Chapter 3, Penny was a “busty” bleached blonde…
I did see him around town occasionally; but often he was with Penny Parker. Penny was a “busty” bleached blonde that all the men in town wanted to know a little better. I couldn’t believe Bob would date a girl like her. If that was his style, I didn’t stand a chance. After seeing them together several times, I assumed they were going steady and more or less gave up on the idea of dating him.
Nevertheless, Bob was always on my mind and deep down in my heart, I hoped for an opportunity to get to know him better. I attended every ball game his team played and, despite my strong attraction to watch him, I think he noticed me too. He couldn’t help noticing me in the cheering section — I always wore red and sat in the first row. Eventually, Bob walked over to the bleachers and sat down beside me. I was no longer just a red shirt in the first row — – I was his friend.
As winter surrendered to spring, the war in Europe affected everyone’s lives. There was rationing of food, tires and gasoline, no silk stockings, cities were darkened (blackouts) and the gold stars in the windows of service men’s families were increasing. The male population was fast becoming scarce and already the casualties were being returned to the states. It was as if everyone’s life had come to a standstill. There was no point in making plans. The most logical course was to take life one day at a time and hope for the best.
The “best” happened one Saturday morning. It was as simple as being caught in the rain without an umbrella. I was just about to retreat onto someone’s porch for shelter when a car pulled up to the curb.
“Need a ride?” I heard the driver ask.
Because it sounded like a “pick up” ploy, I was about to ignore the invitation. Then I saw it was Bob.
“You bet I need a ride….thought I could get up to the post office before the deluge. Lucky for me that you came along!”
“After you attend to the letters, would you like to drive out to the river with me for a couple of hours?”
My heart began to pound as I tried to conceal my excitement. Casually I replied, “I’d love to.”
There was something cozy about riding in the rain — perhaps – -;being sheltered from the elements or lulled by the “slap-slap” of the windshield wipers.- Whatever it was, I was very happy.
Bob had the radio on and we sang with all our favorite bands. Suddenly, he switched it off.
We didn’t say anything for a while. Finally he spoke.
“Did you know that I’ll be going into the army in a week or so?”
Numbness engulfed my body from head to toe. Why did this have to happen now? We were just getting to know each other. Somehow I found a reply. “Oh….I wish you didn’t have to go….Do you think the war will last for years?”
“Probably. The bombers are smashing the hell out of Europe now; after that, the troops will come in and the casualties will probably be heavy. Then there is Japan to contend with….I guess I’ll go with the flow and hope for the best.”
Suddenly, after driving about five miles, the sun broke through the clouds and created the most brilliant rainbow across the horizon before us. The river was just ahead. Everything looked clean and green — – and the air was fresh and damp.
“Do you come here often?”
“I’ve been coming over here for years,” Bob replied. “When I was a kid, I’d ride my bike out here and spend the day fishing. Sometimes, I’d come here just to think and solve my problems. Today I felt the need to come to the river again. At this point in time, I have no control over my life. I’ll go where I’m told to go and do what I’m told to do. It is difficult for a man who has enjoyed his freedom to accept those terms. I already rebel at the very thought of not being able to challenge orders. Laurel, thanks for coming here with me. Having someone to listen to me, may be all I need to convince myself that what I’m facing is temporary, that it will eventually pass and allow me to control my life once again.”
End of chapter 2 tomorrow…
