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Early December in Aldbourne brought weekend passes and chillier weather, although to Thomas, who grew up in Wisconsin, the weather was nothing compared to when the breeze from Lake Michigan carried into Manitowoc and created a harsh freeze. However, the weekend passes were new to Thomas and just about every man in Easy company as well. Sobel’s rain of terror was put on a short hold as the good Colonel Sink put in for the approval for weekend passes.Once out of Aldbourne all restrictions were lifted, meaning the men could drink as much as they pleased even if it meant the tepid drinks the Brits called beer.Thomas had already blown his spending money the previous night in London after losing several dart games and being forced to buy his friend’s drinks as a result.So, instead of being on a railway to London or some other close destination, courtesy of England’s excellent railway systems, he was instead in the Aldbourne mess hall with two of his close friends in Easy.“And I’m tellin’ ya Frank, Sobel had a split right down the middle of his PT shorts last time he was trying to lead us in calisthenics!”“No shot Luz, I woulda noticed!”Thomas hid his smirk behind his glass of water before asking, “You two like starin’ at Sobel’s ass?”George swatted his head with a quick strike. Although Thomas did try to dodge his hand he was too busy giggling to fully put in the effort.Frank opened his mouth to retort back but Allen Vest, one of the designated mail clerks, quickly appeared by their end of the table, shuffling through letters.
“Anything for me Vest?”“Nah,” he brushed Frank off as he continued to shuffle the letters before he finally found what he was looking for with a triumphant flourish.“Ah here you are Tommy.”Vest quickly passed him the letter before moving down the mess with a few more in hand. Thomas flipped the letter over to see the neat sprawl of his mother’s handwriting. George, who sat next to him on his bench, nudged him before demanding he read it as tradition when any man received news from home.With a grin he tore open the envelope and began to read the first line before abruptly pausing, making sure to reread the first line. WESTERN UNION
E Company, 506th PIR ‘43 OCTOBER 24
Aldbourne, England
Corporal Thomas Egan
John was shot down and has been listed as MIA since October 10. I will update you as soon as I have more information. Love, Mother.
“Well? What does the letter say Tommy?” Prompted Frank from across the table.Thomas swallowed and then cleared his dry throat before slowly looking up from the paper to look at Frank. He opened his mouth to speak but found that he could not speak. Instead he passed the letter over with a trembling hand over to Frank, refusing to meet his or Luz’s concerned glances.It only took a few seconds before Frank looked back up at him with pity in his gaze. “Ah shit Tommy. I’m so-,” but he didn’t finish his sentence as Thomas had already gotten up from the table and made his way hastily towards the exit.He faintly heard George asking Frank what happened before the door slammed back from when he flung it open. The noise no doubt catching the attention of the other inhabitants of the mess.Thomas had never been one quick to anger, that was more of John’s forte, but he found a simmering rage itching beneath his skin. Walking back to the Byrne’s cottage, the anger built as he passed inhabitants of Aldbourne who shared pleasant greetings with him.It was irrational to be mad at them when they themselves had done nothing wrong. They weren’t the ones who shot down his brother, stranding him somewhere over Germany or worse, left lying in a field as his grave.“Fucking krauts,” he muttered underneath his breath as he left the door to the Byrne’s home slam behind him, his anger shrouding all rational thoughts.Thomas breezed past the parlor where Mrs. Byrne was sitting down drinking tea with Joe, her greeting to the young paratrooper going ignored.“Hey Tommy,” Joe called, but the younger man didn’t stop as he took the stairs two at a time, not caring of the loud ruckus he made despite all the manners his mother instilled in him.He barely made it into the room both him and Joe shared before he heard footsteps following him up the stairs, no doubt Joe coming to scold him for his impolite behavior.Joe didn’t even bother to knock as he barged in, one eyebrow already raised and a stern look on his face that would usually make Thomas squirm, but today just fueled his already heightened emotions.“You wanna’ explain to me what that was all about?”Thomas didn’t answer as he just stared blankly ahead, eyes focused on nothing.Joe called his name after a few seconds of silence, and when there was no response again he crouched in front of where Thomas was sitting on the bed.“Kid?”A beat before, “He’s fucking dead Joe.”Joe’s brows furrowed, “Who, Tommy?”When there wasn’t an immediate response Joe grabbed his face with both hands and forced Thomas to look at him.Upon making eye contact Thomas automatically broke down, ugly sobs escaping his mouth as he tried to look away but the hands kept him in place. His breath hitched as he tried to wriggle away from Joe’s grasp, but when his breathing became more erratic Joe surged up and onto the bed and brought Thomas into an embrace. At the contact Thomas sagged into Joe’s shoulder, in the moment unashamed of the perceived moment of weakness. Sobs wracked through his body, his face becoming flush due to the lack of oxygen.“C’mon kid you have to breathe. Just follow me alright?”The words, follow me, stirred something in all the men in Easy company. Lt. Winters lived off of those words, always setting the example of being the first to put himself into danger, although the most danger they’ve faced so far was Captain Sobel and his tyranny. But Winters’ leadership still held true and inspired the men to trust in each other. No matter what they had in store for them the men knew they could look to Winters for guidance.Thomas drew in one shaky breath and then another, following Joe’s lead. After a few minutes of following Joe’s rhythmic breathing, finally he stopped sobbing, though he was still sniffing.As Joe pulled away his concerned gaze swept over the younger man. Thomas’ eyes were heavy and his face had red blotches. His eyes are what drew the most concern, what usually held a spark of mischief now held nothing but despair. Something not even Sobel’s training had brought that out in the man.Thomas sniffed and wiped his face roughly with his sleeve. He took in a deep breath before he started to speak, “Got a letter from my ma, my brother was uh, shot down during a mission.”Joe’s lips formed a grim line, “Jesus kid. Shit.”Thomas snorted at his words, not that he found them funny but because it was so unequivocally Joe Toye.“Yeah.”Joe pulled Thomas closer with an arm around his shoulders and once more let the younger man rest his head on his shoulder. Joe didn’t offer anymore words, there was nothing he could say that could make him feel better. But Thomas knew all the same, Joe’s silent support and comfort was better than any words he could offer.“You should still apologize to Mrs. Byrne later,” Joe spoke softly.Thomas chuckled wetly, “I know Joe. I know.”Joe began to hum a soft tune that Thomas faintly thought was I’ll Be Seeing You, but with exhaustion weighing down his eyes he let the vibrations of the humming lull him into a restless doze.