I'm sure many of you have already read the original story, or seen the movie versions. As we continue with this one, you'll see that this war is of a different nature, one that we all must face sooner or later.

Best.

John

Now back to War of the Worlds



He blew them kisses, and then whistling a merry little song about a shepherd who had lost his sheep, he walked away into the morning sun, soon joining the other en doing the same thing.

Marie and her children stood on the sidewalk waving, as did many other children and mothers up and down the street. Even some Grandparents were there, watching with a solemn look to their faces.

The War of the Worlds had come to France. There were no huge parades of soldiers cheered on by screaming kids and parents. This was a war like no other.

Jules had been so upset that he ran after his father, screaming for him to come back. As if a tidal wave had suddenly swept in from sea, other children began running after their parents, screaming just like Jules. In a matter of seconds the somber scene became a tearful one, a painful one as fathers stopped to hold their children and reassure them, while knowing they had no clue whether they would survive this war or not.

Jules was held by his father a long time and their tears mingled. Soon his three sisters had joined him to hold the father even longer.

This might have gone on forever, but for the intervention of an armored vehicle that honked its horn and blared over a loudspeaker. “All civilians please return to your homes. You will be kept notified of the progress of the war. All civilians return to your homes. You will be kept notified of the progress of the war!”

That was the last thing Jules remembered from that morning, the long lines of weeping family, the frightened fathers, and the evil armored vehicle that intended to take them from their lives forever. Jules thought evil, because how else can you describe the ravages of war, but evil? At that moment he vowed to do whatever he could to end all wars forever!

But the most powerful wishes of the most powerful people sometimes are never answered. It takes great work and effort to make some dreams a reality and an even greater effort to make powerful dreams come true. But Jules swore on that day that he would learn and accomplish whatever God set before him to reach that goal. And later on when he met Wells for their usual stroll beside the Seine, they talked about their youthful goals. At that time Jules swore before God and the best friend of his life that he would end all wars forever!

They sealed the promise with spit as all good friends do. They both spit on the back of a snail, then took the poor struggling creature and ate it.

The solemnity of their vows kept reminded them throughout the rest of the day and into the night, as both had tender digestive systems, and the snails did not go out happily into the night of their digestive tracts.

“What are you going to do?” Wells asked Jules after he adjusted to the faint nausea in his stomach.

Jules stopped beside the usual curve of the Seine where the bicycle racks were gathered, and fishermen headed down to their boats. But today there were many, many boats and no fishermen. Even the fishermen had gone to war.

“We will starve without fish.” Wells pointed out.