Summary

In “The Noncombatant,” forty-nine-year old Richard has rented a beach house from a war widow during the final months of World War II. Richard was suffering with metastatic cancer. He would soon be part of a trial study using cobalt. For the time being, he was resting at the house near the beach in Cape Cod with his family. He grew stronger during his time there and soon began visiting a bar on occasion. He was at this bar when he heard news that the war was officially over. Since the bar was so crowded, Richard went outside the bar and happened to see Mrs. Hazelton, the woman from whom his family was renting the house, running toward him. He recognized the rage he saw in her face and actions. She had finally been able to show her anger that her husband was...