Christmastime 1942

by Linda Mahkovec

  “That’s a good sign.”

  Gabriel smiled up at Tommy, sure that this time he was helping him out.

  “So. Here’s the plan.” Gino held up a finger. “One. You gotta let her know you exist. Talk to her. Ask her about where she used to live. Ask her about her family. Ask her anything – just get talking.”

  Gino put up another finger. “Two. Invite her to somethin’. Ask her to the soda fountain. Ask to walk her home.” A third finger went up.

  “Three. After you accomplish points one and two. It’s Christmas. Get her a present.”

  “A present?!” asked Tommy. “I wouldn’t know what to get a girl.”

  Gino winked. “That’s the clincher. You gotta get her somethin’ special that shows you’ve been listening.”

  “How will I know what that is?” asked Tommy.

  “By starting with – ” he held up his index finger again and waited for Tommy to answer.

  “One! Talk to her!” shouted Gabriel.

  “Shut up, Gabe,” said Tommy.

  “Hey, hey – that’s no way to talk to your brother. He’s on your side. You need all the help you can get in life. Trust me. And when you find that special girl…”

  Gino stared off, his face all dreamy and happy, as if seeing something agreeable.

  Gabriel followed his gaze to the blank wall, and then back to Gino.

  Gino sighed. “Did I ever tell you about the first time I saw Anna Mae?”

  Both boys shook their heads.

  “The first time I saw Anna Mae, I felt like I was sucker punched in the heart. No kiddin’. I just stopped and stared as she walked past me. There I was, visiting my grandparents, outside of Philly, checking the mailbox for them at the end of the sidewalk. It was a patchy fall day, leaves blowin’ all around, big, big puffy clouds in the sky. Trees all orange and yellow and red. I was just thinkin’ what a nice day it was, the kind of day that makes you happy just to be alive – when all of a sudden, this beautiful girl came walkin’ towards me.” Gino waved his arms around in vague shapes, as if trying to recreate the vision. “She was wearing a blue checked dress, and a white sweater – carrying a bag of groceries. I stood there with my mouth open as she approached. Then she passed by, turned her head to me – and smiled! I watched her until she entered the house down the street.”

  It took Gino a moment to leave the vision and return to Tommy and Gabriel. “And what did I do?”

  Gabriel opened his hands and shrugged his shoulders high.

  Tommy opened his mouth – here it was. The secret.

  Gino bunched his lips in disgust. “I turned and went back inside! What a dope! I thought about her night and day for the next week, replaying that morning over and over and over. I just kept thinkin’ she was so pretty and bright and lovely, and I’m just ole Gino, your average swabbie, and she’d never be interested in me. And I’m frettin’ and stewin’ and dreaming of her, thinkin’ what I could say to her.” He rolled his eyes. “Jeez, I even started writing poems.”

  Gabriel likewise rolled his eyes and grinned. Tommy started to crack his knuckles, hoping the answer didn’t involve poetry.

  With the back of his hand, Gino gave a light swat to Tommy’s shoulder, to make sure he was paying attention. “Then I grabbed a hold of myself – by the collar so to speak – and gave myself a good shake. And I says – Gino. Be bold! Stop wasting precious time and go over there and ask that girl if she’d like an ice cream soda. I told myself – Be bold. If you fail, you fail.”

  Then his face shone with happiness. “And then it hit me! If I fail, all that means is – I get another chance to try again! Well, that sort of cheered me, puffed up my sails. All I wanted was plenty of chances with Anna Mae. I realized I couldn’t lose.” Gino stared off again, smiling.

  Tommy and Gabriel exchanged glances, knowing the ending, but wanting to hear it all the same.

  “So, what happened?” asked Tommy.

  “Were you bold?” asked Gabriel.

  Gino burst out laughing. “I sure as heck was! I invited her to the soda fountain the next day, and she said yes on the spot. She later asked what took me so long.”

  For the first time, Tommy appeared cheered.

  “Now here it is. A year later. And…well, I guess I can tell you two – my first and second mates. We’re gonna get married as soon as I get back.”

  Gabriel widened his mouth and eyes in happy expectation, but Tommy became a little disconcerted. That was taking things too fast.

  Gino swung the chair back under the desk and addressed Tommy. “So, my advice to you is: Be bold. You can’t lose. If she says no, you move on to phase two. You try again, or you regroup and rethink the whole thing. Either way, you’re a step ahead, instead of wallowing in despair. Make sense?”

  “Yeah,” Tommy said shyly, looking down. He tried to envision such boldness in himself.

  “Now, come on! Chow time. Dinner’s waiting at Chez Lillian.”

  Gabriel turned a quizzical face to Gino.

  Tommy puffed up his chest and explained. “That means house in French. Gino taught me lots of French words – like oui oui, and oooh lala. And snafu.”

  Gino gave a little cough. “That last one’s not exactly French.”

  “You said ‘pardon my French’ when you explained what it means.”

  “What does it mean?” asked Gabriel. “Tell me.”

  “I’ll tell you some other time.” Gino gave a side wink to Tommy, indicating that there were certain things that Gabriel was still too young to hear. He grabbed the small bag, and steered the boys out of the room.

  “Come on, mates. Your mom is fixin’ a special going away Christmas meal for me. I can’t be late for that!”

  He then started to whistle a popular tune that Tommy and Gabriel picked up on and sang all the way upstairs to their apartment. “You’re a sap, Mr. Jap, you make a Yankee cranky!”

  From the kitchen Lillian heard the boys clamoring up the stairs. “Quick, Charles!” she called into the living room. “Plug in the tree lights!”

  Tommy and Gabriel burst through the door with Gino.

  “We’re here!” cried Gabriel.

  Charles greeted them at the door and shook Gino’s hand.

  “Come on in, Gino!” called Lillian, stirring the gravy on the stove. “Make yourself at home.”

  Gino took a deep whiff, and walked into the kitchen. “Boy, does that ever smell good!”

  “It will just be a few more moments.” Nothing made Lillian happier than to have her cooking appreciated. “Tommy, Gabriel – come help me in the kitchen while Gino visits with your father.”

  Charles showed him into the living room where a small fire was burning brightly. The mantel was hung with the boys’ stockings, and Lillian’s collection of Victorian Christmas cards was arranged above them. The scent of pine from the Christmas tree filled the small room and its colored lights added to the feeling of festivity.

  Gino leaned back, indulging in the comforts of a real home. Within seconds he and Charles were deeply engaged in talk of the war, Charles rapt with attention at Gino’s vivid descriptions of the things he had seen, and of the close calls he had experienced.

  Charles felt his mood lighten as he listened. Gino had a way of describing everything with a sense of humor and excitement, mixing stories of danger with the antics of his fellow sailors. And Gino was equally interested to hear what Charles had to say about his time in the Navy and how things had changed since the last war.

  Over a lively dinner, Charles had the impression that Gino was making light of the sea journeys so as not to worry Lillian and the boys. Now, over dessert, Gino was in the middle of another of his stories about his last voyage, the boys hanging on his every word.

  “Freezing cold night. A million bright stars overhead.” Gino gazed up, once again seeing the firmament, and spread his arms wide. “Like a big glittering dome over the ocean. There I was, standing on the bridge. Just starting the middle watch.”

 
“Midnight to 4:00,” explained Tommy.

  “That’s right. Eight bells found me staring out at the dark waters, thinkin’ of my girl. Don’t get me wrong – my mind was focused on my duty.” He enacted the sweeping, peering nature of his watch: “Eye on the sky, eye on the water; eye on the sky, eye on the water. But a part of my mind was on Anna Mae and missing her, and I worried that she was missing me. Midnight passes. And then bell one. Bell two. And I’m frettin’ and stewin’, and for some reason, I lifted my head high up to the stars, looking for an answer.”

  He leaned his head back, remembering the sense of awe. “There were so many stars, and they were so bright and beautiful! And I realized that if Anna Mae looked up, she would see the same stars. And I thought, no matter how long this war goes on, no matter where I may be, here was a way for me to be with her. And I felt such – well, it was like a feeling of peace and happiness, at the same time.”

  Gino looked down, and for the first time became a little shy. “And I knew then that I always wanted to be with her.”

  A deep silence followed, punctured by an outburst from Gabriel. “So you got bold and asked her to marry you!”

  Lillian shot Gabriel a look of surprise.

  Gino reached over and mussed Gabriel’s hair, laughing. “That’s exactly what I did. And she said yes! And we’re gonna get married soon as I get back.”

  “Oh, Gino, that’s wonderful!” cried Lillian.

  Charles reached over to shake Gino’s hand. “Congratulations, Gino! This calls for a toast.” He stood and lifted his glass. “To Gino and Anna Mae. May you have fair winds and a following sea.”

  Gino’s smile couldn’t be any wider as Lillian and Charles clinked their glasses to his.

  “And to the stars,” added Tommy, raising his glass of milk.

  Gino grinned over at Tommy. “Especially the middle star in Orion’s belt. I figured that would be the easiest star for Ann Mae to find. I told her about that night on the bridge. And that whenever she misses me, to just look up into the night sky and find Orion’s belt – and I’ll do the same thing. And in that way, we’ll be together.”

  “That’s lovely, Gino,” said Lillian.

  “Of course, I’ll have to find another constellation after winter,” he added.

  “Cause then Orion will be hunting somewhere else, right?” asked Gabriel.

  Gino gave a wink of approval at Gabriel. “That’s right. Anna Mae said she wants to learn all about the stars. So I figure this will be a good way for me to teach her. Pick a constellation for different times of the year, different voyages.”

  Tommy’s eyes filled with concern. “Gino, when you get married, you’re not going to move away, are you?”

  Gabriel hadn’t thought of this possibility. “You can’t move, Gino,” he said. “There’s enough room down there for Anna Mae, too.”

  “You two are ten steps ahead me, as usual,” laughed Gino. “We just decided last week. But don’t worry. Wherever we are, it won’t be too far away. I promise.”

  He now stood and lifted his glass. “Here’s to one of the nicest families I’ve ever known.” He cleared his throat, losing some of the ease that accompanied his storytelling. “You don’t know this, but you all got me through some tough times. Some lonely times. You made me feel like I was part of your family – inviting me up to some of the best dinners I’ve ever had. Birthday celebrations with these two rascals,” he grinned over at Tommy and Gabriel. “They’re just like my real kid brothers.” He lowered his head, and a shadow crossed his face.

  Lillian suddenly felt apprehensive; she had never seen Gino look worried.

  But he quickly cast aside the darkness and gave one of his dazzling smiles. “So I want to say thank you. And Merry Christmas! And I can’t wait to get back home to Anna Mae – and to you.” He raised his glass and took a sip.

  Lillian thought that his eyes looked moist, but he was smiling, and putting on a brave face. How hard it must be to leave each time. Her heart went out to the brave young man, and her own eyes teared up.

  “But before I go – ” Gino sniffed and quickly left the table to retrieve his bag by the door. “I have something for you.”

  Lillian waved everyone into the living room. “Do you have time for a cup of coffee, Gino? Or another slice of pie?”

  He put his hand on his stomach as if he couldn’t eat another bite. “Thanks, but I have to get up in a few hours. But I can’t leave without first giving you all something.” He reached into his bag and pulled out two sailor caps for Tommy and Gabriel.

  Both boys shrieked with delight. Tommy took his cap and ran to the mirror to try it on. “Thanks, Gino. Now I really look like your First Mate!”

  Gabriel jumped up on the couch and then took a leap onto Gino’s back, hooking his arms around Gino’s neck. “Anchors aweigh!! Land Ho!! Batten down the hatches!!” he cried, and then slid down Gino’s back.

  Gino was obviously used to such antics, because he simply laughed and pulled another item from the bag – a piece of scrimshaw that he handed to Charles. “I found it in an old odds and ends shop in Boston – down by the wharves. Thought you’d find it interesting.”

  “Look at that!” cried Charles, fascinated, turning it around in his hand. “I’d say it’s quite old. Are you sure you want to part with it, Gino?”

  “Sure. I thought you might like it.”

  “Can I see?” asked Tommy, reaching out for it. “This is made from whale bone, right?”

  “Let me see,” cried Gabriel, pushing his cap out of his eyes and leaning over Tommy. “It’s a ship!”

  “And for you,” Gino said, addressing Lillian. He handed her a little gray box with gold lettering. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me. I hope you think of me when you wear it.”

  Lillian opened up the box and beheld a beautiful rosette brooch, clear crystal, sparkling with gold and silver and rainbow glints. “Oh, Gino! It’s lovely! But you shouldn’t have.”

  She went to the mirror and pinned it on her sweater, then turned to show Charles and the boys. “I will think of you, Gino, whenever I wear it.”

  “Hey!” cried Gabriel. “It kinda looks like a star! Now Anna Mae and Mom will think of you.”

  “Man, oh man! That makes me the luckiest guy in the world! To have two beautiful women lookin’ at stars and thinkin’ of me.” He draped an arm around Tommy and Gabriel. “Well, I gotta go. You two stay out of trouble, okay?”

  “Hurry back, Gino!” said Tommy.

  Gino leaned over and whispered to him, “Remember: Be bold.”

  Tommy grinned and nodded. “I will.”

  “Bye, Gino. I’ll be waiting for you, Captain!” said Gabriel.

  Lillian took his hand in both of hers. “Goodbye, Gino. I can’t wait to meet Anna Mae. I’m so happy for you both.”

  Gino took a step back, and looked at them all, as if memorizing the image to take with him. He swallowed, and then gave his head a firm nod.

  “I’ll see you out,” said Charles.

  Charles pulled the door closed behind him and walked Gino to the end of the hallway, wondering what, if any, advice he could give, and settled on the simplest. “Be careful out there, Gino. Don’t take any chances.”

  “I’ll be careful. But I figure a guy’s luck can’t last forever.” He reached into his jacket and handed Charles two letters. “To my grandparents, and to Anna Mae. Just in case.”

  A low groan escaped Charles as he took the letters. He knew that the risks in the Atlantic were too real to try to minimize or make light of. And he knew what it was like to sail off in wartime. He slowly nodded, and clasped Gino’s hand. “Take good care of yourself.”

  “Thanks.” Gino then playfully snapped a salute, and ran down the stairs.

  Charles returned to the apartment and stood a moment, taking in everything. Lillian was cleaning up the kitchen, lightly humming. He could hear Tommy and Gabriel splashing around the bathroom sink, singing an old sea shanty that Gino h
ad taught them. For the first time it hit him hard that one day soon, he, too, would have to say his goodbyes.

  He watched Lillian for a moment, and then went into the kitchen and put his arms around her.

  “Come,” said Lillian, turning into his embrace. “Let’s sit in front of the fire.”

  She carried two glasses of port over to the coffee table, and then nestled next to Charles on the couch. The fire had burned down to embers, with a few small flames clinging to the coals and emitting a soft hissing sound.

  “I’m so glad you were here for Gino’s dinner,” Lillian said, tucking her legs underneath her. “It meant a lot to him, I could tell. I think he enjoyed himself, don’t you? He really has become like family over this past year.”

  “He’s a remarkable young man. The boys have certainly taken to him,” he said with a chuckle. “He’s a good influence on them.”

  “Yes, he is.” Lillian’s brow creased slightly as she gazed into the fire. “Do you think he’s worried? I thought he seemed a little – I don’t know, subdued, in spite of his smiles.”

  “Well, it’s always hard shipping out, leaving your loved ones behind.” Charles knew that no matter what he said, Lillian would worry about Gino until he returned.

  “That must be it. Especially now that he’s engaged.” Lillian pulled off her clip earrings and rubbed her earlobes. Then she leaned back and gave a sigh of pleasure. “I’ve missed this. Evenings in front of the fire. Quiet times together with you.” She turned to face Charles. “I didn’t even get a chance to ask you how everything was at the office today.”

  Charles put his arm around her shoulder as she leaned into him. “Oh, fine. Mason has everything under control. Mrs. Sullivan was there, making coffee for us, running out to get sandwiches for lunch.” He reached forward, and took a sip of port. “Oh, by the way,” he said, setting the glass back down, “apparently you’re right about Edith. Mason said she loves her work at the Stage Door Canteen. And she does indeed have a beau. An actor.”

  “No! Really?” Lillian sat up, her eyes brightening at the idea of Edith having someone. “How wonderful!”