I’ve chosen to take the suggestion on the WEP Challenge 2023 page and write a story about the underpinning issues of World War II. This story is about survival in a harsh time, and the sometimes humorous vignettes behind war.
I’m not publishing this to compete this time, but only to participate in WEP, something I wish I could do more often.
The German Goose
Sarge and Private Martinez were the first in the Jeep to spot a dark grey spiral of smoke in the distance. Even if it could be dangerous, smoke meant warmth, and if the four men were lucky, a chance to taste food that didn’t come from a C-Ration can.
In silent agreement they turned onto the dirt road they hoped would lead them in the direction of that smoke. In less than a mile, they stopped in front of a German farmhouse, and the four of them, their guns out, crouched low and made their way to the front.
Sarge pressed his ear against the door, listening. Only silence came from inside. But the aroma of freshly brewed coffee meant someone might be behind that door, armed and waiting.
He gave Private Martinez a signal to circle to the back before he shoved open the door and ducked to the side, expecting bullets. Moments after, the back door crashed open and in a few seconds Martinez called the all-clear.
Inside, an enameled coffee pot sat steaming on the stove. The oven was hot to the touch, waiting for a pan of unbaked biscuits on the table. Whoever, had been here only moments before, must have fled when they heard the Jeep approaching.
The GI’s wasted little time in shoving those biscuits into the oven and pouring themselves the first real coffee they’d tasted in months. Pulling the wooden kitchen chairs close to the stove, they sipped the black brew and anticipated the taste of hot, freshly baked biscuits, something they’d thought a lot of while they slogged through mud or huddled under dripping helmets in the cold rain.
For these Recon Scouts, fighting the war had been more about dodging German soldiers than shooting at them. Serving under Patton’s Black Cat Division, they’d spent most of the time behind enemy lines reporting the German troop movements, the number of tanks, and the location of artillery. After keeping out of sight, staying warm was their first priority. Real food was never far from their minds. They slept in spurts during the day or whenever it seemed safe, so they’d forgotten what it was like to not feel tired.
When they’d devoured the last biscuit, they added a chunk of wood to the stove to keep the heat up in the kitchen. They were about to pour another cup of coffee when the honking of a goose stopped them. When they looked out the window, a large gray bird was waddling from the barn to the side of the house. These men had communicated silently with each other for over a year—a nod, a quick hand gesture, eyes signaling a direction to go. One look at that bird, and none of them needed more than a nod before the axe next to the stove was in hand. Not long afterwards, the goose was in the oven.
How blissful it was to be at a hot stove, sitting in a chair, sipping real coffee with the expectation of eating a fat roasted goose. They couldn’t have dreamed a better dream than this. And it lasted about ten minutes.
At first, the sharp explosions of rapid gunfire came from a distance, but their trained ears picked up the hum of aircraft. There were two planes heading their direction. Messerschmitts? The hum of engines came closer. P-47s. Maybe their own.
Whoever those fighters belonged to, didn’t matter. They couldn’t stay in a German farmhouse that might be strafed, but they weren’t about to miss out on that goose or that coffee. Sarge grabbed the almost-roasted bird out of the oven. Martinez the coffee pot. The two men in the rear took charge of the delicacies, and they sped off to find a safer spot.
It was three days before they located another place they could make a fire, finish roasting that bird and warm up the coffee. There would never been another goose or another pot of coffee that measured up in flavor, and none of the GI’s tired of telling the story, so it became part of each family’s folklore, embellished a bit here and there, but essentially what happened that day in April 1945.
Stephanie@Fairday's Blog says
Great story! I can only imagine the feeling a cup of hot coffee would have had then- I know how much comfort and joy it brings me now. Thanks for sharing!
Sally P Stackhouse says
Great story – so genuine to find a bit of joy – eating biscuits, goose and drinking coffee for a short respite.
Arlee Bird says
Interesting to read about, but I’m glad I never had to experience anything like it.
Lee
Kalpana Misra says
What an amazing story about war and humour and the ability of youth to survive and find joy in coffee and a goose in the middle of a war.
Beth Camp says
Wow! What a wonderful story. This brought tears to my eyes for its intense emotion, wry humor, and sharp sense of truth. We see so many horrific stories play out on the news and wish there somehow could be an end of war. This story reveals the human experience that sadly and strongly remains, despite war. Yes, why not be in the running? More people should read this story!
Kelly says
What a moving tale!
Nilanjana Bose says
War strips young people of their youth, so much hardship and trauma on all sides! Loved the true story and the photos are just priceless. A great way to use the prompt. Thank you for sharing your family history at WEP.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – I thought I’d commented … perhaps I thought my idea wasn’t quite right … but here it is – I rather hoped they’d leave the goose cooking for the next visitors, rather as they’d had the coffee and biscuits.
Life in any war must be so difficult – but any plus available is to be taken and enjoyed however briefly. What an amazing record to have found in your photo archives … with the notations.
Life is beautiful … cheers Hilary
Damyanti Biswas says
What a moving and absolutely fitting take on the prompt.
Sonia dogra says
Hi Lee. This is such a real portrait of what it’s like… fear, uncertainty and moments of light heartedness. I loved reading your take on the prompt and the pictures are priceless!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Sonia. I’m glad you thought it was a good fit for this theme.
J Lenni Dorner says
Thankfully, I was drinking coffee when reading this. Because you made me really want a cup!
When will you be over with the goose? 😜
But seriously, this was a great read. I’m glad you opted to share.
Proof of Existence, book two in my dark urban fantasy series, is out this month. I hope you’ll check it out.
And please don’t miss the amazing giveaway on my blog. Act fast and enter now!
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Reference& Speculative Fiction Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge
C. Lee McKenzie says
I imagined what that coffee must have smelled like to men who hadn’t had any for a long time.
I’ll swing by your place again and see what you’re up to. AtoZ 2023 is nearing its end!
Yolanda Renee says
As I read, I imagined a little old lady hiding under the floorboards, (a hidden basement) eating crackers and waiting for the men to leave. Glad she could provide them with a meal, but missing her pet goose. LOL
An amazing story of survival during a very harsh period. And yet, even today, it would read true. Great entry for the WEP’s Life is Beautiful.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks for the imagining. Who knows, but that your version actually did happen? I thought the story was a good fit for this month’s WEP because life can be beautiful in the worst of times. The Benigni movie certainly highlight that.
Jeff says
Is the story and pictures from your family? Thankfully, by April 1945, the war was about over. The movie, “Life is Beautiful” is a classic!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I believe this happened a month before WWII ended, so yes. This was just before Germany surrendered. It was a family member, and he told me the story.
Elizabeth Seckman says
We’re so lucky to have a history of such bravery and sacrifice. The things soldiers go through…dodging bullets, going hungry…I’m just floored by them.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I give to the veteran associations. Those guys deserve our support.
Natalie Aguirre says
I loved this, Lee. I could imagine how good the coffee and biscuits must have tasted.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Me too. Nothing like deprivation to heighten appreciation, right?
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – this was a fun read … dreadful it was in war time – I’m so glad they got out safely. I rather thought they might have left the goose and the coffee on for the next occupiers of the farmhouse – but that would be stretching the tale beyond WW2. Very well written and I could so easily be with them … cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
I doubt leaving that goose behind ever crossed their minds. 🙂
Liz A. says
A true story? They had to take the advantage when they had it. I bet they enjoyed that goose.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yep. All true. I guess this qualifies as a non-fiction entry.
Denise covey says
Lee, this was so raw and real. I couldn’t help giggling at times. I wished those soldiers a good war if there is any such thing. Poor goose though and I hope the family that ran survived. Having original photos added a lot of veracity to your story. Wonderful! I’m so glad you were inspired by the prompt!
C. Lee McKenzie says
This was story I wanted to write, so thanks for adding more motivation for me to actually do that.
Olga Godim says
Sometimes, you can laugh and make jokes even in the most horrific circumstances. When the other choice is to perish from fright. I wonder what happened to that German family who owned that farmhouse.
C. Lee McKenzie says
They’re the invisible people in this story, and nobody will ever know what their fate was. I’m sure they weren’t happy to find their goose gone!
Elephants Child says
A snippet of a story – repeated for so many – regardless of what side of the war they came from.
Love it. Thank you.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m sure the other side has similar tales to tell.
Jemi Fraser says
Love this! A snippet of what was/is like for many of the soldiers – hoping for good food and some warmth and sleep.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Glad you enjoyed the story. I really wrote it for my family, but WEP gave me a chance at a wider audience.