Chapter 10: The army canceled Bob’s furlough and ordered him back to camp….
I heard the phone ringing as I opened the office door. Thinking it was Bob, I answered with a lilt in my voice, “Good morning ….”
“Good morning, Laurel. You sound so cheerful….I’m sorry I have bad news.” It was Bob’s mother. “The army canceled Bob’s furlough and ordered him back to camp….he left right after he got back yesterday….something about the OTS classes starting sooner than originally scheduled. He tried to call you, but your mother said you were not available.”
“I went straight to bed when I got home….I’m so sorry I missed saying good-bye to him.”
“I hope we’ll hear from him real soon…. I’ll let you know if he calls. ‘Bye now.…” and she hung up.
For a while I stood by the window, looking out at the grounds. There would be no shopping for an engagement ring today….How could two such glorious days turn so painful overnight? Suddenly, I was chilled. I felt so alone, so depressed, and so helpless. All the ambition I had before I answered the phone call vanished — I didn’t feel like working, but the whole day was before me, just waiting for me to get going.
Fortunately, it was a busy day and there was no time to dwell on the negative aspects of yesterday. It did occur to me that new arrangements would have to be made for the delivery of my mail. Since I was forbidden to see Bob again, the restriction must also include receiving his letters. As long as I continued to use my parents‘ address, there would be no way for me to know if his mail was delayed, returned to sender, or worse yet, opened and destroyed. After work, I rented a post office box, made a change of address and scribbled a short note to Bob, confident that the army would forward it to his new base. –
On my way home, my path collided with a soldier, who was carrying a bag of something from the liquor store. I looked up at his familiar face just as he greeted me.
More tomorrow… two quarts of beer to keep me company tonight
