Today’s prompt asks which moment in history I wish I could have witnessed. I chose the signing of the Peace Accord — not because I was there, but because one of my characters was. This passage is from a book I wrote years ago, where Mabel, an American teenager in Paris, accidentally stumbles into history being made. It’s one of my favorite scenes I’ve ever written.
“Do you know what’s happening? It looks like everyone’s headed to the hotel.”
The girl made a funny face and threw a bewildered look Mabel’s way.
“Doesn’t everyone know?” she said. Obviously not everyone, thought Mabel, but didn’t say. Instead, she just stared at the girl.
“The Peace Accord. They’re signing it today. At the Majestic. It’ll all be over soon. The soldiers get to go home.”
Still a bit confused as to what was really happening around her, Mabel nodded timidly.
“Oh. Vietnam. It’s over? The war’s over?” She didn’t have any idea what the war had to do with Paris or why everyone was gathered together on the streets outside the big hotel but she knew about the war. At least she thought she did …
“You know I heard there were some American POWs held for over six years. Six years! Can you imagine.”
Suddenly, Mabel realized exactly what was happening. She had a sinking sensation deep in her gut. She felt stupid. Selfish. How the hell had she not known that men—American soldiers for God’s sake!—had been held captive for all those years? How could she not know?
Mabel turned her attention back toward the hotel. She watched as person after person entered the building, left the building, walked past the building. Each and every one of them with their own story, their own reason for being here today. She wondered if she was the only one who merely happened upon this spot today. She figured most everyone else was there because they wanted to be part of this day. They wanted, someday, to be able to say they’d been there the day that the Peace Accord was signed; they’d witnessed history … as she walked closer to the front doors of the hotel she noticed the rain had let up a bit and it looked like the crowd had mostly disappeared. Gone back to their habitual routines. History had been made, now it was time to continue with the present … Read more of Mabel’s story.
Cover image created with Jetpack AI.
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DISCLAIMER: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Nothing here is medical, nutritional, or therapeutic advice. Also, I’m a writer and an editor. And I try my best to make sure every post is articulate and free from errors. However, being that I edit my own work—and it’s next to impossible to properly edit your own work—I admit, occasionally there may be an error or two I miss. But doing so doesn’t make me an idiot so don’t be mean. Just smile, pat yourself on the back for finding an error and be glad you’re not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes … xoxox
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