Fiction

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Robert: Left Behind


by GW Foote, Jan 22, 2008

Young Robert and the Civil War.

"I'm cold," said the little boy as he stood by the upstairs window. The day was eerie and the sky was gray as if it would unleash snowflakes at any moment. The little boy whose name was Robert Lee Parnell, named after the great General Robert E. Lee, had been watching out the window for what seemed forever for his parents to return. They had heard the cannons and gun shoots earlier that morning over the ridge. They told young Robert to hide under the bed upstairs until they returned for him. It was cold and dark under the bed. Robert stayed there for a while then decided to look out the window to see if his parent were coming. As he looked out through the fog, he saw no sign of them.

This was frighten to young Robert but he said to himself, " I must be brave my parents wouldn't have it any other way!" The day seemed so long Robert thought. Occasionally Young Robert thought he hear voice downstairs. Maybe it was some of the hired hands. Robert was not taking a chance he would run and hide under the bed. If it had been his parents, they would have called out his name. One time some one did come up the stairs and into the room that Young Robert was hiding. He lay under the bed real still. He would hear his heart pound and he hoped whoever it was would not hear his heart and look under the bed.

My name is Billy Black I have lived with my wife Steffanie in this house for 7 years. The old farm house dates back to the civil war era. They call the old homestead, "aunt sallies place." Aunt Sallie was the last person to live here. She was 107 years old when she died. Some folk around these parts say the place is haunted. They said on a cold winter morning you could hear what sounds like a little boy calling for his mom and dad. I really do not believe in ghost. I will have to admit I have heard some strange noises but I contribute that to the age of the house.

One day something happened that changed my way of thinking forever. My wife was visiting a sick friend in West Virginia and I was home along. I heard a strange noise coming from the upstairs bedroom. I decided once and for all I was going to find out exactly what the noise was. I had socks on so I very quietly creped up the winding staircase. The noise seemed to be coming from the bedroom on the left. The closer I got to the door the louder the noise was. I stood there for just a moment listening. Then it dawned on me.

Its that blasted squirrel again. We had a squirrel living in our attic. No! It sounds more like a child crying. I quickly flung the door open. I thought I got a glimpse of something going under the bed. I retrieved an iron from the fireplace, got down on my knees, and slowly made my way to the skirt on the bed. I raised the iron over my head and with one motion raised the shirt.

I let out a scream and what ever was under the bed did like wise. To say I was startled would be a under statement. I slow repeated my actions again, as I raised the skirt this time I was prepared. I slowly brought it up and there were two blue eyes starring back at me.

I immediately jumped up and demanded that they come from out under the bed. It was a child! "Please don't hurt me Mr." Who are you and why are you under my bed? The little boy began to cry. Do not cry son I just want to know why you are in my house? "Your house, this is my house, we moved here from Virginia when the war got to close and poppa said we needed to get as far away as we could! What war I asked. The War Between the States, the child answered. Oh! My God! Surely, I was dreaming, I just knew I would wake up on the couch and this would just be a bad dream. Soon I came to realize that this was not a dream I truly had a child from the civil war era. However, how could this be? In a few moments, I ask the child what his name was. Robert Lee Parnell sir, I was named after General Robert E. Lee. What year is the Robert? Everybody knows that sir, it January of the year 1865.

I had to sit down and take all this in. How is it you are here? My parents heard the cannon and gunfire over the ridge early this morning and they told me to hide under the bed until they came for me and I have been waiting ever since. Robert, come over here and sit down there is something I have to tell you. Young Robert came over, sat down in front of me, looked up with his ocean blue eyes, and said, yes sir. Robert this is not the year of 1865, this is 2008. He just looked at me and said, "How can that be?" I do not know! He sat there a few minutes then jumped up and being screaming, "This is one of those Yankee tricks." You are not fooling me! Robert look around you, do these things belong to you. I picked up the telephone and ask him, "Do you know what this is? Well, no sir I do not. He began to look around and he realized he did not recognize any thing in the room. A blank look came on his face and he sat back down and began to cry. Do not cry Robert we will figure this out some way. What exactly did your parents say when they left. They said, " hid under the bed and we will come for you." Is that all they said? Well they said for me to try to keep the fireplace going. Why did they say that Robert? I forget said Robert. Think very hard there must have been a reason for them telling you that! Oh! I remember now they said. "That if they saw the smoke coming from the chimneys they would know it was safe to come and get me." Did you do that Robert? I was until the Yankees came into the house. One of them came up to the bedroom and I was hiding under the bed. He found me there, pointed a gun at me, and wanted to know where the family jewels were. I told him I did not know and so he knocked me out. When I came to, they were gone.

I tried to start the fire again but the matches must have gotten wet they would not fire. I see! (Ghost cannot start a fire). Robert I believe I can help you be reunited with your parents. Oh sir! Do you really think you can? I know they must be sick about not being able to find me! In the morning, we will see. Get a good nights rest and I will see you then.

Early the next morning I got one of my history books on the Civil War down. I looked up the state of North Carolina section and began to read. It seemed as the war was ending the Union army was pushing south. To my surprise, I read that John and Carolyn Parnell were the last two civilians killed before the word got to the troops that the war had ended. It also stated that the couple had a son named Robert and his demise was never known.

I hurried up stairs where a anxious Robert was waiting. Robert I know you are ready to see your parents I am going to try something and let pray it works. Here take this wood and put it in the fireplace. Robert eagerly placed the wood in the fireplace and I started a fire. In two hours, nothing had happened! Robert asks, "When are my parents coming sir?" I do not know Robert we will just have to wait. I could not stand to look him in the face; maybe it was not going to work. I tuned to stare into the burning ambers, Will just have to wait I repeated, OK! Robert did you hear me? I turned and Robert was nowhere to be found. I called out his name, "Robert." Silence, then it dawned on me and I ran to the window and looked out. There on the ridge was Robert and his parents waving at me. In a second, they disappeared into the fog and were gone!

Steffanie came home the next day. "How was your weekend?" she asked. Oh! it was fine I said. "Did anything exciting happen while I was gone?" Oh, no same old humdrum! I smiled as I looked toward the ridge.

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