by Dan Verner
“Sarah, we’d like some tea, please. And we have great news—Betty and Otto are engaged.”
Sarah clapped her hands and then quickly dropped them and curtsied. “Yes, ma’am,” she murmured, and left the room.
“So,” Mr. Ross continued, “I heard that a group of vets, students at the U. of W. at Madison, came into the cafeteria to find the tables covered with trays and dishes left by other students who weren’t vets. The veterans swept everything off the table onto the floor. Can you explain why they would do such a thing? It doesn’t make sense to me, as responsible as they are normally.”
Otto thought for a second. “I don’t know the people involved, so this is just a surmise, but in the military, you’re taught to be responsible for yourself and for others with you. I think the vets saw the students who had left a mess for others as immature and irresponsible and reacted by clearing the tables. They probably also saw it as showing a lack of respect for those using the tables after them since I believe students are supposed to clear the table after they’re done.”
Mr. Ross looked thoughtful. “That makes sense. Thank you very much for your perspective.”
Otto nodded. “Glad to share what I think.”
Sarah appeared with a tea service and set it down on the table in front of Betty and her mother.
“Thank you, Sarah. That will be all for now,” Mrs. Ross said.
Sarah curtsied. “Yes, ma’am. And may I convey my best wishes to Miss Betty and Captain Kerchner?”
“Thank you, Sarah. We want you to attend, of course, and James as well.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I would be honored and I know James will be also.” She turned and glided out of the room.
“Well, would you care to join us for dinner? We’re having roast,” Mrs. Ross offered.
“Thanks, Mom, but we have some other people we want to tell and Mata is expecting us for dinner. You’re very kind to offer.”
They all stood. “We’re so happy and pleased,” Mr. Ross told them, offering his hand to Otto and then kissing Betty on the cheek. Betty kissed her mother on the cheek and Otto gave her a hug. Saying their good-byes, they walked out the front door, which James held for them.
“May I say ‘best wishes’ to the happy couple,” he smiled, leaning his head in their direction.
“Thank you, James,” they said in unison and then laughed at themselves. James joined in.
Otto and Betty climbed in her Packard. “Well, where to?” Betty smiled.
“Anywhere you want,” Otto told her. “The world is ours.”
“I like the way you think, mister. What about your place for a meal?”
“Sounds good to me,” Otto replied, thinking, I must be the luckiest guy in the world.
Chapter 48
On the Wings of Eagles—December 14, 1946
The wedding took place at the Presbyterian Church Betty’s family attended. Holiday greens and wreaths decorated the long sanctuary, lending color to the white walls and dark trim. Mata and Betty and a couple of their friends worked for three days to put up wedding decorations. The reception was to be at her parents’ house.
Betty stood in her mother’s wedding gown, which fit her perfectly. Mata fussed with her train and veil. “Are you nervous, Betty?”
Betty laughed. “What do I have to be nervous about? I’m marrying the man of my dreams!”
“I haven’t seen Otto as happy as he has been these past few months. I think he could fly without an airplane.”
“We’ll have plenty of time to fly with airplanes. Did I tell you that we’ve decided to build a house out by the airport?”
“No, there have been so many details I don’t recall you telling me that. That sounds wonderful. When will the house be ready?”
“February, we hope. In the meantime we’ll live at my house and sell it when the new house is ready. Daddy already has a buyer for it.”
The door opened and Mrs. Ross came in. She embraced Betty and Mata. “You both look so lovely,” she told them. “This is such a happy day.”
The lady in charge of the ceremony stuck her head in the door. “Five minutes, ladies.”
“I have something to say to you, Betty, Mrs. Ross,” said Mata.
“Yes?”
“I have never said this before, so I want to now. I want to thank you both for accepting and loving Otto after he came back. Few people did, and you and Mr. Ross have made such a difference in his life. I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow brings.”
The three women embraced briefly, and then the coordinator was back at the door. “It’s time,” she told them.
Mrs. Ross went out to be seated. Betty and Mata could hear the organ briefly grow louder as the door to the sanctuary opened and closed. “Well, here we go,” Mata said. “Me first.”
Betty laughed as she slipped through the door to meet her father, who stood waiting in the narthex. He kissed her on the cheek and offered his arm. She took it. “I hope I don’t stumble,” he told her.
“You’ll do fine, Dad.”
An usher opened the double doors to the sanctuary. Every pew was filled, and Betty saw Mata and the bridesmaids standing in a line to the left of the minister, while Pete and the groomsmen stood to the right. Otto, wearing a dark suit, stood with the minister in his robes on the elevated platform in front of the altar.
The organist played a fanfare and launched into Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” from Loehengrin. Betty and her father stepped carefully down the aisle, the heads of the congregants turning to follow their progress. They arrived at the front and stood there as the processional came to an end.
Otto smiled as Betty and Mr. Ross came up. The minister began, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and these witnesses…”
Otto could not help thinking of the long path that led him here. After the accident and Alice’s rejection, he expected he would never be close to a woman again. And here was Betty, so kind, so true, so beautiful.
“And do you, Otto, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” Otto said in a firm voice.
That wasn’t so hard, he thought, and tried to remain focused on the ceremony. He had always been a daydreamer and it seemed that recently most of his dreams came true. He was not only flying: he was actually paid to fly. The war was over and business was good. He looked to the future with great anticipation.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. Captain Kerchner, you may kiss the bride.”
Otto kissed Betty with perhaps more fervor than the occasion called for. He didn’t care. They then turned around and stood together facing the congregation.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Captain and Mrs. Otto Kerchner.”
The organist started Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Otto and Betty walked quickly down the aisle, kissing again in the narthex. “Well, how do you like being Mrs. Kerchner?”
“I love it!” she told him and wrapped him in a huge hug.
The rest of the afternoon passed as if in a rapid montage from a movie. James drove them from the church to the reception at Betty’s parents. Otto had the impression that they greeted what seemed like everybody in town, followed by a meal with multiple toasts. They finally made their escape, with James driving them to Betty’s house. There they changed clothes and drove themselves to the airport where they would fly to Minneapolis for their honeymoon. Jimmy had the J-5 ready for them.
They climbed into the Cub and ran through the preflight. “Are you ready, Mrs. Kerchner?” Otto said, smiling.
“I’m ready, Mr. Kerchner!”
“Let’s go, then,” and he advanced the throttle. The Cub bounced over the frozen grass and then reached for the sky.
Chapter 49
Flying—December, 1946
Otto and Betty were flying.
THE END
Acknowledgements
I have always wondered about acknowledgements, which sometimes run
to dozens of names. Could that many people involved in the making of a book?
Writing this novel showed me that the answer is an emphatic “yes!” I couldn’t possibly acknowledge all those who contributed individually without omitting someone, so I’ll list them in groups. A sincere and heartfelt “thank you” to you all.
-The writers of Write by the Rails, the Prince William County-Manassas Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club. You provided encouragement, insight and expertise throughout the long process of creating Otto’s story.
-My twenty or so “beta readers.” Your attention to detail and honesty vastly improved what I had done.
-All those who told me about the experiences of their friends and relatives during World War II. Your stories touched me and affirmed the connection between fiction and reality.
-My family and friends, who listened to me talk about this work for over a year and kept smiling. In particular, I want to recognize my father Clyde, and my wife Becky. Our two daughters Alyssa and Amy, as always, kept me from taking myself too seriously. They thought the story would be improved by the addition of vampires and zombies. Sorry, guys: maybe next time.
About the Author
First-time novelist and long-time Northern Virginia resident Dan Verner retired in 2003 from a 32-year career teaching English and creative writing to high school students, and writing, human relations and computer skills to adults. Since that time, he has scored essays for the College Board, contributed columns and articles to local papers, and managed Free Lance Writing, his writing, editing, and consulting business. Dan has authored over 1000 short essays and devotionals on a variety of subjects, and maintains three blogs. On Wings of the Morning resulted from a life-long interest in aviation and in World War II, particularly the air war in the European Theater of Operations.
When not writing or editing, Dan enjoys reading a wide range of subjects and genres. He listens to and sings music ranging from the blues to choral works to folk songs. He plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, electric bass and hand bells and teaches an adult Bible study class.
Dan and his wife Becky live in an empty nest with their cats Nacho and Tuxedo. Amy and Alyssa, their two adult children, believe this book would have been improved by the inclusion of vampires and zombies.
