Silent Soldier
By: Olivia Leung
“What was that sound?”
I rested my spoon on the side of the pot, glancing at Josef.
“I don’t know, honey,”
I continued stirring; little puffs of steam rose in the air and reminded me of mother, who
made the best chicken soup. The soft din of Josef and Rachel tussling with our dog, Lael, melted
into my memories. Lael barked. A woman’s voice screamed in the distance, “What are you
doing?”
I quickly tucked the spoon into my apron and walked to the kitchen window, pushing the
curtains aside. Flashes of black pressed through the crowd.
“What is it, Mamma?” Rachel asked.
My eyes widened and I smoothed my hair, turning to the children, smiling, “The police
are helping Mrs. Tangen; it looks like her mushroom stand has been knocked over.”
Rachel looked at me casually, “Alright.”
I bit my lip and returned to cutting carrots for the soup. My hand didn’t obey me; the cuts
were uneven—mother would have laughed at me. I dropped the carrots into the broth one by one.
I dipped my finger into the soup—just a little bit longer. The shallots danced up to the surface. I
swallowed consciously.
“Do you want to play a game?” I turned to Rachel and Josef, drying my hands on my
apron. Rachel paused from braiding her doll’s hair, “What kind of game?”
I stepped to the window, flinging the curtains closed. I fumbled with my apron and
whipped out my spoon, waving it imperiously through the air.
Rachel’s eyes brightened; she laughed, “Are you Stalin?”
Josef peered at me and giggled, “Spoon sword! Spoon sword!”
I saluted with my spoon. Josef and Rachel laughed. “Let’s play… Silent Soldier!” I
exclaimed.
Rachel asked, eyes narrowing, “What’s Silent Soldier?”
I lowered my voice and marched slowly towards them, brandishing my spoon, “I am your
Captain, and you are my soldiers. If you follow every order that I command, I will reward you
greatly!”
Rachel’s eyes gleamed, “Greatly?”
Josef beamed, “Could we…have an orange?”
“Shhh!” I drew my fingers to my lips, “A good soldier never asks questions.”
They looked at each other and carefully saluted. I stifled a grin.
“Soldiers, your first order is to close the lights. All of them.”
Josef and Rachel’s eyes gleamed as they scrambled around the room, flicking the lights
with purpose.
“Excellent!” I nodded.
They marched back, their hands pressed to their foreheads in deference, beaming
expectantly. “Your second order is to secure Lael in his cage,” I feigned a scowl, “Good Silent
Soldiers never keep filthy, mongrel beasts in their living quarters.”
Rachel protested, “Lael’s not a beast. He’s a poodle.”
A shriek came from next door.
Josef asked, “Does Mrs. Stolovich have a mushroom stand, too?”
Lael scuffled to his cage and huddled in the corner. A door slammed and a scream echoed
from across the hall, fading through the corridors. Josef and Rachel jerked their heads towards
the door.
“And this will be your final order.”
They nodded stoically.
“You must remain silent until I say otherwise.”
Boots clicked.
“Against the wall, soldiers!” I whispered.
They shuffled to the wall beside the stove. Boots clicked.
“The General is coming. He wants to test your obedience and loyalty.”
The broth bubbled, softening the silence. The doorknob twisted and turned. The
children’s eyes flashed to the door, then stared back at me. Fists knocked. I held my breath and
shot them a warning look.
“Is anybody home?” The General’s rich, velvety voice did not match the brisk rap on the
door. I dug my nails further and further into the flesh of my palms, until the knocking ceased.
Rachel mouthed the words, “Did we pass the test?”
I brought my finger to my lips and nodded. Josef and Rachel were silent, but their eyes
beamed with pride and elation; their lips curled into smiles. There was a small sizzling sound.
My eyes shot to the broth on the stove. My heart pounding in my ears, I prayed that the soup
would die down, desperately keeping myself from taking a single step.
Suddenly, “Let’s go next door! We’ll return tomorrow,” the General commanded. Boots
clicked. The soup bubbled furiously. Unwilling to hold back, it burst from the side of the pot,
streaming down, jolting the lid out of place. The silence was suffocating. Boots clicked.
“Halt!”
I shut my eyes.
“What was that sound?”