Far from Home: Memories of World War II and Afterward

11. Big Decision

11 Big Decision 156 Happy the man whose wish and care A few paternal acres bound Content to breathe his native air In his own ground. Alexander Pope, “Ode on Solitude” I STILL had moments when I wasn’t sure whether I was going to stay home or return to Washington. I’d go out to the pond, read my letters, and think about Arlington and the Navy Annex and my friends. Sam was in his last year of high school and driving the school bus. He’d come in, do whatever chores he had to do, then tell me, let’s go out on the highway. Norman Hayes, my cousin who’d also gone to school in Raleigh, in the Blind Department , was out by then and had reopened his grandmother’s country store. He sold the usual—groceries, sodas, candy, etc. He also had a jukebox, so, of course all the kids hung out there. They’d named the store Do-Drop Inn. Quite a few of the old crowd had moved away or were still in service. Gladys, Berthena, Lou Evelyn, and Ella Louise had all moved to Philadelphia. James Arthur and Ellery were navy boys. Willie was still in the service. Thelma’s brothers had all moved away. Harding was still in the service and married to a Florida girl. There were still lots of young people though—Thelma, Doris, Dot Bennett, Otelia, and her sister Fontaine, and Gladys’s sisters, Ruth Mae and Beck, and their brother Elmo. They all went out of their way to welcome me back home. I gradually started feeling more like my old self again. They were all so lively and funny you couldn’t be sad around them. Then there were cousin Mary Frank’s girls, Caroline (Cat), Pearlene, and youngest daughter Geneva, or (Gen). It was good to be home. By now it was early fall, or Indian summer—my favorite time of the year. I still spent a week with Mother Stanford, or mostly weekends, since she was back in the classroom teaching. Sometimes she’d come to see me and bring with her my old teacher Mrs. Beatty, who was teaching in Warsaw. Then Maleon’s brother Paris was in a plane crash while in training . He survived, thank the Lord. After getting out of the hospital and going through rehab, he received a medical discharge and came home. One day he came with a small box and told me to open it. When I did, I found a beautiful birthstone ring. He and his mom had been to Wilmington and bought it for me in place of the engagement ring Maleon was to give me. It was wonderful how good and loving people could be. I felt humble and very grateful for so much kindness. Being as it was fall, there wasn’t much work to be done on the farm. Harvesttime was over. Tobacco had been graded and sold. I spent time with Lattice and her two little girls. I followed Mama around and talked. I also roamed the fields and woods with my dogs. Sometimes it seemed I’d never been away from home, that the time I’d spent in Washington and the Navy Annex, and all I’d been through had been a dream. However, it was far from a dream. A letter came from theAnnex inquiring as to what I had decided to do. Time was about up. I had to face reality. I Big Decision 157 158 FAR FROM HOME compared my life as it had been three short months ago to what it was now. I thought about Cousin Mary and her family, the fun I’d had with Leroy and Elnora, the Navy Annex, and all my friends, my room at Mrs. Moseley’s, and the family. I thought about the time spent reading Maleon’s letters and dreaming of the future, and how all of that ended that hot August day. Here in Iron Mine, I was home with my family. I’d been away for the better part of almost ten years. I knew I would not be happy in Arlington or Washington ever again. I wrote my letter of resignation, thanking all of them for all their kindness and patience. I felt sad but, at the same time, relieved . I had made my decision, and it was over. I received another paycheck...