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contemplating a plan while answering the kid’s question. “Not yet. All they know for sure is that I didn’t come back from my mission.”
    It was still daylight, although it would be getting dark soon. I looked up into the sky and wondered what Sophie was doing that very minute. It would still be early in the day back home. She was most likely serving breakfast to her regulars. I would give anything if I could be back there again, sitting in a booth, watching her work.
    My gaze wandered over towards the barn. I saw a hay bale shoot at the very top. “Hey, Levi, you use a ramp to slide bales of hay from there, right?”
    Levi followed my line of sight. “I do. Why?”
    “We could build a ramp.” I paused, mulling the idea over. “We could reinforce it, make it good and sturdy, oil it down, making it slick, and put it in front of the nose. Then tie the rope to the propeller hub. We could use the mules to pull the plane forward up the ramp by the ropes in conjunction with the block and tackle and ease the nose inch by inch up the ramp. You and I would have to hold the wing tips to keep the plane from tipping over as the mules eased her up. We could then place the timbers under each wing for support while I climb inside and lower the emergency lever to release the landing gear. Then once the wheels are down and secured, we could take her off the ramp because we wouldn’t need it anymore.” I stood, pleased with myself, and smiled. “What do you think?”
    Levi stared at me, unblinking.
    I laughed. “Well?”
    After a minute, he said, “I was going to say that. I just needed more time to think it all through.” He grinned and looked at his son. “Come on boy, we have a ramp to build.”
    We worked until nightfall. When that monumental moment happened when I climbed into the cockpit, pulled the emergency lever, and her legs came down, we shouted in celebration. We had succeeded in a task that seemed nearly impossible, yet we had not given up. We all felt it – that sense of pride. In that moment, nothing seemed impossible. I needed that and I was thankful for it.
    Levi invited me into his home for dinner. We ate a modest meal of potatoes, beans, and bread. When I caught the first whiff of hot food I immediately thought about Sophie, and me sitting in my usual spot at the café, watching her carry plates of food to her customers. You never know why a memory assaults you, but I welcomed those memories whenever they would strike because she felt like home, and I missed home. I missed her .
    Later, I took a bath and Levi offered me some clothes of his to wear. They fit well enough and I was thankful to have them. Maikel went to bed and Levi and I stayed up a while longer talking about the war and what it was doing to his country. Even though I was missing home, missing Sophie, and clinging to the hope of seeing her again, I couldn’t be sorry for being where I was. These people needed help. The whole world was in despair and in need of saving. I was only one person; however, I could sleep at night knowing I was doing something to help restore peace.
    “As much as I miss my wife,” Levi said, “I’m relieved that she’s not here to see what is happening in this world. I don’t think I could stand to see the pain it would cause her. She had a beautiful soul.”
    I understood his sentiment. “How did she die?”
    “She died giving birth to Maikel,” he said quietly. “She made me promise that I would love him enough for both of us.” Lowering his eyes to the floor he said, “Every morning when I wake up I vow to keep that promise.”
    “Maikel is a fine boy. You’ve done well, my friend.”
    Levi said nothing for a while, contemplating, I think, and then he looked at me. “So tell me, Charles. Do you have someone special back home?”
    I still wasn’t ready to share Sophie. I felt like God put her on this Earth for me alone. Maybe that was selfish of me, but part of me needed to be selfish.
    Levi smiled