All Aboard! Romance on Route 66

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  The president handed Slim the mike and it would appear he was made for the front stage as he said, “Anybody have a saw so I can shorten these stilts of mine?” That brought on more laughter and by then he had the crowd eating out of his hand. He went on to say, “Ever since I was born my mother said my legs stuck out of the crib by the time I was two years old. At six the only one in my family I looked up to was my father who reminded me of the giant in the Jack and Beanstalk story my mother read to me. Now, let me try and sit down without having to replace the table clothes again.” A standing ovation and he gently and carefully sat down to the gasps he heard around the room. He waved and took a big drink of water for his parched mouth.

  The president said it was time for dinner and looked at Slim and said, “I understand Slim you like your food, but trust me, there is more where that came from so take your time standing up,” his smile was real and warm. Slim liked him and without mishap, stood up to make his way with Lilly behind him to the buffet table.

  Much to Lilly’s surprise, lamb was the main course and this would be her first time eating lamb. She found the dinner excellent with fresh veggies and all things that made her future husband happy. Strange Slim only made one trip and after finishing dessert, sat back and watched the crowd.

  Lilly noticed Sam give the president the nod to go ahead with the ceremonies and he stood up as all eyes were on him. He clinked his glass with a spoon, though not needed as all were paying him the utmost attention, and said, “Tonight we are here to pay homage to a fine employee and a fine human being. From coast to coast he is the best known of our drivers and he carries the Greyhound tradition proudly wherever he goes. I could go on and on about Slim, but suffice to say, we will miss him and wish him the best in future endeavors. We understand he is going to be married in a few days and let it not be said at Greyhound we don’t give our retiring employees a worthwhile send off. We did a little private investigation of our own and found out the couple will settle down on a farm somewhere in the South. Now Sam if you please….” And with the efficient camera crew, a large screen was evident on the side of the room as the curtains were parted and a movie camera started showing a film. A murmur from the crowd as to what was happening came just before the lights went out.

  First was the commercial from St. Louis and the first cut of the Chicago commercial and then a film from John Deere began. It showed a farmer plowing a field and then the use of all the implements was demonstrated and finally at the end in big letters said: “For Slim Bekins from the family of Greyhound. Happy retirement.”

  Slim was dumbfounded and tears were rolling down his face like a leaky faucet. Lilly too had tears she was wiping off her face with her cloth napkin as the lights came back on and the president started the applause and the rest of the crowd joined in singing “He’s a jolly good fellow.”

  The president rapped his glass again and said, “Slim this tractor and all the implements will be waiting for your call when you decide where your farm will be. In addition, you and your family have a lifetime pass on Greyhound. In addition, because of the success of the Lady Greyhound’s first trip, we want to treat your passengers and you to a baseball game at Wrigley Field in the box seats on the third base side of the field. Sam will see to the details and now Slim we wish you the best and give our warm thanks to you for your service to Greyhound for the last quarter century.”

  Slim carefully moved his chair back with the help of two attendants and shook the presidents hand and said into the mike, still wiping his eyes from the totally unexpected gifts upon retirement, he said, “All my life the only thing I wanted from the time I was a boy was to drive a bus. Since I was eighteen I’ve worked for Greyhound and have never regretted a day being with them. If I hadn’t decided to get married to Lilly Fields instead of standing here I would probably be on the road somewhere in my new bus. It’s been a good ride and now I have a new life to look forward to and new friends to share life with. I thank you for the nice time and the gifts. I will never forget this night and whenever I see a Greyhound bus go by, I will reflect on the thousands and thousands of passengers I have carried from one side of the country to the other. I’ve met so many nice people and can count on one hand the ones who I wouldn’t care to meet again. America is a great country and the people are what make it so great. Companies like Greyhound are a vital link to all the great cities of America and if I live to be a hundred, I’m sure Greyhound will be leading the way of transportation across America’s highways and the new freeways coming. Thank you again.”

  A thunderous applause and all the guests filed by to shake his hand and the presidents. Lilly stood by her man and when it was over, led him to their hotel room where she knew he wanted to be. In the elevator she asked him what was meant by “I will get my commins?” Slim laughed and said with a twinkle and a sly grin, “In a few minutes you will find out.”

  Lilly had never been to a baseball game in her life let alone a professional baseball team owned by a chewing gum man. To tell the truth if someone had asked her who made the famous Wrigley chewing gum, she would have replied. “I have no idea.” Sitting in their box seats next to the dugout, at least that is what Slim called the place the players emerged and returned to after a time on the field or at bat. Slim quickly explained the game to her and told her the Chicago Cubs were one of the best teams in the league and that Ernie Banks and Bob Lemon were very famous and fine players as were the others.

  Lilly thought this was much like the rodeo and that the fans here were very excited about today’s game against the New York Yankees. She heard smatterings of players like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, but never really understood what all that meant. Her life was sheltered and unenlightened to say the least. However she told herself to learn and enjoy what thousands were here to do: have fun. Slim was scouting the area for the hot dog man and when he stood up and waved at a man much like the hot dog man at the rodeo, he smiled and all the rest knew it was time for America’s favorite pastime: baseball and hot dogs. In addition to hot dogs Slim bought bags of peanuts and Lilly joined the excitement of the occasion. Soon the game was on and after a few innings Lilly was catching on to what the game was all about. Slim was a running commentary of the game and in the fifth inning it was tied up a five runs each with the bases loaded for Chicago and Ernie Banks coming to the plate. The crowd was on its feet and so was the box full of passengers in addition to the president and his wife. The Yankees had called time and a meeting was taking place where the pitcher was. Slim told her they were probably going to make a change of pitchers and Lilly asked him why they would do that. Slim said, “Well, if the pitcher is tired and if he makes a mistake and throws a pitch to Ernie and he likes it, he could hit a grand slam home run and the score would be nine to five in one second.”

  Now Lilly was a quick learner and beings she was in Chicago and had never been to New York, she was from that day on a Chicago Cubs fan to the fullest. Lilly yelled to Slim as the crowd was chanting Ernie’s name over and over while waiting for the pitch change. The tension mounted as Ernie stepped to the plate and the pitcher took the sign from the catcher. Lilly could hardly see the pitch as it was so fast, but she heard the crack of the bat and saw the ball disappear over the fence for a home run. The crowd went wild and so did Lilly and Slim jumping up and down like little kids. Rounding third, Ernie tipped his hat to the box and Lilly caught his big smile on her. She tentatively waved like a little girl to someone whom she really doesn’t know, but would like to.

  The game ended with Chicago winning nine to eight. The passengers went back to the hotel talking about the game and the upcoming dinner that Slim and Lilly wanted to give the passengers and they also invited the president and his wife, who readily agreed to come along with Sam. Lilly asked Jasper to call and ask his bishop and his wife if they would like to come to dinner too and Jasper said he would make the offer when they returned to the hotel. Slim made sure all knew this was informal and no suit or tie was allowed. A round of c
lapping filled the bus on the way back to the hotel.

  Back in the hotel room Lilly and Slim sat talking on the sofa sipping iced tea. Lilly said to Slim, “So much happened that I feel like I’m in a dream and I’m scared the dream will end and I will be back in my little house in Pasadena waking up to another boring day of work. Honey, please pinch me to see if I’m dreaming.”

  Slim did better than that as fell to the floor dragging her with him saying, “Now you will get your commins and this isn’t no dream.” Slim did his best to be romantic, but years later they talked about her commins and laughed at their beginner love making.

  A short nap later and a bubble bath when it was time to go, they held onto each other like teenagers going out to dinner, which in their minds, was close to the truth. Having never dated in their lives, they were just that: teens going out to dinner in middle aged bodies. Lilly had asked the hotel folks to make a square out of the tables so all could face each other while having dinner instead of being separated; so walking into a smaller banquet room than the night before Lilly felt right at home in the comfortable surroundings. The room was done in a pastel yellow with a dark red carpet on the floor. Overhead hung smaller chandeliers similar to the lobby ones giving it a Victorian look with old oak chairs and tables with burnt sienna brown silk off set with what looked like real silver utensils. Cut glass water glasses gleamed in the yellowish light and soft music was playing in the background. Most of the passengers were already standing around visiting with each other and the president and his wife, Sara stood talking to Carl and Carol. Lilly had the feeling Carl was touting his position in his town as the towns’ only bank. No doubt the president could hold his own with a small time banker like Carl. When Jasper saw them come in he walked up to Slim and Lilly saying, “My bishop is here along with his wife. Let me introduce them to you.” Leading the way to the side of the room where the bishop and his wife were talking to Frieda and Bill along with his recently arrived wife, Jasper made the introductions. Lilly and Slim shook hands with Lee and Lenora Grimes. The bishop immediately took Lilly by the hand and confided in her about Sunday’s plans for the wedding ceremony. Lilly took mental notes and replied that she would be grateful if he could talk to Slim about the proceedings. Lee said he would be happy to and left her to drag Slim away from Bill who was telling anyone that would listen about their plan to take the new car and drive to Florida for some fishing. Lilly caught the tail end of the conversation and noticed neither of them was drinking the bubbly she had ordered.

  At that moment Sam as usual in his tourist guide voice said to Lilly and Slim that the waiter told him they were ready to serve the salads and soup. They nodded and made their way to the table where names were placed in front of each place. There was no formal seating and the only special place were for Slim and Lilly at one end of the rectangle so his feet could stick out for all to see from under the table cloth.

  Lilly had left the menu up to the hotel and a green salad came along with a crab cocktail. Halibut steaks for the main course with scallop potatoes or a baked potato for individual choice. A lovely meal and after dinner the president and his wife asked what their plans were. Slim took the lead and told them they would travel from here down through Kentucky and into Tennessee looking for a farm with about one hundred sixty acres or less would be fine with them. He went on to tell them about Al and Sue sharing the farm along with Rick who would be the jack of all trades and master of two or three as that brought on a red face from Rick. Diane loved the plan and hoped, silently, she could fit it into her plans for the future. No one knew at the time that her hope would come true.

  The president asked if he could visit some day and sounded like he was sincere with his wish. Slim told him of course they would be welcome and he could do a little tractor work if he wished. That brought on a round of chuckling and Al could be heard with a loud chortle. Lilly spoke for the first time and said, “You are all invited to come stay with us anytime you feel like it. You are all our friends and we must insist you visit when you can. Writing is formally requested and if it is only a Christmas card is fine with us. An address book will be at the church and be sure to fill it in please.”

  The president said, “How are you going to travel to the South? Are you planning on buying a car or a farm truck?

  Slim replied, “I’m thinking we would buy a pickup truck and stay in motels along the way.”

  “Sounds good to me Slim and maybe you should stop by Sears and Roebuck on the way out of town to load up on farm supplies.

  Slim loved that idea and thanked his boss for the suggestion.

  Dinner was a lovely time and all sat after dinner sipping champagne and visiting until midnight when the bishop and the president bade their farewells, but not after the president and his wife agreed to attend the wedding on Sunday.

  Chapter 16

  Saturday was spent sightseeing and in the late afternoon, Lilly and the girls went to have their hair done. The boys went to the hotel bar and sat there talking and drinking beer or in Slim’s case wine. Most of the talk was about what to plant on a farm, how to plant it and all things concerned with farming. Slim was a little surprised at Rick’s knowledge of mechanics and he told all about two summers working on a farm in California’s Imperial Valley. Slim asked a lot of questions of Rick knowing Diane had left for her aunt’s house and a reunion with her parents due in tonight from Los Angeles. Jasper told them of when his father had a fruit orchard and gave some tips to Slim about his experience long ago. He also added this after talking to Frieda and said to Slim, “Slim Frieda and I are offering our service to you and as you know I made my living being a carpenter.”

  Slim was a little speechless as he didn’t think they would be interested in hanging around a farm while the house and maybe a barn was built. He looked at Jasper and said, “My gosh, we would be honored if you and Frieda came to help us” Jasper smiled and told him consider it a plan and raised his glass of coke to the round table of men.

  That night after room service for dinner, Slim told Lilly about Jasper and Frieda’s offer of help and Lilly replied, “Yes, Frieda mentioned it while we were getting our hair done. I told her any help we got would be accepted with God’s grace and thanks.”

  “Then it’s settled. We have Al, Sue, Rick and now Jasper and Frieda to begin our new life on a farm. What more could a fellow ask for. I will probably have trouble sleeping tonight thinking about being married for the first time in my life.”

  “I’ll relieve some of the tension before you sleep tonight my tall man,” she said with words of love and a rub in the special place to bring out the best in a man. “Let’s hit the sack early and have a nice breakfast in the morning before we go to church.”

  Slim bounded up and was half undressed by the time they went to bed.

  Sunday and the last day as a free man Slim thought as he sat at a table looking at the menu in the dining room of the hotel. He knew at the reception there would be lots of food and cake. The hotel was holding the reception in the small dining room where they had dinner the other night. He looked over the top of his menu at Lilly. She, since they woke up had been very quiet and reflective so he thought. Like most men, he had no idea what to say or how to figure what was on her mind so he kept his mouth shut. After breakfast they would go back to their room and get dressed for the wedding. They would go early for a church service and after the service Jasper would marry them. Slim was more than a little apprehensive and thought if he was doing the right thing. Love he didn’t know the meaning of the word and no one could explain the concept to him. He’d asked Jasper, but Jasper only comment was to not try and define it but to experience it. He liked that explanation of love and one thing he was sure of he loved everything he saw, felt and tasted about Lilly. He even loved her big feet and they almost matched his for size.

  Lilly glanced up at him and lowered her eyes back to the menu. She had no idea what she read and when the waitress came to take her order, she looked at her and s
aid, “Poached eggs on toast with a side of bacon please.”

  Slim said, “Me too and make it a double please all around.” The waitress didn’t bat an eye, but winked at Lilly as word had spread that they were getting married today.

  Jasper and Frieda rode in the taxi with them to the church. Walking up to the giant doors which stood open welcoming all would like to enter, Slim nearly fell looking up at the tall spire that reached almost to the sky. From somewhere high above bells were ringing announcing church would begin soon. In a daze Slim found himself standing in the back of a giant room full of pews packed with church goers. A young lady was playing the organ and it seemed to fill him with confidence once Jasper led them to a front pew. Lilly was holding onto his arm and it felt her strength was equal to him as he knew she was as tense as he was. He remembered how silent she was getting dressed and she never said a word until they arrived at the church.

  “My that is a lovely church,” she commented as they stood by the taxi looking up at the giant church with bells ringing. The reason for her silence was mostly due her wishing her mother could be here to witness the occasion.

  Back inside the bishop took center stage and forty five minutes later he announced he would turn the pulpit over to his friend from Oregon the Pastor Jasper from Blue River.

  Jasper rose and smiled at the congregation and said, “Those of you who would like to stay and witness this fine couple getting married are welcome.”

  In later years Slim told the story of the wedding. “This is the truth and nothing but the truth. I remember standing up and walking to the front of the pulpit and Jasper smiling down at us and then I remember him saying, “Dearly beloved…….” “That was the last thing I remember until back at the hotel banquet room.”