TRUCE IN THE FOREST

There was a lone mother and her twelve year old son, were hiding in a little cottage in the forest near the German-Belgian border. While they are preparing for Christmas Eve, they heard a knock on their door. When his mother open, she was frightened and silent when she see the American soldiers who has a weapons. They serve them a coffee for them to lessen their coldness. And they learned that the stocky dark haired yellow was Jim, his friend tall and slender was Robin and he wounded one was harry. The Americans said to them that they are hiding from their enemies and that is the German Soldiers. While they are busy in cooking, the boy heard another knock on their door without hesitation. His mother went to open again the door she was nervous and panic when she see the four German Soldiers, because they are the enemies of the Americans who are inside at their house. The Germans Talked to her if they can stay to have rest at her house. But before she answered, she said that they have three visitors that they will not consider as a friend and this are the American soldiers. The Germans understand what she said, so they fallowed the instructions, they put down their weapons at the woodpile and the Americans put down also their weapons. When the foods are already served the Soldiers sit at the chairs and they smiled with each other. His mother and him, was surprised and happy of the result because they did not fight rather they talked and became friends at that night. Morning rise, so the American and German soldiers decided to go home already. They were thankful to his mother for letting them rest in their house. After that his mother gave them back their weapons. And the American-German soldiers shake their hands before they go with their families. Her mother and Him watched them until they disappear in opposite direction.

I. SETTINGTruce in the Forest is based on a true story from Christmas Eve, 1944, in the middle of the Battle of the Bulge. A woman agrees to hide three American soldiers but finds herself in a potentially explosive situation when German soldiers appear at her door. It is set through the densely forested Ardennes Mountains region of Wallonia in Belgium.

II. CHARACTERSFritz/Son - 12 year old boy who is the company of her mother that also agreed and helped by getting potatoes for the soldiers to eat.

Mother -brave woman

Harry - wounded one

Jim - dark-haired fellow

Robin - tall and slender

German corporal -23 years old

Hanz-from Cologne,16 yrs. old

Willi -from Cologne,16 yrs. old

III. PLOT SUMMARYIt was Christmas eve when 3 Americans (their enemy) knocked in the cottage of a mother and her son. The mother took them in and healed Harry- the wounded one, and cooked for them (Jim, Robin, Harry). Just as they were setting the table, there came another knock. The son was familiar of the uniforms the men were wearing, they were Germans (German corporal, Heinz, Willi) who was lost and will stay then continue their trip at daylight. The mother will take them in and will be served with a hot meal with a one condition, and that is to not kill each other inside. She ordered everyone to hand out their weapons. While the son was helping to cook more potatoes, a German inspected the wounded soldier when he heard Harry moan. They were all relaxed after their meal.

Just before midnight, they all stood up looking to the star of Bethlehem except for Harry who was sleeping. It was as if they had all forgotten about the war.

At daylight, they had oatmeal, while Harry swallowed broth and drank an invigorating drink from the corporal's wine, sugar and an egg. The Americans and Germans were figuring their way out the forest and to their lines. The mother gave them all back their weapons and wished them good luck and said God bless. The Americans and the Germans shook their hands then went to their opposite ways. The mother brought out their old family bible which was open to the Christmas story, the Birth in the Manger and how the Wise Men came from afar bearing their gifts. Her finger was tracing the last line from Matthew 2:12: "...they departed into their own country another way."

IV. CONFLICTThe conflict is the German soldiers and the American soldiers did not fight in the house of the lady because its Christmas eve in 1944 and the boy was 12 yrs. old. The mother and her 12 yrs. old boy was happy.

V. CLIMAX"Truce in the Forest" is a story that takes place during World War II. Independent of each other, some Allied soldiers and German soldiers showed up and knocked on the door of a cabin. The Allied soldiers showed up first and one was wounded. The woman invited them in, even though they were the enemy, and offered to feed them. Later, when the German soldiers knocked, she let them in too, but told them there would be no trouble. She took their weapons, then took the weapons of the Allied soldiers and fed them all. The conflict in the story is the fact that the soldiers were on differing sides. Under different circumstances, they likely would have tried to kill each other.

VI. THEMEThe theme of the story "Truce in the Forest" is calm in the midst of a storm, peace in the midst of a war, and the peace of God being stronger than the enmity of man.

MARCIAL O. RANOLA MEMORIAL SCHOOLGuinobatan, Albay

PROJECT INENGLISH

SUBMITTED BY:

HERLYN N. MALLANTAIV-SARDONYX

SUBMITTED TO:

MRS.DOLORES BITON

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