by Anne Bustard
“Here’s the letter opener,” says Mama, holding up the one with the green glass handle she keeps by Daddy’s leather chair. “I’ll be your translator if need be, sugar.”
I smile my thanks.
Grandpa reaches for Grams’s hand. Mr. James scribbles something in his spiral.
Mrs. Crowley fans her face. Ben hovers beside me.
I curl my hand tight around the smooth handle to stop the shaking and slide it through the longest side of the thin blue paper. I look up and Mama nods. Randall stands behind her with his hands on her shoulders.
I open the letter slowly so as not to make a tear.
“English,” I say, and read aloud:
Dear American,
My name is Jean-Claude Pugeat. I am French. I am twelve years old. I am old enough to remember the war. I am very thankful your soldiers rescued my family, my country. I am thankful for the food we received from America.
Merci beaucoup, thank you very much.
I did not have money to buy something fancy. My papa made the wooden box. I used to fill it with toy soldiers. When the Nazis came to our farm, they threw the toys onto the floor and smashed them with their hard boots.
This gift of sand is from me. It is from a beach not far away.
In French the name of the beach is Vierville-sur-Mer. When the Americans came, they called it Omaha.
Your friend,
Jean-Claude
“Hooyah,” whispers Ben.
I look up. Mama blows me a kiss. And outside the window behind her and Randall, a bird soars against the bright blue sky.
Sand. Sand from my daddy’s beach. The very sand he walked on.
My daddy has come home.
author’s note
Through a grassroots effort spearheaded by journalist and radio commentator Drew Pearson, Americans gathered and shipped freight cars full of food and goods to the people of Italy and France to help them recover from the devastation of World War II. They called it the Friendship Train. In response, French rail worker Andre Picard organized a campaign for the citizens of France to offer their thanks. Originally envisioned as one forty-and-eight boxcar filled with gifts of appreciation, the outpouring was so enormous that forty-nine boxcars were filled. They arrived in the United States in February 1949. Each state received a boxcar, and Washington, DC, and the Territory of Hawaii shared one. In each was a handmade wedding dress from seamstresses in Leon, a Sèvres vase from the French president, and thousands of individual gifts such as books, paintings, and toys.
Two hundred thousand people gathered for a ticker tape parade in New York City to welcome all the boxcars on February 3, 1949. Individual states then arranged for celebrations upon arrival of their boxcars. The Texas boxcar had a grand celebration in Fort Worth on February 14, 1949, and then headed south to Austin. It arrived in the capital city on Wednesday, February 16.
Some of the forty-nine boxcars still exist, along with a selection of their gifts. The Texas Merci boxcar, resplendent with its forty plaques representing provinces and cities in France, plus two more, is on permanent exhibit at the Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry in Austin. A sampling of gifts is a part of the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin.
In addition, a book of thank-yous, signed by the people of France, is in the Personal Papers of Drew Pearson at the LBJ Library at the University of Texas at Austin, along with Pearson radio scripts, letters, telegrams, memos, newspaper articles, and more that detail the Merci Train effort. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission in Austin contains documentation of legislative efforts and correspondence to and from Governor Jester regarding the Texas boxcar. Lastly, the Personal Papers of Drew Pearson at the American University in Washington, DC, has archived Pearson’s syndicated column and a selection of his radio broadcasts.
This novel is a work of fiction inspired by the Merci Train. In this story, the Texas boxcar makes a stop in the small town of Gladiola before it arrives in Austin. Gladiola, Texas, the town of Tula, and all their residents exist only in my imagination.
Ben’s dad, who served in World War II, suffered “shell shock.” Today we would call it PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Then, there was less support for veterans when they returned home.
The United States lost more than four hundred thousand service members in World War II. More than seventy-two thousand are still missing.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Bouquets of thanks to everyone who has journeyed beside me as I wrote this book. It’s taken over fifteen years to become this novel. I couldn’t have done it without the support and love and brainpower of so many. I am forever grateful. It is the story of my heart.
Marsha Sharp, now retired educational specialist from the LBJ Library, facilitated my discovery of the Gratitude Train and the Texas boxcar. That led to my first drafts of a picture book read by the always fabulous Cynthia Leitich Smith and Kathi Appelt. The awesome Austin writing community encouraged me from the start. This book wouldn’t exist without all of them. Merci beaucoup.
I treasure the rejection letter from former editor Amy Hsu, who suggested I reenvision my picture book submission as a novel. Only how was I going to do that? With a trainload of help from my VCFA (Vermont College of Fine Arts) advisors Ellen Howard, Sharon Darrow, Martine Leavitt, and Shelley Tanaka; fellow students; librarians in various archival collections; the mercitrain.org website; and more, I began again and reshaped the story into a middle-grade manuscript. Only a variation of the letter from Jean-Claude survived the transformation. Thank you, all.
As often happens in the life of a writer, that manuscript wasn’t a match for those I queried, so I set it aside. More years passed. I kept writing and sold two books. Then I sunk to a creative low. I asked myself two questions: Did I still want to write? Yes. And, if I could only work on one more story, which would it be? I knew instantly.
With the help of my magnificent agent, Emily Wood Mitchell, and fantastic writers Kathi Appelt, Meredith Davis, Susan Fletcher, Lindsey Lane, and Liz Garton Scanlon, I revised Glory Bea’s story again and again. Wonderful writers Varsha Bajaj, Cate Berry, Paige Britt, Donna Janell Bowman, and Carmen Oliver offered heartfelt support. Merci, merci.
I also researched more. Thanks ever so much to the exceedingly helpful librarians at the LBJ Library Reading Room, Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas State Archives Commission, and Austin History Center. And to Lil Serafine, executive director at the Austin Steam Train Association, who gave me a private tour of a restored car from the Texas Eagle train. If I made any missteps, they are on me.
Thank you, Grand Voiture du Texas, caretakers of the Texas Merci boxcar, now situated at the Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry. I love to visit.
In addition, BJ, Charles, and Annie Holcomb, I am grateful for your enthusiasm for this story. Kathleen Davis Niendorff, for your insights and belief that it would find a home. The St. Matthew’s Bible study, for your prayers. Joan and Jerry Andersen, for being a phone call away. Karen and Eric Braunsdorf, for boundless interest and gifts, and Ray and Cristy Pfeiffer, for your historic tour of Normandy.
Agent Emily Wood Mitchell found the most perfect editor, Krista Vitola, who, along with other dream makers at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, such as publisher Justin Chanda, associate editor Catherine Laudone, book designer Lizzy Bromley, jacket artist Dung Ho Hanh, copy editors Stephanie Evans, Dorothy Gribbin, and Alison Velea, and proofreader Bara MacNeill, gave their all. Likewise, the top-notch school and library marketing team of Michelle Leo, Sarah Woodruff, and Amy Beaudoin and my publicist Audrey French have been and still are hard at work. This entire process has been divine. I can’t thank you all enough.
My parents are gone, but I am indebted to them as well. Before they married, they both served in World War II. Afterward, I was born and raised (mostly) in Hawaii. I grew up on tours of Pearl Harbor and stories of December 7, 1941. Because of this, I’ve alw
ays felt connected to the war and its effects. My dad and I had a very special connection and I’ve missed him every day since he passed. He loved blue-sky days.
My final thank-yous are to my husband, Lane, and his incredible family, who welcomed me in and cheer me on. I love y’all.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
© Sam Bond
ANNE BUSTARD is the former co-owner of Toad Hall Children’s Bookstore in Austin, Texas, and an MFA graduate from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is the author of the middle-grade novel Anywhere but Paradise, as well as two picture books: Rad! and Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly, which was an IRA Children’s Book Award Notable and a Bank Street Book of the Year.
Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Anne-Bustard
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
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SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adair, A. Garland. “French Box Car Is in Austin’s Shrine.” Austin Statesman, September 17, 1949.
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. “World War II Accounting.” United States Department of Defense. https://www.dpaa.mil/Our-Missing/World-War-II/.
Hadler, Susan Johnson, and Ann Bennett Mix, comps. Lost in the Victory: Reflections of American War Orphans of World War II. Edited by Calvin L. Christman. Denton, Texas: University of North Texas Press, 1998.
Hart, Weldon. Telegram, Weldon Hart to unknown. “French Thank You Train.” Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Hendricks, Bill. Letter, Bill Hendricks to Drew Pearson, January 20, 1949. “French Train—Administrative,” Personal Papers of Drew Pearson, Box F 125 (4 of 4), LBJ Library.
Jester, Beauford H. “Proclamation by the Governor of the State of Texas re the ‘Train of Gratitude.’ ” Attached to a letter from G. Ward Moody of the American Legion Department of Texas, August 27, 1948. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Livre d’or: Hommage de Paris et de l’Île-de-France au peuple Américain, Train de la Reconnaissance Française MCMXLIX. Personal Papers of Drew Pearson, Box G 312 (3 of 3), LBJ Library.
Merci Train (website). Updated 2019. www.mercitrain.org.
“ ‘Merci’ Train Will Roll in This Morning.” Austin Statesman, February 16, 1949.
“Midwest Schedule of Merci Train,” undated memo. “Railroad Schedules & Correspondence,” Personal Papers of Drew Pearson, Box F 125 (4 of 4), LBJ Library.
Pearl Harbor Visitors Bureau. “Pearl Harbor Ships on the Morning of the Attack.” Updated 2019. https://visitpearlharbor.org/pearl-harbor-ships-on-december-7th/.
Pearson, Drew. The Washington Merry-Go-Round (January 29, 1949). Drew Pearson’s Washington Merry-Go-Round collection. American University Library Special Collections Unit, American University. https://auislandora-stage.wrlc.org/islandora/object/pearson%3A11980#page/1/mode/1up.
———. Radio Script. ABC. January 9, 1949. “Radio Scripts: Jan-Feb-Mar 1949,” Personal Papers of Drew Pearson. Box G 179 (1 of 3), LBJ Library.
Raaen, John C., Jr. “5th Battalion.” Descendants of WWII Rangers, Inc. Updated 2018. http://www.wwiirangers.org/our-history/ranger-history/5th-btn/.
Rowe, Abbie, photographer. Photograph of boxcar from French “Merci train,” a gift from France to the United States in grateful recognition of U.S. aid to France after World War II, during a ceremony. February 6, 1949. Photograph. Audiovisual Collection, 1957–2006. National Archives and Records Administration, Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO. http://catalog.archives.gov/id/200078.
Scheele, Dorothy R. The Friendship Train of 1947 (website). Updated 2017. http://www.thefriendshiptrain1947.org.
Seigel, Kalman. “City Roars Thanks to France for Car of Gratitude Train.” New York Times, February 4, 1949.
Skouras, Spyros. Letter, Spyros Skouras to Drew Pearson, December 7, 1948. “French Train—Administrative,” Personal Papers of Drew Pearson, Box F 125 (4 of 4), LBJ Library.
Texas (State). Legislature. House. Merci Train—Display of Gifts. 51st Legislature. H.C.R. No. 62 (1949). The Portal to Texas History. Digital Libraries Division, University of North Texas Libraries, Denton, TX. http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth307687/m1/1479/zoom/?q=Merci%20Train%20and%20Gratitude%20Train%20and%201949&resolution=4.720367576335451&lat=3562.5&lon=750.
“Time Frames: Merci Train.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 25, 2015. http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/article46580340.html.
“ ‘What Happens If I Don’t Have a Ticket?’ Early State Law Was Alarmingly Specific.” History Corner. The Call Board: Newsletter of the Austin Steam Train Association, Winter 2018, No. 88. Austin Steam Train Association, Cedar Park, TX. https://www.austinsteamtrain.org/cms/assets/uploads/2018/02/Call-Board-Winter-2018-88.pdf.
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Text copyright © 2020 by Anne Bustard
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bustard, Anne, 1951– author.
Title: Blue skies / Anne Bustard.
Description: First edition. | New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [2020] | Summary: France sends the Merci Train to the United States to thank America for helping France during and after WWII, and one of the train stops will be the small town of Gladiola, Texas, where ten-year-old Glory Bea hopes for the greatest miracle—that her missing-in-action father will be on the train. | Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019006132 | ISBN 9781534446069 (hardcover : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781534446083 (ebook)
Subjects: | CYAC: Loss (Psychology) | Fathers and daughters—Fiction. | Family life—Texas—Fiction. | Texas—History—1846–1950—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.B89 Bl 2020 | DDC [Fic]—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019006132
