Cold ground, warm heart
By colemansdimple
Billy and Candy were inseparable. He was her best friend since they were kids. Everyday, after she had finished her lessons, they would meet under the old oak tree and play all afternoon. They would swim in the lake and run in the woods. They would climb trees and play with the farm's animals. When they reached their adolescence, however, her father forbid her from doing it, claiming that it was for the sake of her pure soul. This didn't stop them from meeting in secret, walking together as he took the cows to feed or sitting under a tree as he looked after the sheep.
Because his family was very poor, he only got a present once a year, on his birthday. He always asked them for candy. It was the only time when he could feel like all the other boys in town. These fond short memories made him nickname his best friend Candy, because he could only have her all to himself for a little time.
“But what kind of candy am I?” she laughed at this, teasing him for an answer.
“Oh you look very much like those short roundish ones, wrapped around in pretty dress papers...” he smiled and winked at her, admiring her little dimple.
She then turned the basket of leaves she was gathering over his head, laughing out loud as he only pouted a little. He couldn't be mad at her when she smiled like that. Later that day, she remembered his words as she was dressing up for church, looking at herself the mirror, wondering if he really thought she looked like those candies. They saw eachother at church too, but under the eyes of her father they couldn't even exchange two words. Victoria's father, Henry Kensington, was the town's only preacher. Her mother passed away when she was born so she was guarded by him like the most precious treasure.
William, or Billy, was the youngest in a family of five. Himself, his brother James, his sister Emily, his mum, Liz, and dad, Peniston Lamb. They didn't own the land they lived and worked in. His older brother and father worked all day in that farm, and he knew that was going to be his fate too. His sister was the sweetest thing but couldn't find a good husband because nobody wanted a girl with nothing on her name. She ended up working in the town's pub, something that brought shame to their parents, but, to her, it was a way to gain some freedom for herself. Billy admired her more than he did with his brother. It felt like she was the only one in that family who could change fate. As he grew older, there was nothing he wanted more than to not be just a farm boy.
Specially when it concerned his friendship with Candy. If he had been born rich and didn't spend his days smelling like cows and sheep surely her pa would let them spend more time together. Meanwhile, Candy was going to a good school, she was very popular there and the other students loved to be around her. She was smart and well behaved, a perfect little lady. But that's not the real Candy, he thought, as he saw them chatting in the school yard, from across the river. Only he knew the real Candy. The one who used to enjoy mud games and climbing trees and running free with him in the woods like two wild animals.
In reality, however, Billy was denying the fact that she had grown up, she wore makeup now and pretty dresses, her hair was perfectly curly, and she definitely didn't have time for climbing trees all afternoon anymore. Still, she took a few minutes of her day for him, her best friend. She would climb down her window and ran until she would find him. Sometimes he would hide a bit from her, watching as she searched for him in all the places they used to go. He didn't know why he did that, but it made his heart beat faster when he finally showed himself and saw her smiling happily at him. Yes, he knew her better than anybody else.
When he reached 18, he began to notice little changes in their behaviour. She now got all red in the face if he stared at her for too long. And his heart raced in his chest everytime he saw one of the boys from her school approach her in church. If it weren't for her pa being there he would gladly introduce their faces to his fists. She was his Candy! His...best friend! It made him so jealous he took a few minutes longer to appear for her that day. He enjoyed seeing her search for him and only him.
Unbeknownst to Billy, Candy felt the same way. She got jealous too when she saw him chatting with his sister's friend in front of the local pub the other day. An older woman! All curves and smiles for her Billy! Yes, he was her Billy! Her...best friend! The more he grew the more handsome he got, with those beautiful green eyes and sharp cheekbones. She wondered what he thought of her now. Was she still short roundish candy from their childhood? Or could she become the best candy in the shop to his eyes?
Then, it came the war. Their country was in the middle of the conflict, so troops and canons passed by the town all day and night. Billy was excited. He saw it as an opportunity to escape his fate in the farm. If he became a soldier and a war hero, Candy's pa would definitely let them be together! When he told her that, however, she got very upset.
“Do you really want to go there? Do you really want to leave m...your home?”
“It wouldn't be too long...just until it passes...and when I return...”
“If you return!”
“Now c'mon Candy...these other soldiers got nothing on me...I've been working nonstop for years! I can run faster than all the older men here and I can lift twice my weight!”
Suddenly, she got up, all red face and tears and ran away, leaving him behind, confused. Did she really think he couldn't handle a couple of little soldiers? He was the local champion of arm wrestle for three years for god's sake!
She didn't come looking for him for two days after that. On the third day, he received an invitation for her birthday party. He was never invited before, but they celebrated it in their own way, blowing up twig candles in cakes made out of mud and decorated with little stones. His parents didn't want him to go, it would embarrass the family for sure if he mingled with rich people. But Billy insisted, he missed her so much that two days felt like two years. So his parents had to make do, borrowing a suit and bowtie for him. And he bought for her a little enamel pin in the shape of one of those black birds that were always flying above them in the woods. It costed him all the money he had been saving.
When he got there, Candy received him with a smile, took his arm in hers and began to introduce him to all the people in the room, much to her father's displeasure. Of course, they all knew him already, he had worked in their houses and farms making small repairs here and there. But being forced to acknowledge him as an equal, made them very uncomfortable. It didn't bother Candy one bit though. In truth, she wasn't rich like the rest of them.
Even this party was being held in the house of one of her classmates. But she was so pretty and kind and well mannered that she was accepted in all social circles around town. After she introduced Billy to her friends Harriet and Emma, she got very jealous of the way Emma looked at him. Damn that girl! She is only one year older than me, but likes to act all superior! She quickly took him away from Emma's sinful glances and they headed to the dance floor. He suddenly got very nervous because he never danced with anyone before, so he excused himself and left her standing there, to go breathe some fresh air in the balcony.
He watched from the outside of the house as she was approached by Albert Coburg, whose family's house was borrowed for her party. He gave her a small box and wished her a happy birthday. Everybody else was looking at them too. At least, Billy thought, it isn't a bigger gift than mine. But to his surprise, Victoria pulled out a huge hairpin, with a big diamond on it. Several people applauded them, including Albert's brother, Ernest, and their father Lord Leopold. Billy felt numb and turned around, not wanting to see her reaction. Now he understood why his mum and dad didn't want him there. He took the small box from his suit pocket, prepared to throw it away somewhere and leave as soon as possible.
“Is this for me?” Candy's sweet voice came from behind him.
He took a jump scare and almost let the box fall from his hands. The big diamond pin shining in her hair.
“No...no...this is nothing...I'm sorry Candy but I really must be going now...thank you for inviting me...”
She quickly turned to stand on his way, preventing him from leaving.
“You know... you're the only one that still calls me that...when I started school some people used to do it too...but now it's only you...”
“You don't like it?”
“I do...I do...it's just that...sometimes I wonder if this is the only way you see me...as that short roundish candy from the store...”
“Gesh...you remember that?” he said, blushing.
“Of course...” she smiled a little, blushing too.
After that he couldn't hear a single word she was saying, his vision was completely focused on her moving lips and her dimple, that appeared and disappeared from her cheek. Them, alone, in a dark corner of a balcony at night, made everything more secret, more intimate. He didn't think about what he was doing when he bent his head down and kissed her there, on her dimple. It was a quick sweet kiss but she immediately froze, becoming silent. He mumbled an apology, shoved the box in her hands, wished her a happy birthday and left, bumping into several people on his way out. Cursing himself all the way back home. It took a long time before she could fall sleep that night.
Next day, came the news that their country had sided in the war. Now, enemy troops might invade them. It happened faster than anyone would expect. They came without warning, attacking the small civilian town. Big black objects falling from the sky and hitting the houses. Cannonballs. He was looking after the sheep when he heard big noises and screams coming from the town. Only one thought reached his mind. Candy! He needed to go to her! He ran to her house and knocked, screaming her name. Nothing. There was nobody home. He began to panic.
He decided to look for her in the school, but the city was already a chaos. Buildings collapsing, smoke and fire, people bleeding everywhere. What could he do? The church was way too far but it was the only place he didn't look. Unless...no she can't be there! In his heart he knew where she was, when he got to the old oak tree where they used to meet he found her there, waiting. It seems she was looking for him too. She grabbed his hand and took him to her father's cellar. They got in and he barricated the door with some pieces of wood. She lit the only candle there was and they sat on the floor, cold earth all around them. It started to rain. They could hear the loud cannonballs and the screams. It felt like hell itself had opened its gates and demons crawled out to devour them.
He stared at the candlelight and thought of how stupid he was, thinking he could ever survive a battlefield. The only reason he was still alive now was because of Candy. His legs were trembling all over with fear. What a useless soldier he would be. If they managed to get inside there then what? They would hurt Candy and he would just stand there because he was too afraid to do anything! Coward! He didn't deserve her! He couldn't even hold her hand and comfort her! Then, he heard a sniff and turned to see her crying. When she noticed he was looking, she quickly rubbed her eyes to hide her tears. Oh Candy, how brave you are! Here I am, feeling sorry for myself, while you're trying so hard not to let me know you are scared! He thought.
He gave a shallow breath. Another cannonball hit close to them and he heard bottles shaking. He had an idea. He got up and took one of her father's wine bottles, opened and offered it to her.
“For the nerves.” he said, trying to steady his own breathing.
She took the bottle and had a long gulp. He was impressed at her. Not her first time then. She passed it to him and he drank from the same place she had just touched with her lips. He was so eager for it he almost choked on wine. It made her give a little smile, at least. She began to tell him about the speech her father was preparing. He knew how much she loved to hear her pa preaching the gospel. The way her eyes shone, it was truly a delightful view.
“He was preparing it for next sunday...I wonder if...if he'll get to show it to people...do you think...do you think he's alright? My dad?”
He didn't know. There was no way of knowing. He knew the town was in total chaos. And he only saw part of it while looking for her. But he couldn't tell her that, not right now.
“Do you remember that little spot behind the church, where we used to play hide and seek?”
She nodded.
“I bet all my money your pa is there right now...safe and sound...just like we are...and that big tree with a hole inside...do you remember? I bet my family is there too...they are just waiting for the soldiers to leave so they can come here and pick us up...I'm sure of it.”
She nodded. Yes, that seemed like a very good plan. They would stay there until their parents come for them! So they sat there waiting. Listening as the screams and cannonball noises were getting lower and lower. Their candle was at its end and soon it gave its last light, closing them in darkness. They didn't know how many hours they've been there. He felt the warmth of her body coming closer until she rested her head on his shoulder. It's been so long since they touched like this! He decided to lay down on the ground and brought her with him, placing her head now on his chest. With her body so close to his he could feel something else too, on her breast. Something pointy under lher blouse was touching him, hurting a little. He moved against it, trying to guess what it was.
“It's the present you gave me...the little bird pin... I've kept it safe with me...close to my heart.” she said.
Thank goodness for the darkness, he thought, or she would see he too was now crying. All that time he thought she wasn't wearing it. That she hated it. To distract himself he caressed her hair. He began to remember an old song his mum used to sing. Because he couldn't remember all of it, he needed to add a few bits.
"Soldiers they will come
And soldiers they will go
The war may lay the lot of us
In rows of granite stone
And if I join the cavalry
And perish far from home
A life as sweet as Candy I may never live to know”
Slowly, he began to feel her breath steadying, until she was peacefully asleep. He had done that! He had made her feel better! He wasn't totally useless! Soon, the only other noise he could hear was their own breathing. His heart filling the silence with its happy little b....
BAAAM!!!
4.200 people lived in their town. After that day...only 500 survived. There was no warning, no chance for them to get away. They never had an explanation as to why they were targeted. In the closest town, public workers now hanged up long lists by the hospital door, adding more and more names to it, as the bodies were being brought in, most of them already lifeless. Between those names, there are a few we can recognise.
Henry Kensington, shot in the church.
Albert Coburg, found dead by the river.
Ernest Coburg, found dead next to his brother.
Lord Leopold Coburg, drowned.
Peniston Lamb and Elizabeth Lamb, found dead under the remains of their house.
James Lamb, shot while trying to save his parents.
Emily Lamb and her unborn child, found dead of "unknown circumstances".
Harriet Sutherland, minor injuries, alive.
Emma Portman, in a comma, alive.
William Lamb, body not found.
Victoria Kensington, body not found.
EPILOGUE
It was a sunny hot day in that foreign country. Two children, a boy and a girl, played in their backyard. Running around and laughing. The girl pushed her brother so she could win their imaginary race. The little boy started to cry.
“Now...now...come here you two. What did I tell you little miss? Stop pushing your brother just because he's faster than you. And you, my little one, it's alright to cry when you fall, as long as you remember to get back up, ok?”
The children nodded. He made his older daughter apologize to her little brother and left them alone to play some more.
“My god you're so good with them...I honestly don't know how you do it...”
“Well...I never knew I would be like this too...but I guess it comes with age...” he winked at his wife.
“Shut up silly, you're not old!” she smiled.
“By the way, do you remember what I asked you that day? On my birthday? Do I still look like those roudish candies from the old shop?”
He hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear, teasing.
“Yes Mrs. Lamb you do...they were my favourite you know...but I have to say...now I possess the most delicious candy in the whole world right here...”
She giggled and hid her face his chest, blushing. He took her face in his hands and kissed her, passionate, slowly, enjoying every bit of her sweetness.
THE END
Hello! Juliana here! This fic was based on one of my favourite songs. “Candy” by The Blasting Company. I'll link the song and video for it here. The original story has no happy ending, unfortunately. But I wanted to give them one. The real world has enough sad war stories. I think we could all use a little bit of imagination and hope for the best. This story is for all the Billys and Candys that never got to live their happy endings because of meaningless wars. 💔