Father came home early today. The stock exchange is shut because of the war.
It was strange, hearing the word that war is finally declared, that Britain's ultimatum has not been met and the Empire has now declared itself against the Kaiser and his kabal. I've heard a lot of big political words lately, like ultimatum, assassination, sanctions and alliances. It seems like we've been at war for weeks. Everyone's been talking like that, or at least all the loyal subjects. Mr. Markusy is an American, and when I mentioned the war to him today he only grunted and turned away to inventory the storeroom.
It's the other side of the world. How can news from so far away matter to my life? Or anyone around here? But when I saw Oliver and Paul they spoke about the Empire like they'd been told by the King himself to protect the realm, and they talked about the Kaiser like he was one of the Komagata Maru Indians.
They say a lot of things when they're drunk, but never follow through. They said they would sign up tomorrow. But this time I believe them. Something about the words "a man's duty" brought out their sobriety. I only just turned eighteen. They aren't more than a few months older than me, and I don't feel like a man yet, so how can they? Have they seen something that I have not? Do they know something about being a man that I missed? Will I be left behind?
No comments:
Post a Comment