TDTLBU Chapter Twenty-Three

The war was yet young for the Americans and people were keeping their spirits up. The Stars and Stripes flew high and proud in front of every home and the sounds of “Grand Old Flag”, “Yankee Doodle”, and “Hurrah For the Red, White, and Blue” blasted out all day long on every radio station. As they prepared their men for war, everyone somehow managed to keep smiles on their faces, even when there were tears in their eyes. Men were leaving every day now, pouring out of Jefferson by the dozens. Jerry was among one of the first groups. It had been only a mere two weeks since he had enlisted… a whirlwind hurricane of flustered days. He was the first of the Cavalry to leave Jefferson.

Katie put on a brave face the day Jerry left. It was no longer any secret that she loved him now. The sweet, shy first love of youth, beautiful in all its eagerness and hope. Even in the face of war, she was clinging to hope, longing and praying for the day when peace would return to the world and bring Jerry home again. 

The boys who had enlisted in the Navy were leaving all together, shipped out on the 9:00 train from the Jefferson station. Katie waited until the last moment to say goodbye when they went to see Jerry off. She hung back as he talked to the others, wanting his last minutes in Jefferson to be spent with her. All the Cavalry was there, except Lissie. No one had seen her since Ronnie had enlisted... and no one knew exactly what had happened either. Ronnie hadn't told a soul.

“Wish you were joining me, Ronnie. Josh, you too.” Jerry grinned as he shook hands. “I’ll never forgive you for enlisting with the army.”

“The sea’s not for me,” Ronnie shrugged. “I’ll stay on the land. But good luck out there, buddy.”

“He’s right,” Josh put in. “I’d rather take my chances on the land. Rather die being shot than drowned anyway.”

“Who’s talking about dying?” Emma frowned. “Please don’t. Not today. You’ll all make it through. We’ll be praying for you out there, Jerry.”

“Thanks. It means a lot.” 

The others moved aside as Jerry turned to Katie, reaching out to take both her hands in his. 

“It’s last minute, I know, but… I wanted to ask you something before I left.”

“Jerry… in front of all these people?” Katie laughed, trying desperately to sound happy and carefree. She was determined to be brave today. Now was not the time for tears. Later, she could cry.

“I’m running out of time.” He glanced at the train behind him. “Katie-girl… will you marry me?”

“Yes.” Katie’s answer was simple and so quiet it could barely be heard. But her eyes were shining. Jerry pulled her into his arms and kissed her. The train whistle was blowing and the noise on the platform was almost deafening. The Cavalry was adding to the noise as much as possible as they surrounded Jerry and Katie, congratulating them loudly. Josh and Emma were cheering in unison. Shouting to be heard above the roar of the surrounding crowd, Jerry pulled a dime store ring from his pocket and slipped it on Katie’s finger.

“I’m sorry it isn’t a real one, but I’ll get you a better as soon as I can afford it.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Katie smiled. “You’d just better come back to me safe and sound. You hear me, Gerald Bailey??” She raised her voice as he moved to board the train, the last call being given. His answer was lost in the chaos of the surging mass of people. A moment later he was on the train and leaning as far out of the window as he possibly could without falling out. Katie ran to the window, reaching up to clasp his hand as he shouted down to her. Laughing, Ronnie lifted her so she could reach Jerry, and she kissed him one last time through the window. And in the next moment, the train was moving slowly away and Katie was crying. 

“Wish I knew what to say,” Emma spoke softly as she slipped her arm around her sister’s waist. “But I don’t.”

“I… promised myself I wouldn’t cry…” Katie laughed through her tears, her words ending in a sob. “But I couldn’t help myself.”

“Cry all you want, Sis.” Ronnie smiled half-heartedly. “We’re all feeling it in some way.”

✯✯✯

Josh went off by himself when they got back home from the station that afternoon. It was his last day at home and he was torn between wanting to spend time with family and friends and wanting to be alone. He wandered off through the backyard, crossing behind the chicken coop and headed in the direction of the orchard. At the very edge of the orchard stood his old climbing tree… an ancient old oak with branches spreading high to the heavens. The branches were bare now and frosted with snow, but he climbed it just the same. Perched on his favorite branch with his back resting against the trunk, he gazed out over the silent orchard. He could see the rooftop of the Stewarts’ house and barn on one side and his own house and barn on the other side. Beyond was the pasture, where the cows roamed aimlessly, munching on scattered bits of hay. 

Emma was out in her yard, her nose in a book, as usual. He could just barely see her from where he sat as she wandered slowly in circles. She had changed into her nursing uniform, even though she didn't have to leave for her shift for at least another half an hour, and her coat hung unbuttoned on her shoulders. She paused suddenly, glancing up from her book and turning back. Katie was standing on the porch and calling to her. Slipping the book in her pocket, she crossed over the yard to Katie. Josh could hear the faint murmur of their voices, but it was impossible to distinguish the words. It didn’t matter though… he already knew what they were talking about. What did anyone talk about these days except the war? Emma was nodding now, following Katie into the house. They were probably getting Ronnie’s things packed. He assumed this because that was all Myra had been doing all day for him. Fussing over this and that, not seeming to note the fact that, as he kept telling her, he wouldn’t be needing such things in the military. 

“They give us uniforms,” he told her scornfully as she packed pajamas and jeans and flannel shirts. “And I am not wearing those pajamas around the other guys.”

“Nonsense.” she shook her head. “What will you wear to bed?”

“Military pajamas,” he answered loftily and she had laughed, packing them anyway. He had managed to convince her down to a normal-sized suitcase rather than the trunk she had tried to send him with… but he still had much more than he needed.

“Y’know what I’m gonna miss most of all?” Josh murmured, speaking to nobody in particular as he stared up at the cold, gray sky. “I’m gonna miss Mom’s cookies. Gonna miss listening to the Lone Ranger at night. Gonna miss milking in the barn with Dad every morning. Even gonna miss Emma’s book quotes.” He lapsed into silence, running his memory through each and every thing he cherished about home. 

“Thought I’d find you out here,” Rob’s voice interrupted his thoughts. 

“Hey, Dad,” Josh grinned lopsidedly as he leaned down from the tree. “Whatcha want?”

“Wanted to talk to you.” Rob leaned against the trunk of the tree, folding his arms. He didn’t look at Josh, instead staring out thoughtfully at the horizon. “Pretty cold day, isn’t it?” He paused as if waiting for an answer, although he wasn’t. Josh said nothing, just looked at the sky appraisingly and nodded. 

“It’s a pretty serious thing you’re about to do, Son,” Rob said finally, reaching into his pocket for pipe and tobacco. “Pretty serious thing. Hope you realize what you’re getting yourself into.”

Another pause. Rob found a match and lit his pipe. 

“Y’know, when I went off to war back in 1918, I was only eighteen. Pretty excited too. Thought it’d be an adventure. I tell you what…” he laughed. “Boy, it was an adventure. A bit more of one than I bargained for. I spent ninety days in the trenches too. Worst ninety days of my life.”

“I’ll bet,” Josh said in a low voice.

“It’s gonna be hard over there, Son. I don’t know where you’ll be going, or what kind of fighting you’ll be getting yourself into, but war is hard. It’s no joke. And when I say adventure, I don’t mean fun. It’s important to never forget why you’re fighting. Tell me why, Josh. Why are you fighting?”

Josh shifted uncomfortably on his branch, frowning in contemplation. Why was he going? He had asked himself the question a hundred times since he had enlisted. He supposed that some part of him did think it would be an adventure. Maybe even a little bit fun, somehow. But he knew better than that. He wasn’t sure what exactly was going on over there, way across the ocean in England and Germany and France, didn’t know what was happening over in Japan, but he had heard rumors of what the Germans were doing to innocent people and he had heard much of Pearl Harbor. 

“It’s… something I have to do.” he said finally, propping his chin in his hands. “It’s my duty.”

“I believe it is.” Rob nodded in agreement. “But why is it your duty?”

“I’m an American,” Josh drew himself up straighter. “And America stands for peace and freedom. Going over there and fighting the enemies of peace and freedom is something every American needs to do. For our country. For our families.”

“Exactly. There’s something I was told, years ago, when I was just a young soldier myself. “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” You remember that, Son. Look around you… at all of this… remember what you’re leaving behind and why you love it. And fight well. Make your country proud.” Rob had tears in his eyes. 

“I will.” Josh spoke solemnly, as if receiving a benediction. He jumped nimbly down from his branch and moved to stand beside Rob.

“I want to give you something…” Rob pulled a small black book from his pocket and glanced at it lovingly. “Another thing to remember.” He opened the book to the front cover to reveal a scribbled inscription.

Robert Hayes

France, 1918

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, 

but because he loves what is behind him.”

“This Book was my lifeline all those days I spent in the trenches.” He pressed it into Josh’s hand. “Take it, my son, and read it every day, every chance you get. Don’t forget the God who created peace and freedom. You’re fighting for Him, just the same as you’re fighting for your country. And Josh…” he paused, meeting the boy’s eyes. “Don’t push Him away. Don’t wait until it’s too late. We’ll be praying for you. Every single day.”

“Dad…” Josh’s voice broke and he wrapped his arms around the older man. “Thanks, Dad. I… I’ll make you proud. I promise.”

✯✯✯

Josh paced his room that night. His suitcase lay opened on the bed, filled with the things Myra had packed. He hadn’t had the heart to take anything out… and he knew she would be mentioning those pajamas before he left, given how much he had protested. 

He pulled the little Bible from his pocket and stared at it a moment, opening the cover to read the inscription again. Pulling a pen from his dresser drawer, he wrote beneath it.

Joshua Campbell-Hayes

1942

He left space to write down a place later. He didn’t know where he would end up in the next few months. An island in the Pacific or a country in Europe? Only time would tell.

Myra had placed a fat brown envelope on top of his suitcase and he opened it again, already knowing what was in it. He had already looked through it a dozen times. It was photographs… one of Myra, one of Rob, one of all three of them together, in front of the farmhouse, with Toast sitting proudly in front. There was a picture of each Cavalry member with a note on the back of every single one. He read Emma’s again. It was his favorite.

I’ll miss you, Scout. Be good over there. And remember… “True friends are always together in spirit.” Love and prayers, Emma.

He slipped the photos back into their envelope and set it carefully in the suitcase. Bending down, he pulled open the bottom drawer of the dresser, where he had always kept the most sacred treasures of boyhood. A jar of rocks, a sock full of pennies, a battered old baseball cap and glove and bat and ball, a stack of weathered baseball cards held together with a rubber band, even an old dried frog. Yes… the very same frog that Myra had made him throw out so many years ago when she found it under his bed. It was practically fossilized now. On the other side of the drawer, far away from the offending frog, was a little handmade blue dog with a red bow. He pulled it out, smiling reminiscently at it. It was smaller than he remembered… small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. He tucked it into the suitcase, at the very bottom. Something from home to always keep with him.