“You seem older,” she said staring at him.
Buddy laughed. “Only gone three months.”
Even though Buddy tried to explain his job description to his mother, she had it in her mind that he was shoveling dirt, toting rocks, and driving heavy equipment. “You’ve lost weight. Hard work will do that to you. Like your tan.”
Buddy was in no mood for correcting her. The only heavy lifting he had done was lifting his bottom out of a state-issued folding chair.
“Let the boy enjoy his meal, Mable,” said Charlie following his statement with a disapproving hum.
Buddy finished the food on his plate and sat back in his chair. “That was great, mom. Missed your cooking.”
“You barely ate anything. Didn’t you like it? What am I going to do with all this food?”
“Not used to eating big meals anymore. I’ll have more later. Pretty tired. Think I’ll go upstairs and rest.”
Mable was worried. The Polks didn’t take naps in the middle of the day. You slept at night and worked during the day. Daytime rest was only acceptable when you were sick. “Something is wrong with Buddy,” she said while clearing the table. “Maybe he is sick.”
Charlie wasn’t about to agree with her since he knew that it would only fuel her fire and then she wouldn’t leave it alone. He figured that whatever Buddy’s problem, he would disclose it in due time.
About an hour later, Buddy came bounding down the creaky wooden stairs from his bedroom. “Going to Donnie’s house.”
Again Mable looked him over from head to toe, still trying to ascertain what was different about him. “Where’s your high school ring.”
This was not the time to tell her that he had given it to a girl. “Uh, left it in a restroom at a service station and when I went back to get it, it was gone.”
“Oh, no. Did you hear that Charlie, somebody stole his ring?” Finally, she had something to go on. Maybe he was upset about the theft.
To avoid further questioning, Buddy rushed out the door. On the way to Donnie’s house, there was another stop that took priority, Strasburg’s only phone booth, on King Street near City Hall. Sally had given him her dorm phone number and if he could just hear her voice. Nervously he waited for somebody to pick up the receiver, but the only sound was constant ringing. Maybe, he decided, she hasn’t arrived yet or she’s out with friends. Or possibly, calling her so soon after his departure was just plain stupid.
Donnie was happy to see his old friend and couldn’t wait to share some exciting news. “I passed summer school and I’m now officially a graduate of the Class of ’53.” Then he pointed to his diploma hanging on the living room wall. “But that’s not the best thing that’s happened. Got me a girlfriend.”
“Great. Who?” asked Buddy as he followed Donnie into the kitchen.
“Coke or ginger ale?”
“Coke. The suspense is killing me. Who’s your girlfriend?”
“You ain’t gonna believe it. You want to sit in the kitchen or the living room?”
Buddy laughed at Donnie’s buildup to his big announcement and then sat down on the living room sofa. “Still waiting.”
“Trudy Miller.”
“No way. What happened to Electrolux?”
“Pulled the plug on that relationship,” said Donnie, quite proud of his joke “Get it? Pulled the plug on the relationship? Electrolux? A vacuum cleaner has a…”
“I get it,” interrupted Buddy.
“Me and Wendy were never together. She just thought we were. But wait, there’s more. On October 8, I catch a bus to Washington to enlist in the Corps. Talked to the recruiter last week. It’s a done deal…except for the physical.” Donnie laid back in his dad’s recliner, clasped his hands behind his head, and stared at the ceiling. “Life is good.”
“I’m happy for you,” said Buddy seemingly distracted.
Donnie had known Buddy since elementary school. Knew him better than anyone. Something wasn’t right. “You act like you just lost your last friend.”
Buddy’s depression was showing, but he didn’t want Donnie to think that he wasn’t happy for him. “Just got in a couple of hours ago. Haven’t had much sleep. It’s great that you and Trudy have gotten together. Thought she would have started college by now.”
“She has, but she’ll be coming home next weekend. Been gone since Sunday.”
It took a while, but Donnie eventually stopped talking about himself and turned his attention to the last three months of Buddy’s life. “Did you get that full-time job with the state? And how are the women outside of Strasburg?”
Buddy’s answer was short, both in length and information. “No, on the full-time gig and nothing much else to tell. Just worked all day, every day.”
“When you gonna buy your car?” asked Donnie, who had often heard Buddy talk about his plans to save enough during the summer to purchase a vehicle when he returned. “Got some beauty’s down at the Ford dealership. You know it's Ford’s 50th anniversary. Salesman told me they’re making deals right and left. A ’53 Mainline’s going for under $1500. I’ll have me one after Boot Camp.”
“Not going to happen,” said Buddy with a frown. “Came up short.” Donnie hit a nerve. Buddy wasn’t able to save 50 percent of his summer income, not even half that. He blew just about all of it on a girl who dumped him. All he had to show for all his work was a suntan, a headache, and 2 one hundred dollar bills that he withdrew from the West Point Bank before his departure.
“Sorry you went?” asked Donnie.
Buddy was in no mood to answer questions. “Got to get on back home. Haven’t had a chance to catch up with my parents.”
As Buddy walked out the door, Donnie stopped him and told him that Strasburg’s first football game of the season was coming up on Saturday. He and Trudy had already made plans to go. “Give Bobbie Jean a ring and we’ll make it a double date. You look like you could use a little fun.”
Buddy thought for a minute and then asked if Donnie would make the call for him. He didn’t like his mother listening in on his conversations “She asks more questions that you do,” said Buddy mustering a faint smile.
His mother was already setting the kitchen table when he returned. “Supper’s gonna be a little late,” she said. Had to take glycerin pill.” Stress and worry always led to heart medicine. Buddy’s behavior and the story of robbery on the road had her in a tizzy.
“Did you call the police?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Didn’t think it would do any good.”
“You could have been shot.”
“Over a Strasburg High School class ring?”
While Mable continued to rant about all the terrible things that could have happened to him out on the road, Buddy helped himself to a piece of German Chocolate cake. She protested briefly but felt better that he was eating something.
“Helen and her bunch will be here for lunch after church tomorrow,” she said. “They can’t wait to see you. You going with me to the early service or by yourself to the late service?”
“Late service.”
After supper, Buddy watched TV until dark with his parents. He was OK with the Jack Benny Show and the Colgate Comedy Hour, but couldn’t tolerate the Fred Waring Show. Mable suggested that Buddy just didn’t appreciate beautiful music.
“About as entertaining as listening to somebody play a saw,” complained Buddy
Not surprisingly, his mother was quite fond of tunes played on a saw. Charlie didn’t comment. Just hummed a tune of his own.
So at 9:00, Buddy headed upstairs to his tiny 8’ by 10’ bedroom, which had been his retreat since his family moved to Strasburg from a Mt. Jackson farm when he was just a toddler. Sally still monopolized his mind. Where was she? What was she doing? Who was she with? Did she think about him? Finally, after midnight, he fell asleep.
With each passing day, Mable grew more worried, even suggested that Buddy visit a doctor. Except for meals and an oc
casional TV program, he spent most of his time in his room. Sleep was the only thing that he found that gave his mind a rest. One afternoon, when he realized that his mom and dad were out of the house, Buddy used the house phone to call Sally’s dorm. This time, someone answered, but she told him that nobody named Sally lived there. That only made the problem worse.
On Saturday afternoon, Donnie and Buddy met up with Trudy and Bobbie Jean for their double-date. It didn’t take long for Donnie to feel like he was invisible as the girls focused their attention on Buddy’s summer adventure. Buddy had learned that it was easy to tell his story and satisfy his audience by reporting solely on the first twelve weeks and leaving out the parts about Sally. Without her in the mix, it was a saga of burning hot summer days, more sunshine that anyone could ever want, a villain named Eddie, and a stolen class ring.
The biggest change since high school for the four friends was that one of them now had wheels. Trudy provided the transportation to the Ram’s football game. To hear Donnie talk, he and Trudy were as close as a couple could be. Buddy soon concluded that Donnie was either stretching the truth, as was often the case, or Trudy had cooled her behavior in Buddy’s presence. The girls spent more time together than they did with the guys, leaving Buddy to wonder if Donnie was his date. In reality, both girls were irritated that Buddy’s letter writing failed to live up to their expectations.
As the four of them watched the game, there was more sadness than excitement. “A year ago, we were the one’s out there cheering,” said Trudy.
And we were on the field…playing. Losing…but playing,” responded Donnie.
“I’m learning that lesson more and more every day. Life has a way of taking you out of the game and putting you on the sidelines,” said Buddy with more on his mind than just a ballgame.
“Then you just need to find another game,” offered Bobbie Jean. “Look over there, leaning against the fence.”
From 1950 through the 1952 football season, Bo Butler was the closest thing that Strasburg had to a star player. The former quarterback had also been relegated to sideline duty, but that didn’t stop him from yelling plays to Coach Simpson, correcting the coach when something went wrong, or chastising a player for a failed play.
“Sad that Bo and Annie got a divorce,” said Bobbie Jean.
“Are you serious?” said Buddy. “Didn’t know that.”
“You been gone or something?” laughed Trudy. “Yeah, Annie’s raising the baby and living with her parents. She left him a month after we graduated. She told me that he hit her and she feared for little Levi.”
Donnie and Buddy were all too familiar with Bo’s violent temper. It got him thrown out of several ballgames and sometimes he took out his frustration on his offensive line.
“I never told you this, but remember in the last game when Bo got his bell rung by that monster linebacker from Central. I conveniently stepped aside. Tired of Bo cussing me out all night.”
Buddy laughed at the notion that Donnie was able to block Calvin Madman Malone, the meanest player in the county. “If you call getting knocked flat or your butt ‘getting out of the way.’ You were running from him like a chicken all night.”
“Bo had it coming to him,” said Donnie.
After the game, which Strasburg actually won, they headed to the Virginia Restaurant, for old time’s sake. Eventually, Donnie brought the conversation around to Buddy’s future. “Trudy’s in college, Bobbie Jean’s in nursing school, I’m going in the Marine Corps. What about you, Buddy? What are you going to do with your life?”
Buddy’s pity party had not allowed for thoughts regarding his future. He was just trying to come to grips with the fiasco in West Point. Donnie’s question was an eye opener.
“Need to do something,” said Buddy. “Just don’t know what.”
“Recruiter said there’s still room for one more for the Boot Camp that starts on October 8. I told him about you. He’s interested.”
This wasn’t the only occasion when Donnie pushed Buddy toward joining the Corps, but it was the first time that Buddy actually gave it some thought. Bobbie Jean and Trudy agreed that Buddy would look great in the uniform and Donnie reminded him that the ladies go nuts over Marines.
A waitress interrupted the conversation. “What you all havin’ tonight?”
“Lula Belle. How are you?” said Buddy. “Been a while.”
“Yes it has,” she said. “If you don’t mind me sayin’, I overheard you all talkin’ about the Marines.”
Donnie proudly spoke up, “Yes, mam. The United States Marines. Best there is.”
Lula Belle was overcome with emotion as she spoke. “Three years ago a young man sat in that same place where you’re sitting, Charles. And he told me the exact same thing.” Then she began to cry. “He never came home. Don’t go if you don’t have to. It’s been so hard. I miss him so.”
“I can only imagine what you’ve been through,” said Buddy. “How are your kids?”
“They’re all I have. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know what I would do. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be talkin’ like this. It’s just that when I heard you fellas talking about going into the Marines, it brought back some painful memories.” She looked over her shoulder to see if her boss was watching. “Oh, Lord, Shuggie is giving me the evil eye. Can I please have your order?”
Lula Belle brought a dose of reality to the service-for-country discussion. There was far more to being a Marine than an impressive uniform and, if it were so, attracting women. It certainly opened the girls’ eyes, so much so that Trudy asked Donnie if it was too late to back out.
Donnie had the reputation of class clown and he was seldom serious about anything, but Lula Belle’s words touched him. “You guys know I like to joke around but don’t think for a minute that I don’t know that the Corps is serious business. As morbid as it may sound, I realize that there may come a time when I will be faced with laying down my life for my country. It’s not something that I want to happen, but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make.”
Trudy hugged Donnie and Bobbie Jean reached across the table and grabbed his hand.
“I bet you just talked Buddy out of signing up,” said Bobbie Jean. “At least, I hope so.”
Buddy remained quiet on the issue. He was well aware of the stakes involved.
Embarrassed by her emotional outburst, Lula Belle was apologetic when she returned, but Buddy wanted to hear more about her plight.
“Tell me about your youngsters,” said Buddy. What are their names and how old are they?”
As she talked about her children, there was joy in her eyes. “Allen is 2 and he’s my little comedian. Makes me laugh. And Lilly is 3. She’s so smart. Sure didn’t get it from her mama.”
Before leaving the restaurant, Buddy broke away from the others and visited Lula Mae at the counter. “Was afraid to leave this on the table. This is for Allen and Lilly,” said Buddy, then he rushed to catch up with his friends on the sidewalk.
“What was that all about?” asked Donnie.
“Just thanking her for the good service.”
As they walked toward Trudy’s car, Lula Belle threw open the front door. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. No one had ever given her a tip like that before. In fact, she had never even seen a one hundred dollar bill, much less hold one in her hands.
On the way to Trudy’s house, Bobbie Jean finally got around to asking Buddy about the shutdown on his letter writing. The best explanation he could offer was that he was “too busy and too tired.” She even asked him if he was still interested in her. Buddy didn’t have the heart to tell her “no,” and he agreed to go out with her on the following weekend.
When Buddy arrived home, it was nearly midnight and he was surprised to find an empty house. His parents were gone which was highly unusual. Last he heard they were driving to Mt. Jackson but they were always home before dark. Soon after, a car pulled into the driveway and when he stepped onto the front porch to check
on them he was greeted by a State Trooper.
“They’re OK,” said the Trooper as his parents climbed out of the backseat of the patrol car. “Shaken up, but OK. The car’s a mess, though. They’re lucky to be alive.”
Buddy could tell that his mother was as mad as a hornet and that she had been giving his daddy an earful. She was still fussing as they came up the steps. “I hope you have finally learned your lesson.”
The trooper then filled Buddy in on the details of the mishap. “Your daddy was drinking, but it had nothing to do with the cause of the accident. Oncoming car was trying to pass over a double line and ran them off the road.”
Buddy thanked the officer for his assistance and turned his attention to the bickering inside.
“See what you’ve done? You got me so worked up I’m gonna have to take another pill,” she said to Charlie, who had already plopped down in his easy chair.
When Buddy was sure that his mother was alright, he turned his attention to his father. “Daddy, I want you to promise me something. This drinking has got to stop.”
Charlie objected. “Just had a few beers which had nothing to do with that wreck.”
“Stop it. Stop the drinking. Next time you might not be so lucky. You’ve always said you didn’t want to end up like your daddy. You’re headed in that direction.”
“Never laid a hand on you.” Charlie was referring to his father’s abusive behavior.
“No, you haven’t. But he was a drunkard.”
“Well, I’m not.”
“You’re on your way. It’s time to stop.”
As Buddy climbed the stairs to retire to his bedroom, he was still thinking about what Donnie said about the Marine Corps. He had often thought about becoming a pilot and the Marines did have an air wing. Even Boot Camp didn’t seem as intimidating as before. Couldn’t be much worse than what I went through this summer, he thought. So he slept on it and when he awoke the following morning he had made up his mind. It was time to visit the Marine recruiting office in Winchester.
Farewell PFC Polk: The End of a Nightmare (In the Valley of Hope Book 2) Page 9
