Finding Will Hennie

by Joy Redmond

  Miss Marylee interrupted. “Berta, he’s tired of being treated like a little boy. He wasn’t sassing. He was merely expressing himself. I have a special day planned for just the two of us. We’ll have a piece of cake, then we’ll be out of your way.”

  Berta snorted and headed for the kitchen. Soon, she returned with plates, forks and napkins.

  Will cut the cake and put pieces on four plates. Jim Bob didn’t play the banjo and nobody sang happy birthday. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

  After they had eaten the cake, and nobody said much of anything, Will took the dirty plates into the kitchen, rinsed them and put them in the sink. He wondered if he should wash them. I don’t think so. It’s my birthday. And something just isn’t right. Everybody is much too quiet. What in the heck is going on?

  Will walked back into the dining room and found it empty. He went into the parlor. Nobody was there except Miss Marylee. “So what’s up?” he asked.

  “Let’s go upstairs. I have some birthday gifts for you and they are not to be shared with the other boarders. They’re all in a pout, but they can get over it. It’s none of their business what I have for you.”

  Will followed Miss Marylee upstairs. She took her key from her pocket and unlocked her door. Will had always thought it was strange that she locked her door every time she left her room. Nobody else did.

  They entered the room. “You have a seat and I’ll get what I have for you. Now mind you, it’s not what you might expect for birthday presents, but it’s important to me.”

  Will took a seat and it reminded him of the first time he had been asked to follow her to this room, and she told him to take a seat. This time, he didn’t see any shopping bags.

  Miss Marylee reached into her desk drawer and took out an ink bottle, a fountain pen, and a tablet. “You’re going to love this,” she said, as she handed them to Will.” Unscrew the top of the ink bottle. Now watch this.” She took the top off of the fountain pen. She dipped it into the ink bottle. Then she pulled up a tiny strip on the side of the pen.

  Will couldn’t see anything, but he could hear something. It sounded as if the pen was drinking the ink.

  She pulled the pen out of the ink bottle and pushed the strip back down. “Now, place the tip of the pen on the paper and push on it just a little. While you bear down, move it like you write with a pencil.”

  Will pushed down on the tip and began writing his name. “I can’t believe this! It’s like magic!” Then he pushed the tip again. Ink came out and made a large drop on the paper. “Oops, I must have pushed too hard. This thing is sensitive. I love it!”

  “I thought you would. Let me have it. I have something else to show you.” She placed the ink bottle and pen on her desk. Then she took out two tablets with red flaps. She handed them to him. “This tablet contains short stories that I’ve been writing over the years. They’re about children and animals. I wrote them for your children. My favorite story is about a little boy who slept in the woods and a wolf kept him warm all night.”

  Will felt like a little boy again, full of excitement as he flipped the pages and quickly read a few lines from the stories. “Where’s the one about the wolf?”

  “You’ll have time to read them later. I need you to reach up on the top shelf of my closet and hand me the suitcase. Oh, dear. I forgot about the closet.”

  Will walked across the floor and headed inside the closet. “This one?” he said, as he reached up and pulled it down. “I overcame my fear of closets a long time ago. I faced it just like you told me to. I haven’t slept with my closet lamp on for over three years. Do you need anything else while I’m—” He stopped talking as he noticed three suitcases on the floor. “Why do you have so many cases?”

  “The one on the shelf is the only one for you to be concerned about. Just bring it over here and put it on the bed.”

  He put the case on the bed. Then he watched Miss Marylee reach down her cleavage and take out a small key. Did she take that out of her brassiere? She’s acting weird. She unlocked two metal hinges and pulled open the case.

  Will gasped.

  “That’s your college fund. I don’t trust banks and I never will after what happened during the great depression. I’m glad my parents didn’t either or we’d have lost everything.”

  Will ran his hands across the stacks of money, not sure if his eyes were deceiving him. “Holy smokes! There’s got to be at least—”

  “You can count it later,” she said, shutting the lid and locking it. Now, let’s go over there and you sit down in a chair beside me,” she sweetly said, pointing a finger.

  Will had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Miss Marylee is going to send me off to a big university. I don’t mingle well with people my age. He swallowed, hard, and took his seat.

  Miss Marylee pulled the other chair beside him. She reached for his hand. “Will, this isn’t going to be easy for me to say, but please hear me out and don’t protest. I’ve made up my mind.”

  “Just spit it out. I already know what you’re going to say anyway.”

  “Who told you? I swore everybody to secrecy.” Will watched her face turn red. He’d never seen her look as if she was mad about anything since he’d known her.

  “Nobody told me anything. I figured it out. You’re sending me to St. Louis to go to the fancy law school.”

  “No. I just showed you the money. When and if you decide to go is up to you. I’m not forcing anything on you. You’re the only one who can make that call. If you go, it will be on your terms, your own time, and where you chose to go.”

  “Oh, I’m going for sure. That’s my dream. I just thought I’d get me a job and work a year or two. The war is over and jobs are available. I think I need to work somewhere besides this boarding house. I’m tired of throwing balls, boxing with my shadow and fishing with Red. I’d like to feel like I’m paying my own way. Berta said you’ve handed me life on a silver platter— and I’m thinking she’s right. I’ve worked hard for her, but I want to get a paying job and make my own spending money.”

  “I think that’s a great idea. I just thought you wanted to finish law school as soon as possible. Lord knows you’ll have plenty of work for the rest of your life when you do. If you want to work before you go off to law school, then I won’t argue with you. I commend you.” She patted his knee. “Now, may I tell you what my plans are?”

  “Sorry. What are you up to?”

  “As you know I’ve got two nephews in California. They’ve written me through the years and begged me to come see them. I’ve put them off for ten years because I wanted to be here for you. You’re a grown man now and I’m getting on up in years. So if I’m going, it’s high time I make the trip.”

  “I think that’s great! How long will you be gone?”

  Miss Marylee laughed. “Until I wear my welcome out, I guess. But more than likely I’ll get homesick before that happens. I’ll just say, I’m going to stay until I’ve had my fill of California.”

  “When are you going?”

  “I’m leaving in the morning. Mrs. Wilson is going to drive me to the bus station. I’ll take a bus to St. Louis, then I’ll take the train the rest of the way. It’ll take four days to get there, but I’ll see some beautiful country on the way and I think it’ll be fun. I’ve never traveled before. This will be a great adventure for me. I’m not getting any younger.”

  “Tomorrow? Why didn’t you tell me before today? Since you thought the others had told me, that means you told them first. Why?”

  “I wasn’t sure how you’d react to the news and I didn’t want to upset you if I told you too soon. I paid your boarding in advance, so I had to tell Berta. And, well, she told the rest of them. There’s no secrets with her.”

  “Don’t I know that to be the truth.” He hugged Miss Marylee. “I’ll admit I’m going to miss you. I haven’t spent the night without you in the same house for ten years, but I’m happy for you.”

  “Then be a sweet boy and
carry my three suitcases downstairs and put them by the front door. Mrs. Wilson will be here early. I’ll get them to her car.”

  “No, ma’am. I’ll be up bright and early and I’ll carry your cases out to the car.”

  “That’s kind of you,” she said, and kissed Will’s cheek. “Now, you take the ink, pen, and tablets to your room. Here’s the key to the money suitcase. You put it in your room where nobody will ever find it. But put the suitcase back on the top shelf of my closet. When I leave in the morning, I’ll give you my room key. You hide it and don’t let a soul go into my room. Not even Berta.”

  Will put the suitcase back on the top shelf. He put the key in his jeans pocket, trying to figure out a good hiding place for it. “I’ll come into your room once a week and dust your furniture and run the dust mop over the floors. That way, Berta won’t have anything to gripe about. Everything will be spotless and just the way you left it when you return.”

  “Thank you, my sweet son.”

  “If that’s all you have to tell me, I think I’ll go to my room, turn on the fan and start reading the stories you wrote. Even if I never have children, and I doubt if I ever will since I can’t even get a girlfriend, they’ll be my most prized possession. Well, them and the book that Gram gave me. I still look it over from time to time. I can feel her spirit around me when I flip through the pages.”

  Will kissed Miss Marylee’s cheek. “I love you. You’re the best mother a boy could ever hope for. I feel all fuzzy inside when you call me son.”

  “Get on your way. Don’t get me to bawling. I don’t want red puffy eyes in the morning. I’ve got to look my best for my travels.” She smiled. “You know I hear those trains are like a hotel on rails. They have everything a person needs. Even fancy meals are served in the dining car by porters. I’m going to feel like royalty.”

  “If it isn’t too bold of me, may I ask how old you are?”

  Miss Marylee whispered, “I’m eighty-four. But that’s between us. ”

  “Well, I would have guessed you to be about sixty-five. You look younger than Berta, and she said she was fifty-five, couple years ago. Come to think of it, I don’t know how old any of the boarders are, or their birthdays. Nobody ever mentions it.”

  “When you reach a certain age, birthdays don’t mean anything except you’re getting old. So nobody talks about it. I think Tom is my age. Jim Bob is older than Berta. I’m guessing he’s seventy or close to it. None of us are spring chickens.”

  “If I had known, I would have made all your birthdays a special day,” Will said.

  “Will, you’ve make every day special for us and especially me. Now, I’ve got a few more things to get together for my trip and I’ll be turning in early. I’m already feeling like royalty.”

  “You are royalty. Goodnight, Miss Marylee.”

  “Goodnight, Will.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Will woke up and glanced at the wind-up alarm clock. He had never set the alarm because he was always awake by sun up, but he was happy when Miss Marylee gave it to him so he’d know what time it was. Some nights he’d read until midnight and if he hadn’t glanced at the clock now and then, he would have read all night.

  He blinked, then looked at the clock again. 6:05. “No!” He jumped out of bed and pulled on his Levi’s. He ran down the hallway, shirtless and barefoot. Miss Marylee’s door was closed. He knocked and she didn’t answer. He ran downstairs. “Miss Marylee! Where are you?”

  Berta came into the parlor. “She’s outside waitin’ on her ride. Stop that yellin’!”

  Will ran out the front door and saw Miss Marylee standing on the sidewalk. He ran to her and breathlessly said, “Don’t start fussing because I’m not dressed. I overslept and I thought I’d missed you. Why didn’t you get me up?”

  “I was going to come back upstairs and give you a kiss, tell you goodbye and give you my room key. I just wanted to get my cases out front so Mrs. Wilson would know I was ready when she pulled up. I didn’t want her to come knocking on the door.”

  “Give me a minute and I’ll get my shirt and shoes on. I want to ride to the bus station with you. You need help with your cases. I’m going to be waving when that bus pulls out.”

  Miss Marylee held Will’s face between her hands. “Will, please don’t make this harder on me. I can manage fine when I get to the bus station. I don’t want to watch you disappear from view as the bus drives off. We’re going to say our goodbyes right here, right now.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. That’s my final word.” She opened her purse. “Now, here’s the key to my room. Hide it well.” She opened a change bag that she always carried in her purse. “Here’s a little pocket change.” She pushed some bills into his hand. “You get a haircut. You’re starting to look as shabby as Red. You won’t find a job with a mop of hair like that. I can’t believe I’ve let you go this long.” She pushed his hair out of his eyes. “I’ll have plenty of time on the train to write, so I’ll start a letter to you once we get a few miles on the rails. When I get there, I’ll post it. It takes a week to get mail all the way from California, but be looking for it. And I expect an answer as soon as possible.”

  “I’ll write to you every day. I need the practice with my new fountain pen,” he said, stuffing the bills into his pocket.

  Mrs. Wilson pulled her car to the curb.

  “You can put my cases in the back, if you don’t mind.”

  Will opened the car door. “Morning, Mrs. Wilson. Drive safe as you take Miss Marylee to the bus station.”

  “Morning, Will. I think I can get her there safe and sound. Don’t you fret.”

  Will turned toward Miss Marylee. He could tell she was fighting tears. “Is my hat on straight?” she asked, as she turned it a bit.

  “Your hat is on perfect. You look beautiful. I’m going to miss you, but I’m so happy that you’re finally doing something that up until now, you’ve only dreamed about.”

  “I’m going to miss you too, son. But I’m so excited. I’m going to see so much. I’ll make friends with people on the train and we’ll become pen pals. And I can’t wait to see my nephews. It’s been so many years. Alfred was your age and George was just a year old when they left me. It’s sure going to be wonderful to see what they look like now.”

  Will grabbed her in a bear hug and kissed her cheek. “I’m not going to say goodbye, I’m only saying so long for now. Carry my love in your heart all the way to California.”

  “Will Hennie, I’ll carry my love for you to my grave. I love you as much as if I had given birth to you. In my heart, you are my son. I hope in your heart, I’m your mother.”

  Will felt a knot in his throat and he knew if he tried to speak, his voice would crack and he’d cry. He merely nodded, then walked her around to the other side of the car, squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek.

  She climbed inside the car and Will shut the door. Still fighting tears, he backed away quickly. He stood in the middle of the street and watched the car drive away, taking the woman he loved more than anybody in the whole world.

  When the car turned the corner at the next block, Will waved and whispered, “Godspeed.” He tucked his head and let the tears spill. I really am a big sissy. It’s time to cut the apron strings. It’s time to be a man and stand on my own. She spoiled me rotten. God, how I love her.

  “Will, ya got a minute?” Jim Bob called out.

  Will snapped out of his reverie and wiped his tears. “Sure. Let me grab a cup of coffee and I’ll be right back. I need to hear some banjo picking this morning to cheer me up. Your music works every time!”

  “I done got yer coffee. I brung out two cups. Come and get it while it’s still hot”

  Will sat down beside Jim Bob and picked up the cup. He took a sip. “Did Berta boil this coffee twice? It’s hot enough to burn the hair off my tongue.” Just as he was about to tip the cup again, Red ran up to him. “I was wondering where you were, boy.” Will rubbed Red’s head and h
ugged his neck.

  Red whined and Will looked up to see Mr. Brown standing a few inches from him.

  “Will Hennie! I wanna know what ya done to my girl. She’s been bawling her eyes out fer two months. She said she hates ya and she spits ever’ time I mention yer name. What did ya do to’ er?” Fire seemed to be shooting from Mr. Brown’s eyes.

  Will sat the cup on the ground and stood, he eyes as hard as steel. “It’s not what I did. It’s what I didn’t do. So you might want to ask her why she hates me. If you want to take a swing at me, then go on. But you better land the first punch and make sure I go down and don’t get back up. If I do, you’ll be mincemeat. I’m not having a good day and it’s not a good time to get in my face!”

  Jim Bob jumped up and stood between Will and Mr. Brown. “Ya gonna have to go through me ‘afore you touch this boy! He can handle ya, but I’ll get a kick outta landin’ a good’en to yer jaw ‘afore he does.”

  Mr. Brown backed up a couple steps. “Don’t worry ‘bout it ol’ man. Will done give me my answer. Her ma just ain’t raisin’ her right. But she be plum hardheaded as a tree stump. Only so much ya can do with her kind. Sorry, I bothered ya, Will. Come on, Red.”

  Red didn’t move.

  “Fine! Stay here, you good-fer-nothin’ dog! I get tired of tryin’ to do anything with you, too! ” Mr. Brown spat on the ground, then went his way.

  After Mr. Brown left, Jim Bob sat down and motioned for Will to sit beside him. “This ain’t none of my business, but what happened that night? I been waitin’ fer ya ta tell me ‘bout it, but ya ain’t said a word.”

  “I didn’t talk about it because it was a miserable night. One of the worst of my life. But if you want to hear it, I’ll take it from the top. We went to the prom. We sat like two knots on a log and watched the other kids give us snotty looks. We tried to dance, but both of us had two left feet. We left early and Nellie wanted to walk over to the park in the center of town. It’s not really much of a park. It’s just a big patch of grass with two benches. Anyway, she did look right pretty in her fancy dress. And her hairdo made her look like a different person.”