Category: Historical

Roberta Writes – Reblog: “The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 9)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Thank you to Nolcha Fox from Chewers by Masticadores for sharing part 9 of my story.

Jake Tanner

16 October 1917

It was raining. It was always raining in this godforsaken place, miles away from home.

Jake was sitting propped up against his bulging backpack, with his inadequate covering tucked around his shoulders. The rough grey wool of the army-issue blanket reeked of mold and felt clammy to the touch, but small discomforts like these had ceased to bother Jake days ago. 

The light of his small piece of candle flickered and danced in tribute to the icy wind sidling through the gaps caused by the ill-fitting tent flap. Fat droplets drummed steadily on the waterlogged canvas exterior of the tent, and Jake shuddered at the thought of the icy rivulets he knew were streaming down its sides. The trenches he and Mike had dug to stop the water from flooding their sleeping quarters had already been full to overflowing the previous night.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-9-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

Roberta Writes – Reblog: “The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 8)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Thank you to Nolcha Fox for sharing Part 8 of my WIP, The Soldier and the Radium Girl.

Jake Tanner

9 October 1917

For seven days after leaving Halifax, the convoy traversed the continuously heaving ocean. Aside from twenty short minutes a day stretching their legs and taking the air on deck, the men passed the time playing cards in cramped, confined conditions.

Throughout this time, the confinement chaffed at Jake. Being below deck was like being jailed in a mausoleum with no natural light, airflow, or freedom of movement.

From time to time, a terrible yearning to get out of this horrible place rose within him, making swallowing difficult and constricting his airways. Sometimes a scream fought to escape, and he clamped his jaw tightly shut, holding it back. If he started screaming, he might never stop. 

Stormy weather struck two days out of Halifax, and the ship had rolled and lurched ever since. Many men were struck down by seasickness, but, thankfully, neither he nor Joe was affected. Mike took to his bed early on, and they took him water and food at mealtimes.

“No soup.” He pushed his lunch away again today. “The smell makes me sick.”

His hand trembled as he pointed at a small basin. Jake held it under his chin as he retched weakly.

“Water,” he whispered. Jake held the cup to his mouth, and he drank a few sips before sinking back onto the lumpy pillow.

“I’ll eat his soup,” Joe took the bowl and started shoving spoonsful into his mouth. “You’re lucky to get this,” he said to Mike. “You should see the swill we get. Boiled pork and worse yet, boiled rabbit. English food!”

“The foods not the worse part,” Jake added. “The British and French officers are the most stuffy and pompous assholes I’ve ever met.”

“How’s the voyage going?” Mike’s papery voice was reedy.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2025/12/05/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-8-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

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Roberta Writes – Reblog: “The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 7)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Thank you to Nolcha Fox from Chewers by Masticadores for sharing part 7 of my WIP, The Soldier and the Radium Girl.

Jake Tanner

30 September 2021

The ship had crawled up the coast for five days, reaching its destination the previous evening. Once on the ocean, Jake found his sea legs quickly and looked forward to the periods when his platoon was allowed on deck, and he could look at the dark body of water that heaved and churned relentlessly. He found it endlessly fascinating.

Mike was not as fortunate and experienced ongoing seasickness.

He’d languished in his narrow bunk until Beau goaded him into going up on deck with Jake and Joe.

“You would be seasick, Mike,” Beau laughed. “You’re not only the runt of the litter, but the weakling, too.”

After ten minutes of walking up and down the deck, inhaling the tangy ocean air, he’d admitted to feeling much better. “I’m glad you made me come outside.”

Their interludes on deck were far too short, and the trio spent a lot of time playing cards, shooting the wind, and talking about “over there” with their contemporaries.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-7-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/