The best thing the Navy has taught me is that discipline and commitment are a choice that pay off in every way.
Look at me rambling on. Guess I can’t wait to see you.
Yours,
Jerald Cocker
M y Dearest May,
Last night I had a dream you were waiting for me under our oak tree, and it was raining everywhere except where you were. The branches shielded you from the torrent, our blanket dry and food abundant. Let’s just say there was a lot more than what we had that day.
You were as pretty as I remember, that smile just for me. You were waving for me to come and join you, but I was stuck in the rain. I woke up with such a hole in my heart that the fellas wondered what was wrong with me. I didn’t tell them about my dream. But you I can tell.
They say the war will be over soon. We’re making loads of progress. I can’t share details, but I can say with confidence that the allied forces are prevailing and we are on the right side of this war.
Five days until April now, which makes it over six months since I’ve seen you. Between you and I, that’s much too long.
Yours,
Jerald Cocker
35
MAY
APRIL 12TH, 1945
Sable announces, “I wouldn’t be surprised if they preferred Lily over me!” as we leave school together, homework waiting in the books we hold.
Lily laughs, “They do! Your parents love me!” She waves her hand. “I’m teasing. Of course they don’t prefer me. Sable is only trying to make me feel better.”
“How is your Mother?” Gertie asks. “You don’t talk about her much.”
“She’s dry at the moment. Who knows how long that will last,” Lily mutters. “I’ve told her I don’t want to come home. Since I’m eighteen now, she can’t force me.”
“Has she apologized?”
“Yes, and while I accepted, it doesn’t mean that I have to put myself where I don’t feel safe again.” Glancing to Sable she smiles, silently showing how grateful she is for having a place to stay.
Gertie blurts, “I got a letter from Hank last night!”
We stop walking immediately, turning with sunlight dappled on our faces from stretching oak trees overhead. It’s a lovely spring day, so nice in fact that we left our sweaters at home.
“He’s beyond excited. Seems to have a real aptitude for flying! Passed all the tests on the first round and everything! Some boys took them multiple times and never passed. Hank says the instruments just make sense to him!”
What a relief Hank finally wrote to her! We’re all relieved he’s alright, though we won’t dare speak of such things.
“Did he say anything else?” Lily asks.
“No, just that. Hank isn’t as talkative through a pen as he is in person, I guess.”
Grinning I tell her, “I wish Jerald could hear about it — he’d be so proud! But not surprised.”
On a laugh Lily agrees, “No, he’d say it was a given that his brother was the best!”
Sable excitedly throws her hand into our happy circle, “Remember at the fair when he knew exactly how to rile Hank up?”
Gertie reenacts it, making her voice, “Get a look at that carny, Hank! Are you going to let him be so smug?”
Our joyous memory disappears in an instant as an air-raid alarm turns our heads. They never happen after the final bell! All around the school, students and parents freeze.
One of the Sisters runs outside, habit floating behind outstretched arms. “F.D.R. is dead! The President has died!”
Word spreads faster than a marble thrown downhill, every single person present racing back for the official news report, vehicles abandoned in the middle of the road.
The Sisters hook the radio to our gymnasium speakers as we all pour in to hear that Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the beginning of his fourth term, so beloved that he’s the only President voted into office more than twice, has suffered a stroke and succumbed. With this he has left behind a citizenship who will miss him dearly.
As we listen, stunned, the parents whisper amongst themselves, “What happens now?” “The war is almost over, this shouldn’t change that.” “How can you be sure?” “The writing is on the wall! We’ve defeated Germany. It’s only a matter of time!” “Yes, but how tragic that FDR won’t be here to witness it!” “He raised us up from the Great Depression, and carried us through this miserable war!” “To not see the end is a tragedy indeed.” “We can only hope Truman doesn’t muck things up!” “That’s right. He’ll take over the Presidency now, won’t he?” “Handed over to that man!” “What do you have against the Vice President?” “Truman isn’t half the leader, that’s what! And at a time like this!”
The girls and I exit, our books held low as we walk the same path, only now with no words. We climb into Sable’s car, and Gertie is dropped off first.
Teary-eyed, she trudges into her house and disappears as we call out, “Bye Gert!” “Goodbye!” “We’ll see you tomorrow!”
I’m next.
There is a hollow feeling in my stomach, same as everybody’s. I climb out and rest one hand on the open window to say, “What if the war isn’t over? What if now it only gets worse? What if Jerald never comes home?”
Lily lays her hand on mine. “We will pray very hard for him!”
Sable leans over. “We sure will! Every morning and every night, for him
