Appalachian Daughter

by Mary Salyers

  Slowly over the summer Corie Mae ended her silent treatment and had begun to talk to Maggie, but always with the pursed lips and a disapproving tone. Shortly after the funeral, Maggie had matter-of-factly taken her old place at the table with no repercussions. Maggie understood that taking care of Mary Helen, who was now ten months old, and the usual hard summer work had kept Corie Mae busy and preoccupied, but she had hopes the relationship would improve even more.

  JD had finished his medic training and had been shipped to a base in Japan. Maggie continued to hope he would not be sent to Korea, but that possibility seemed always in the back of her mind. She missed him. School was not the same. Not only was JD not around anymore, but she missed Bud as well. For two years she had seen Bud every day at school. Now she found herself searching the faces in the crowded hallways hoping to see his quick smile, gorgeous dimples, and meaningful wink. She had seen him only a few days when he came home after working all summer for his uncle in Chattanooga before he moved into the dorm at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. He promised to write often, but Maggie suspected his idea of often did not match her own–that certainly had seemed the case during the summer.

  At least she could see her school friends every day. She and Mary Ann had three classes together and sometimes managed to persuade their parents they needed to study together on weekends. But her classes no longer inspired her and she often felt restless and at loose ends.

  Each year the junior class presented a play in the gap between football and basketball seasons. Maggie had agreed to be the prompter, a demanding job. While the other cast members goofed off backstage having fun, she had to keep her attention glued to the script. By the time of the dress rehearsal, she had memorized the entire play–a good thing as it turned out. When she arrived at school on the morning of the performance, Miss McNeal, the play director, met her at the door. “Oh Maggie, we’ve got a problem!”

  “What’s the matter, Miss McNeal?”

  “Darlene was rushed to the hospital last night for an emergency appendectomy. Do you think you can take her place?”

  “Oh no. She has the lead role. I can’t do that. She’s on the stage almost all the time.”

  “You know all her lines and also know all the stage directions. I know you can do it.”

  “But, Miss McNeal, I haven’t ever practiced it. What if I forget?”

  “I’ll be prompting, so if you forget I can give you your lines, but I’m sure you won’t forget.” She took Maggie’s arm. “It’s the only solution. Otherwise, we’ll have to call off the play.”

  Maggie reluctantly agreed and spent every free moment until time for the action to begin with her nose in the script trying to make sure she knew every line. In the end, it wasn’t Maggie who messed up. At one point in the script, Ronnie was supposed to say “The get-away car was a station wagon.” Instead he said “The get-away car was a stagon wation.” Realizing his mistake, he began to laugh and couldn’t stop. He stood on stage with his shoulders shaking, put his hands over his face and turned his back to the audience, his hysterical laughter finally turning to sobs. Miss McNeal, a genuine fussbudget, was beside herself, flapping her arms like a drowning person to get Ronnie’s attention while she hissed, “Stop it! Stop it this minute!”

  Some audience members began to applaud and cheer, calling out “Bravo!” “Way to go Ronnie!”–exactly the tension-breaker that was called for. Members of the cast crowded around Ronnie, patting him on the back and encouraging him. Finally, Ronnie turned toward the audience and gave an exaggerated bow, which instigated another round of enthusiastic whistling and applauding. The players returned to their places. Miss McNeal, in a loud stage whisper, gave the next line, and the action resumed where it had left off. Everyone thought it was the best play the school had given in years.

  When time for basketball practice rolled around, Maggie assumed that since she had played last year, she would be allowed to play again. She didn’t bother to ask her parents. A couple of freshman who came out for the team turned out to be strong players. One of them, Eleanor, filled the spot under the goal where her height was needed for rebounding. Coach Moore felt the team had the best prospects for a winning season yet. Maggie’s father had managed to buy an old pick-up truck so he could come to watch her play and then give her a ride home.

  All in all the year seemed to be going along well enough under the circumstances, but Maggie dreaded Christmas. It would seem so bleak without Johnny Ray and JD. At least, Bud would be home for a couple of weeks and that would brighten up her life considerably.

  ***

  Dressed in her nightgown and robe, Aunt Lillian opened the door and stepped back for Maggie to come in. “So, how did the game go?”

  Maggie unwound her neck scarf and took off her gloves. “We won, finally. It went into overtime, and Mary Ann fouled out. I thought sure we’d lose, but fortunately, one of their guards fouled Eleanor, and she made both shots. We still have a perfect record for the season.”

  Aunt Lillian locked the door. “Are you froze to death? Did you walk from School?”

  “Billy Ray and Kathy gave me a ride. I’m not cold at all.” Maggie hung her coat in the closet.

  Aunt Lillian pointed to the coffee table. “Guess what? You finally got a letter from JD. While you read it, I’ll make us some hot chocolate.”

  13 January 1952

  Dear Maggie,

  I’ve been stationed here at Camp Shinodayama near Osaka, Japan, since last October. Sorry I haven’t written. I got your letters and it’s good to hear from home. Keep those letters coming. How is your team doing this season? Winning every game, I hope.

  I’m being trained as part of a MASH unit. We’ll be shipping out to Korea within the next few days or weeks. I would not brag to my buddies, but I’m pretty darn good at getting an IV line started and last week I even assisted Major Andrews in surgery. Maybe when I get back home, I’ll study medicine. Ha! Ha!

  The MASH units near the front stabilize the wounded and then ship them here to this hospital to be treated. We see all kinds of injuries and medical problems. A few weeks ago, we got a fellow with a busted leg. The medics had used a carbine as a splint. He had traveled by ambulance, plane, boat, and ship to reach our hospital. When we unwrapped his leg, the carbine was loaded and cocked!

  Winter is not so bad here in Japan, but the guys coming here from Korea talk a lot about how cold it is there. We see lots of frostbite. One medic told me it got so cold their medicines froze and they had to warm the plasma for a hour before they could use it. I guess I’ll get used to it if I have to.

  Don’t worry about me. I’m doing great. Tell Kenny I think about him a lot and hope he’s doing good in school. Are you still going out with Bud? Tell him hi for me. Write when you can.

  Your cuz, JD

  Maggie tossed the letter back on the coffee table. “I hoped he’d stay in Japan, but looks like he’s going to Korea. Probably there already.” She kicked off her shoes. “I hate this war. I don’t know why we have to go halfway around the world to fight people who have done nothing to us.” Her voice was hoarse with anguish.

  Aunt Lillian set two mugs of hot cocoa on the coffee table and sat beside Maggie on the sofa. Maggie handed the letter to Aunt Lillian. “Here, you should read it too.” Maggie sipped her chocolate.

  After reading the letter, Aunt Lillian folded it and replaced it in the envelope. “At least, he seems to like what he’s doing. I’d never thought he’d be interested in being a medic.”

  “Yeah, wouldn’t it be something if he becomes a doctor when he gets out?”

  Aunt Lillian sipped her hot chocolate. “I think you should let Opal read this. He probably won’t write her, but she deserves to know where he’s at and what he’s doing. Maybe she would be proud of her son for doing something worthwhile.”

  “Okay, I’ll take it to her when I go home tomorrow night. Daddy’s supposed to pick me up after he finishes working over at Maple Grove. He’s got a lot of good out of
that old pick-up he bought. He’s been hauling coal for people and delivered a load of hay to a guy in Hamby last week. Now he has a way to jobs when he hears about them. He’s made more money this winter than any other year. I heard him tell Mama he’d paid all the hospital bill. Now they only have to pay for the funeral.”

  “It’s been hard for him and Corie Mae, having to pinch pennies so much. I really don’t see how they’ve done it. I know you’ve helped out when you’ve had some money. Which reminds me, we can use your help tomorrow afternoon if you’re going to be around.”

  Maggie nodded and absently picked up the county paper lying on the coffee table. She turned to the sports reports to see if her team had made the news. After browsing through the back pages, she turned the paper to the front and gasped when she saw the picture below the headline: CO. BOY KILLED IN KOREA. “Oh, no. This is Walter Spinks! I used to hate him, but I didn’t want him to get killed. It says his body will be brought home for burial next week.” Maggie sighed and folded the paper. “Aunt Lillian, I’m so scared for JD. I don’t know what I’ll do if he gets killed.” Tears filled her eyes and slowly rolled down her cheeks.

  Aunt Lillian put her hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “Well, Honey, let’s not think about it. No sense worrying over something that ain’t even happened.”

  Maggie wiped her eyes and finished the cocoa “I guess you’re right, but I can’t help worrying. I guess I’m closer to JD than anyone else in the world–even closer than to Bud. If something happens to him, I know I’ll just die.”

  “I know.” Aunt Lillian patted her on the shoulder. “You must be tired. Get ready for bed. I’ll fix the sofa for you.” They both stood and Aunt Lillian put her arms around Maggie and held her for a long time.

  * * *

  When Ray picked her up the next day shortly before dark, Maggie blinked in surprise when she saw Kenny in the truck. She squeezed herself into the front seat and slammed the door. When her father headed the truck in the opposite direction from home, she asked, “Where’re we going?”

  “I have to pick up something. Kenny come to help load it.”

  Soon they arrived at an old building that looked like it might have been a church. Ray backed the truck toward the steps where a man dressed in a long overcoat sat, a knit cap pulled down low on his forehead. He rose when they got out of the truck and stuck out his hand. “Howdy, Mr. Martin. I begun to think you wasn’t coming. It’s about to get too dark for us to see inside. There ain’t no electricity here.”

  “Told you I’d be here. This here’s my nephew Kenny and my daughter Maggie. They can help us load it.”

  “Glad to make your acquaintance. Name’s Harry Brock.” He led the way inside the building. In the dim light Maggie could see a few rough benches on either side of a big potbellied stove. A rickety-looking pulpit stood in front of a window with cardboard covering a broken pane. Harry Brock walked to the front and pulled a tarpaulin from an old upright piano.

  “My wife took good care of this piano as long as she lived. She kept it covered to keep out the dust and she kept it tuned even after they quit having services here. It’s in good shape even if it’s old. She’d be glad to see somebody get some good out of it.”

  Maggie, still puzzled, watched with fascination as her father pulled a roll of money from his overalls and slowly counted out one hundred dollars, much of it in ones. Even in the near darkness, Maggie could see the twinkle in his eyes when he looked at her and grinned. “I’ve looked for a piano I could buy for my daughter for years. I’m much obliged to you, Mr. Brock, for letting us have this. We’ll take good care of it. My daughter plays so pretty. Maybe you can come to our church sometime and hear her play.”

  “I’d like that.” Mr. Brock went to the back side of the piano. “I think we can just roll her to the door. Then we’ll have to lift her down the steps and into the truck.”

  They shoved some of the benches aside to get the piano past the old stove. When they reached the door, each took a corner and with much huffing and puffing managed to get the piano into the truck. Ray covered it with a tarp and tied it to the wooden side boards.

  Once they moved slowly down the dirt road to the highway, Maggie leaned around Kenny. “Daddy, does Betty Lou know about this?”

  “No, I didn’t tell nobody except Kenny. I wanted to surprise her.”

  “You mean you didn’t even tell Mama?”

  “If she’d knowed I had this much money, she’d wanted to pay the funeral bill.” Ray steered carefully around a curve so the piano wouldn’t shift. “Ever since I knew Betty Lou could play so good, I told Mrs. Lewis I wanted her to have a piano of her own. I been saving a little here and a little there for over two years. I kept it hid in the smokehouse. Mrs. Lewis told me a month ago about Mr. Brock wanting to sell the piano in that old church building. I finally got the last of the money yesterday.”

  Maggie leaned forward so she could see her father’s face in the lights of the dashboard. “But, Daddy, where’ll we put it? There’s no room in our house.”

  “We’ll have to move some stuff out, I guess.”

  “Mama’ll have a fit.”

  “Well, we’ll figure out something.”

  Maggie stared out into the darkness. She knew the piano would please and surprise Betty Lou, but she couldn’t help thinking that no one had ever peeled off one hundred dollars for her.

  When they got home, Ray had Maggie open the barnyard gate and carefully maneuvered the truck through the pasture to the back of the house. “It’s too heavy to carry up all those steps.”

  Hearing the motor and seeing the truck lights at the back brought everyone outdoors with choruses of “What’s that you got there?” “What are you doing?” “What’s in the truck?”

  Ray led Betty Lou to the back of the truck and let down the tailgate. “Climb up there and untie that rope.” He put the beam of a flashlight on the knots so she could see to get them undone. “Now, throw off the tarp.”

  “It’s a piano!” Everyone began talking at once. Betty Lou stared at the piano. She gently rubbed the wood on the front and turned toward Ray. “Is this for us?”

  “It’s for you, Betty Lou. It’s your own piano.” Ray grinned.

  “Oh, Daddy!” Betty Lou took one step to the back of the truck and threw herself into Ray’s arms, almost knocking him off his feet.

  Corie Mae, carrying Mary Helen on her hip, moved to the back of the truck to get a better view of the piano. She looked at Ray. “Where did this come from?” Ray just pointed at the piano, but didn’t say anything. “Well, it ain’t coming in my house. We ain’t got no room for it. And besides, I ain’t having all that racket going on with kids banging on it all day.” She carried Mary Helen to the back porch. “All you kids get back inside. It’s too cold out here.”

  Ray sighed and patted Betty Lou’s back. “Don’t worry, Honey. We’ll figure out something.” He gave Stuart a little nudge. “Climb up there and cover it back up. We’ll let her set here till morning when we can see better.”

  As it turned out, Kenny suggested moving the piano into his house. Most of the time, he lived alone since Aunt Opal was often away nursing sick people. “Aunt Lillian’s room is empty, and Betty Lou can come over and practice when she wants.” Then Stuart got the idea of moving in with Kenny so Jay could have his bed upstairs. Aunt Opal agreed to both plans. She said since Kenny ate so many meals at Corie Mae’s table, it was only fair that they do something in return, but she did have some rules. They could not use the front room, and they had to clean the whole house at least once each week.

  Soon Opal’s empty bedroom where they moved the piano became a place of escape for all the older children. Stuart had taught himself to play Great-grandma Campbell’s mandolin. JD had sent Kenny a guitar for Christmas. Betty Lou began teaching Jeannie to play the piano. By the time of the annual talent show at school, they could play and sing “Tennessee Waltz” and “Goodnight Irene.” When they weren’t making music, they listened to the
radio and read Kenny’s comic books, which Corie Mae would not allow in her house.

  Working around Corie Mae’s prohibitions and objections became easier for all the children as they had become more skilled at devious manipulations. After Ray got the old truck, they would first persuade him to take them to an activity and then would simply tell Corie Mae, “Daddy’s taking us to the play at school,” or whatever the event was.

  * * *

  Maggie’s skill as a basketball player and the team’s ability to work together had improved considerably. Her team had won a slot in the regional tournament the last week in February. Bud planned to come from college to take in the tournament games. Maggie’s father agreed to take all the children to see Maggie play. At first, Corie Mae objected, but finally allowed all the children to go except four-year-old Jay and little Mary Helen.

  The last game of the tournament, Maggie’s team played for the championship. When the team came out for warm up, Maggie searched the gym until she spotted her family sitting high in the bleachers and waved to them. Junior stood up and, placing his hands around his mouth like a megaphone yelled, “Yeah Maggie!” Maggie also located Bud who blew her a kiss.

  Their opponent was Nemo, but the aggressive center who had caused Maggie to be thrown out of the game a year ago had graduated along with four others of their best players. Coach Moore took Maggie out of the game during the last quarter to allow some of the other girls to play, and they still won by eight points. Maggie stood proudly with her teammates as they received the trophy.

  After the game, Bud and Maggie drove around for a little while, but because it was so late, Bud soon took her home. He opened the car door for her and pulled her into a close embrace. His kiss was short because they both knew Corie Mae probably watched them from her bedroom window. In the bright moonlight, they could see their breath freezing in front of their faces. Maggie shivered.