like a bird.”

“And that one looks like a house,” Jenna laughed, pointing to another.

“And that one looks like…” Balto stopped and looked again. “Like a…”

“A heart?” Jenna inquired, following Balto’s gaze.

“Yeah,” Balto admitted, looking over at her. She looked back and smiled.

Jenna sighed as the memory faded. The small secluded hill where they had lain and watched clouds would have been perfect for other things as well, but all throughout the recent years of their friendship, Balto had never even hinted at any thing of the sort. Now, Jenna wished he had. What she couldn’t have seen back then was suddenly so clear. She had been in love with Balto for years without even knowing it. But now, none of that mattered.

Just then, she spotted John crossing the street, and she stood up and met him at the door.

“Good day to you, Miss Parker,” he said.

“Good morning, John,” she replied.

The day passed quickly, and before long the usual dinner crowd began to arrive. For some odd reason, more people arrived than ever before, and the small restaurant was soon swamped with customers. Jenna moved quickly among the tables and booths, taking and delivering orders as usual as John called out the number of the next prepared meal to her.

“31, Miss Parker.”

“I’ll be right there,” she replied, handing a couple their drinks.

She then returned to the small counter by the kitchen and plucked the two platters from it. As she turned away, she failed to hear the ringing of the bell hung over the door. She was just setting the platters of food in front of their respective customers when John called out,

“Jenna…”

“I got the order John,” she insisted, scribbling down the orders for another table.

“Jenna, there’s some one here to see you,” John persisted, barely hiding the quivering in his voice.

“I’m coming, John,” she replied, turning around, “Who is-”

She gasped in disbelief and put a hand over her mouth.

Less than ten feet away from her was Balto.

His uniform looked faded and soiled, and he looked as though he hadn’t had a decent night’s rest for many days, but still he smiled at her. He limped slightly as he approached her, and she took notice of a bandage over his left eye, but she remained silent as they stood face to face.

“Hey Jenna,” he said softly.

Jenna reached out feebly and touched his uniform, as though believing she would feel nothing but air. Then she moved her hand up to his cheek, and felt warm fur. This was no illusion.

“You’re alive,” she whispered.

“Much to my surprise, yes,” he replied with a trace of humor.

“Your eye…” she said softly, feeling the dried blood at the edge of the loosely held cotton bandage.

“The doctor said a bit of shrapnel cut the nerve,” Balto said, feeling around the bandage as though testing it, “But it may yet be usable to me.”

Jenna let out a sob and embraced him, burying her eyes in his faded uniform. Balto put his arms around her and held her close, shushing her sobs and running his fingers through her hair.

“I thought I’d lost you,” Jenna whispered, “We got a telegram that said you were dead.”

“It’s alright, Jen, I’m here now,” he said soothingly, “You know there’s no place I wouldn’t go to be where you are.”

Jenna raised her eyes to meet his loving gaze with her own.

“I knew you’d come back,” she said, disregarding the tears streaming down her face, “I prayed every day.”

As they held each other close, they looked deep into each other’s eyes. Jenna smiled hopefully, and Balto returned the gesture. Then, the last space between them vanished and they kissed. Between their locked lips, they poured out their feelings for each other and emptied themselves of all the terrible emotions that had been bottled up for two long years. After a long, cherished moment of bliss, they both slowly pulled apart and then embraced one another. As they found solace in each other’s arms, they were abruptly awakened from their state of bliss by the sound of clapping. Both opened their eyes in surprise.

John had stepped out from behind the counter and stood a few feet away, pounding his hands together and smiling. A couple at a nearby table stood up and joined him. Then a small family stood up. Then another, and another. All around them, citizens and customers alike stood and cheered them in thunderous applause.

Balto and Jenna cast their eyes around the restaurant and smiled happily.

“Have you seen anyone else?” Jenna inquired, turning to Balto, who shook his head.

“No one. I came here first.”

“Oh, your poor mother must see you!” Jenna insisted, “You have no idea what she’s endured.”

“What’s happened?” Balto demanded, “Is she ill?”

“No, worse,” Jenna said, “Since she heard you were dead, she’s been terribly miserable.”

“Then I need to see her!” Balto declared, turning to John, “John, Jenna will be taking the day off, if you have no objection.”

John shook his head.

“Go on, get out of ‘ere you two lovebirds,” he laughed, “I can ‘andle this old place tonight. Go on, beat it.”

“Thanks John,” Jenna called as she and Balto disappeared out the door.

Mrs. Tyrell had just finished preparing her dinner; potatoes, vegetables, and even a loaf of bread carefully crafted from days of wheat rations. After placing the food on the table, she took out a plate and fork for herself and sat down. Directly across from herself was another place already made for another guest, but no one else was to arrive for dinner, in fact, Mrs. Tyrell had never expected anyone. She ate alone, but at every meal, she left the same plate, fork, and glass sitting across from her.

As she portioned her vegetables and bread, she glanced across the table and sighed sadly. Though she ate alone, she always felt as though she were joined by some spiritual being. Many times she had even dreamt it so. Each time, sat at her table eating when there came the slow tread of boots on the hardwood floor. She would glance up, and there would stand a paratrooper, dressed in his combat fatigues. He was not vivid and colorful, but rather he seemed drawn in black and white, like in the newsreels, and very faded and blurry. And each time, she soldier spirit would sit down across from her, but when he raised his face to look at her, she would always awaken.

Just then, she heard a knock at her door. Setting her dish aside, she rose from the table and went to the door. Without a thought of seeing who it was through the window, she threw it open. When she looked up, though, she stood in shock. She had expected Jenna, or her mother or father, but she was not prepared to see her own lost son.

“Mom…” Balto said with a smile as he stepped closer.

As soon as he stood on even ground with her, she suddenly realized how tall he’d grown. Before he’d left, Balto had been just as tall as his mother, but now he’d had grown taller still.

His mother embraced him lovingly, tears flowing from her eyes.

“Oh Balto, my boy…” she said, hugging him tightly, “I’m so happy to see you again. I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too, mother,” Balto replied, hugging her back.

“Well, let’s not just stand out here,” she said, straightening herself, “I’ve made dinner, and there’s plenty for all three of us.”

02 September, 1945, eight months later

Balto and Jenna came out of the movie theatre laughing happily, walking hand-in-hand. The cool evening air swirled around their feet as they made their way down the street. They had not gone ten paces when they passed a poster made from a month-old newspaper that read: WAR ENDS! Balto glanced at it and smiled. A lot had happened in the 8 months he’d been back.

On May 7th, under relentless pressure from the US and British troops on the West and the Russians in the East, Germany surrendered, ending the war in Europe.

On August 14th, after the indescribable destruction of Nagasaki and Hiroshima by US atomic bombs, Japan also surrenders, bringing World War II to an end on all fronts.

Never had Balto or Jenna seen such jubilation from the citizens of their small town. People filled the streets to greet military convoys as they rumbled through town, undoubtedly heading for the many bases from which they originated. In no time, the entire United States armed forces would be recalled to the States, awaited by elated crowds and euphoric families.

No different was the greeting held for Balto. As the only representative of Spring Falls in the war, he was made the center of attention as news came back about his unit’s action in Europe. Old veterans asked about his combat experiences, and young boys asked for his autograph. In less than a week after returning home, Balto had become a celebrity. Even though the fame had faded as the days passed by, rarely came a day when he was not stopped on the street to share some tale from his time at war. Though he was always courteous and answered any questions, Balto was glad to be left to his own. He much preferred to spend time with Jenna.

Such was the case of their trip to the movies, and their dinner at The Rose. John watched with noted satisfaction as they ate happily.

Once they had finished, Balto paid the bill and he and Jenna left. However, he stopped Jenna just outside the doors. Through the glass, John and a few customers watched as Balto took her hand and knelt before her. Then, much to their surprise, Balto pulled a small velvet case from his front pocket and opened it. The twinkle of the ring paled in comparison to Jenna’s eyes, shimmering with tears. She threw her arms around Balto and held him close as he stood up. The customers cheered and applauded, and Balto and Jenna smiled. Balto slipped the ring onto Jenna’s finger and they set off down the street. As they made their way past the lit-up stores and homes, Jenna walked on Balto’s right, and for good reason; the only thing that