Back to Jerusalem

by Jan Surasky

  Mary Lou Anderson had been furious at Jenny’s pregnancy, never bothering to stifle her discontent. Although she never attacked her directly, she complained incessantly to Bud, pointing out that she had expected Jenny to work a few years to help out until Bud could get on his feet with a new dealership of his own or a major share of Leland’s agency so he could retire that much sooner. Although Bud had agreed to starting a family, even telling Jenny she could have as many children as she wanted, he took to spending more evenings at the agency to hide out from the obvious mounting tension.

  Jenny’s complaints to Mother had fallen on deaf ears. “Let’s hope it’s a boy so he can be groomed to take over the agency when he’s of age,” was all she could say.

  Only Aunt Gert had been sympathetic, helping Jenny to plan the nursery and getting her friend Alma Miller who had a yarn shop in town to knit a few caps and booties and sweaters to set the baby up for the coming cold winter.

  As Jenny surveyed the nursery which she planned to do in yellow, with a starry, dark “sky” on the ceiling and several twinkling stars, she thought of the pictures she could paint to compliment the yellow of the walls. Peter Rabbit, a jack-in-the-box, the three little pigs, and a cow jumping over the moon. As she thought of the subjects that would entertain a wee person and perhaps help him or her to dream, she thought of Jake. How they had once read nursery rhymes to the littlest of his family, who had been used only to Bible stories, and how their eyes were as wide as saucers.

  She had heard Jake was in town for a few weeks to help his father with the tending of the crops and preparing the barn for the autumn harvest. She must see him before he left. His visits had become less and less frequent and she heard he would be starting law school in the fall.

  She must see him at dusk just like they used to meet. Mother was gone for the day with her card club and a re-do of her permanent. Father was at the tire store while Jackson was out of town.

  Jenny hopped in the car, out of the driveway and along the unpaved, dusty road. The setting sun was a beautiful finish to a very beautiful day. Blue skies, and the brilliant sun of August.

  As the sun set, Jenny admired the shades of red in the fast darkening sky. Surely, the sun set with such a feast of color only over Jerusalem.

  She would rouse Jake with the sound of the whippoorwill, the signal of their childhood years, to preserve the social comfort of their respective families. As she drove up the driveway of the Thompson homestead, and left her car for the direction of the barn, she could hear the sounds of the Martins working steadily in the fields, their happy chatter interrupted only occasionally with the slow, methodical voice of Mr. Martin firmly issuing directions, carried through the still, windless day.

  “Whip-poor-will,” called, Jenny, the childhood signal bringing the sound of heavy boots crackling on the gravel of the lane which connected the Thompson and Martin farms.

  “Jen.” Jake stood in front of her, the awkward farm boy now morphed into sophisticated city dweller, despite the conventional overalls. “Do you mind if I hug you?”

  “Oh, Jake.” She wrapped her arms around him, taking comfort in the warmth of his embrace.

  As he stood back, he surveyed her formerly lean figure.

  “I see there is another Anderson on the way.”

  “Yes. Due in January.”

  “Congratulations, Jen.”

  “Thanks, Jake. And, what about you?”

  “I start law school in the fall. I got a full scholarship to Columbia.”

  “Congratulations, Jake. You’ll make a fine lawyer.”

  “Thanks, Jen. And, what will you name that new arrival?”

  “Amanda, if it’s a girl. Mandy for short. Leland Anderson III if it’s a boy.”

  “And, what will you call a boy for short?”

  “I thought Josh. Remember when we thought that if your Ma had another boy she should name him Joshua?”

  “I do. What do the Andersons think of that?”

  “Bud says he doesn’t care what we call him as long as his formal name carries on the family line.”

  “And, how goes the marriage?”

  “Fine. Bud is pretty busy at his dad’s agency so it gives me a lot of time to plan.”

  “I wouldn’t leave such a beautiful new bride alone so much if I were him.”

  “My former roommate from Keuka keeps me company in the off hours. She bought a house down the road.”

  “Sounds like a good friend.”

  “And, how about you, Jake? Do you have a girl?”

  “Haven’t had time. Too much study and hard work.

  “Have to run, Jen. I have packing to do. I’ll be taking off next week for good. Good luck on the baby. If you ever need me, Sarah and Anne will have my number and my address.”

  Jake looked down at Jenny, remnants of the farm boy still visible beneath the smooth exterior. He kissed her on the cheek and then he was gone.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  L eland Anderson III was born at 3 a.m. on a very stormy January morning. Jenny’s water had broken and contractions were coming nearly a minute apart when she and Bud reached Sailors and Soldiers Memorial on roads barely visible 6 p.m. the evening before.

  As her contractions eased, and the medicine they gave her took hold, Bud pulled out a deck of cards.

  “C’mon, Jen, this’ll take your mind off it.”

  “What do you want to play?”

  “How about gin rummy? You’re always good at that.”

  “Okay, Bud, loser does dishes for a month.”

  “I was going to talk to you about that, Jen. I have a surprise for you.”

  “What kind of a surprise?”

  “Well, I wanted to wait till you got home to tell you.

  “I’m hiring someone to do some light housework and take care of the kid.”

  “But, Bud, I want to stay home with the baby.”

  “I’ll get some little Mennonite girl. They work for very little.”

  “But, I don’t want someone else taking care of my baby.”

  “You’ll get used to it. And, that way, you can come into the agency and save us a full-time salary.”

  Jenny put out a three of diamonds and said nothing. But, she was determined to stay home with the baby for at least three months, the length of time she had scheduled to nurse the baby herself.

  Suddenly, as she drew a card that would make a meld for herself, a long and especially painful contraction hit. “Bud, get the nurse.”

  “Aw, take it easy, Jen, they know what they’re doing.”

  “If you don’t, I’ll scream so loud they’ll be sorry they admitted me.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll call her.”

  As Jenny was wheeled down the hall to the delivery room, her screams scared even herself. “Hang on, Jen, we’re almost there. We’ll give you a little nitrous to relax you.”

  Strapped onto the table, her contractions came even faster. Margie, the delivery room nurse, held her hand. “Push, Jenny, push.” Dr. Reynolds, gentle and sweet in his office during examinations, had turned martinet.

  Jenny had never felt such pain before. “C’mon, Jen, the head’s out. A few more pushes and we’ll find out what the baby is.”

  In what seemed forever and the space of no time, a loud squall filled the room and she saw Dr. Reynolds holding the baby’s feet. “Jenny, you’ve had a boy. Congratulations.” Their audible sighs of relief barely cut through Jenny’s euphoria.

  “Would you like to hold the baby?”

  “Oh, of course, can I now?”

  “Well, we’d like to get him cleaned up, but we’ll let you hold him for a minute.”

  As Jenny cuddled her newborn, “Josh” as she proposed to call him, she thought of the nursery she had painted and the hours she planned on laughing and playing and showing him the world. She stared at his tiny fingers and toes, inspired by a feeling of awe.

  “Okay, Jen, we’re going to clean him up. The Andersons are waiting along with Bud,
and I’m sure they want to get a look at their new heir. Your parents are waiting in your room. Nancy will help you into the things you brought from home.”

  “Thanks, Dr. Reynolds.”

  “You did a great job, Jenny. That baby looks like he could mow the world down already. I’m going home to get some sleep and tell Millie you had a boy. I’ll see you in my office in six weeks.”

  As Jenny put on the nightgown and bed jacket she had brought from home, she thought of the future. Josh would become a great scientist and she would be the toast of the village. His sister, more reserved, would accompany her on shopping trips to Syracuse and New York.

  “Okay, Jenny, snap out of it. I’m going to brush your hair. You’re going to knock ’em dead when we send you back to your room. Here’s Ginny to take you back.”

  Ginny’s transport skills seemed at a low ebb, and Jenny felt the pain as they whizzed through the old halls of the small-town hospital. “What was it like when you had your first baby?”

  “The same as you, Jenny. But, now, they’re both in school. I have more time, but they’re more work. So, it all evens out in the end.”

  Mother was waiting along with Aunt Gert. Father was pacing the halls.

  “You did it, Jenny. You gave the Andersons a boy.”

  “The baby is his own self, Mother. He doesn’t belong to anyone.”

  “Nevertheless, the Andersons are ecstatic. You should be very proud, Jenny.”

  “Congratulations, Jenny. He’s beautiful. We just got a peek.” Aunt Gert bent down to hug her niece.

  “Thanks, Aunt Gert.”

  “You look tired, Jenny. Maybe we’d better go.”

  “No, Father, stay. I’m glad to see you.”

  “The baby looks just like a Thompson. Your father was a handsome man when he was younger, Jenny.”

  “He still is, Mother. Was he awake when you saw him?”

  “Yes. He was. He looks like a strong young man already. You’ll have to feed him soon, Jenny.”

  “They’ll bring him in when they’re ready. He’s going to stay here with me.”

  “You need your sleep, Jenny. He should stay in the nursery.”

  “It’s just for a day, Mother. We’ll be fine.”

  “We’d better go, Jenny. We’ll see you tomorrow at home.”

  “Thanks, Father. I’ll get Josh all fixed up for you.”

  “I thought his name is Leland.”

  “That’s his formal name. I’m going to call him “Josh“.

  “After some Mennonite, or some cabinet maker’s son?”

  “After himself, Mother.”

  “I’ll have a book already for him tomorrow. He can look at the colored pictures.”

  “He needs a more masculine toy, Gert. After all, he’s an heir to a long, proud lineage.”

  “Let’s go, ladies. We’ll let our new mother get some rest.”

  As they left, Bud raced by, barely giving them a hello.

  “You did it, Jen.”

  “We did it, Bud. He’s both of ours.”

  “Well, yeah. That’s what I meant. So, what are they giving you for breakfast?”

  “I don’t know yet. They haven’t brought it.”

  “I think I’ll go down to Capn’s and grab some breakfast. The guys are waiting for the news and I have a whole box of cigars to hand out. Whit called from Hawaii with congratulations. He said to get him started early in the agency, and he’s going to give him polo lessons.”

  “That’s great, Bud, but he’ll have to grow a little bigger first.”

  “Whatever you say, Jen. Listen, I have to go. I’ll drop in tonight. Anything you need?”

  “Just remember to lay out the linens for the nursery and for our room. Sally Jenkins is going to help out for the first few days.”

  “Will do. See you later, Babe.”

  As Bud bent down for a quickie kiss, grabbing his cigar box as he sped out the door, Jenny drifted off to sleep. She would need her strength for Josh’s first feeding.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Josh’s gurgling and baby noises brought Jenny from the kitchen to the nursery. Now three months, Josh delighted in the mobile hanging from the ceiling Jenny had made him. A red-nosed clown, an elephant with a hat, a walrus with a big, pink bow, a miniature boy with a blue plaid suit, and a leprechaun. All were dancing round to the tune of the breeze blowing in through the open window, and the sparkles on the leprechaun’s shamrock were glowing in the rays of the noonday sun.

  Jenny felt so free as she rose from the easel she had set up on the kitchen table. Her wildflowers, the image of the newly sprung blossoms in the fields beyond the farmhouse, lent a lovely contrast to the bright yellow of the kitchen. She laughed as she bent over Josh, his gurgling continuing as he studied his fingers, moving in front of his face.

  “Time to eat, little man?”

  As if on cue, he started to whimper. “Caught you just in the nick of time?

  “How about if we sit on the rocker and listen to the birds. When we’re finished, we’ll check out the trees and see all the new green leaves of spring. Then, maybe we’ll go outdoors if it’s warm enough and fill the bird feeder. You can help me chase all the barn cats away.”

  Josh’s answer was a hungry and satisfied sucking at her breast, but that was enough of an answer for Jenny. She sat quiet until he was full, then burped him in front of the open window, pointing out the willows and the maples.

  As they stood, the back door slammed.

  “Hey, Jen, are you here?”

  “Of course, I’m here.”

  “I got somebody here to meet Josh. Sarah Martin. She’s Jesse Watson’s new bride. He makes our office cabinets.”

  Jenny swallowed her protests as she greeted Sarah. “Sarah. You’re all grown up and beautiful. Marriage must agree with you.”

  “Thanks, Jenny.”

  “Okay, you ladies chat later. I gotta run. Jenny, see if you can drive Sarah back to her house. I’ve got a client waiting.”

  As the back door slammed once again, Jenny looked over at Sarah Martin. Slim and young, with a resolve found only in a woman at peace with herself.

  “May I hold him, Jenny? He’s beautiful.”

  “Of course, Sarah. But, I don’t know if Bud mentioned I haven’t agreed to this.”

  “He didn’t say, Jenny. Just that you were looking for help.”

  Jenny sighed and handed Josh to Sarah. Josh, already enchanted, his eyes drawn to the plain black dress and plain white cap, began playing with Sarah’s hair.

  “He’s beautiful, Jenny. I hope Jesse and I have a big family.”

  “You deserve to, Sarah. You put in a lot of time taking care of the little ones.”

  “Can I help you bathe him, Jenny?”

  “Of course. You get the rubber duck in his toy box, and I’ll fill the bassinet.”

  As Jenny filled the sturdy bassinet, a gift from the Andersons, Sarah entertained Josh with giggling noises and a chance to pull on her hair when she’d let him. Josh was smitten, and rewarded her with what passed at that age as a smile.

  “Sarah, why don’t you lay him in the water and hold his head up. That way you’ll get the hang of it.”

  “Sure, Jenny. I always bathed Hannah and Matthew in the sink, but I’m sure it’s not much different.”

  Josh followed his yellow duck with his eyes while Jenny washed and rinsed him. Sarah picked him up and wrapped him in his waiting yellow towel.

  “He’s rubbing his eyes. He’s ready for his nap. What do you say we both put him to bed and we can catch up on old times as he sleeps?”

  “Great, Jenny. You don’t have to take me home. I’ll walk. I like to keep the Mennonite laws when I can. It’s been hard enough on Ma and Pa to see Jesse and me go modern.”

  As Jenny poured tea for Sarah, she set out a plate of half- moons, the cookies the Mennonites were famous for at the market.

  “How are your parents doing?”

  “They’re doing fine. Jesse
and I go over and help them on the weekends, and Hannah and Matt are big enough to follow after Pa in the fields.”

  “I’m glad.” Jenny hesitated. “How is Jake doing, Sarah?”

  “He’s doing fine. He’s busy. Keeping his grades up for the scholarship and working for his professor the rest of the time. But, I know he thinks of us. Once you’ve worked the land here, Jenny, you don’t forget.”

  Sarah’s words brought the memory of her own times on the back of Father’s tractor and the image of a farm boy done with his day’s work. But, she quickly changed the subject.

  “How about coming in to help Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Would that suit you?”

  “That would suit me just fine, Jenny. That would give Jesse and me a start. He’s doing real well with his cabinet making on his own, but we could use the help.”

  “Okay, Sarah, I’ll see you next week. I have a few errands to run, so you and Josh can get better acquainted.”

  “That would be fun. I better go now. It’s almost supper time, and Mennonite men don’t cook.”

  As Sarah, started down the open road to the village, closing the door gently behind her, Jenny felt a new life begin.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Jenny chewed on a pencil as she lifted her head to look out the large front window of the Anderson agency. Spring was in the air and the soft breeze floating through the open door was misty from an earlier rainfall. Her old, wood desk, shoved out of the way of the showroom, was piled high with paper work.

  Sammy Walker strolled through the showroom, careful not to acknowledge her presence as the boss’ wife, on the way to seek the advice of Alfred Stoller, pompadoured raconteur and ace number two salesman, almost as good as Bud. His new third wife enjoyed a number of trips to Atlantic City and New York, thanks to his expertise.

  “Hey, Jen, look at Sammy. I guess he’s gonna stay with us.” Alice Masters chuckled as she placed yet another sales transaction on Jenny’s desk for typing, filing, and mailing.

  “I guess. He’s sure good for the agency. He’s won top prize for the best repairs in the southern tier ever since he’s been here.”