by Henry Givens
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Tom and Fred were in the middle of chit-chatting when Tom’s phone rang. As he reached for it he commented, “I said that I was going to turn it off but I didn’t now did I? This has got to be from Phil.” He looked at the ID. “Yep, I should have figured. Hello, my boy. What are you doing up this early?”
“I’m checking my e-mail for one thing.”
“Well, now that only proves that you can read but how’s your comprehension? Was I using words with too many syllables again?”
“You never quit, do you, Dad?”
“Why?”
“You got in touch with your family, huh?”
“God did it, son. I was just along for the ride. As a matter of fact, He had planned it so well that I had to hold on. It was almost like a roller coaster. If I had an hour or two, I would explain it all.”
“Dad, you might just get that hour or two in about four weeks. The company is sending Sweetie and me to Hawaii for a four week vacation. Plus, there’s this little bit of yearly training they want me to do. How do you like that for some perks?”
“Sounds like you work for a pretty shoddy outfit to me. Why don’t you dump them and get a real job? And, send me an application while you're at. I could probably do what you do.”
“Enough of the chit chat, Dad. Give me an address that you’re going to be at between 6 and 7 o’clock this afternoon. Sweetie and I are headed your way with the Explorer. We’re going to catch a flight out of Atlanta about 6 a.m. tomorrow so it certainly looks like God is working everything out just like an airline schedule.”
“I would say that you don’t have to do that, but that fits only too well into what’s going on and I desperately need some wheels. Especially to get up to the place I’m going to be moving to.”
“Oh, yeah? Are you moving out into the woods somewhere?"
"My old classmate has a fishing cabin down by the old swimming hole that he's been wanting to pawn off on somebody and I guess I'm about as much of a somebody as there is."
"Wow, Dad that sounds like the perfect place to kick back and relax. When, Sweetie and I get back from Hawaii, we'll slip back over there and spend some time rompin' the backwoods of Georgia with you, and the rest of OUR family. Anyway, we’ll bring your clothes, fishing stuff, pots and pans and whatever when we come. We'll pack just enough to fill up the back cargo area. That way you can unload it as you want to. But, a moving company? No way, I’ll get with the pastor and get some of the folks from the church to pack up for you. What we can't get into the Explorer, we'll store for you until you get settled. Just leave it to me and Sweetie. We'll take care of everything for you.”
Tom was about to object when Philip stopped him, “And, if you start with this ‘Aw, you don’t have to do that’ stuff, I’ll get Jeanette out of bed to straighten you out. You know what a growly bear she can be first thing in the morning don’t you?”
Tom chuckled, “Please don’t do that. I might be able to argue with her over the phone but when she got here she would skin me alive.”
“And I would hold you, you old coot. Let me go so I can get everything done before we have to leave.”
The light came on, “Wait. Did you say four weeks?” Tom almost yelled.
Fred read a whole lot into that question and his eyes got real big as a smile played across his face. He echoed the statement, “Dear God in Heaven, I can’t believe said four weeks. Look out Arthur Hollis.”
Tom went on in a conniving tone, “Say…….uh…..Philip. What do you say that we treat the boys with a snipe hunt when you come back?”
After a moment of silence Phillip finally came back, “Da-a-a-a-d! Don’t tell me that you’re going to take your great-grandson on a snipe hunt the first month you’ve met him. Jeepers. Can’t you break him in gently? Maybe let him get used to you?”
“If I wait to let him get used to me, he would smell a rat. And besides, I’m waiting for you to get here so you can help me.”
“Oh, that’ll be great. He’ll think I’m some kind of monster pulling something on him like that.”
“Son, you’d be no such of a thing. Wait ‘til you meet him. He is one special honcho, I’m telling you. Just like I knew you were when I met you,” Tom answered. “And, Olivia……..a-a-h-h-h, she reminds me so-o-o much of my Ellen. She married a fantastic Godly man. I can tell that he loves her and the family very deeply. Oh my gosh, don't let me forget about little Wendy. She is the cutest little red head that I have ever seen." There was a slight pause and he continued in a softer tone, "Son, it’s better than I ever imagined.”
Hearing the seriousness of his voice, Philip toned his voice down a notch also, “I can’t wait to meet them, Dad. What was that you always told us? Exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think? Well, there ya' go. Now, let me get off this phone and go wake up the growly bear and tell her. She won’t be growly for very long. She’ll probably let out one of those high pitched squeals and spin round and round like a top before she jumps in my arms and gives me a big kiss. A-a-a-n-n-d if that’s the case let me get off the phone right now.”
“Now who’s the one that never changes?”
“Yep. I must get if from my daddy.”
“Then you're an absolute scoundrel. You go wake up that girl and make sure you plant one on her for me.”
“Not a chance. She’s all mine. You can get yours this afternoon. Are you going to warn everybody that we’re coming?”
“Fred here is the only one who is going to know. You will be an absolute, high-powered surprise to my granddaughter and my great-grandson.”
“You’re an 'A Number One' snake in the grass. You know it?”
“Wouldn’t change for the world.”
“Don’t you even dare Dad. I love you. Good-bye.”
“Good-bye, Son and I love you, too.”
Tom couldn’t help but chuckle as he hung up from the conversation and put his phone on silent. “That boy’s a case, I’ll tell you.”
As Fred pulled into a parking spot in front of the bakery, he said, “That’s the pot calling the kettle black. Now, correct me if I’m wrong. Even though you call him Son, he’s not really, is he?”
“That’s correct. I met him when he was an alcoholic fourteen-year-old and was able to lead him to Jesus. Uh….after a few battles of course. I did date his mother for a while but she was still so much in love with his father. And, I have always been in love with my Ellen. She couldn’t get over him and I couldn’t get over Ellen. That was that. We were good friends, though.”
Fred continued his interrogation, “Now my Sherlock Holmes sense lets me gather from the snippets of that conversation that you are not going to tell the whole story to Olivia right off the bat, am I correct?”
“You can read me like a book, can’t you?”
“What are you going to do when you tell her the truth? I know you can’t run that fast.”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it, Fred. Let’s go have some coffee and get the news flash over with.”
It was just about 7:30 and the place was pretty much packed. Fred went ahead of Tom and started to make his customary signal to Big Ed. However, Big Ed beat him to the punch. “The Lieutenant saw you two cruising the streets and we figured that y’all would be in here pretty quick. Here let me pour you these two cups and give me the high sign when you’re ready for another.”
Tom said as he waited for Ed to pour his cup, “This is what I call good service, Fred.”
Fred answered, “Ed’s always treated his customers right. That’s why everybody loves to come here. Isn’t that right, Ed?”
“You bet,” Ed replied as he filled up Fred’s cup. With his other hand, he gently touched Tom’s arm until he got his attention. Fred noticed, also. Ed silently mouthed his comment, “Welcome home.” Then he slightly nodded his head toward the group of men.
Fred, also, silently mouthed his question, “They already know?”
Ed took a quick look toward the crowd. Only a c
ouple were watching and smiling. He stuck his thumb and pinky out from his fist and held it up to his ear to imitate a phone. He clanked his teeth together and wiggled his hips to indicate the tele-woman network had beat him to the punch.
There was nothing for Fred and Tom to do but to make it official. The two of them stood there and put the fixins in their coffees while Fred came up with the proper words for the announcement. After stirring a lot longer than what was necessary, he turned toward the crowd and prepared to make the announcement. Tom took a deep breath.
Before a word came out of his mouth, he was interrupted by Frank Bunyon. He stood up with his coffee cup in his hand and opened by saying, “We already know about you. We don‘t understand EVERY decision you made, but we do understand that you had your reasons. On behalf of the citizens of Elmhurst, or at least these at Ed‘s Bakery, welcome home, Tom Dandridge.”
Applause broke out in the group and Tom couldn’t help but well up with tears. He had never expected to be understood for the decisions he had made. He actually had expected to be ridiculed by some. But, to be welcomed by the men at the un-official meeting place was an honor he had not expected.
Frank continued as he swung his coffee cup towards two tables filled with young U.S. Army Rangers. “These men are not AWOL as some might think. Capt. Reddick and some of our local troops have the official permission of their commanding officer to sit here and shoot the…….be late for duty today. The 6th Ranger Battalion and its mission are very well known to a lot of us who have studied WW 2. The fact that only one hundred of you brand new trainees rescued over 500 of our POWs is a story that all of us would like to hear. We’re proud of you Tom. We’ve got a place all ready for you.”
Indeed they did. Right in the middle and close to the soldiers sat a couple of empty chairs. As they made their way, someone took Tom’s coffee cup for him so he could shake hands with those nearby. He made absolutely sure that he shook the hands of every one of the Rangers that were present.
The next two hours were filled with questions from the soldiers. The old timers knew that if they were patient, the question they wanted to ask most would probably come up.
The soldiers especially wanted to know if Col. Mucci was as rough and tough as he was made out to be. Tom told them a couple of personal stories that assured the troops the Colonel was the type of trainer the history books said he was. They wanted to know everything Col. Mucci put them through to get them battle ready.
All of them had been through combat training but they went through it with modern equipment. They were interested in how he trained them with just a jungle for a base. As Tom enlightened them to the things the history books left out, they were amazed at their resourcefulness. Then, they wanted to know every detail of the rescue or as much as Tom knew.
As he knew it would, the conversation eventually turned to his amnesia. He explained things the best that he knew how. Then the question came. One of the old timers asked, “Why didn’t you come back home after you got your memory back?” The bakery got real quiet. That question was in the back of everybody’s mind but no one really thought it was any of their business to ask. But, it got asked.
Tom noticed the tension and set everyone at ease with his first statement. “That’s a fair question and it deserves a fair answer.” However, time had taught Tom that to settle someone’s mind over a tough question you had to lead him with questions that he had to answer himself. It was a technique he used quite often in leading someone to Jesus.
“I had amnesia for eight years and spent two years in and out of Walter Reed Army Medical Center for operations and therapy. That’s a total of ten years. Ellen re-married five years after I was declared dead. Doesn’t seem that she was in any hurry, now does it? As a matter of fact, she married the assistant pastor of Elmhurst Christian Church. I think she chose pretty well, didn’t she?
"Brian was also the assistant football coach at the high school. He worked with the team and worked with my son and they won the state championship one year. That’s pretty impressive for a small town, isn’t it? When I came back to the states, I was basically a cripple for a couple of years. It actually took five whole years before I could say that I had fully recovered from my injuries.
“Let’s suppose I came back into their lives when my son was just getting into high school football. Ellen and Brian would have been married for about five years. I would have been a cripple for a couple of more years. Would Ellen feel like she should be with me to help me? Some of you old timers know her just as well as I do. She had a heart as big as all outdoors. What would that have done to their marriage? Or to the church? Would Billy drop out of football to be with his dad and miss out on everything you saw him accomplish?”
Tom rubbed his finger around the top of his coffee mug for a minute before he ended the conversation. He needed the listeners to really think about what he said. He finished in a real soft, solemn tone, “Boys, it was harder for me to stay away from the two people I loved the most than it was to come back barging into their lives again. So far as I knew, I was the only one that knew I was alive. God had blessed them to continue on with their lives and my wife and son were happy. I finally came to the conclusion that I could bear my sorrow. And, I could not stand the thought of causing the two darlings of my life any confusion or hurt. That’s why I stayed away like I did. I vowed never to interrupt anything that God had in mind for them until God put it on my heart to return.”
Captain Reddick stood up and said, “Sgt. Dandridge, if anyone has any objections to that argument, he’ll have to deal with us about it. C’mon guys, we’ve got a report to make to the CO.” As the soldiers rose and started making their way to the door of the bakery he pointed his finger at Tom, “As for you, Sergeant, I’m going to get with the CO and see if we can get you called up to active duty. You’ll be hearing from him. I promise.”
Tom laughed as he rose to shake his hand, “Whatever you need me to do, just let me know. I’ll be proud to serve with you.”
As the last soldier was going out the door, Tom saw Olivia pull into the lane so he didn’t even bother to sit down. Ed saw her, too. With a big booming voice, he announced as she came through the door, “Hey, boys, Capt. Reddick is leaving to go see his CO. Tom, your commander-in-chief just came in looking for you.”
Olivia furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head up and down as she walked up to her grandpa to give him a big hug and kiss. She looked around at the whole crowd who were just sitting there smiling at her. “I know you guys have heard by now. But, you may or may not know that he is going to be speaking this Sunday morning at the Elmhurst Christian Church.” She turned in a circle waiving her finger as she finished with a big smile, “And, don’t make me come in here next Monday morning to have to deal with any of ya. You got it?”
The place roared with laughter as she hooked her arm in Tom’s and led him on out the door. Someone started the cadence call of ‘Hut, two, three, four, Hut, two, three, four.” Olivia just raised her hand and waved without even looking backward.
When they got outside and headed toward her car, Tom poked at her, “Did you ever think about running for mayor? Sounds like you’d only have to make a couple of speeches like that to win.”
She got in, put on her seat belt and cranked the car. She answered, “Nope. I’d have to work with guys like Frank Bunyon, now wouldn’t I?”
“You have a good point, Sweetie.”
Olivia pulled into their driveway and said, “Jim and Elaine will probably have everything all fixed and ready. All we’ll have to do is sit down, eat and talk.” Olivia came within a millisecond of telling Tom something else, but right now, she didn’t have the courage. She picked up a package that was on the seat next to her and exited the car. As she started up toward the house she agonized within herself as to JUST WHEN she would have the courage. God had to do it.
The pastor opened the door for them as they came up the steps to the porch. Olivia announced, “Grandpa, this is
Rev. Jim Wallace and his wife Elaine.”
Tom stuck out his hand to greet him but Jim pushed it aside to embrace the long, lost member of the flock as he said, “I’m sorry, but a handshake just won’t do, my friend. Welcome home, Mr. Dandridge.”
His wife, Elaine, waited patiently beside them for her turn to embrace Tom. However, she had to stand on her tiptoes to hug his neck and give him a little kiss on the cheek. God had cut her pattern just a little bit too short, if you know what I mean. “Yes, welcome home,” she managed through a few tears.
Tom was somewhat overwhelmed and almost embarrassed at the attention. He cleared his throat before saying, “I never expected this kind of a reception when I came to Elmhurst."
Jim countered, “Tom, you should know that the Lord has divine appointments that He just doesn’t want to tell us about beforehand. It seems like He always wants to surprise us with something.”
“That’s for sure,” Tom responded. “And I might add, I believe He’s been working overtime on me since I got here.”
“He knew you could handle it or He would not have brought you on this path,” Elaine added.
Olivia put her little package on the buffet and said, “I say let’s find a place, ask the blessing and get to eating.” And, so they did.
During breakfast, Jim and Tom talked about the service Sunday morning. Jim was going to give Tom as much time as he wanted to deliver whatever God would have him to say. Tom was grateful and pretty much flabbergasted that so much fuss would be made over him. And, he insisted that Jim, the elders and the worship team be ready for an altar call.
Tom stated emphatically, “Jim, any time people meet together to worship the Lord is a great time to invite someone to know Him as their personal Savior. I don’t mind giving my testimony and I’ll do it without preaching. I used to hate it when windbags would get up in the pulpit and do that.”
There was a chorus of “amens” at the table.
He continued, “There is no way that I can give ANY part of anything that has happened to me over the past fifty years without declaring God’s irresistible love for me. And, if anyone is there who would like to respond to His love, I’ll be glad to pray with them until they are satisfied with their relationship.” Then he added, “Even if the food gets cold.”
Jim looked around the table and quipped, “That’s a mighty big order, Tom.”
Tom smiled and looked him in the eye, “It’s not worth losing a soul over doing it any other way.”
“You’re absolutely right and that’s the way it will be,” declared Jim. “I will let my elders and the worship team know that they need to be prepared to stay until the job gets done.”
When the meal was over, the ladies began clearing the table as Tom and Jim went over a few things about the Sunday service. After the ladies sat down, it all got quiet. Something was up.
Olivia started off in a little bit lower tone, “Uh, grandpa, you know that I wanted to spend most of the day with you by myself. But, there’s a special reason I asked them over. There’s something I……that Daddy left…..” her voice began to break as she got up from the table and went to the buffet.
Tom looked at Jim with questions in his eyes. Jim reached over and grabbed Tom’s hand and said, “It’s going to be OK, Tom, it’s going to be OK.”
When Olivia turned around, she handed a manila envelope to Tom and said, “This is another reason I asked Jim and Elaine over. These are from Daddy..........to you.”
Tom was totally caught off guard, “Me? Billy wrote to me?” He took the envelope from Olivia and opened it. Inside were several sheets of notebook paper that had yellowed with age. Gingerly he took them out.
Jim offered, “Tom, why don’t you tell us about the day you came by the house. I think it would do all of us some good, especially you.”
Tom smiled a nervous smile as he answered, “Out of all the guys that I have helped overcome their issues of the past, and now I have become one of them.” He looked at Jim and Elaine across from him.
Olivia noticed the worried look and reached out for his hand, “Grandpa, it’s gonna be OK. I….we believe this will help you close the past. There’s something you don’t know. But, you have to lead us through the story as you saw it, first. OK?”
Tom gently shook his head, “I know it, Honey. I know it.” He gathered up a smile at everyone and began, “I was being transferred from Walter Reed to an Army hospital in Alabama when I talked them into taking a side journey on the way. I asked the driver to park a couple of blocks from the house and just let me walk a bit as if I was taking a stroll. I had been getting a copy of the local paper so I knew about Brian and Ellen. There had been a couple of stories about Billy, too. I don’t know exactly what I wanted to see, or what I should expect to happen. I guess it was one of those things where you step out and just see what God will do.”
