Ficlets

Weeks passed and veterans from around the country came in droves to pay their respects to the fallen soldier. There were war protesters too, but they were largely ignored. A web site called Lost Tears was even established in Billy’s honor, with forums created to determine the best way to end his grief and convince him to leave the cemetery.

Mindy visited the Lost Tears web site daily, pleading with its members to help her find a way to get Billy to come home. A wealthy woman from Kentucky offered to put him in her will. A car dealership in Indiana offered him a new truck. People brought him food, chairs, tents, and alcohol. There were marriage proposals, job offers, record deals, and thousands of dollars worth of PayPal donations, but nothing seemed to work. Billy wouldn’t leave.

The ideas and money continued to pour into the Lost Tears web site. “I don’t know what else to do,” Mindy said at the beginning of a podcast with Vietnam War veteran Jim Johnson. “We’ve tried everything and he won’t come home.”