War in America
by Ethel Barrett
While going through Ethel’s file labeled “Story Ideas”
“Have you seen a little boy with light hair? He had a dog.”
SHE CRAWLS OVER THE BARBED WIRE. CLUTCHES THE GUARD’S ARM.
SHE IS LOOKING BEYOND HIM AS SHE SPEAKS, AT THE DEAD CHILD LYING ON THE GROUND.
“Have you seen a little boy? He had light hair and a red jacket. It had a scripture verse on the pocket and a big emblem in back. He—”
SHE RECOGNIZES THE CHILD BUT HER MIND REFUSES TO ACCEPT, AND SHE TALKS ON, WHILE THE TEARS COURSE DOWN HER CHEEKS.
“He may have taken the jacket off because it was warm, but it’s cold now and he—”
SHE RUSHES FORWARD AT LAST, GATHERS THE CHILD IN HER ARMS SOBBING. SHE TURNS, LOOKS UP OVER HER SHOULDER AT THE GUARD WHO HAS WALKED UP AND IS STANDING BEHIND HER.
“He was cold....and hungry. He was hungry....”
SHE BURIES HER HEAD IN THE CHILD’S BOSOM, IN A PASSION OF WEEPING.
FADE OUT
Hand-written cursive note on bottom of page is says:
“Leonardo De Vinci
Pose for pictures(?): Christ Child; Judas”
Short yet powerful piece—the shock, grief and view into the mind during this moment of tragic loss.
Written in 1954. When Ethel typed these lines, the world was reeling from post-WWII displacement, entering the the Cold War, the Communist scare, and an Eisenhower era immigration crisis.
What do you think she was writing about? Was this an “it can happen here” warning for the Cold War era, a reflection on European refugees, or something else entirely? Perhaps just a writing exercise in conveying extreme emotion.
How does it apply today? When you read the dialogue and the stage directions, how does it resonate with the images and policies dominating the news cycle right now?
What does this piece mean to you? I look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments below.