The Old Scrapbook

by Dennis Higgins

  The large man turned to Ray. “You Roy’s brother?”

  “Roy’s my brother in-law,” he answered.

  “You do know that some of the men are not too happy with you bein’ here.”

  “Oh, why’s that?” Ray asked.

  “They all have people needin’ jobs,” the man said. “Some don’t feel it was fair for Roy to get someone to fill in. Lots of men get hurt and they just lose their spot.”

  “Yes sir,” another man interjected. “That’s why they’re putting you to work with us, the B crew.” He laughed.

  “What’s your name?” asked the first man.

  “Raymond, but my friends call me Ray.”

  “Ray and Roy. I’m Luther and this here funny-man is Louie.”

  “Just like Louie Armstrong.” Louie said.

  “Yeah, ceptin’ you can’t play a lick-a-Jazz.” Luther said.

  Ray saw that although Luther was built like a steamroller, he had soft friendly eyes.

  “Well, like I been saying, some of the men have it out for you,” Luther said. “So you best be watching your back down there.”

  “Thanks, I will.”

  Luther looked Ray over. “Lord have mercy, I hope you can handle this. You a lot smaller than Roy.”

  Ray gave him his famous smirk. “Don’t ya know, good things come in small packages?”

  “Small things come in small packages,” Louie interrupted. “Like sardines. Well, come on, looks like we got our assignment.”

  The men took the elevator down to a part of the mine that was in danger of collapsing. Their job was to reinforce the ceiling so the A crew could come behind them and work.

  Ray removed his shirt like the rest of the men. He was stronger than he looked. Sweat was dripping from every pore of his body as he held a large wooden beam in place along with Luther. Some of the A crew men were watching on as they waited.

  “You got this, Sardine?” Luther asked. “I have to step over there and get my sledge hammer.”

  “I got it,” Ray said, using every ounce of his strength to hold the beam in place.

  Just then an A crew man walked up behind Ray and using his pick ax, pulled one of Ray’s legs out from under him. Ray fell forward while the beam began its descent toward him with bone crushing force. Ray thought he was a goner, but when he looked up, the beam was being held a few feet above his head by Luther. Louie pulled Ray out from under harm’s way, and then helped Luther push the beam back to its upright position. Luther then turned toward the A crew perpetrator with a sneer on his face.

  “Pardon me,” said the man. “My ax slipped.”

  “I think you purposely tried to get this man hurt or killed,” Luther responded.

  “I don’t admit to nothin’,” said the man. “But what are you gonna do about it?”

  Luther knew the man had too many men as backup, and the company would never side with him against the A crew, so he just stared at the man.

  “Well?” the A crew man urged.

  “Revenge is mine, sayeth the Lord.” Luther said as he turned to go see about Ray. The A crew snickered and walk away.

  “You saved my life,” Ray said to Luther. “Thank you.”

  “I told you to watch your back down here, Sardine. They have it out for you. But I’ll do what I can to see you’re protected.” He held his hand out to Ray and helped him up.

  From that time on, the B crew watched over Ray and surrounded him while he worked in a more central location. Ray was glad he was assigned to the B crew. He never knew what these men were like. As they worked, they told stories and sang Gospel hymns, as well as Jazz and blues. Ray had never heard music like that before.

  The days flew by quickly and by weeks end, Ray and the other men knew everything there was to know about each other. Luther shook his hand warmly at the end of his last shift.

  “Well, goodbye, Sardine. You take care of that little lady, back up north. We’ll miss you down there with us.”

  “Yeah, Roy’s back on his feet,” Ray said. “Look… thanks for everything you and the others did for me down there. I owe you my life.”

  “Tain’t nothin’, Luther said. “The Lord just used me to help you out, that’s all. You best warn your brother in-law about things.”

  “I already have,” replied Ray. Now I gotta go ask my gal to marry me. Good luck, my friend.” Ray started to walk away.

  “Ray,” Luther called towards him. “You a good man for a sardine.”

  ****

  Chicago

  November 1, 1942

  Bet was happy to see Ray got home earlier than expected, and threw her arms around his neck. She found herself being chatty.

  “Oh, hon, I wish you had been here yesterday. Mom and I stood in front of the salon and handed out candy to all the kids. They were dressed so cute for Halloween. So happy the weather was mild. We didn’t even need our jackets.”

  “I wish I had seen that,” Ray said. “I didn’t see many costumes on the road.”

  Bet continued. “And today is a special holy day for the Lithuanians and Slovaks in the neighborhood. I went past one of their churches today. I thought about going in, but I’m not of their religion. Saint Simon the Apostle Church is beautiful. Oh, Ray, I’ve been so worried about you.”

  “I’m okay,” Ray replied. “I hope I never have to work down in those mines again. But I did meet some real nice men down there. I’ll tell you about them later. I’m trying to talk Tess and Roy into moving up here. Speaking of that, my Brother Vern asked if we would visit with his wife and daughter. He left them here in Chicago when he shipped out. They don’t know anyone.”

  “That would be swell,” Bet said. “When were you thinking of going?”

  “In a couple weeks,” Ray answered.

  “What’s his wife and daughter’s names?” Bet asked.

  “Beatrice and Jean.” He replied. “Hey, I might get to see you this Tuesday.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I heard the stockyard lets their employees out early to vote. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to drop by.”

  “Sure,” Bet said, “but I still have to do my chores. Tuesday is laundry day. Are you hungry? I have some left-overs.”

  ****

  Chicago, November 3, 1942

  Ray didn’t know much about Illinois politics, so he voted for the incumbent, Charles Wayland Brooks, for the US Senate. He then hurried over to Bet’s apartment. She was out back hanging clothes on the line. Ray had his camera, but she told him not to take her picture, as she was in her plain house dress. When she was bending down to get clothes from the basket, he snuck a shot.

  “Aww!” she said, but she never really got angry about things like that. She handed him her baby sister, Kat, and went back upstairs for another basket-load of clothes. When she was taking too long, he sat Kat down and called up to her.

  “Bet, oh, Bet.”

  She came to the back door. “Yes!”

  He held his camera and looked down into the viewfinder.

  She stood, looking down at him, hands on her waist. “Don’t snap that picture, Ray. I’m warning you.”

  “But you look so pretty,” Ray said. “Don’t move a muscle.”

  She smiled and held her pose as he clicked the camera. “What am I going to do with you?”

  She changed her clothes into a jacket and skirt and they posed for pictures. He even helped her up onto the fender of his car and thought she looked like a movie star, the way she posed and crossed her legs at the ankles. She was ever the lady and he was happy she was his.

  When it was time for her to start dinner, he left to drive downtown. He had saved up just enough money for a nice diamond engagement ring. He planned on picking it up. He had found out Bet’s ring size from Harriet.

  He was very pleased with himself as he went back home to James and Harriet’s apartment. But he noticed a different look on Harriet’s face.

  “What’s wrong, Sis?” he asked.

  “A le
tter came for you,” she replied.

  “What is it? Is Tess okay, or Roy?”

  “I didn’t open your mail, Raymond. Here.” She handed the envelope to him. He spotted the heading which read, Selective Service System, Illinois Local Board. Ray knew without opening it, he had been drafted into the army.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Chicago, Present Day

  I woke up to yet another dream about Bet. I saw her alone in her bedroom, crying softly. The detail of the dream was incredible. I could see her dresser and things on it, such as a hair brush, bobby pins, and perfume. On her nightstand was a picture of Ray. It was the loose one from my mom’s collection. She had a single bed with a white wooden headboard. She was sitting at the foot of the bed in pajamas and a robe, her green eyes filled with tears. Her nose was red from crying. I wished I knew the source of her sadness.

  The dream unnerved me for the rest of the day. I couldn’t shake it. The detail was incredible. I recall even seeing leaves blowing past her window. That night I told Megan about it.

  “Well, if you are somehow really seeing true events from the past, we can only guess why she might have been crying. It could have been for any reason,” suggested Megan as she unwrapped the Panera sandwiches she had picked up for us. “I mean, you might be seeing the aftermath of a death, such as of her mom, or grandmother. But if it did have to do with Ray, it could be when he enlisted or was drafted. Or maybe they were tears of joy when he proposed to her.”

  “They were definitely not tears of joy,” I interrupted. “I could feel the emotion in that bedroom.”

  “Well, it could be when he was killed or maybe she knew the truth of the other possibility.”

  “What truth?” I asked. “You don’t mean…”

  “Well, sure. Maybe she was part of the cover-up. Maybe she got a Dear John letter and hid it from everyone. It’s possible, Kenny.”

  I didn’t want to believe it, but I had to face that distinct possibility. My Aunt Jean believed it to be true, and she was there. She’s in the scrapbook. Now I felt sad enough to cry, but I didn’t.

  Megan saw it on my face. She put her hand on my leg. “I’m sure not knowing makes it worse. We’ll keep looking. I think what you need is closure.”

  I smiled at her. I knew I was reflecting my own mother’s death onto my scrapbook people’s lives. If it wasn’t for the dreams I was having, I wouldn’t care so much. It’s like I am given a glimpse from somewhere beyond our earthy existence. I just didn’t know why. Either that or I was having some sort of a mental breakdown. In any event, I was glad Megan was there for me.

  Megan brought her sandwich to my laptop. “Alright, I was reluctant to show you this, but I found an obit for a Raymond Lee Speck who died in 1991. He was living in Pennsylvania and was survived by his wife, Monique and two children, Emma and…,” she paused…“his son, James.”

  “Oh, damn.” I said.

  “I couldn’t find Emma, but I was able to find this James Speck living in Pittsburg,” she continued. “I have his number. Call him, Kenny. It’s the only way to know for sure.”

  She scratched the number onto a note pad and handed it to me. I just stared at it, not wanting to believe my great uncle Ray could have done that. But the possibility was strong that he went overseas in 1943, met a young French girl, brought her back to the States and settled down with her in Pennsylvania. I felt like yelling at the paper in my hand. But what about Bet? How could you do that to someone who loved you so much?

  ****

  Chicago, 1942

  James’ coughing was getting worse. Under their doctor’s advisement, he and Harriet were making plans to move to a dryer climate to help James breathe better. They were looking at a historic, yet unincorporated, town called Scottsdale, Arizona, but knew they were still a couple years away from the actual move.

  The Stockyard was able to postpone Ray’s deployment, but he knew it would just be a matter of a couple months. He didn’t want them to fight anymore. He felt it was his duty as a young, healthy man to go with everyone else. So he told his job he would accept the draft call and waited. Bet knew he would be going soon.

  ****

  November 11, 1942

  Bet had mixed emotions about Ray going into the Army. Like everyone else, she understood it was the job of the men to protect the world from the Nazi takeover. Just that morning she heard on the news about Germany invading beyond the French borders. Nobody thought they would take over France, and now that they had, fear gripped the world. But Ray had been a huge part of her life for two and a half years. It was hard to imagine waiting two years for him to return from his duty.

  She wanted to yell at Ray for not pursuing his job. He had been elevated to Foreman and they could have kept him from the draft. But would she have respected him for that? Plus anger was not her way.

  He was coming over that evening to talk to her. He had told her he didn’t want to go out. He wanted a quiet evening at her place, maybe to play cards with her and her mom. Bet figured he wanted to discuss his leaving.

  He got there about six and brought Cepelinai, a Lithuanian potato based dumpling, from a local restaurant.

  “I bet I could learn to make this at home,” she said. “What do you think, mom?”

  “Sure, sure,” Frieda replied. “You can learn to make anything you put your mind to.”

  “How was work today?” Ray asked Frieda.

  “It was good. I had a bluing job…Mrs. Freeman. Her white hair is so shiny. She was telling me all about her grandson. He joined the Marines. She was so proud of him.”

  “I heard that some people with German heritages are losing customers,” Ray said. “Do you find that’s true?”

  “My old customers love me too much,” Frieda stated. “The new ones probably think I am Italian, with the surname my husband, Otto, left me with.”

  Ray laughed. “Frieda, I don’t think there’s a person alive that could mistake you for being Italian.”

  Frieda gave Ray a rare smile.

  Frieda grabbed the playing cards as Ray helped Bet clear the table. When they had finished, they sat back down.

  “It’s grand to see you on a Wednesday night,” Bet said. “But what do you have to talk to me about? And why did you want mom here?”

  Frieda answered for him. “It’s because he’s going into the Army, am I right, Raymond?”

  “Well, yes, but there’s more,” Ray started as he fumbled for something in his pocket. “I wanted your mom here because, well, you are only seventeen and I was hoping you will wait for me when I’m gone.”

  “Of course I’ll wait for you,” Bet replied.

  Ray finally got the little ring box free from his pocket. “But will you wait for me as my fiancée?” He opened the box, revealing a heart shaped diamond ring, and got down on one knee. “I’m not sure how to do this, but…Bet, will you marry me?”

  Bet glanced over at her mom who gave an approving nod. “Yes, Ray, yes, I will marry you. I had no idea this is what you were planning. Oh my goodness, I’m so happy.”

  Bet put the ring on her finger and stared down at it. Even in the incandescent light of the kitchen, it sparkled.

  Frieda got up and opened a bottle of Rhine wine. “I wish I had some champagne to celebrate, but we can toast with this.”

  They clinked their glasses together and drank. They spent a very happy night playing cards, laughing, and drinking wine.

  That night after Ray left and her mom went to bed, Bet sat at their desk and composed a simple poem for Ray. She had the radio on softly. A song that was gathering popularity came on. It was a happy, patriotic song called, Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition. She tapped her foot as she composed her simple prose.

  Oh, it’s grand to be engaged,

  Hooked, caught and almost caged.

  Having a ring upon my hand,

  Makes me feel like a brass band

  Is playing inside of me.

  I hope you feel the same as I,

&nb
sp; For a love like ours cannot die.

  I’m hooked I know, so are you,

  And flirting with others will never do.

  I am true, as true can be,

  And I know you are the same to me.

  Chicago’s Northside

  November 15, 1942

  As Ray promised his brother, he and Bet went to visit Vern’s wife and daughter, Beatrice and Jean. Bet wore her Sunday best, complete with fur coat and hat. Ray also wore his best suit.

  Jean was six years old and cute as a button. They brought her a large tricycle and everyone went outside so she could try it out. They shot lots of pictures with Ray’s trusty camera. Bet thought Bea was nice, but was surprised at her flirty nature. She imagined Vern was probably much the same. Bea got real cozy with Ray for the photo shoot. For one picture, she took Bet’s hat and wore it while taking Ray’s arm. Bet thought she was trying to be her.