Chapter 2

September 16, 1940

On what seemed like any other day I trotted down the stairs. But today I sensed something was different. I peered into the living room and saw Papa hunched over on the couch, his head in his hands. What could be the matter? I noticed a scrap of paper laying on the piano and snuck over to it carefully. Scanning the letter quickly I soon wish I had left well enough alone. "Oh no...Papa has been drafted to war!! What will we do!?" I think to myself. I see Papa rise up and wipe his face. He carefully smooths his hair and clears his throat. In a low tone he calls "Nora..come here dear" Darn! I thought I had stayed out of sight. "What are you doing over there?" he asks "Ah..I see you too have discovered the news." 

 

Tears fill my eyes and I cry out "Papa you can't leave us, you just CAN'T!" Papa calmly smirks his crooked smile that I know too well and replies "Dearest Nora, I have to go. But, I'll be back before you know it!" He grins down at me, his fuzzy auburn mustache turned up in a smile. I dry my green-blue eyes, and sniff hard, composing myself. "Yes, sir Papa" I say. He tells me that he will speak with my mother about it and for me not to worry. Don't worry!?....my Papa is leaving for war, how does a girl not worry about such things! Papa has always been there for me, and now he will be off at war for who knows how long. Momma and I don't get on as much as I would like, but we make due. I know I could always count on Papa to lift my spirits, help me with homework, or give advice when a kid at school was giving me a hard time. Sometimes when he was on his lunch break from his accounting job, he would bring me cucumber sandwiches, and blueberry yogurts. He would have lunch with me at school, and we would talk about all the goings on that day. My school friends would laugh at his silly jokes, and before he would leave he would always say, "We're always together when you live in my heart". Having Papa gone was going to be the single most difficult thing I've ever had to deal with.

Later that evening I heard soft words being spoken from my parents room. My mothers' sobs as Papa tries to console her. I knew that this was going to be one of the most difficult things for us. We had always been together, through everything. I was Papa's little princess, at least that's what he told me. I didn't know how I would be able to deal with it just being me and Momma. She is a wonderful mother, and a fabulous cook. But, she is very stern and has no sense of humor. Momma always says "Look your best, act your best, be your best. There's no time for foolishness. There's too much to be done." I think she just keeps busy to avoid letting her emotions show through. Papa always brings out the best in her. The way her eyes light up when he is around, nothing else brings that kind of joy to her face. Even, me...

Momma does have her surprising moments however, and the next morning as I sat crying on the sofa, she came over lift my spirits. "You know, I've been thinking" she said "We shouldn't sit around sulking when there is so much to be done!" I asked her what she meant and she replied "I do believe Papa needs a send off party, don't you think? A little party is just what we need! Now come along and let's get everything ready for this evening." Not in much of a party mood, but also not in the mood to deal with Mommas' moodiness, I reluctantly agree. I follow her into the kitchen where I see the counter top covered with ingredients. She picks up a scratch of paper, and begins announcing the different kinds of foods we'll have at the party. Next, she goes over all the cleaning chores to be done. "I'll start washing those potatoes, and you peel" she instructs as she takes a bumpy looking potato in her hand. As I waited for her to give the potato a good wash, I noticed how pretty her features were as the sun poured in the window and illuminated her hair. Brown curls were pinned in a tidy fashion, and were complimented by matching eyes. Her slender face wore a short but rather pointed nose, just like mine. Her lips remained pursed though and wore a tight expression. I wish she wouldn't make that face, she has such a nice smile, but doesn't show it often. Her skin always reminds me of a porcelain doll, freckle free and perfect. I definitely got my Papa's freckled skin. "Nora! There is much to be done!" Momma's voice snaps me from my daydream as I pick up a potato, and start the peeling. 

"Now I know how we feel about them, but I have invited the Pierce's. We simply cannot invite the whole street and leave them out, you know?" she mentions. "Momma!" I exclaimed "Surely you cannot be serious. Margo and Mrs. Pierce are just baddies! You see how Margo treats me, and that Mrs. Pierce is just a pill". Momma explains that even though they aren't the most polite womenfolk on the street, it's our duty as kind neighbors to include them. "Why I have known Edith Pierce for years! It wouldn't be right not to invite the Pierce's. Do you know what a statement it makes for them to come to one of our events? Our standing with society should remain in tact, even if that means a little bit of uncomfortable conversation at tonight's party" she tries explaining. I never understood why all that society stuff was such a big deal. Either people like you, or they don't. Sure we should be polite, but not at the expense of not being ourselves. I guess Momma was just raised like that, I mean my grandparents must've been uppity or something. I'll never know though, they passed on when I was just a baby. Papa's parents too, but they were a lot older when they had him. I wasn't even born before they took their leave. It's always just been the three of us. Momma seems dead set on inviting the Pierce family, and there's just no sense in arguing with her when she's got her mind set. I know I must get my stubborn attitude from her, but I try to hold my tongue this time. I guess I'll just have to put up with Margo's belittling comments and snobby behavior during the party. It's not like I don't know how since she always acts like a goody two shoes at school. At least my friends Bestie and Freddie will be there with me. 

Momma keeps disappearing from the kitchen to keep Papa in the dark about the party. If he see's all this food laid out surely he will wonder what it is for. When she enters the kitchen again, she begins washing a head of lettuce and tells me that she's phoned over to the Linders' home. "I asked Clyde if he would occupy your father with a little trip to town. That way we can get things ready without ruining the surprise" she tells me. "Good idea" I respond as I chop up some carrots for the salad. Sure enough Mr. Linder stops in shortly after that, and invites Papa to accompany him to town to get a few things for his journey. "It's the least I can do" I hear him tell Papa in the foyer. I peek around the corner to see Papa heartily slapping Mr. Linder on the shoulder "Thanks old friend" he replies. Without evening looking Papa says, "Nora run along and tell your mother that I've gone out for a bit to help Clyde pick up some things from town. Will she be needing anything?" I gasp with surprise, "How did he know I was here?" Papa must really have eyes in the back of his head like he's always telling me. I giggle and call out, "Momma's just fine." He turns, giving me a wink, and with that the two of them are off. 

After a long day of preparing food for the party, and cleaning the house top to bottom, finally it's time for guests to start arriving. I'm almost to tired for a party! With all that scrubbing and mopping, dusting and polishing silver, it's enough to make one exhausted! After a wash, I go find Momma to see if there are any final touches that need to be done for the food. Downstairs, I find her in the parlor finishing a telephone conversation. "Yes, of course! We'll see you tonight. Bye now!" she says into the receiver before hanging up. "I've just finished phoning some people about the party. Looks as though we'll have a nice turn out, even if it is short notice" she tells me. She mentions that Betsie Collins and Freddie Warner should be arriving soon followed by the other guests. "Scoot along now and get dressed for tonight. I've got to dress myself. There's still so much to be done!" she tells me. She is in one of her moods again, trying to get everything perfect. "I've laid out your green dress for you" she instructs. 

I climb the dark mahogany stairs quickly to the second floor.....The afternoon sun pours through my bedroom window Upstairs I put on the dress Momma has laid out for me, and sneak into her room to steal a little rouge for my pale freckled cheeks. As I look in the mirror I think how I might look if I wasn't covered in speckles. Papa's voice resounds in my head, "Just like your Grandma Cecilia, covered in angel kisses." Just then I hear the bell and rush downstairs to see who has arrived.

As I approach the front door sunlight pours in and a silhouette comes into focus. Freddie Warner, the boy down the street. The boy who gave me a toad for my 8th birthday and told me frogs were lucky. Over the years we have become the best of friends. Plus, he's cute as a bug's ear! The only person that knows how I feel about Freddie is my other best friend Betsie Collins, and she wouldn't tell a soul. 

"Hiya! Got some place I can change into my tux?" he greets. I chuckle and reply ''Sure thing, just up stairs. Looks like someone's been fishin' again." He grins sheepishly "Don't tell my folks?" Smiling back at him I say ''never''. Freddie's parents always thought fishing wasn't a respectable hobby and his mother always fussed that he dirtied up his clothes. She had instructed him there was to be no more fishing. As Freddie starts upstairs to change I notice someone coming up the walk and smile brightly. 

"Betsie Collins while I live and breathe! You wore the same dress as me!" I say in a joking manner. "Well your Mom rang my Gran and said you were wearing your green one. I thought we could match?" she states. I told her of course and that was a great idea. She asks who all has arrived and I explain that other than Freddie she's the only other one. Laughing she says "I guess he's changing then?" Giving a little chuckle I reply "Yes he was fishing again so I guess he's getting cleaned up" Betsie shakes her head and says "I have never known someone who liked fishing so much!" "Say! I didn't tell you who Momma invited this evening, did I? You know it, the Pierces!" I exclaim. Betsie gasps, "Oh for heavens sake, she didn't!? Well this evening should be awfully interesting...".