If this doesn’t work out with Sophie and Kanani I’m getting one.” He stood up and went back inside of the house. He decided to find the guest room and sleep there. He felt odd going to Sophia and his room without her knowing he was alive and at the house. He got ready for bed and thought for a long while, then sleep overcame him. Something woke him up. He got out of bed and turned on the lamp next to him. He listened, what had awakened him? Was it just a dream? He decided to turn off the light and try to go back to sleep. He tossed and turned then just gave up and jumped into the shower. Afterwards he grabbed the cell phone, found keys to the vehicles outside and decided to go into Luxembourg for some breakfast. He drove around the town, things looked different but they were coming back to him. He decided on a café, so found a parking spot nearby. People were looking at him a bit strangely; maybe it was just his imagination. He sat down at a table and ordered a breakfast of poached eggs, whole wheat toast and sausage, then enjoyed his coffee reading the paper. He was sitting outside in the café and he couldn’t help but here the different conversations around him. Then something got his attention and he put his paper down to listen.
“We’re going to Camelot in two weeks for a vacation. This is so exciting that we can actually buy tickets for a trip there.” the woman said.
“It’s about time something like this is possible. I hope you don’t like it so much that you will want to move there. We couldn’t afford the visa’s right now honey.” said the man.
The conversation went on and on. What John got from this conversation is that he could buy a ticket for a month’s visit or pay a huge fee and get a visa for a year, then every year come back and renew it. This definitely had the fingerprints of Sophia all over it. He couldn’t wait to find her! He picked up his phone and called Mike in Hawaii.
After hanging up he paid his bill, drove to the airport and booked a flight out that night to Hawaii from Luxembourg.
Meanwhile big things were happening in Camelot.
“Sophia this is the night Lamorak is going to ask you to for your hand in marriage. He’s waited ten years, you told him ten years you had to wait to marry. John has not returned, so tonight you say yes when he asks. That poor man has waited so long for you agree to this. He loves you so much, the two of you are such a great couple when you’re together.” Jennie was giving Sophia a big sisterly talk.
“I know I know,” said Sophia, “I’m putting on my blue dress he loves to much. Kanani and Jackie Lee have had baths, I want them to be clean and look nice tonight too. We’re going to have such a fun time at the party King Arthur is giving us in the castle. Even Gunther and the dragons will be there! You’d better get ready Jennie. I’ll meet you there, Lamorak is picking me up in an hour. I’ve got butterflies in my stomach. I know after all this time I’m not making a mistake.”
“Ok, little sister, see you tonight.” Jennie got up and hugged her then left. Sophia continued getting ready, more emotionally than physically. She still had her long blond hair, she had kept her weight down. Well really they were eating much healthier food here than back in her time. Everything was from the earth, lot’s of root vegetables and good wine. She had already fed the dogs but knew they would get some scraps tonight. Everyone loved Kanani and Jackie Lee; they led pretty good lives. By day they played in the lake with Gunther and ran throughout Camelot. They were in the classroom with her when she was teaching, they went everywhere with her and they loved Lamorak. She was so excited for tonight. This was the night she was going to say yes to Lamorak. She waited over ten years to remarry, it’s actually been twelve years since John’s death, Sophia thought.
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