by Linda Ellen
Everyone was back in place and ready when the bell rang again and the line started back up.
With a huff, Julie began placing newly made brake shoes into boxes as she dreamed about Saturday. Who knows…maybe I’ll meet the man of my dreams like Viv and Mary June did.
Oh horse hockey; who was she kidding? Even in the face of her disappointment over Gary not writing like he promised, she knew it would take one heck of a soldier to make Gareth B. Tucker, Jr.’s memory fade.
Ah well, duty calls. I’ll be the best dang junior hostess they’ve had yet.
Take that, Officer Candidate Tucker!
CHAPTER 12
As the miles rolled by, Julie was deep in thought and not paying much attention to the conversation going on in the front seat of Gene’s car.
Friday had been quite a day. First, she had been at the right place and right time to save her boss from injury and possible death, then after lunch, the storm that had been brewing overhead for hours finally let loose. Even in the large plant, everyone could hear the thunder and see the flashes of lightning outside the windows. It wasn’t long before a particularly bright flash and loud boom preceded all of the lights snapping off at once, and the production line had stopped. Lightning had hit a major transformer.
Without power, the plant was pretty much dead-in-the-water. Repair crews from the Louisville Gas & Electric power company had been dispatched, but they estimated it would take a few hours to fix—especially since the storm raged on.
People were milling around in the dark, trying to see by the light of cigarette lighters and flashlights, until finally Mr. Tucker made the decision to let everyone off early.
So, Julie had huddled under a bank’s recessed doorway in an attempt to stay halfway dry while she waited for a bus to take her out to Fort Knox to spend some time with Vivian at her and Gene’s little one-bedroom duplex apartment. After Gene went off duty, and they shared a delicious supper filled with much laughter and teasing, her brother and sister-in-law had driven Julie out to the farm.
It was a wonderful mini-reunion. Goodness, you’d think I’d been gone a year, she mused as she thought about her mother fixing all of her favorite foods and her brother Jack and his wife, as well as the rest of the family, spending several hours talking, laughing, and asking her a million questions about her job and her life in the “big city.” It was during this interlude that Gene and Viv had made the monumental announcement that they were expecting a baby, and had just found out. Julie was thrilled, but the news actually made her realize how much she missed daily interactions with them—she felt almost out of the loop.
Later, spending the night in her old bedroom that she had shared with her sister all her life had been bittersweet as well. All in all, the time at home had made her almost second-guess her decision to move into Louisville and live “on her own”. Well…on her own as far as being away from the family. At times at the Harriman’s house, it did, indeed, feel as if she were living on her own in a boarding house—one with very little communication with other people. Usually when they ate dinner together, she did most of the talking.
Thinking of the Harrimans; one happy event had occurred during the week. The couple had received a long-overdue letter from their son RJ and had found out that he was doing well. As a member of the 1st Armored Division out of Fort Knox—one of the first American units to engage in combat in the North African Campaign—he wrote that he and his fellow soldiers had fought well and had been granted a ten-day leave, but the censors had blacked out where. He’d assured his parents and sister that he was fine and that his platoon had suffered comparatively few losses. He was confident that the allies would soon defeat the enemy and bring Germany and Japan to their knees, thus bringing a swift end to the, in his words, “blasted war”. The letter had done much to lift Harriet’s spirits.
Julie had been glad for them and tried to be excited that they had received their long wished-for missive, but in truth it had only made her more acutely aware of the fact that she had yet to receive anything from Gary. She knew he was all right physically, as he had telegraphed his father. So, that could only mean that he hadn’t truly meant to correspond with her. The thought left her with feelings that seemed like a ping-pong ball being batted back and forth—one moment, she felt anger and embarrassment that she had undertaken writing to him so soon, and the next moment, her imagination conjured up all sorts of things that could be happening to him. After all, she reasoned, Gary wasn’t as accustomed to physical exertion as his brothers were. What if he had gotten injured or…
“Awful quiet back there,” Gene’s teasing voice cut through her brooding. She looked over, meeting his eyes in the rearview, and managed to smile.
“Yeah. Just have a lot on my mind.”
She watched as he exchanged glances with his wife. “Mmm hmm.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she playfully pushed against the back of his seat.
“Oh, nothing,” he returned, with an obvious smile in his voice.
Viv thankfully changed the subject. “So, are you excited about your first USO dance? I was a nervous wreck that first night.”
Gene looked over at her and grinned mischievously. “You were nervous? You didn’t seem so…”
“You saw her on her first night?”
“Yep. That’s the night we met…”
“And fell head over heels,” Viv added, leaning over to give her husband a quick kiss.
“You got that right,” he murmured against her lips.
Viv giggled and turned her head back toward Julie. “I remember being so nervous about what to wear and if I would be able to keep up with all of the different fellows that would ask me to dance. Some of them are wonderful dancers. Amazing, even. Like…Private…what was his name, honey? The one who looks like Tyrone Power…”
“You mean Mack? He’s Corporal Makowski now, by the way.”
“Yes, Mack. Oh my goodness, he can dance so well. So many can. I ended up having a wonderful time dancing and getting to know the boys…especially a certain staff sergeant,” she added fondly.
Julie smiled warmly, watching her brother and his wife affectionately engaging. “I’m still trying to decide between several outfits,” she answered—and it was true, she was thinking about that also.
“Well, once we get to the Harriman’s, if you like, I’ll give you my ‘expert’ opinion.”
“I was hoping you would,” Julie laughed, the conversation bringing her out of her self-imposed doldrums.
They lapsed into other topics and thirty minutes later, Gene pulled the Ford up in front of the Harriman’s home.
Julie climbed out of the back as Gene glanced at his watch. “It’s 6:45 now. If you need to be there by 7:30, you’d better get a move on. I know how you women like to primp,” he added with a wink to his wife.
“Mmm, and you like the results of that primping, don’t you, Sergeant,” Viv declared back at him. He laughed in agreement.
Chuckling with them, Julie opened the door of the house and walked in, noticing Mr. and Mrs. Harriman actually sitting in the living room together, listening to a radio serial—although he was working on what looked like rewiring a lamp and she was mending a shirt. Viv and Julie greeted her hosts as Gene walked over and sat down on a chair, answering Bill’s welcome as the girls went on down the hall to Julie’s room.
“Now, I think I’ve narrowed it down to two,” Julie began, walking straight to her closet and reaching in for the two dresses she had mentioned. Holding them up, she pursed her lips.
“What do you think? This one is more comfortable…” she said, indicating a lovely thin summer dress with a flowered bodice, string tie at the neck, flirty little short sleeves, and a solid black skirt inset into the bodice in an upward V, which would hug her shape perfectly.
“But I think this one looks better on me,” she added, holding up a cute red and white polka dot sundress with a white, short-sleeved mini jacket.
“Well, well
, what’s this? Looks like someone has mail,” Viv observed with a sly grin.
Julie’s heart jumped and sped up as her sister-in-law’s words registered, causing her to whirl around and stare at the most welcome sight she’d seen in ages—three envelopes perched on her pillow.
She rushed over and scooped them up, reading her name and address and then quickly, the return—that of Officer Candidate Gareth B. Tucker, Miami Beach, Florida.
“He wrote! Oh Viv, he wrote me—and not one, but three! Three letters,” she added in a whisper as she reflexively hugged them to her chest.
“I see that,” Viv observed in a sly tone. “So, I gather you’re glad to receive them, huh?”
Julie opened her eyes and flashed a look at her brother’s wife. Answering her question, she gave a nod and sheepish grin as she remembered her silent railing at the man. Oh how one’s imagination can take flight! “Yes. Yes, I’m glad. And I can’t wait to read them…oh, but…after waiting and waiting for a letter from him, I get three, but now I don’t have time to read them!” Oh, the stinkin’ irony of that!
Viv laughed and gave her sister-in-law a sideways hug. “You know what they say, all good things are worth the wait.”
With one more squeeze on the envelopes, Julie gave a chuckle and laid them back down where they were. Then raising an eyebrow at her friend, she quipped, “I hope this evening goes by on wings. Bomber’s wings!”
Viv laughed as they turned back to the task at hand. “Oh it will, but be prepared to have sore feet from all the hoofing, and sore cheeks from all the smiling.”
Julie reached into the closet and pulled out a well-worn pair of shoes with low heels. “Comfort before fashion,” she stated, but the turning up of her nose ruined the effect of the declaration.
“Well, honey, believe me, the boys won’t be looking at your feet.”
“Vivian!” Julie gasped before both girls dissolved in giggles.
Her first evening as a USO junior hostess was turning out just like what she’d imagined in many ways, but also different.
On this particular night, a soldier spinning records had replaced the live band; the music was blaring out of speakers on the bandstand. Gene and Viv had both lamented when they saw the band wasn’t there, but hoped they would be back the next week, and Julie hoped so too, as she had heard such wonderful things about Johnny Burkhart and his orchestra.
She had been prepared for being asked to dance by multiple soldiers and sailors, be they good dancers or dead hoofers, and she’d been ready when more than one offered to go and fetch a refreshment for her—all at the same time, forcing her to choose one for the errand. She’d steeled herself against possible declarations of undying affection from a soldier she’d just met when all they had shared together was one dance.
Each of those had happened, but with the latter it had been a tall, red haired 1st lieutenant Army Air Corps flier on a stopover at Bowman Field, and they happened to be dancing to the song, Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer. The words to that tune—about a bomber crew with one motor gone, limping through the air, two hours overdue, but making it back to their field with their full crew aboard—had of course sent her emotions into a whirl thinking about Gary some day finding himself in that exact situation. Tears had gathered in her eyes as she pictured him in the cockpit, possibly even injured and fighting to hold on to make it back, and the tall drink of water she was dancing with took it that she was getting emotional about him.
“Aw, honey babe,” he drawled in a thick southern accent, “Now ya’ll don’t have to go and cry for me. I’m the best pilot Uncle Sam’s got in this man’s army and you can bet your last bobby pin I’ll be ’a comin’ back from over there. Don’t you worry none about that. Will I find you waitin’ at the end of this here war, Miss Julie?”
Julie’s eyes snapped up to his and she blinked several times, trying to wrap her mind around what he had just said as the singers kept crooning the lyrics. He gripped her tightly.
“Uh…oh, well, Lieutenant Stonecipher…”
“Clyde,” the lieutenant insisted for the third time.
“Um, yes…Clyde…I’m afraid I can’t make promises like that. Why, none of us know how long this conflict will go on or what any of us will be doing by war’s end…”
“Well, yeah, but I think I done fell for ya, honey…and from the look in your eyes, I’d say you is feelin’ the same…” he began, but thankfully the song ended and her brother stepped up, took Julie’s hand, and swept her right out of the airman’s grip.
“Whew, thank you for the rescue,” Julie gushed as Gene danced her away to the tune of Bing Crosby’s, I’ve Got a Pocketful of Dreams.
Gene laughed and swung her around. “I recognized a wolf on the prowl in that flier’s eyes. Thought I’d do my big brother thing.”
She had giggled and gazed up into his face. “My hero. Just like when I was six and you saved me from Gertrude’s wrath when she thought I was trying to steal her calf from her.”
He winked and grinned back. “Always at your service.”
As he spun her around, she looked about for Viv, who had been graciously dancing with anyone who asked—her husband not a bit jealous since his ring resided firmly on her finger. Plus, she had danced more than one with him anyway. Miss Warren had been glad to have her participation again.
“Where’s Viv?”
“She’s taking a break in the lady’s room. Get’s tired easy now,” he added, his eyes twinkling in obvious joy that his lovely wife was pregnant with their first child.
“Oh, of course. Should I go check on her?”
“If you want, once the song is over,” he replied. “It’s kind of nice dancing with my all-grown-up little sister. You look pretty in that dress, by the way,” he added, indicating the black floral number on which she had decided.
“Thank you, sir,” She inclined her head and then he swung her out to the end of his arm and back again as she chuckled. “My my, where did you learn all of these smooth moves, Mr. Banks?”
He grinned and skillfully spun her around again. “You never know what a guy can learn in the army.”
“Mmm, yes. And I wonder what your brother is learning right about now.”
He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “Gary’s on your mind, then, huh?”
Julie felt herself flush at the directness of his question and the probing of his eyes as they searched hers. Her teeth worried her bottom lip as she decided on an answer. However, she could never lie to her brother—he had always been able to see if she was telling even the smallest untruth, drat him. Big brothers.
Then, Gene smiled and shook his head as if he couldn’t understand her hesitancy. “Hey kid,” he began, reverting back to the familiar nickname he’d always used. “If you’re wondering what I’d think about that, don’t worry. As you put it—he’s my brother, but he’s not your brother. And I happen to think he’s a pretty good egg. And if my…little sister…found herself thinking of him as more than just her boss—or her boss’ son—or her brother’s brother—that’d be okay with me. Just so you know,” he added gently.
At that, she relaxed and allowed her full feelings to show on her countenance. “Oh Gene…I think about him all the time. I have since we first met. It’s funny, how much he looks like you, and yet, he doesn’t—if that makes sense.”
He nodded in total agreement.
“I’ve never thought of him as my brother, not once. I…I think I’m in love with him…but, I’m not sure what he feels about me. I mean—at your wedding, and Steve’s wedding, Gary and I talked and danced and had a wonderful time. We danced and chatted for hours at his hotel room that evening. Plus, we had quite a few conversations during his last few weeks before he shipped out. He asked me to write to him and…he hugged me at the bus depot—remember?” He nodded again. “But, he’s never said anything about feeling something special for me. After all of the talking we’ve done, I still feel like I don’t know him very well…”
&nbs
p; Gene pursed his lips for a moment as he drew her closer and guided them past other dancing couples. “Well…I know him pretty good now, and I don’t think he’s the kind that would trifle with a girl’s affections. I think he likes you a lot. But,” he added, his grip tightening. “Brother or no, if he does any trifling with you, he’ll answer to me—and Steve, too.”
She pulled back and gently smacked his arm in a sisterly rebuke. “Oh you. Don’t you dare tell him I told you any of this, or I’ll get Mama’s rolling pin and chase you with it like I used to!”
He tipped his head back and laughed. “Don’t worry, sis. I do recall that you swing a mean rolling pin when you’re riled, and I sure don’t want that. My lips are sealed.”
Oh, was Viv so right, I’m worn to a frazzle and I feel like I danced my feet off, Julie mused as she dragged herself up the steps of the house after the chartered bus dropped her off. She’d had fun, met a lot of nice girls and very attentive guys in various uniforms, and had assured Miss Warren that she would be back the following Saturday.
It was late and the house was dark, so she knew Mr. & Mrs. Harriman had already retired for the night. Letting herself in, she slipped off her “sensible” shoes to tiptoe silently down the hall.
Restraining herself from rushing to her room to read Gary’s letters, about which she had dreamed and longed for all evening, she completed her bedtime routine, although being as quiet as she could as she took a sponge bath, changed into her nightgown, gave her hair fifty strokes with her brush, and cleaned her teeth with some Colgate Tooth Powder.
Then slipping into her room, she quietly shut the door, turned on the bedside lamp, and lay across the bed with her three treasures, resisting the urge to squeal like a schoolgirl.
Carefully using a letter opener to slice open the envelope on which Gary had written, “Read first,” she flipped over on her back, smiling as she read his neatly penned 16 March 1943 and imagined him grinning like a Cheshire cat. A Kentucky boy, huh? Gene will get a kick out of that. Her eyes devoured his words, and her brows furrowed as she read he had received seven demerits already, but wouldn’t tell her what for. Goodness! How dare they give Gary demerits when he’s trying his hardest! She pictured him double-timing it up and down three flights of stairs and having to keep all of his belongings arranged according to this Book he kept mentioning. And that Sergeant Bigelow! Julie already disliked the man. She chuckled, imagining Gary studying his schoolbooks while in the tub—and all that rain? No, she hadn’t a clue that it rained that much in Florida. Ha, spoiled rich boy, huh? Julie would never call Gary that. She giggled softly at the line about running a laundry if his father shut the factory down.