By GWHARGIS
| Author Notes | This little girl has been on my mind for the past week. Like all my other stories, I have no idea where this is going. Would love feedback. Thank you. |
By GWHARGIS
Heddy is a young girl who lives on a barrier island off the coast of North Carolina. She plays by herself and has a hard time fitting in. She has a thirst for learning and has one special gift, she can see and talk to her late grandmother, Nonni. Nonni helps her understand how a world so beautiful can sometimes be cruel.
**********************************
I polish the silver tea service, making sure it shines like a mirror. My reflection stretches out, making me look like a drawing from a comic book. I stick out my tongue and make a face, giggling as I turn the silver teapot back and forth.
"I'm finished, Momma," I say after I get bored making faces.
She comes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on the crisp pale yellow apron she's wearing. "All the silver is polished?"
"Yes, ma'am." I wave my hand at the tea service that sits in the middle of our good table. We only eat at this table on Sundays and sometimes Christmas. It's mainly used for Momma to sit and write letters to her sister in Richmond.
She lifts the little cream pitcher and takes the rag to buff a spot. "Okay, Heddy, you can go play. But stay out of the water. The ocean is still too cold. You'll catch pneumonia."
"Can I put my feet in?"
Her hands settle on her hips. "Stay out of the water."
It's useless to argue. If I do argue, she'll make me stay in and find more chores for me to do.
I pull my sweater on as I run down the back steps. The soft grasses grow taller the closer I get to the beach. They bend in unison as the ocean breeze catches them.
I run down the dune and promptly pull off my shoes. The sand is warm and I stop long enough to dig my toes in deeper. I could stay here longer but I've got things to do.
I need to check the tide line and see what washed up. I walk south on the beach. It juts out into the Atlantic and there are always more shells and driftwood littering the sand.
I kick over a dead horseshoe crab, moving its legs around with a small stick I found nearby. I sniff the air near it and right over it. It doesn't stink yet. Must have just died. It looks like it would have come from the age of dinosaurs. A hard brown shell with two trails of points running from front to back. Then it has the hard flap and a sharp pointed tail. Sometimes the tails will wash up. Those make excellent swords.
I see a shadow pass right over and I look up, squinting against the impossibly bright sun. A black capped gull swoops over, then circles back again. He probably wants a go at the horseshoe crab. Poor thing is dead so I step away and let the gull have his dinner.
There are lots of shells today. Shell beds so thick you could fill a hundred buckets and still not get them all. I pick up several, turn them over in my hands. I pocket the prettiest ones. Momma likes it when I bring home ones that aren't broken. She puts them in her garden.
"They make a nice border, Heddy. I don't want the broken ones. But you can bring the good ones home."
The broken ones are my favorite. I like to run my fingers over the edges and think about how they got tossed around in the ocean. How far did they travel? What kind of sea creature lived in them? The broken ones tell stories and keep a million secrets.
I follow the curve of the beach and look up over the dune. I can see a thin whisper of smoke rising in the cloudless sky. There's only one house around this side. It belongs to Dr. Monroe.
I heard Momma and Daddy talking about him. Said his daughter had come and packed him up. Said he was too old and frail to live alone. It's what we did to Nonni. She couldn't see so good anymore. She caught her kitchen curtains on fire one day and tried to put it out with a pan full of water. She was going back to the sink to get more water and she slipped. After that, my momma put her foot down.
Nonni took my older brother, Willis's, room after he joined the Army. He don't come home much, besides, Momma says he uses the Lord's name in vain, too much.
I put the shells I got for Momma down in a pile then climbed the dune, hiding amongst the tall swaying grass. Sure enough, the smoke is coming from Dr. Monroe's chimney.
Maybe he used the Lord's name in vain too much, and his daughter sent him home.
I never knew what kind of doctor he was. He never came to our house when we got sick. Daddy said there are all kinds of doctors, not just the kind that help you get well.
I move around to the back of the house. I'm just gonna peek in the window to see if he's back. I know Nonni wouldn't like that idea.
"Go to the front door, Heddy. Don't skulk around spying on people. It isn't polite."
But Nonni isn't here. I pad quickly around the back, jumping as the water pump starts up. The window is covered in a film of slimy sea salt. My fingers wipe it off, and I quickly brush my hand on my shirt. I peer inside. There's a bed and a dresser in the room. The linenoleum floor is tacked down on the wood floor. All that's left of the pine floor is a two foot border around the edge of the room. The covers are messed on the bed.
I twist my head this way and that way trying to see further in.
"It's not nice to spy on people," a voice says.
I freeze, too scared to move. "I was just, um, looking for Dr. Monroe."
Slowly, I turn to face my captor. It's not Dr. Monroe, or his daughter or anyone I know.
It's a man, taller that anybody I've ever seen before. His hair is the color of a copper pot. Blue eyes that make the prettiest sky pale in comparison.
His body blocks the sun and he looks around.
"Are you alone?"
I nod.
"Well, go home. And don't tell anybody about me. You won't, will you?"
His words tumble out. He looks around again. "Go on, little girl. Go home."
I nod, darting around him. As I run through the grass and jump down to the base of the dune, I realize something.
The man was scared.
By GWHARGIS
Heddy is a little girl who armed with a big imagination and a special gift, keeps the remote island she lives on safe. She can see and talk to her late grandmother, Nonni. Even here tucked away from the rest of the world, Heddy sees that life can be tough.
*********************************
I race past him, smelling the strong scent of coffee on him. I nearly skim the top of the grass as my feet carry me quickly to the top of the dune. I jump down to the bottom, then race past the treasures I had collected for my momma.
Was he chasing me? Was he a spy? If I told on him, would he come find me and my parents?
I cut up a dune and settle down behind it, searching the beach for any trace of him. But, no one is there. He isn't chasing me.
"Why are you out of breath, Heddy?" Nonni asks. She carefully sits down on the sand beside me. Tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear, she closes her eyes and draws in a deep breath. "There is no air purer anywhere in the world, is there?"
I don't think she's talking to me, but I answer. "Nobody lives in the South Pole, so, I think the air there might be real pure. But it'd be real cold."
Nonni slowly opens her eyes and shrugs. "Well, since neither you nor I have ever been to the South Pole, we can't say for sure. But I've visited a lot of places and nothing smells as fresh as the ocean."
I draw in the air, but it just smells like air to me. It's the same air I've smelled every day since I can remember.
"Why were you running? And, why are you hiding up here? Did you see a pirate?"
I'm slow to answer the why's. I just shake my head no to the last question. "No, I didn't see any pirates." I drag my finger around on the patch of sand beside me. Small circles that loop beside each other then through each other.
"Something scare you?" she asks. I watch as she starts making circles in the sand beside me. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but it sure looks like you're hiding from something...or someone."
I look over at her. "I saw smoke over there, you know around the bend near Dr. Monroe's house. I went to find out where it was coming from. It was Dr. Monroe's chimney. So, I went to see if he was back, but it wasn't him." I stop, hoping this much would appease her curiosity.
"Did you find out who it was?" Nonni asks, but it sounds like she already knows my answer.
"He, he was a giant. He had golden red hair. He was bigger than my daddy. He told me to go home and not tell anybody I saw him."
Nonni frowns. "Sounds like he's running away from something. He's hiding."
"When I hide, I go in the back of my closet."
"Well, grownups can't hide in a dark closet. Some leave the life they know and the people they love. Some will drink whiskey until their heads hurt and they forget what their hiding from."
"Yuck."
"Did you think he was gonna hurt you?" she asks.
I think about it. "No. He acted like he was scared. But he couldn't have been, could he? Not a great big man like him."
"Every body is scared of something, darling. Your momma is scared something bad is gonna happen to you or your brother. Your daddy is scared when he has to go to the mainland, and you and your momma are here alone. And, I'll tell you a little secret, when I had to leave my house and move in with y'all, I was afraid I'd be in the way. So, Heddy, everybody has something that scares them."
I think about what scares me. When the thunder rolls in at night and makes the window in my room rattle, then the room lights up like it's day as the lightning flashes white.
"Should I tell Momma? You know, about the man staying at Dr. Monroe's? "
Nonni shifts to her knees and pushes herself to her feet. "You do what your heart tells you to do. Maybe he just needs some time to ponder his problems and to breathe this good air."
I stand and brush my bottom off, sending a flurry of sand around my feet. "You want to come home with me?" I ask.
Nonni smiles warmly but shakes her head. "Not now, darlin', I'm just gonna stay right here and breathe in a little more of this ocean air."
"I love you, Nonni."
She blows me a kiss.
**********************************
Momma is sitting at the dining room table. A sheet of her cream colored stationery is on the table in front of her. She looks up when I come in the room.
"You're back sooner than usual. Couldn't find anything good on the beach today?"
I busy myself with picking at the hem of my shirt. "A lot of broken shells," I say. It's not a real lie. It's more like a half truth. "You writing to Aunt Lana?"
"Yes. Your cousin, Belinda, is getting married. Isn't that exciting?" Even as she says it and smiles, her eyes cloud with sadness. "Lana says it's going to be a big wedding. They're going to New York city next month to pick a wedding dress."
She puts the pen down and sighs as she looks up, not at me, but at something else, something that only she can see. "The last time I saw your cousin, she was just a little older than you are now. Her hair was the color of a new penny. Lana used to braid that girl's hair so tight, Nonni told her the poor child's eyes were gonna meet in the back of her head."
"Can I write something to Aunt Lana?"
Momma makes a face like it's a good idea. "Sure. I bet she'd like that." She pulls a piece of the nice cream stationery out of the stack and slides it over to me. "First, go wash your hands. Don't want this letter to smell like the ocean."
I go into the kitchen and push back the sleeves of my sweater. Momma doesn't want to smell the ocean and Nonni thinks it's the best smell in the world. Somewhere in the middle is me. It smells like life to me, the only life I've ever known.
By GWHARGIS
So far, eleven year old Heddy has talked with her late grandmother, Nonni and discovered someone living in old Dr. Monroe's house.
*********************************
My letter to Aunt Lana is short. Momma tries to help me by telling me what to write. But the letter doesn't sound like me, it sounds like my momma. "I think I'm done," I say, after sliding the fancy paper over to her.
"It's very short, Heddy. Are you sure you're done?"
"Yes, ma'am. I don't really know what to say to her. Do you think she remembers me?"
"Of course. Why would you ask a silly question like that?" Momma asks.
I hesitate, I know this is going to hurt her feelings. "I don't remember Aunt Lana. I don't remember Uncle Charlie or cousin Belinda. If I don't remember them how can they remember me?"
Momma slides her chair back and motions for me to come over to her. "Aunt Lana, Uncle Charlie and Belinda used to come here every summer. You were just a little bitty thing. Uncle Charlie used to put you on his shoulders, and take you out in the water. He called you his little fishy." She smiles thinking about it.
I don't remember any of it. "Why'd they stop coming down here?"
"Uncle Charlie's job kept them close to Richmond. Lana was afraid to travel with Belinda by herself. Then the stupid war," she says, letting her words trail off.
I know she's thinking about Willis.
"Have we gotten a letter from Willis this month?"
She shakes her head. She wants to cry, I know she does. She pats my back gently then pushes me a step away. "Why don't you go on outside and play before I fix your lunch?"
Impulsively, I kiss her cheek. "Don't worry, Momma. Willis is probably so busy kissing those French girls, he don't have time to write."
She looks up, her eyes wide. "Heddy! What would make you say something like that?"
"A boy in my class said his older brother told him that you could go to places where the girls would let you kiss them and stuff. His brother said all soldiers go there, unless they're sissies."
"That boy needs his rear end spanked, and so does his brother. And, if I hear you talk about this again, you can bet your bottom is going to get spanked."
I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
"Go on, Heddy. Go play."
I don't wait, head to the door before Momma changes her mind.
***********************************
I know I shouldn't but my feet have other ideas and I walk down the beach in the direction of Dr. Monroe's house.
I lie down a few inches from the top of the dune. I'm good at spying. I could help us win the war because I'm good at it. I spied on my teacher once. Watched as she shared a cigarette with Mr. Collette, the janitor. She leaned against the brick wall behind the school, she was smiling at Mr. Collette like he was her boyfriend. But, he couldn't be her boyfriend on account of he's married to Mrs. Collette. Mrs. Collette runs the post office on the island. I waited until they finished their cigarette and Mr. Collette tossed it behind the prickly bush, then I crawled in there and got it. But, there wasn't just one cigarette in the bush, there were lots of them. Some were just regular old cigarettes, but most had the greasy stain of my teachers lip stick.
Right now, I'm flat on my belly, watching Dr. Monroe's house for any sign of the giant man. A sand crab comes out of a hole beside me, stops then scurried across the sand. If I wasn't on a spy mission, I'd try to catch him, but I have to pay attention to the house.
The sun warms my back and I lay my head on my arm. My eyes grow heavy. Nonni used to tell me the sound of the ocean was the best lullaby and the sun was the warmest blanket. Maybe I fell asleep or maybe I was just daydreaming but I jump at the sound of a door closing.
I perk up, the giant is standing on the little wooden porch. His white shirt is open. It looks like he just woke up. My momma would skin me alive if I slept the morning away.
He stretches his arms out to the side of him and twists his neck all funny.
The little sand crab comes back, stops long enough to show me his big claw. He uses it as a shovel and flicks sand at me.
"Go away, crab," I whisper. Carefully moving my hand towards it. It darts away.
The giant pauses, turns his head from one side to the other. "Hello?"
I press my lips together, go still, not moving a muscle. I don't even breathe. I stare down at the sand. It starts to roll down the dune. It's not the crab this time. It's the giant.
His shadow covers the whole dune I'm hiding behind. The warmth I felt from the sun is gone.
"You don't listen very good," he says.
"I didn't tell anybody about you." I blurt.
"That's good, I guess." Without warning, he reaches down, and with his big hand he grabs my upper arm and picks me up. "Can you please tell me why you're spying on me?"
"You're new. We don't get a lot of new people "
He puts his hands on his hips. "Who are you?"
"My name is Heddy," I say, trying to keep the fear out of my voice. "I live right down the beach. How come you're at Dr. Monroe's and why are you hiding from people?"
He suppresses a laugh. "Hard headed and nosy. I'm not hiding. I'm here to think."
"I think all the time. Thinking isn't hard."
"Depends on what you're thinking about. Thinking about what you want for supper isn't all that hard, but thinking about your future and your destiny, well, that takes deep soul searching."
I stare up at him. The sun glints off of his hair making it look like copper.
"Ah, hell, you don't understand what I'm talking about."
"My momma thinks a lot. She worries that my brother, Willis, is kissing French girls on the mouth." I look away. A thought dawns on me. "Maybe that's why he don't write to us anymore. He's kissing every French girl he can get his hands on."
The giant smiles. "That's probably it. I've heard those girls are real pretty."
I shrug. "Momma says when someone introduces themselves, it's polite to introduce yourself back."
He nods. "I apologize. Your momma is exactly right. My name is Artie. It's nice to meet you." He holds out his hand and I curtsy like they showed us in school.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Artie. Are you gonna stay here for the summer?"
Artie looks around. "I'm not sure how long I'll stay."
I hear my momma's voice. She's looking for me. Calling my name and getting closer and closer.
"I gotta go! My momma is calling me."
Artie nods and waves his hand for me to run. "Remember, Heddy. Don't tell anyone about me, okay?"
I jump down to the bottom of the dune. I pretend to turn a key on my mouth, then dramatically toss it away.
By GWHARGIS
Eleven year old Heddy is an imaginative girl who tries to keep her island safe from pirates and Germans. She can see and talk to her late grandmother, Nonni. Heddy meets a mysterious man who is staying in Dr. Monroe's abandoned house.
*********************************
The house smells terrible. I pull the neck of my shirt up over my nose as I walk in.
"Don't be smart, Miss. You know your daddy loves his greens."
"Can I eat lunch on the back porch. Please?" I beg.
"Yes. But you're going to take a bath before your daddy gets home. So, no running off to play."
A bath before dinner is one of the worst things to happen. It means I can't go outside again. I don't like being cooped up, not when there is a half a day left.
"I'm going to freshen up, but you're next. Oh, and, we're washing your hair. It's gonna take most of the afternoon to brush those tangles out."
I stomp my foot on the step as I sit down. My daddy doesn't care if I have tangles. He tells me I'm cuter than a ladybug. Momma is just being all prissy.
I pull a bit of the crust off my peanut butter sandwich and toss it into the yard. A black bird swoops down from the tree. It snatches the bread then looks towards me, waiting patiently.
"Go on, bird. Don't be greedy."
The pitch black wings flutter and the sun casts a rainbow across its feathers. He hops around, pecking at the ground, in case he might have missed a crumb.
"You gonna give that poor thing another bite?" Nonni asks, settling on the step beside me.
"Sure." I pull another piece free and toss it out into the yard. "Momma says we shouldn't feed wild animals. She says they stop hunting for food on their own."
Nonni shrugs. "An occasional treat won't hurt. I saw you heading round the bend. You weren't going back to Dr. Monroe's, were you?"
I take a bite of my sandwich. Chewing while I think about my answer. "I was looking for pretty shells for the garden."
"Well, did you see him?"
"Who?"
"The man with the copper hair?"
I nod. "He's nice. His name is Artie."
"And, did you ask him what he was doing there?"
I pull more crust free and toss it out. The bird hops around eating as quick as he can.
"He's figuring things out. He said it a different way, but I can't remember the word he used."
Nonni smiles as the black bird hops around in front of us. "What color is that bird, Heddy?"
"Black."
"I don't know. I see a lot of different colors. Purple, blue, even yellow."
I see it too. "How does it do that?"
"The oils on their feathers reflect the light. You remember that crystal bowl I had? Remember how when the sun would hit it just right? Remember how it looked like all sorts of colors would shine across the table?"
I remember how Nonni would sometimes put wrapped up candy in it.
Momma's voice comes from inside the house. "Heddy, finish up and come inside. I'm starting your bath."
I make a face. Nonni cups my chin and smiles at me. "Heddy, don't be like that. Be a good girl and let your momma wash your hair. This is important to her."
I brush the crumbs off of my lap and kiss Nonni before going inside.
**********************************
Daddy stops just inside the threshold of the front door and rubs his eyes. "Who is that pretty little girl? Why, I thought it was Heddy, at first, but, I've never seen her look so beautiful before."
I grin. Momma curled my hair by twisting it and putting the pins to secure it. She let me sit in front of her vanity and smell her perfumes.
"Daddy," I giggle. "It is me."
"My goodness, it even sounds like her. But, until I see my little ladybug, I guess I'll have to eat this chocolate by myself."
The mention of the chocolate sends me running across the floor and into his arms. He hugs me tight, so tight, it'd probably hurt other people, but it doesn't hurt me.
"Here you go," he says, reaching into his jacket pocket for the treat. He places the foil covered candy in my waiting hand and kisses the top of my head.
"And, this is for you, Sweetheart." He pulls a letter from his pocket and hands it to my mother. "I figure this is better than candy."
Momma makes this strange noise and holds it to her chest. She closes her eyes and draws in a quick ragged breath. "He wrote. He finally wrote."
Together we walk to the table. Momma takes her brass letter opener and slices through the envelope. She unfolds the paper. Her eyes dart across the page and her happy expression turns dark.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Daddy asks.
"He's been injured. He's in a hospital in Belgium."
"It must not be that bad, he was able to write the letter."
Momma turns the paper around. It isn't Willis's handwriting. Someone else wrote the letter for him.
"Let me see it," Daddy says, as my momma starts dabbing at her eyes.
"How bad is he hurt?" I ask.
Neither bother to answer my question. Daddy let's the letter fall on the table and takes Momma in his arms as she cries.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has her imagination to keep her busy. But news about her brother being injured and the mysterious man in Dr. Monroe's house have her wondering about things.
*********************************
I fall asleep to the muffled sound of my momma and daddy talking about Willis. I pray that Nonni comes to me tonight but she doesn't. I wake up tangled in my sheet.
My door creaks loudly as I open it. I can hear Momna downstairs making breakfast. I'm scared to go down there. I don't want to see her crying anymore. She cried all night I suppose. That's what mommas do when they're scared. I just hate that she's scared. Willis will be okay. I just know it.
He fell out of a tree when he was younger, broke both arms. Daddy took him on the ferry to the mainland where the hospital is. When he got home a few days later, Momma held him like he was a baby. She fed him, bathed him and sat with him, rubbing his brow until he just got tired of being babied. He started figuring how to get around and by the time he was ready to get the casts off, he could write his full name with a pencil clenched between his teeth.
"Morning, Ladybug," Daddy says as he dips the newspaper far enough to look at me. "You have any big plans for today?"
I walk over to lean against him. His arm slips around me. "I was gonna go look for sticks so we can build a fire on the beach. We haven't done that in a long time."
Momma pauses, from stirring the eggs in the skillet, long enough to interrupt me. "I need you to weed the garden, Heddy. It's been a while since you last did it."
My shoulders sag, but Daddy squeezes me. He leans over to whisper in my ear. "You do a good job weeding and I'll help you with finding the wood for later tonight."
I grin. "I'll start right after breakfast, Momma."
Momma looks surprised. "Why, thank you, Heddy. Are you hungry?" She plates the scrambled eggs and puts one of the sausage patties on my plate. "You want some milk?"
I nod as I sit. I scoot my chair over closer to Daddy. "You're mighty close, Ladybug. You planning on stealing my breakfast?"
"Maybe."
Daddy leans back as the plate is placed on the table before him. "Mmm. I'll fight you for this. This breakfast here, it's fit for a king." He lifts his gaze up to Momma and winks. Her face gets all pink like my teacher's does whenever Mr. Collette, the janitor, comes around.
***********************************
I watch as the sweat drips from the ends of my hair into the dirt. I wonder if my sweat will help the vegetables grow. Probably not, because sweat is salty. And one time I killed one of the tomato vines because I put a bucket of water from the ocean on it. I didn't tell anybody I did it. I just shook my head like Momma and Nonni as they talked about it, wondering why that plant died and the rest were healthy. I hadn't meant to hurt it. I figured we could get as much water as we needed from the ocean. We didn't need to waste the water from the well.
A little green snake is coiled up between the cabbage and the pole beans. I plop down in the dirt and reach for it. It opens its mouth, but it can't hurt me. He doesn't have any teeth. I scoop him up and his bright green body wraps around my hand.
"Don't be scared, little snake. I'm not gonna hurt you. You could be my friend. I could find a nice jar to put you on. Would you like that?"
He stares at me with his round black eyes. He's scared. My mind goes to Willis. Is he scared? Not having Momma or Daddy there with him. I remember how he cried when he fell from the tree. Crying out for me to go get Momma. When he got hurt over there, did he call out for them?
I let the snake go and watch as it slithers deeper into the garden. I stand and brush the dirt off my behind and look towards the house.
"I'm glad you let that little snake go. He didn't need to be put in a jar. We need him out here. He keeps the pests away. You look sad, Heddy, what's wrong?" Nonni asks. She is standing right at the foot of the path that leads to the beach.
"Do you think Willis is scared being all by himself over there?"
Nonni looks at me with calm eyes. "I suppose he is."
"Why can't they send him home?"
"Sometimes you have to stay at a hospital until you get stronger. Sometimes they let you heal until you are strong enough to rejoin your unit."
I scuff the dirt with my toe. "That's dumb. They should just let him come home. He could get better here and then go back."
Nonni laughs and it floats away on the light breeze. "That's not how things are done, Heddy."
I look away, suddenly feeling like Momma did, I guess. I press my lips together to keep from crying.
"You feel helpless, don't you?"
I ignore the fat wet tear that rolls down my dirty cheek. I nod.
"You can pray for him, Heddy. Pray for him and every other one of those boys over there."
"But not the Krauts, right?"
"We all come from Adam and Eve, Heddy. Just pray that this whole thing ends. Pray for peace."
I follow her to the beach, my feet sink into the warm sand with each step. I wade out a ways until the soft rhythmic waves kiss the bottom of my shorts.
"Dear God, let Willis get better and come home. Momma is so worried. I don't want her to cry no more." I yell towards the horizon.
I know God is up in heaven, but Willis is that way. Somewhere across that big ocean is my brother. Scared and alone, he is. I just hope he knows I'm right here praying for him.
By GWHARGIS
So far, eleven-year-old Heddy can speak to her late grandmother, Nonni. She meets a mysterious man, Artie, who is living in old Dr. Monroe's house. Her brother has been injured during the war and Heddy feels helpless.
***********************************
True to his word, Daddy helps me gather wood to burn. I bring an arm load of driftwood. Driftwood is different from regular sticks. There's no bark on it because it's been stripped off in the current. It kind of feels velvety under my fingers. It's pretty faded colors, too.
I trudge across the beach and drop what I have where he's dug a shallow trench.
He nods his approval but points towards the dune line. "I thought you wanted a big fire. This won't burn anymore than five minutes. Go grab some bigger pieces. If I'm gonna build a fire, it's gonna be worth my time."
Excitement stirs as I imagine a huge fire, flames shooting way up into the sky. "I'll be right back," I announce as I head towards the dunes further down the beach.
I drag three pieces that are taller than me back towards him. "This enough?"
"Let's go find some together. I'm gonna make you the biggest and best fire you've ever seen."
Daddy holds my hand while we walk. "Anything on your mind, Ladybug?"
I shrug. I know why he's asking. But I don't really want to talk about Willis. I want it to just be him and me tonight. I'm tired of hearing about war and Nazis and bad things happening. Tonight, I want to pretend it's just us and there isn't anybody else around. I love when I get Daddy all to myself. It doesn't happen often.
"Not really," I mumble, suddenly ashamed of myself for such selfish thoughts.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk. Nonni used to say you were an observer not a parrot."
I turn my head to look up at him. "What's that mean?"
"It means you watch and take everything in, you don't just talk without thinking first."
"But what's that got to do with a parrot?"
He laughs. "A parrot repeats what it hears. It doesn't understand what it is saying. Words just come out. I think Nonni was saying you're smart."
That makes me feel good. Nonni was one of the smartest people I know. A lot smarter than Miss Simmons, my teacher, that's for sure.
We walk past the bend, and I sneak a glance at the sky near Dr. Monroe's house. No smoke is coming from the house. Maybe Artie isn't there. I didn't visit him today. After weeding I fell asleep reading my book. Then Momma, Daddy and I played rummy before Momma started on dinner.
"What are you looking for, Heddy?" Daddy looks in the same direction as me.
"Did Dr. Monroe die?" I ask.
"Not to my knowledge. Why do you ask?"
"Well, his daughter come and got him. If he wasn't dying, why couldn't he stay here. He loved it here."
"Well, sometimes it isn't safe to live by yourself. That's when your family has to make a decision about things. That's what family does, if they can."
"I heard Mrs. Collette telling Momma that Dr. Monroe was hollering at his daughter something awful. Made his daughter cry."
"Dr. Monroe is a proud man. He didn't want to have to depend on anyone. Your Nonni was the same. She grew to love living with us, but, let's just say, she could be a very stubborn woman when she wanted to be."
I look back at the high dunes that hide Dr. Monroe's house. A man's silhouette stands against the dusky pink and orange sky. I watch as the glowing end of his cigarette rises to his mouth. I lift my free hand to wave but let it fall. Artie doesn't want anyone to know he's here.
"See a big piece of driftwood?" Daddy asks, turning to look.
"No. I was looking at the sky. It's real pretty."
"My goodness, it sure is."
I look at the spot where Artie had just been standing. No one was there. Just the dark silhouettes of the dancing sea oats. He must have hid when he saw my daddy.
**********************************
The fire had flames of yellow and orange and blue. It was taller than my daddy. We sat in front of it, on an old sheet that Momma uses for picnics in the summer.
"I bet you can see this fire from all the way to the horizon."
"It's a pretty nice fire, if I do say so myself," Daddy says, taking one of the sticks that wasn't on fire and poking it further in.
"Daddy, have you ever told a lie?"
"Ladybug, I try my very best not to lie. But sometimes you have to. I'd be lying to you right now, if I said I'd never lied. I can think of only one man, no, wait, there are two men who never lied. Jesus and George Washington."
"That makes sense. It must be hard not to tell a single lie though, don't you think?"
He looks at me seriously. "I imagine it's very hard."
"So, can I get you to promise to tell me the truth? Do you think Willis will ever come home?"
Daddy looks into the flames and the glow ripples across is face. "I hope so, Heddy, but it's up to God to decide. All you, me and your momma can do is pray."
A piece of wood shifts and a plume of embers shoot towards the sky.
"That's what Nonni said," I whisper.
I scoot over closer to him and his arm comes around me. "God's will be done," he says as he kisses the top of my head. "Isn't that right, Ladybug?"
By GWHARGIS
Heddy can talk to the spirit of her late grandmother, Nonni. Her brother has been injured fighting in the war and Heddy has met a man who is living in old Dr. Monroe's abandoned house.
**********************************
I help Momma carry out the wash and hand her the clothespins while she hangs everything up.
"I was thinking we could walk to the post office to mail our letters to your Aunt."
"Okay," I say, excited to go into town. It's not really a big town. There's the post office, a lady that sews clothes and sells notions. That's what Momma calls them, notions. She has odd things like sewing kits, some pretty glass dishes and stationery. Momma always looks at the stationery and tells her how much she'd like to buy it, but she never does.
One day, I asked her about it. "How come you just don't buy it. You sure do like it."
Momma just shook her head. "Costs too much, besides, I've still got enough at home."
If I ever get enough money together, I'm going to march into that store and buy every sheet she has. I'll bet my momma will be so happy she'll cry.
"Go on upstairs and wash your face and brush your teeth. I'll fix your hair when you come back downstairs."
When I come back down, she motions for me to sit on the back steps, one step below where she is. "How was that fire?" She hands me some bobby pins and starts brushing. I can hear her grunting lightly as the bristles hit one snag after another. "Land's sakes, Heddy, how do you get this many tangles in your hair?"
I shrug even though I know she isn't waiting on an answer. "This hurts," I say.
"It wouldn't hurt if you ever brushed your hair."
I doubt that's true. I don't think it's ever not hurt to get a brush through it.
**********************************
Mrs. Collette is talking to the old preacher from the Baptist Church. It's the only church on the island. My daddy went there as a child but said he didn't really cotton to a lot of their teachings. He said if God was as grumpy as the Baptists say, there wouldn't be as much beauty in the world. So, some Sundays, Daddy will sing some church songs. My favorite is The Old Rugged Cross. And my daddy has a good voice. It gets really low in the good parts, and I get chills just hearing it.
"Good morning, Reverend," Momma says. She ushers me into the post office. Her hand slides down my upper arm. "Best behavior, Heddy. We don't need him thinking you're a wild little girl who needs to go to church."
But, Mrs. Collette comes back inside alone. "That man is always trying to get me back to church," she says, slight amusement in her voice. "No thank you."
"I've got some letters to go out," Momma says, pulling the white envelopes out of her dress pocket. "Is there any mail here for us?"
Mrs. Collette turns towards the back. "Lester, could you check box 13?"
I see someone moving behind the curtain that divides the post office. A boy stumbles out from behind the curtain, two envelopes clutched in his hand.
"Lester. You're rumpling the letters," Mrs. Collette snatches them from his hand. "My sister's boy. Pleasant enough, but not too bright."
Momma smiles at him. She always has a nice smile for people she meets. "Are you here for the summer, Lester?"
He peers at her through thick lenses in his glasses. He nods quickly, a cowlick bounces around the crown of his head.
"His daddy is fighting the Japs. My sister is working at a munitions factory near Baltimore. She asked me to take him for the summer. But, I don't know, he may be here longer."
Lester sneaks a glance at me and I frown. He's a funny looking kid. He dresses like he ain't from around here. He's wearing black lace up shoes and wool pants.
"Aren't you hot?" I ask.
"Sorta," he says quietly. His voice is real soft, timid almost.
Momma makes small talk with Mrs. Collette for a few minutes then she looks over at Lester. "Would you like to come spend the afternoon at the beach? Tomorrow, Heddy can walk here and the two of you can walk back to the house." She doesn't even look at me. "Would you like to do that?"
He nods excitedly, casting a quick look at his Aunt. "May I? "
"I suppose so." She frowns for a moment before turning to my momma. "He doesn't have anything other than long pants."
"I'll go through some of Willis's clothes. We'll find something for him."
After we leave the post office, I look over at Momma. "Why did you invite him over. He's a boy, for one thing, and he's probably not gonna want to get in the water. He looks kind of sissy."
"Heddy. Stop that. If you were a child who had to spend all summer with Mrs. Collette, would you want to?"
"Well, no. I guess not."
"I think he likes you."
I groan, clutch my stomach and make a face. "Well, I don't like him."
She stops and turns me to face her. "Heddy, you will be nice to him. I'm not saying he's your boyfriend. You're both too young for that, but you will be nice."
I say little the rest of the way home, stewing in the anticipated misery that tomorrow would bring.
By GWHARGIS
Eleven year-old Heddy, lives on a small island off the coast of North Carolina. Sheltered from the real world, she wanders around the beach by herself. But lots of things are different now. World War 2 is changing families and people. Without the guidance of her grandmother, Nonni's spirit, Heddy wouldn't know what to do.
***********************************
Momma fixes my lunch then spends the afternoon going through some boxes of Willis's old clothes. She pulls out several things that she says might fit Lester.
Lester, even the name sounds funny. I'll have to nice to him, my momma will be watching me, but I don't have to like him. I've already decided I don't like him, and I don't care what my momma says, I don't have to like him.
"Can I go check on the beach?" I say, as she folds the chosen clothes, and places them on the bed before sliding the box back under Willis's bed.
The room doesn't feel like Willis anymore. It doesn't feel like Nonni either, for that matter. It feels, well, lonely, like nothing has been there for a long time.
"Be back by dinner time. I'm going to need your help shucking the corn."
I scramble towards the door, eager to run through the yard and jump into the warm sand.
***********************************
The beach looks untouched. The sand has been wiped clean overnight. All that's left of the fire is charred pieces, cold and black.
I head south, towards Dr. Morgan's. I wonder if Artie is still there. It's not been cold enough at night for a fire. I've been thinking about Artie. I'm pretty sure he's only borrowing the house. But why?
I pick up a handful of shells on my walk. I find a big conch. It's so pink on the inside, beautiful, really. There are a few holes in it, but it's nearly perfect. Momma will love this for her garden.
"You're heading to check on that man, aren't you?" Nonni says, falling into step beside me. "What fascinates you so about him?"
"I don't think he's handsome, if that's what you're thinking," I grumble without meeting her eyes.
"Heavens no. That's just plain silly." Nonni's laugh settles on me like a warm hug. I miss her laugh. I miss everything about my Nonni.
"Why does everyone think I need a boyfriend?"
"Who thinks you need a boyfriend?"
I let a heavy sigh escape. "I have to spend the day with a boy tomorrow. I don't want to, Nonni. Momma says it'll be fun. But I know she's gonna want me to be all nice and sweet. I don't want to."
"Well, Heddy, there's nothing wrong with being nice or sweet."
"But I gotta do it for him. I don't want to be nice and sweet for him."
"Tell me about this dreadful boy who's going to make you act all sweet and nice when you clearly don't want to."
"He's not dreadful, just odd. He was wearing wool pants today. Nonni, it's June. Nobody but a crazy loon wears wool in June."
"Did you tell him to put on shorts?"
I look at the sand, focusing on changing the grains around with my toes. "Mrs. Collette said he only had those pants. I guess he couldn't help it."
"Heddy, maybe you could help him get through the next couple of months, just as a friend."
"I suppose."
Nonni looks past me up towards the dune line. "I think your friend, Mr. Artie is outside. I'll bet he'd like that pretty shell."
I shrug. "It's just a shell. Grownups don't care about stuff like that. They like fancy presents."
"A gift can come from two places, Heddy. It can come from a place of expectation or it can come from the heart."
I start up the dune, turning to wave at Nonni, but she's gone.
***********************************
"Mr. Artie," I call as I push through the sea oats.
His back is to me. He's nailing a few shakes to the side of the house. The wind must have torn them free.
"Mr. Artie, it's me, Heddy," I say, louder this time. "What are you doing? "
Glancing over his shoulder, he nods but continues to work. I don't think he's used to doing work like this. My daddy always says work smart not hard. And, Mr. Artie is working awful hard.
"That's not how my daddy does it."
Artie stops, turns around and puts the hammer on the window sill. "How does your daddy do it?"
I point at the jar of nails. "He puts three or four nails in between his lips, then he doesn't have to dig in the jar with one hand while keeping the wood in place with the other."
Artie's mouth twitches. "Okay. Any other helpful hints?"
"Start with the lower pieces so the the ones above can overlap. Otherwise, you're gonna get a bunch of splinters trying to slide one piece under the other."
He nods, wiping the sweat from his brow. His shoulders are pink from working outside all morning.
"Thank you, Heddy. I'll try it your daddy's way to see if that helps."
I smile at him. "Oh, it will. My daddy is really smart. He can figure out damn near anything." My hand flies to my mouth. "I shouldn't have said that. Please don't tell my parents I said that word."
Artie comes closer and leans down to look me in the eye. "I guess we're both secret keepers now."
I release the breath I didn't even realize I was holding. "Why don't you want anyone to know you're here?"
"Because they want me to hurt people and I don't want to."
"Who wants you hurt someone?"
He gently reaches over, his thumb pushing my hair from my cheek. "My country."
I step back. "Are you American?"
Artie nods. "Yes, Heddy. You thought I might be a spy? Look at me. Do Germans have red hair? Do they read Charles Dickens? Do their hearts burst with pride every July fourth?"
"No."
"Then that is your answer." He stands up, glancing at the shell in my hand. "That's a very nice shell."
"It's a present ... for you."
Artie's eyes dance with excitement as I place it in his outstretched hand. "Thank you, Heddy. I have nothing for you. I'm sorry."
I shrug. "It's okay."
After a few minutes, Artie goes back to hammering, three nails sticking out between his teeth.
I walk a ways back towards my house, then climb up into the cover of a tall dune. Mr. Artie said our country wanted him to hurt people. Nobody nice would want to do that. Willis could be mean sometimes, but I don't believe he wants to hurt anyone.
A rumble sounds in the distance. I look from one end of the horizon to the other. Dark gray clouds tinge the northern end. We're going to get a storm.
I should hurry home but I don't. There's no war here tucked behind this dune. War is in the houses, it's across the Atlantic. But here is the one place the stupid war can't touch me.
By GWHARGIS
So far, eleven-year-old Heddy has met a stranger living in a doctor's abandoned house, found out her brother has been injured in the war, and now she has to entertain a strange boy.
**********************************
Lester and Mrs. Collette are waiting on the porch of the post office when I walk to collect him.
His dark hair is slicked down and even his cowl lick is behaving. He smiles timidly while I say hello to his aunt.
"Don't do anything stupid while you're there, Lester. Heddy and her folks are nice people. Don't need you causing any trouble."
I squint as I look him over. There isn't one thing about Lester that says trouble. He's as exciting as a glass of buttermilk.
Lester nods. "Yes, ma'am."
She puts her hands on her hips and taps her foot. "Well, go on then. And you remember to use your manners."
We don't talk, just walk an arms length apart, him in his rut in the road and me in mine. He looks around, eyes darting from the oyster covered path to the live oaks on either side.
"What are you looking for?" I finally ask.
"Nothing in particular, just looking. What kind of trees are these? I never seen any like them before. They look like a big old tangled mess."
"Live oaks. The branches weave around each other. Lots of animals live in them. I seen foxes come out, deer, snakes are all in there," I say, grinning as Lester moves closer to me and further away from the edge of the road. "Oh, and rabbits. I bet I've seen a hundred or more rabbits run in and out of the brush."
Lester reaches down and unbuttons the cuff of his shirt. "Sure is a hot one," he says, sighing as rolls his sleeves.
"How come you didn't pack any summer clothes?"
"Out grew everything I had. Even my shoes are a size too small. Got my toes bunched up like this," he holds out his fist and grins.
I hold up my hand to make him stop. "Take your shoes off, Lester, before your feet get afflicted."
He looks over at me. "What's afflicted mean?"
"Means they get stuck all bunched up. My Nonni used to tell me God didn't mean for us to wear shoes, least not in the summertime."
He must believe what I'm telling him is true because he sits down in the middle of the road and unties his laces before tugging his shoes off.
"Now wiggle 'em," I say.
"Why?"
"It undoes the affliction."
He nods, more to himself than to me. "Makes sense."
"Lester, here's how things are gonna go. I'm gonna be nice to you. That's the right thing to do. But don't go getting any ideas that I'm gonna let you be my boyfriend. Cause you're not."
"That's okay. I like Lucille Dixon. She's the most prettiest girl back home. And she likes me back. So you don't have to worry about me getting all sweet on you."
"Well, good. We're clear on this then."
Silence resumes as we start walking towards my house again. I look at the clouds, trying to figure out what the biggest puffy one looks like. Then my mind starts to wonder what's so special about Lucille Dixon.
**********************************
Momma hands Lester several things to try on in the bathroom. Each time he comes out in something of Willis's, Momma gushes. "Lester, you look so handsome in that blue shirt" or "that might even fit you into next summer."
All I can do is stare at his bright white legs sticking out of my brother's shorts.
After we eat a snack of strawberries and blackberries, I lead Lester to the beach.
He starts hopping around from one foot to the other as soon as he hits the sand. "Ouch. My feet are burning," he squeals.
"Run down to the water, silly." I watch as he runs, his spindly white legs kicking up a storm of sand. He squeals again as the cold surf races over his feet.
The sand is awfully hot but it wouldn't do for me to run around like a silly nincompoop girl. I bite my bottom lip and walk down to join him.
"It's not that bad. I've seen it get so hot, it melted the shoes right off a man's feet."
"What man?"
I shrug. "I don't remember who he was. Just remember his smoldering shoes."
For just a second, Lester looks concerned, then he grins at me. "You're joking, aren't you?"
"Yes, I was just joshing with you. But it does get hot enough to really burn the soles of your feet."
"You think there are sharks out there?" He points to the ocean.
"I know there are. But they don't really bother you. I sometimes see dolphins, in the evenings just after dinner. They're so fun to watch. Sometimes they'll race the waves. And they jump up out of the water."
Lester scans the water. "My daddy is over on the pacific. He's on a huge ship."
"Does he write you letters?"
Lester's shoulders sag. "He wrote a couple, right after he joined up, but the last couple of letters were all marked up. Half of them didn't make any sense. My mom said he was likely going mad being stuck out on the ocean all the time."
"You want to write him a letter? Momma's got some fancy stationery."
"Nah. I don't know his address. Besides, my aunt probably wouldn't give me a stamp to put on it."
"Is Mrs. Collette mean?"
Lester reaches down and grabs a handful of wet sand. He sculpts it in between his fingers before throwing it into the surf. "Mom says Aunt Nancy is like being stuck on an elevator with somebody gassy. You can't be rude and tell them to stop passing wind, you just have to suffer until you arrive at your desired floor."
I laugh heartily at this.
I spend the afternoon being nice to Lester. And, when it's time for us to walk back to the post office, I realize maybe having a boy as a friend might not be so bad.
By GWHARGIS
So far, eleven-year-old Heddy has met a man named Artie who showed up at Dr. Monroe's abandoned house. She and her family receive a letter that her older brother, Willis, has been injured in the war. Now, she has spent the day with a boy who is visiting the island.
**********************************
Momma is frying up fish cakes for dinner. While she is cooking them up, I trick Lester into helping me pick the vegetables that are ready.
"My mom had a tomato plant one time. The bugs ate the leaves and we didn't get the first tomato off of it." He weaves through the plants, pausing every couple of steps to stop and study the leaves or the vegetable itself. "How do you know when somethings ready?"
"You just know." I twist a cucumber off the vine and place it in my basket. "Get some of those tomatoes," I say.
"How will I know if they're ready?" Lester asks.
"Are they red?"
He scans one of the plants then nods.
"Then they're ready."
He pulls six off, manages to only drop two in the dirt as he makes his way over to put them in my basket.
"You like cantaloupe?" I use my barefoot to point to the fruit peeking out of the overgrown vine. "I think that ones ready."
Lester hurries towards it and kneels down. He works diligently trying to get that cantaloupe free. Finally, he plops down on his rear in the dirt. "They sure are tough to get free."
"Run ask Momma for a knife. We can saw it loose."
He sighs and gets up, awkwardly stepping over the lanes of cucumbers and squash. "I'll be right back."
I pull some squash and two big fat eggplants and carry them back to the porch with my basket full of cucumbers and tomatoes.
I can hear my momma asking Lester about things only mommas want to know. Did he like school? What was his favorite subject? Did he go to church? Lester answered her every question. He even told Momma that he loved school. Momma said, "I sure wish Heddy did. She'd rather spend her days roaming the beach looking for shells."
"I don't blame her. If I lived in a place like this, I'd never want to leave."
I bite my lip to keep from laughing because I know that isn't what my momma wanted to hear him say.
"Lester, go tell Heddy to come on inside, then the both of you need to go get washed up. Dinner is almost finished."
"Yes, ma'am."
**********************************
After dinner is finished and Daddy and I had walked Lester back to the post office, I decide to take a stroll along the water's edge. I even promised to take a bath if I could go.
I don't have to walk very far before Nonni falls in step beside me. "Well, how was your afternoon with that dreadful little boy?"
I shrug. No sense lying to her because she knows when I lie. "He was fine. He's funny. Didn't expect that."
She nods. "You set him straight about not wanting a boyfriend, right?"
Again, I shrug. "He said he had a girlfriend. Lucy something. He said she was the prettiest girl back home."
"That must have made you feel better," Nonni says. "It did, didn't it?"
I stop and sit Indian style on the damp sand. "Nonni, am I pretty?"
Nonni cups my chin and tilts my head. "No, Heddy. You're beautiful."
I smile, feeling happy and warm all the way through. "Willis told me I looked like I swallowed a quarter and broke out in pennies."
"Willis was teasing you. You look like your momma. And your momma is beautiful. But, you haven't hit your season yet."
"What's that mean, Nonni?"
"Means right now you're still a little girl. You shouldn't worry about whether you're pretty. Just be Heddy right now. You've got the rest of your life to think about things like that."
I close my eyes as the warm evening breeze blows across my cheeks. I look like my momma. I wonder if she ever looked like me or was she always this pretty.
Nonni is gone when I open my eyes. I look around. Artie is standing by the waters edge. His pants legs are rolled up to just below his knees.
"Hi, Mr. Artie," I call, jumping to my feet to run towards him. "Did you finish fixing Dr. Monroe's house?"
"Almost finished. And thank you for telling me how to do it correctly. "
"You're welcome."
He stands there, his hands thrust into his pockets, just staring at the waves. "I saw you playing on the beach today."
My cheeks burn because I know Mr. Artie knows I was spending time with a boy. "He's not my boyfriend."
"Duly noted. Must be nice to have someone to play with though, right?"
"Sure. You want me to bring him around so you can meet him?"
Artie steps back from the water. "No, but thank you. You probably should just keep him down your end of the beach. You, uh, didn't tell him about me, did you?"
"No."
Artie smiles and squats down beside me. "That's good, Heddy. I like people I can trust."
The sky is getting darker, and I know my parents are going to come looking for me. "I better go."
"Remember, Heddy," he says, then puts his finger to his lips.
I turn and run. I'm not so much scared as I am confused. I don't like secrets. Artie wants me to keep his secret. I think about Mr. Collette, the janitor. He caught me spying on him and my teacher. He winked at me as he put his finger to his lips.
Secrets used to be fun. Now they're ugly. Maybe Nonni was lying when she said I was beautiful. Maybe I'm just an ugly secret keeper.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy talks to her deceased grandmother, Nonni. A stranger has moved to the island and only Heddy knows about him. She has a new friend, Lester. Her brother Willis has been injured in the war and her family waits for information.
**********************************
Lester can't come over today. He has to help Mrs. Collette with sorting the mail. Three days a week the boat comes from the mainland, it's filled with all kinds of things. Momma and I walk there every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
Lester peeks out from behind the curtain when he hears us come in. I can tell he hasn't had to take a bath. His hair is all willy-nilly and he has something crusty on the corner of his lip.
"Hey, Heddy," he calls out. He takes a step out from behind the curtain.
Mrs. Collette isn't having it. She puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head. "Get back to work, Lester. They came for their mail, not to visit with you.
He looks away, cheeks flushing pink. "Yes, ma'am."
My momma doesn't ever make ugly faces, but I know when she gets mad or doesn't like something. Her left eyebrow flickers upwards, she looks around real quick and then her lips just disappear. Willis used to be able to imitate her perfect.
"Here's your mail. Looks like you got a letter from your sister there. Good news, I hope." Mrs. Collette leans onto the counter. She looks through the stack of mail before handing it to Momma.
"Thank you," Momma says, taking the envelopes from Mrs. Collette's hand. "Have a nice day." She motions for me to head to the door, then stops. "I realize Lester is a big help here at the post office, but do you think he can come to the house one day this week?"
Mrs. Collette grins, and it isn't a nice grin. Her teeth are long and yellow. "I wouldn't say he's much help. Gets in the way more than anything else."
Momma smiles. "Then you won't mind if he comes over."
I look past Mrs. Collette, Lester stands there with his fingers crossed.
"I suppose that will be alright." Mrs. Collette let's the smile fall away from her face. "I don't care one way or another."
"We'll be by in the morning to collect him."
We walk along the road in silence. I look up at Momma.
"I don't think she likes him."
Momma looks at me. "I think you might be right. That poor boy, stuck here all summer with her. She's just going to use him like hired help, except she isn't going to pay him. Well, I'm going to make sure that little boy has some fun. He's a child, for goodness sake. He needs a mother."
"He's got a mother. Least he told me he did."
"Here he doesn't. Just that cold aunt."
I nod. Momma sounds like that Baptist preacher all wound up. "Cold as a witch's tit," I offer.
She stops, eyes wide. "Heddy, where did you hear that?"
"School."
"I never want to hear you say that again. Do you understand?"
I nod, not trusting myself to answer.
A few more steps in silence before she starts talking again. "I swear I think she opens some of the mail and reads it."
"You should ask her."
Momma wipes sweat from her brow. "Honestly, I'd rather not know."
"I could ask Lester."
She smiles at me. "That's something you should never do. Ask one member of a family to divulge secrets of another. It's not nice."
I nod. I don't think Lester would have a problem telling us.
**********************************
Momma puts more of Willis's old clothes on the bed for Lester to try on. She sends him in the bathroom with an armload of shirts and pants, then oohs and awes when he comes out.
"Can we go?" I ask after he comes out wearing Willis's blue shorts and a striped t-shirt.
Momma nods. "Y'all stay out of the water. Ocean is churned up today."
"Okay." I hollar as we run down the stairs.
Lester learned real quick the trick to getting across the hot sand. He ran like cat with his tail on fire to the edge of the water.
"We can build a castle. Put a real deep moat around it."
We start digging in the wet sand. He's kind of slow at first but after a while he is packing the walls with handfuls of wet sand.
"This is huge." I step back to look it over. "You're a darn fine castle builder, Lester."
He smiles. "I've never done it before. Thanks."
"Shoot, here comes a wave. Block it." I say, stretching my arms around the base of it. "We probably should have built it further up ... but, oh well."
Lester starts digging a deeper trench around it. "This might help."
Lester is pretty smart. He probably would know if Mrs. Collette was reading the mail. "Have you ever seen Mrs. Collette open other people's mail?"
He sits back on his legs. "No. But she holds some envelopes up to the light. Why?"
I shrug. "Just wondering." I don't say that my momma thinks she does. "Is Mr. Collette nice?"
Lester shrugs. "Nice enough. I found his whiskey hiding spot."
I feel my jaw dropping open. Mr. Collette drinks whiskey. "Does your aunt know? "
"That I found it? No."
"Does he know?"
"Yep. He winked at me and said that the stuff in that bottle was the key to a happy marriage."
Another wave comes rushing up and sweeps away the corner of the castle. Lester rushes over and starts packing more sand.
"Where is it hidden?"
Lester smiles. "It's behind the wood pile. Uncle Wayne says it's safe there because my aunt won't go near it. Said she saw a snake in the wood pile once. Never has gone near it again."
I laugh thinking about the little snake in our garden. I guess she'd never step foot in there either.
"Do you miss your momma?"
Lester nods. "More than anything."
"Momma said you needed her. She feels bad you're stuck with them."
"Your mom is nice. My mom is like her in a way ... except she's far away."
"This stupid war. One day, it'll end and all the brothers and daddies will come home and you'll get to go home to your momma."
"I sure hope you're right."
I hope so to.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has seen how things are changing due to the war. She has a new friend in Lester. And she is feeling more and more at odds with her decision to keep Artie a secret.
*************************************
Momma brings out two peanut butter sandwiches while we wait on the back steps. She rubs vinegar on Lester's shoulders to cool off the skin. I'm used to the sun. My shoulders and arms are ten times as brown as Lester's. His arms are pink.
"Maybe you two should play inside now. Your shoulders are getting burned." Momma smiles as Lester shivers from the vinegar soaked dish towel.
"There's nothing to do in here." Being inside makes me feel like I'm in school again. And, even though Lester says he likes school, I don't.
"Heddy, there are lots of things to do. You have some books, some of Willis's old toys are in the back of his closet. You have pencil and paper. Y'all could draw."
"How about he puts a shirt on? Then his shoulders won't get burned worse," I suggest.
Lester nods. "I'd kind of like to work on that castle some more."
"Okay, but on one condition. You both help me pick some green beans. I'd like to send some home with Lester. Okay?"
"You betcha," I say, excited that we managed to escape the dull confines of the house.
I wait while he pulls his t-shirt on, then we both bolt across the yard to the beach.
In our absence, the waves have all but leveled our castle. Lester looks real upset. "Dang it. We worked so hard on that."
I shrug. "I probably should have told you they don't last long."
He shrugs, then squats to pick up a handful of wet sand. He turns to toss it in the choppy sea. "Here. You might as well take all of it."
"Hey, let's go look for pirates."
He frowns. "There's no such thing as pirates. 'Least not anymore."
"Well, how about U boats?"
"Here? Why would the krauts want to be around here?"
"I don't know. But Mr. Chancellor, he lives on the other side of the island, he said his brother saw one. Just last fall."
Lester shakes his head. He squints at me, letting me know he doesn't believe me. "If he saw one, why didn't he call the navy? Did he?"
I'm sorta getting mad at him. He's asking the wrong questions. He should be asking if there might be more out there. "Well, I don't know the answers to those questions, Lester. I was merely telling you what I heard. My daddy was telling Momma and me. And, my daddy doesn't go around telling lies. So, it's true."
"Okay. Let's go look for Uboats."
Without another word, we go racing down the beach. I'm faster than him, but only because I'm used to running in the sand.
I catch myself looking up towards Dr. Monroe's house. I wonder if Artie is still staying there.
"Who's that?" Lester asks, pointing ahead.
There is Artie standing by the water's edge, hands thrust in his pockets. He looks deep in thought.
"Just some man."
Artie looks over, taking a few steps away from the water.
"Ah, Heddy. Always on the beach. Saltwater runs through your veins."
I feel my cheeks growing hot.
"And, who is your friend?"
Lester doesn't wait for an introduction. He extends his hand and clears his throat. "I'm Lester."
"I am Artie. It is nice to meet you. What are the pair of you up to?"
"Looking for Uboats. You know, krauts."
Artie folds his arms across his chest and studies Lester. "How will you know if you find one?"
"By their uniform," I say.
Artie thinks for a moment, and shakes his head. "What makes you think he would be in his uniform?"
"I've heard they all wear uniforms in Germany. Even the children and women," Lester says.
Artie nods. "What would you do if you found one, or even two?"
"Run and tell someone," I say.
"I'd probably fight them. Knock them out then go tell someone."
Artie smiles, obviously impressed with our plan. "You know what I think? I think you both should go back to building your sand castles. Leave things to the soldiers."
Lester looks over at me, a funny expression on his face. "There aren't any soldiers here now, so, Heddy and I are the next best thing."
Artie shifts his body, standing tall, bringing his hand to his brow. His slices the air in a crisp salute. "Carry on. Keep us safe."
He looks at me and winks. "Remember, I'm just up the hill if you need reinforcements."
We walk a little further. Lester scans the horizon. "What's that?"
I look to where he's pointing. The smokestack of an old shipwreck peeks out of the water.
"Shipwreck. Been there for years."
He looks disappointed. "Oh. Was it a pirate ship?"
"No. Just a regular ship."
"Have you ever been to the other side of the island?" He reaches down to pluck an oyster shell up.
"Of course. It's more marshy. The inlet is on the other side. Lots of fishermen live over there, at least, the ones that didn't go in the army."
He nods. "Do you think that man, Artie, you think he might be a spy?"
I laugh. "That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. Artie is a thinker."
"He talked kind of funny. He didn't sound like you and he didn't sound like me. He's big and strong. Why isn't he in the army? What's he doing here?"
It was true. How had I not noticed all of that? Maybe he didn't sound like us, but that didn't make him a spy. "Lets go home. I'm tired of looking for silly old Uboats."
We turned around and headed back home. Artie was no longer on the beach. I was glad. I didn't want Lester to be looking for more clues about him.
Lester is my friend, but then, so is Artie.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has met a mysterious man named Artie. She has a new friend named Lester. Her deceased grandmother, Nonni, appears to her. The war isn't just something that's going on in Europe and the Pacific, its changing the shape of Heddy's world, as well.
***********************************
After Lester and I pick enough green beans for dinner and for Lester to take home, Momma makes us both go outside. My daddy takes the hose, and with a twist of the nozzle, he hoses all of the sand off of us.
Lester let's go a little squeal as the cold water hits him. To be honest, the water feels good to me. Some nights, it gets so hot you could wring out the sheets in bed.
"That's cold," Lester says, twisting his body first one way then the other like he can escape the spray.
"Alright, you two, arms up in the air," Daddy says, making sure there was no sand hiding there. "Okay, arms down. If there's sand left on either of you, I don't know how. Wipe down with that towel, then come inside to eat."
I watch as my daddy wrangles the hose back onto the hook on the side of the house. I catch Lester watching, too.
My guess is he misses his own daddy. I don't know how long it's been since he's seen him last. I know he hasn't seen his momma in almost three weeks. I've never been away from my own parents, except for one time my dad couldn't come home for almost a week. We had a terrible Nor'easter and the ferry couldn't run. I remember being scared the storm wouldn't ever end and he might never come home. I just remember crying when he finally walked through the front door. He looked at me and smiled when I told him how scared I had been. He hugged me tight and said, "Ladybug, let me tell you something. No man or storm, nothing can keep me from coming home to you. If I had to swim home, you best believe I would. Now, stop those tears and show me your pretty smile. "
I believed him for a few years, but now I know there are things that can keep you from going home. Sometimes, no matter how bad you want to, you just can't make it home.
Lester eats like my daddy does. Both have their cheeks puffed out and make these little grunting noises. When I try to join in, my momma shakes her head.
"How come they get to do it?" I ask.
"Men are different. Ladies are more refined." Momma's voice is soft and gentle.
"What's that mean?"
My daddy swallows and taps the table top. "It means, men are more like animals. The females of the species are more, uh, what's the right word, hun?"
"Evolved?" Momma offers.
Daddy smacks his forehead. "Couldn't have put it any better."
I finish my dinner in silence. I like animals. The more I find out what makes men and women different, the more I understand one thing. Women don't get to do near as many things as men do. That just doesn't seem very fair.
***********************************
Mrs. Collette has closed the post office for the day by the time we get there. Lester leads us to the house in the field behind it. It's not in very good shape. The railing around the porch is missing a bunch of pickets. It's like looking at a first grader who lost some baby teeth. One of the dark green hurricane shutters is propped up on the porch.
I wrinkle my nose as I look around.
Lester nudges me and leans in to whisper, "Smells like cat pee inside."
"You got a cat," I ask, getting excited to see it, but he shakes his head.
"No. It just smells like they do."
Daddy knocks on the screen door.
"I see the ocean didn't carry you off," Mr. Collette says, pushing open the door and mussing Lester's damp hair. "Thanks for walking him home." He has a cigarette dangling from his lips, and it bounces up and down as he speaks. His eyes go from my daddy to me.
Daddy nods, putting his hand on Lester's shoulder. "It was a pleasure having him at the house."
Mrs. Collette hollers from the kitchen. "Hold on for a sec. I got something for you."
The floor creaks as she comes rushing out from the kitchen. She elbows Mr. Collette out of the way, and digs into her pocket. "I forgot to give this to your wife this morning. Looks like it might be from your boy."
Daddy takes the letter, slides it into his shirt pocket. He takes the paper sack filled with beans and hands it over. "We thought you might enjoy these."
He looks down at me and smiles, but it's different. There's worry in his smile.
"Bye, Lester," I say as we turn to leave.
Daddy takes the letter out of his pocket as we walk. "I know I should wait for your momma before I open this, but I can't." He pulls the flap up just enough to get his finger under there, then he rips the top open. He stands in the middle of the dirt road, eyes scanning the page. The tiniest smile breaks free from his serious expression.
"We've got to hurry home, Ladybug. Your brother is coming home. We need to tell your momma."
Even though he's smiling and laughing, his eyes are welled up and tears roll down his cheeks. "By the grace of God, Willis is coming home."
He stuffs the letter back in the envelope and with it clutched in his one hand, he grabs mine with his other. We run the rest of the way home.
While he and Momma read and re-read the letter, I go sit on the back porch. Nonni waits.
"That's good news, isn't it?" she asks.
"Yes. Momma will be a lot happier."
"Are you happy? I know you miss him."
I nod. "What if he's different? Clara Dunham, a girl from school, said her uncle came home from the war. She said he wasn't right in the head. What's gonna happen if Willis ain't right in the head?"
Nonni sits next to me. "Then you will need to change how you are with him. All you need to do is love your brother. Don't spend your time worrying about things that haven't happened yet."
I wrap my arms around my knees. But I am worried. Momma is expecting Willis, her Willis. What will she do if he isn't right in the head? What will any of us do?
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has met a mysterious man named Artie, who wants his presence on the island kept secret. She meets a new friend, Lester. Her deceased grandmother, Nonni, appears to her giving her advice now and then.
***********************************
Lester isn't allowed to come over for a few days. He looks miserable when we visit the post office. Mrs. Collette just barks orders at him the whole time we're there. She seems to be in an ill mood with Momma, too.
"Mrs. Collette, have I done something to offend you?" Momma asks. She puts a look of concern on her face.
"Frankly, you've introduced my nephew into a world of which he ain't accustomed. Made him think he's too good for the likes of Wayne and myself."
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, brother. Ever since you showed up here, you've acted like you don't belong here. Like the rest of us are below you." Mrs. Collette reaches under the counter and waves an envelope in the air.
I recognize the letter. It's one of the envelopes that my momma uses for her letters to Aunt Lana.
"You and your fancy stationery."
"I brought that in here last week!" Momma says. Her eyebrows shoot up and she reaches for it, but Mrs. Collette tosses it back under the counter.
"Give me that."
"It's now property of the U. S. Post office."
My mother draws in a deep breath and straightens up. "Mrs. Collette, you are a vile woman. You treat this child like he's your servant. He needs love. No child wants to leave their home and come to place where they are treated as if their only reason for being here is for your convenience."
Mrs. Collette turns towards Lester. "Do I treat you badly?"
Lester stares at his aunt.
"Well, answer me."
"I'm, uh, fine." He stares at the floor, his cheeks turning bright pink. "I'm treated real good here."
Mrs. Collette turns a smug smile on my momma. "There. You see? You think Lester would lie? If I treated him so badly, why wouldn't he tell you?"
I look over at Lester. He won't look up, not at me or Momma. He just stares at the floor.
Momma turns to Mrs. Collette. "I'll take my mail, please."
Mrs. Collette, still smiling, tosses a handful of mail on the counter. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Momma nods a curt goodbye to her, turns and walks over to where Lester is still standing. She gently touches his chin and leans to kiss the top of his head. She whispers something to him then steps away.
I follow her to the door, pausing long enough to look back at Lester. He tries to smile but his face is clouded with misery. He waves weakly before ducking behind the curtain.
***********************************
Momma is quiet through most of the afternoon. She sets her sights on fixing Willis's room up for his return.
I spend the afternoon carrying buckets of clean water in for her to use and then carrying the dirty water out. I drag the rug out to the back porch.
I carry an armload of curtains and quilts out to the kitchen so Momma can wash them later.
"Are you still mad?" I ask, hoping she won't get angry with me for bringing it up.
"I'm not mad, Heddy. I'm just, well, I'm just frightened that Lester isn't going to get the love and nurturing that he needs and deserves."
"He said it was fine."
She reaches her hand out. "Did you believe him when he said that?"
Slowly, I shake my head. "What did you say to him?"
"I just told him he was always welcome in our home, and that if he ever needed us we would be there for him."
"When is Willis coming home?"
"Should be soon. The letter was dated three weeks ago. I'm sure we'll get news soon."
"Are you excited? I know you miss him."
Her smile says it all. "All those prayers have been answered."
**********************************
While Momma washes the curtains and sheets, she let's me run to the beach.
I head to Dr. Monroe's house. I need to ask Artie why he isn't a soldier. Every man, woman and child has a duty to our nation. Miss Simmons told us that. We all have to do what we can for our country.
He's sitting on a metal chair just staring out at the ocean.
"Hello again, Heddy."
I stop at the top of the dune suddenly shy.
"Cat got your tongue?"
"Why aren't you a soldier?"
He nods, smiling as if he knew I was going to ask that question. "I had a feeling your friend passed his suspicions on to you. He thought I was a spy? A deserter, maybe? Now, you think maybe Artie is a bad man?"
He doesn't move but I feel myself taking steps backwards. "Why are you here?"
Artie stands, looks at me and sighs. "Because the Fuhrer wants me to come home and help him take over the world."
"The fuhrer? He's German."
Artie looks at me, a small sad smile greets me.
Lester was right. He is a spy.
"You lied to me!"
"No. I love America. I've lived here for a very long time. But I'm still a German citizen. I've been called home. They will try to use me to gain information. I don't want that. I love America and it's people. I love you, Heddy. I don't want to do anything that would put you or anyone in danger."
Germans and Japs are monsters. Everybody knows that. Artie looks so sad. I should run and tell someone about him. I always thought if I found a pirate or a German soldier, I'd tell and be a hero. I could save our island.
So, why do I find myself running to Artie, arms open for a hug? Because I believe him. And, he's the only friend I have left.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has met a new friend, Lester. She finds out that her mysterious neighbor is German, and she waits for her older brother Willis to come home.
***********************************
I used to love to dream. Its the only time you can go on adventure without having to leave the coziness of your own bed. And, I've had some pretty exciting dreams, too.
Once, I dreamed I was riding a horse on the beach. He was running real fast, his hooves were kicking up sand and water. My hands holding on to his silky black mane. I remember being so happy in that dream, like you are when it's your birthday and people give you packages wrapped in pretty paper. It was just like that feeling. But when I woke up, I knew I was just holding onto the sheet that was over me. After that dream, the rest of the day was just ordinary.
Last night I dreamed. Willis came home, but it wasn't really Willis. I could tell it wasn't him, but Momma and Daddy acted like nothing had changed. Daddy asked me why I wasn't happy my brother was home, and all I could say was, "Cause it ain't Willis." I remember running, trying to get away before my daddy made me go see him. I just ran as fast as I could. And it was getting dark with clouds and I was real scared. Then I woke myself up with a cry.
Nonni was sitting on the edge of the bed. Her soft, cool hand stroking my brow. "What spooked you, Heddy?"
"Willis came home only it wasn't really him."
"I suspect you're nervous having him come home."
"But I want him to come home. Really, I do."
Nonni nods, her hands now busy straightening the covers around me. "I know you do. But, you're smart enough to know that people who leave for war aren't always the same when they come back. Who knows, Heddy, he might just need a few days to breathe in this good salty air, and he'll be good as new."
I nod then roll on my side and curl towards her. "Why did you have to leave, Nonni?" I whisper.
"It was just my time. Don't you worry, Nonni will always be with you."
I fall back asleep with Nonni rubbing my head.
***********************************
"Heddy," Momma calls from the kitchen. "Would you mind watering the garden for me?"
I race down the stairs and zoom past her towards the screen door.
"You think I can make a tomato sandwich and take it to Lester? He really liked the one you fixed that one time." I kick the screen door with my toe, letting it open and close repeatedly.
"Heddy, please stop doing that. It's just a matter of time before your foot goes right through the screen. And, your daddy will skin you alive if he has to fix it."
I stop but not because of the threat. My daddy would never hurt me. He even teared up one time after he had to take the switch after me. That was worse than the whipping. I stopped because my momma was starting to look like she did in the post office yesterday.
"So, can I?"
"Yes. And check to see if Mrs. Collette has any mail she may have forgotten to give us."
I turn on the hose and sprinkle water across the whole garden. Then I fill up the bucket to water everything on the back row. The hose isn't long enough to reach the back of the garden.
I pull off a huge cantaloupe that looks ripe, and carry it inside.
"Can I take some to Lester?"
Momma nods, a smile on her face.
"Why are you smiling? "
Momma shrugs and pulls a knife from the drawer. "Oh, I was just remembering a certain little girl who was quite upset at having to play with a boy. Now, she's taking him lunch."
"He's not my boyfriend. Yuck. Gross."
"I know he's not. But he has become a very good friend. And, you're worried about him and miss him, just like I do."
"Yeah. I miss playing with him."
"That's understandable." She continues to cut the pale orange fruit into small cubes. She picks a piece up and offers it to me then pops one in her mouth. "Mmm. This is the best one yet."
**********************************
Lester is sweeping the porch of the post office when I finally get there. It's a long walk from my house. I never noticed it while I walked with my momma or daddy. But alone, with no one to talk to, it seemed to take forever.
"Hey, Heddy. You here for your mail? The ferry don't bring it til tomorrow."
"Just wondering if Mrs. Collette found anything that might have been overlooked yesterday," I say, remembering the exact words Momma had told me to use. "Oh, and I brought you one of those tomato sandwiches and some cut up cantaloupe. It's the sweetest one yet."
Lester's eyes light up at the mention of the food. "Good. I'm starving. All I've had is a hard boiled egg today."
He quickly jumps from the porch to where I'm standing. The bread looks soggy but that doesn't stop him. He eats it faster than I've ever seen anyone eat. There's mayonnaise on the corners of his mouth and he just wipes his forearm across it.
"Gosh, Lester, you really were hungry."
I look up past him to see the door open. Mrs. Collette looks at me. She doesn't smile or say anything then quick as a lightning bolt she shuts the door again.
"Is she ever gonna let you come back over?"
"Well, I talked to Uncle Wayne. He said let her cool down. Maybe next week. I'll go see if there's any mail, but then I better get back to sweeping. I kinda need to stay on her good side."
He climbs the four steps to the porch and disappears inside. Less than a minute later he comes out and shakes his head. "There's nothing here. Ferry delivers tomorrow."
I wave goodbye and start the long boring walk home.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy meets a mysterious man who is hiding on the island. And she meets a new friend named Lester. Her family finds out that her older brother is coming home.
**********************************
Momma and I walk to the post office just before lunch. She fixes two extra sandwiches for Lester. When I told her how quickly he ate the food I brought him yesterday, she put her hands on her hips and got the most determined look on her face.
"That boy isn't going to starve if I can help it."
"You think Mrs. Collette would let him starve? He's her kin. She wouldn't do something like that, would she?"
Momma's face softened and she leaned close to me. "No. Your momma is just being silly. Don't pay me any mind. Maybe I can convince Mrs. Collette to let him come over tomorrow."
I hope she can, but I have my doubts. The way Mrs. Collette looked at me yesterday makes me think she hasn't forgotten what my momma said to her.
There is some leftover chocolate cake on the counter. It teases from its glass platter. Without a word, Momma pulls a plate down from the cabinet and lifts the glass dome from the cake. She slices two pieces of cake and deposits them on the plate.
"He gets two pieces of cake?" I ask. I feel my mouth start to water. I hope one of those slices is for me.
Momma shakes her head. "One is for Lester and the other is for Mrs. Collette. Maybe she'll take it as a peace offering."
Momma winks and carefully puts the food into a basket on the counter. "Ready?" she asks after draping a clean dish towel over it.
The walk is much nicer when you have someone with you. It doesn't feel nearly as long and even the scenery seems more interesting.
Momma points up. "Look, Heddy, there's a woodpecker."
I follow the direction her finger is pointing. There on the side of a tall thick pine trunk, the oddest looking bird is banging its beak into the bark.
"Isn't that fascinating?"
"How come he doesn't get a headache? That's got to hurt."
Momma shrugs. "That's nature. Nature sometimes just doesn't make sense to you and me, but God knows what He's doing."
We continue along until we can see the roof of the post office just ahead. I watch as Momma stops walking for just a few seconds. Her shoulders rise and fall rhythmically.
"Momma? Why are we stopping?"
"Sometimes you need to take a deep breath and take a moment to gather your thoughts before you do something."
I nod but not because I understand what she's saying, but I feel like she needs someone to agree with her. I draw in a deep breath too.
"Okay, let's go check on Lester."
***********************************
Mrs. Collette bristles when she sees us come in. She busies herself with a pile of mail and starts tossing them into smaller bushel baskets around her. "Ferry just left. Haven't had time to go through all the mail sacks yet."
Lester peeks out from the back room and waves quickly before disappearing again.
"I'm guessing you haven't had time for lunch either," Momma says, lifting the basket and placing it on the wooden counter.
Mrs. Collette looks at the basket then at my momma. A frown creases her brow. "What's this for?"
"I figured you both are working through lunch and you might be hungry. I thought it would be the neighborly thing to do."
"Well, that is quite neighborly." She lifts up the dish towel and spots the cake. "Chocolate cake. Mmm. Haven't had a good piece of cake in ages."
"This is my grandmother's recipe."
"It's real good, Mrs. Collette," I say.
Her eyes flicker over to me then back to the plate with the cake. "Lester, come on out here. Heddy and her momma brought us lunch."
Lester walks out from behind the curtain and comes over to stand beside me.
"Mrs. Collette, I just wanted to apologize for my comments the other day. I shouldn't have called you a vile woman. I'm worried about my boy and the terrible things going on in the world right now. I know it's no excuse ... anyway, I'm sorry."
Mrs. Collette tilts her head, makes a little sniffing noise then nods. "I don't go through your mail. I'm not a dishonest woman."
"No, of course not."
"Well, please enjoy this food and we'll come back tomorrow to collect the mail ... after you're done sorting it." Momma touches my arm and motions to the door.
Mrs. Collette is already digging through the basket. "Well, now, hold on. Maybe Lester can bring it once we've gone through and sorted it."
Momma's smile couldn't have been any brighter when she heard that.
"Would it be alright if he stayed for dinner?"
Mrs. Collette shrugs. "Fine by me."
Lester nudges me. He puts a letter in my hand and then closes my fingers around it. "I'll bring your mail after I'm done here," he says.
Sliding my hand behind my back, I say goodbye to them both and follow my momma out of the post office.
We make it around the bend in the road before I look down at the letter I'm holding. "It's from Willis."
I hold out the envelope for my momma.
"Where'd you get that?"
"Lester slipped it to me."
She stops and studies the envelope. "I guess I should open it. This looks like your brother's handwriting." Her fingers shake as she tears the flap open. I watch her face as she reads. The serious intent replaced by sheer joy as she reads further. "Heddy, Willis wrote this. He's okay. He says he's coming home. Oh, sweet Jesus, my boy is coming home."
As the tears roll down her cheeks, she holds the paper to her breast. "He's coming home."
For the rest of the afternoon, she's humming and smiling. It's good to see her happy.
But, why didn't Lester just hand it to her? It was like he was hiding it. And there is only one person he could be hiding it from. Mrs. Collette.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy meets a new friend, Lester. She also finds a German who is hiding on the island. Both are her friends but both have secrets.
************************************************************************************************
Lester shows up just after three-thirty, with the basket we had left at the post office and a handful of mail stuffed in amongst the dirty plates. He watches as my mother empties the basket, placing the dirty plates in the sink. " I can wash those for you, ma'am," he says. "My momma always said never return a plate empty or dirty. Don't guess my aunt knows about that."
Momma runs her hand across the top of his head. "Thank you, Lester, but that's not necessary. Why don't you and Heddy run to the beach. Dinner won't be ready until about five-thirty. You two go on and have fun."
She didn't have to repeat herself because both Lester and I turn and run for the screen door. After we had raced down to the water's edge, I turn to look at Lester. He looked dirty again. His hair was sticking up like he had just climbed out of bed and hadn't taken time to comb it. But it wasn't just that. It was greasy and his skin was dull. Maybe that was because he was spending all his time working in the post office instead of getting outside. "How come you didn't want anyone to see the letter you gave me?" I ask.
"If my aunt knew I found her hiding spot, she'd twist my ears off."
I wince thinking how painful it would be to have your ears twisted round and round until they just broke off. "She hid my brother's letter?"
Lester nods slowly. "She hides all kinds of stuff. Especially if somebody comes in asking for something. The preacher came in a week ago and was asking if a letter had come for him from his brother in New York. She had the letter under the counter, but she looked him right in the eye and told him no. That letter had cash in it. She held it over a pan of boiling water and steamed it open."
"She did?"
"You better believe it. She counted out the money. Told me there was only six dollars in it, but I was watching. I know there was eight. When I asked her what happened to the other two dollars," he pauses and looks real serious for a minute. "Lets just say, she doesn't like being called a liar." Carefully he rolls his shirt sleeves up and reveals a bruise that encircles his arm just above his wrist.
"She did that? Does it hurt?"
He shakes his head. "Just wasn't expecting it. She told me to mind the post office while she ran across the field to the house. I'm guessing she was hiding the two dollars there. But, while she was gone I started snooping around. I found a corner of the counter that she keeps peoples letters and mail. She gives it to them eventually, but not until she's good and ready. That's where I found the letter from your brother. If she had seen me give it to you, then she would know I had found her hiding spot."
We plop our behinds down in the sand and stare out at the ocean. There isn't a wave or ripple visible. The surface looks like glass.
"Sure is different than the other day," he says.
"My Nonni said that the ocean is like a woman. Sometimes she's nice and polite, then other times she teases you. Then there are times when she's dangerous, like a woman scorned."
"What's scorned mean?"
I shrug. "I guess it means angry."
Lester reaches down and tugs his shoes and socks off. He wriggles his feet in the sand. "Well, she sure is acting all polite today."
I like Lester. He is a nice person and I think he can keep a secret. But should I tell him about Artie? Would sharing what I know about Artie be wrong? I'm sure if he talked to Artie, he'd understand why Artie is hiding here on the island. Then I wonder, suppose Lester tells someone else. Maybe whoever he tells would rat Artie out. I can't take that chance. I owe it to Artie.
"Heddy, did you hear what I was telling you?"
"Sorry. I was looking at the water." I lie. I don't like to lie but sometimes there really is no other choice.
"I said Uncle Wayne let me sip his liquor. He told me not to tell anybody, but heck, you're not just anybody."
"Did you throw up?"
"No. It wasn't good but it made my belly all warm." He looks over at me and his cheeks are pink. "It made me feel like I was older. Like Uncle Wayne thinks of me as a man."
I laugh out loud. "You aren't a man, Lester. Men are tall and have scratchy faces. They talk with deep voices and hold doors for ladies, and they sweat...lots."
He looks down. "I sweat and I'm tall. Well, I'm taller than you."
"Trust me, Lester, you do not want to be a man."
"Yes, I do want to be one. Being a kid is awful. You get sent away from home, I wasn't even given a choice. My mom just packed a bag and put me on a bus. I didn't want to come down here."
"I'm sorry you had to leave your home. I wouldn't like that much either. But men have to leave their homes too. Willis didn't want to go fight, but nobody gave him a choice either. And my friend, he has to hide because they expect him to fight."
"He's hiding? You're friend is a coward? They'd put him in the brig for that. That's jail for soldiers. He shouldn't be hiding. That's unpatriotic."
"He's not American," I blurt.
Lester squints his eyes. "If he ain't American, what is he?"
I bite my lip. I'm backed into a corner and Lester has no intention of letting this go. I won't tell him where my friend is.
"I'm just teasing," I say weakly.
"No you aren't Heddy. It's that guy we saw on the beach last week, isn't it?"
My stomach knots up. "Please, Lester, don't say anything. He's a nice guy. Even Nonni trusts him."
"Nonni?"
"She's my grandmother. She said he needed a friend."
"Your grandmother is dead, Heddy. Are you going coo-coo?"
I wipe my burning eyes with the back of my hand. "If you're really my friend, you'll keep this secret."
He turns and looks down the beach. "Okay, I will for now. But, I'm going to tell on him if I think I need to."
I'm guessing this is as good a promise as I'm going to get.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has a new friend, Lester. She finds out that the post mistress hides mail and opens letters. She accidentally told Lester about her friend, Mr. Artie. Lester realizes Artie is a German citizen.
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Nonni wakes me up with a gentle nudge. She waves her hand for me to follow her downstairs. "Do you think Lester is going to keep Artie's presence on the island a secret?" she whispers once we reach the kitchen.
I rub my eyes and settle into the chair by the stove. I used to sit in it when I was little and Momma would be cooking. Momma said she liked to talk to me while she cooked, but I heard her telling my aunt, Lana, that I tended to get into trouble when she couldn't see me. "He said he would, at least for now."
"And, you believe Mr. Artie was telling you the truth? That he is a pacifist?"
I squint. I don't know what that is, but I don't want to seem stupid to Nonni. I shrug. "I believe him. He don't want to hurt anyone. He's afraid of the Fuhrer, that's Hitler."
"We should all be afraid of that man," Nonni says. "Maybe, when your brother comes home, Lester will forget all about Mr. Artie."
"Are you afraid for him? Do you think something bad is going to happen to him?"
Nonni pulls the ladder back chair from the table and sets it in front of me. She sits and reaches over to take my hands in hers. "Heddy, when people are afraid, they make decisions sometimes that hurt others. I remember when I was a young woman, we had a colored man who lived in the village. He did odd jobs, was friendly and everyone liked him. We let him be. Then one night someone got stabbed, right there in town. Everybody turned on him. He swore he didn't hurt anyone, but some of the men in town, well, they didn't believe him." Nonni looks away, worry in her eyes. "I'm just saying, things might not be so good for your friend Artie if it gets out that he's a German hiding out on the island."
"What happened to the colored man, Nonni?"
"They hung him, Heddy. They hung that poor man from a tree."
"Why?"
"Because they were afraid. My daddy was one of them. He didn't tell me until he was on his deathbed. He begged God for forgiveness. But, it didn't change what happened." Her hands tremble as she holds mine.
"I won't let anything happen to Mr. Artie." I whisper.
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Momma wakes me up early. Even though I'm tired and want to stay under the sheet, she keeps coming into my room, telling me how much we have to get done before Willis comes home. I pull on my shorts and top, make up my bed because I don't want to have to come back upstairs later when it's hot.
Momma places a bowl of cut up fruit in front of me when I sit at the table. "Your daddy found a blackberry bush when he was walking from the ferry last night. Said to tell you that he had to wrestle a black bear for these." She smiles and winks at me. "So, make sure you give your daddy a big hug when he gets home tonight."
The blackberries are kind of bitter but I eat every single one in my bowl. I know he didn't wrestle a bear, but I'm guessing he would if he had to. "So, when is Willis going to come home?" I ask, licking my berry stained fingers.
"He is coming stateside in six days. So, your daddy thinks he should be here in about fourteen days. We have so much to do, Heddy. I need you to take a bucket and a rag and go wash those living room windows, both inside and out. Use the newspaper to wipe them dry, okay."
I giggle. Using a newspaper to wash windows makes me laugh.
"I'll fix up the vinegar rinse to wash them with. Then you go around the house and wash all the windows."
I blow a piece of hair up in frustration. This sounds like it's going to take all day. It's already hot and it's going to be hot as the devil when I go upstairs and have to wash those windows. "I don't understand why I have to wash the outside of the windows. The salt slime is just gonna come back in a couple of days."
"I don't need you to understand why, I just need you to do as I say." She doesn't wait for a response just turns and heads outside to grab the bucket. "Hurry on up and finish your breakfast."
**********************************************************************************************
The living room windows sparkle when I finish. My hands smell like pickles and sweat has plastered my hair smack dab on my forehead. I know she's gonna make me take a bath when I'm done with my chores. This day gets worse and worse.
I head upstairs after lunch, toting the bucket of fresh vinegar and water and a ream of newspaper tucked under my arm. "How do I clean the outside of the windows up here?" I call from the top of the stairs.
"Your daddy can get the outsides with a ladder, you just worry about the insides."
The rest of the afternoon is lost to vinegar and newspaper. When I finally get to my room, I sit on the edge of my bed and look out. The panes are speckled with salt, but I can still see the ocean. There are trees around the side of the house, some tall pines and some walnut. The faint breeze teases the green leaves, making them dance in the air.
I walk closer to the window, looking down through the branches. Something is moving. I think about the story Nonni told me last night. I close my eyes, a man swings from a rope, I suck in my breath. "Don't open your eyes, Heddy," I tell myself. "Don't look."
But, even with my eyes closed, I can see it. Only it isn't just the colored man swinging. Artie is swinging from the branch too.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has met a new friend named Lester. She also spilled the beans about a mysterious man who lives on the island. She has sworn Lester to secrecy but now worries he will tell.
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I'm fresh out of the bath when I hear the sound of my daddy coming home. He whistles the same tune every evening. My momma says it's the only song he knows, but I think she's just joking. I run out of the front door as quickly as I can. "Daddy," I say. "Look how pretty the windows look."
He stops in his tracks and takes his time looking the whole front of the house over. "Is this our house? Did we get new glass in the panes?"
I shake my head. "Nope."
"Well, they didn't look this shiny when I left home this morning. What's going on, Ladybug?"
I giggle. "I cleaned them. All of them. Inside and out."
He scratches his forehead and looks real surprised. "You did this? A little girl like you?"
I nod. He looks the house over again. This time he lets go a big sigh.
"Well, now, I am just stunned, Heddy. These windows look so clean, I'll bet some of the dumber birds will try to fly right in our house."
I glance over my shoulder. I hadn't thought about that. "I don't want a bird to get hurt, Daddy."
He starts to consider this for a moment. "Well, the good thing about living by the ocean is the salt air will settle back on the glass pretty quickly. I have an idea." He leans down and motions for me to come closer. "We can distract them. We can throw out some vegetable seeds and some old crusts of bread. That will keep them from flying around. They'll be so busy pecking away at the ground looking for their next meal that they won't be in the air."
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, my daddy is very smart. I know where the pile of cantaloupe rinds are out behind the garden. I can pick through the discards and find enough stuff to toss on the front yard.
"I've got good news, Heddy. Lets hurry up and go find your mother."
***********************************************************************************************
Momma sits at the table, reading a letter from my aunt. She looks up and tilts her head so my daddy can plant a kiss on her cheek. "Lana says Belinda has to change the date of her wedding. Seems her fiance has to ship out next month. Poor girl, she's heartbroken. She wanted a big beautiful wedding. Lana says they are going to get married by the justice of the peace next week."
"She'll get over it. We had a small wedding, remember?" Daddy says. His hand glides along the curve of Momma's shoulder.
"I do remember. I remember your momma wearing that purple flower in her hair, and the bees were chasing her all over the church yard."
Daddy chuckles. "You should have been there, Heddy. You would have enjoyed yourself."
Momma playfully smacks his hand.
"Are you ready for some really good news?"
Both Momma and I stare up at him, waiting for him to tell us what he's been holding back.
"Willis will be home next week." The words are hardly out of his mouth before my momma jumps up and throws her arms around his neck.
"Are you certain?" she asks, pulling back just enough to look into my daddy's eyes. "You aren't teasing me, are you?"
His smile is gentle when he looks at her. "I would never do something like that. I received this telegram today when I was at work. He's coming home, sweetheart. Our boy is coming home."
I wrap my arms around both of them, so glad to see them happy. I'm happy too. I really am.
My daddy goes into the living room and walks over to the phonograph. He takes one of the shiny black records and puts it on the spindle. Music fills the room. "May I have this dance?" he asks, bowing in front of my mother. "Say yes, and you'll make me the happiest man on earth."
My mother unties her apron and reaches to fix her hair, but Daddy catches her hand. "You look beautiful," he whispers.
I sit down at the table and watch them waltz around the room. They look so perfect together. My daddy looks over and winks. "You're next, Ladybug."
They dance real close, whispering things to each other that I can't hear, exchanging smiles only for each other.
I wonder how it feels to be in love like that. To start dancing right before it's dinner time. Momma is smiling and blushing like she's a young girl. I wonder if I'll ever have something like that. I know one thing, I want to marry a man just like my daddy.
I lay my head on the table listening to the soft music and watching my parents dance together. I wonder if Lester will marry his girl, Lucille. He loves her, I think. I should ask him what it's like. A noise makes me turn and look behind me. Nonni is leaning against the counter, she's smiling as she watches them.
"You'll have that one day, Heddy. I promise you."
"How will I know?"
Nonni hugs herself. "You'll just know."
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has discovered a German citizen living on the island, and she has made friends with a boy, Lester, about her age. Lester knows about Artie, the German, but promises to keep it a secret. Heddy has found out her brother will be coming home from the war within a week.
*************************************************************************************************
I hear the music playing from downstairs long after I go to bed. There is a nice breeze blowing through the window and the moon has laid a soft silvery blanket across the bottom of my bed. It's a perfect night. Nights like this don't come often. I close my eyes listening to the ocean as it laps the darkened shore.
************************************************************************************************
I wake before anybody else in the house. It's a different kind of quiet when everyone is asleep. I can hear the snores of Daddy and the creaking of their bed as one of them rolls over. The sun isn't awake either. I push off my covers and rub the sleep from the corners of my eyes before venturing to the window.
The sky is purple, like the darkest bloom of the iris. Gold is threading its way up from the horizon. Nonni used to say that God was an artist. He painted the sky every morning. Each time it was a little different. I remember one afternoon it was just raining buckets. I was bored and Momma was busy cleaning, so I stomped out on the front porch. I was mad because God had all week to rain, while I was in school, but He picked a Saturday. Saturdays are for being outside, going adventuring or just playing on the beach. Nonni came out and sat on the porch swing. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
I shook my head. "No. It's stupid. Stupid rain."
"Well, I'll bet the birds would disagree. Just think about how happy the deer are to have a drink of fresh clean water. Listen, do you hear those bull frogs?"
I concentrate, listening with both ears instead of just one. "What are they saying?"
Nonni pats the seat beside her. "Sounds like they are saying thank you, at least that's what it sounds like to me."
"Just sounds like an old bull frog to me."
Nonni runs her hand across my back and I feel my anger melting away. "But, it's Saturday, Nonni."
"It sure is. Just cause it's raining doesn't mean you can't play on the porch. Look how many different grays He used for the clouds. I see some pink and even some yellow in the clouds," she says, leaning over to look up at the sky. "Now, you stop being so crabby and enjoy this much needed rain."
She sits with me for a few more minutes before going inside to help my momma. I stick my hand out and catch the drips that come off the overhang of the porch roof. Before long, I see some Carolina Wrens and a black bird landing into some small puddles. They were splashing around, washing their dusty old feathers off.
This morning there are no gray clouds. It's going to be clear skies. The perfect day to play on the beach.
***********************************************************************************************
I'm on the beach, lining up the shells I've collected to spell my name when I hear a familiar voice calling out my name. I wave at Lester as he starts kicking off his shoes and socks to make the mad dash to the water's edge where I am.
"I didn't know you were coming over today," I say, unable to hide my happiness. "Your aunt didn't want you to work?"
"I worked extra hard yesterday, so, she let me come over today. Besides, she thinks I'm snooping around. I told her that her counter was needing a good polishing and I could probably get my arm in the back to clean it. She didn't like that idea, and she told me I was working too hard for a young boy and I needed to come spend some time with you."
We exchange smiles. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wrinkled envelope. After he smooths it against his thigh, he looks at me seriously. "I think this belongs to that guy."
I watch as his eyes travel down the beach to where we saw Artie. "What makes you think that?"
"Aunt Nancy said there used to be a German fellow who lived over by the sound, but people started to let him know he wasn't welcome. One morning he was gone. Aunt Nancy thinks he hopped a ferry and run off."
"Maybe it was another German?"
"She said he had reddish hair. Was real tall. It was him, Heddy. Why didn't he leave? What is he still doing around here?"
"Let's go ask him. You think he's a spy or something, don't you? Well, he isn't. He just don't want to hurt anybody. Come on, let's go give him his letter."
Lester looks back towards the house. "Shouldn't we tell your mom we're going off? I don't want her to think we drowned."
I reach over and grab his arm. "Come on, scaredy cat."
I pull him along, as he drags his feet. After a few minutes he wrenches free and takes hold of my hand. He isn't dragging anymore. He doesn't seem to mind the feel of my sandy fingers.
It feels good but odd. I've never held anyone's hand except for my momma, Daddy or Nonni. My heart beats fast, but not from fear. At least, I don't think it's fear. It's that fast beat after winning a foot race, or spelling a word right in front of the class.
"Thought you could only hold Lucille's hand," I say, pulling us to a stop just before the bend.
"Lucille is pretty, don't get me wrong. But I can be myself around you, Heddy. That's a lot nicer than having to pretend all day."
His words make me smile and I look away. "That's all nice and everything, but don't go thinking I'm gonna let you sneak a kiss."
"You gonna punch me if I try?" he asks, studying me to see if I'm serious.
The truth is, I don't know what I'd do. I might not like it, but, then again, I just might.
Without waiting for my answer, Lester pulls me along as we continue to where Artie is hiding. "Come on, let's see if this belongs to him."
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has discovered a German man living on the island and she has met a new friend named Lester. Her family has finally gotten word that her brother, Willis will be coming home within the week. Lester finds a letter that his aunt has hidden and thinks it belongs to the German.
************************************************************************************************
Lester doesn't bother to drop my hand when we get to the high dune that leads to Dr. Monroe's house. I don't really want Artie to see us holding hands on account of he just might tease me. I hate being teased. I wriggle my hands free and get a running start up the hill. Lester follows.
"Mr. Artie." I call out. The yard is empty. But I see the soft gray plume of smoke coming from the chimney. It's hot outside and I wonder why he has the fireplace going. We venture around to the front of the house. It's smaller than the house I live in. Just a shack really. My daddy said that Dr. Monroe used to live on the mainland in a real fancy house, but after he quit doctoring he sold it. He decided to live in a shack. My daddy said Dr. Monroe liked his solitude.
"Doesn't look like he's here," Lester says, hanging back just far enough to let me know he's scared.
"Where else is he gonna go, Lester?" I say impatiently. "He's hiding."
I step up to the front door and knock twice. "Mr. Artie, it's me, Heddy. We got something that might belong to you."
A few seconds go by before the door opens. Artie peeks through the crack in the door. "What do you want?"
"A polite person would say hello," I say. "My friend, Lester, he works at the post office with his aunt and he thinks he might have found a letter that belongs to you." I look back at Lester and motion for him to come closer.
Artie opens the door slightly more, just enough to get a better look at Lester. "Why do you think it belongs to me?"
Lester swallows before answering. "It's addressed to A. Furlein. That's a German name, right?"
Artie's face relaxes and he steps out onto the wooden porch. He finally smiles. "How did you come about to have this letter in your possession?"
Lester looks at the ground then looks at me. "I think my aunt hid it. She does things like that."
"Your aunt is the retched woman with the dirty hair that works at the post office?"
Lester nods. "Yes, sir."
Artie nods and holds out his hand. "Let's see if you are right and this does belong to me."
Lester pulls the crumpled letter out of his pocket and places it in Artie's outstretched hand.
I watch as Artie looks at the envelope. He presses his lips together and his eyes are sparkling and wet when he finally looks at us. "It's from my mother. How long has your aunt had this?"
Lester shrugs. "She said you ran away from the island. Said people let you know you weren't welcome here."
Artie nods. "Yes, a rock thrown through your window is a definite sign. Thank you for bringing me this. I have had no contact with my family in months. I can only pray they are alright."
"Are you gonna open it?" I ask. I'm wondering what the letter says and hope he will tell us like my mother does when she gets a letter from Aunt Lana.
Artie sits on the wooden bench at the edge of the porch and motions for us to join him. He clears his throat, and after ripping the envelope, pulling the letter out, he begins to read. "My dear Arthur, I hope you are doing well. I miss you and hate to write with bad news. Your uncle Fritz was killed in France last month. Marta and the children have come to live with us. Your brother Herbert, has been inducted and left for service almost three weeks ago. Just before his seventeenth birthday. I pray for his safety every moment of every day, just as I pray for yours. Please let me know you are doing well. As of now, I am still getting things somewhat regularly. Pray for your brother, Arthur. Pray for this nonsense to end. I love you and miss you. Mother."
For a moment, all we can hear is the crashing of the waves on the shore. No one says anything. Artie stares off into space, his eyes seeing something that neither Lester nor I can see. I'll bet its his mother's face and his brother's. For a short time he is there with them, hugging and being happy. Momma does that sometimes when she talks about Willis. She pretends he's right there.
Artie stands and walks to Lester. "Thank you, Lester, for bringing this letter to me. It took bravery to do that. I know you have your doubts about me, but I am a son and a brother, nothing more. I am no spy."
Lester extends his hand. "I believe you. I'm sorry my aunt kept the letter from you."
Artie shakes Lester's hand and looks at me. "I think I would like to be alone now. Go enjoy your day."
Before he can get to the door, I run up and wrap my arms around his waist. "I'll pray for your brother, okay, Artie? I'll pray that he comes home just like Willis is."
Artie smiles. "Thank you, Heddy. That would be nice. Maybe with all these prayers, God will stop this war."
We walk back to the dunes and Lester stops. He sticks his hand out and grazes the sea oats as they bob and dance in the breeze coming off the ocean. "We're kind of lucky to be here, aren't we, Heddy?"
"We're safe in America. Nobody is crazy enough to try to come here. Not even stupid Hitler."
Lester shakes his head. "No, I mean here. This island is magical. Every day the beach gets scrubbed clean by the ocean. It doesn't matter what kind of mood she's in. There isn't any other place like that. I'm gonna miss it something terrible when I go home at the end of summer."
Something hurts in me when he says that. I'm not sure why, but it does.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has discovered a German man hiding on the island. She has met a boy her age named Lester. They deliver a letter that Lester's aunt had hidden to the German, Artie.
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Daddy comes to my bedroom early one morning. He smells like fancy shaving soap. His hair is oiled and combed neatly. "Morning, Ladybug. I'm heading to the mainland today. Going to bring a surprise home tonight." He squats down next to my bed and brushes my hair off of my cheek. "I'm gonna need you to take care of things here for your momma. Will you do that for me?"
I rub my eyes and stretch as I struggle to wake up. "What's wrong with Momma?"
"Nothing. She just might be a little antsy today."
"Why?" I ask, absently running my hand across his smooth cheek and chin.
"I'm going to bring your brother home with me tonight. She's just excited. Maybe take her for a walk on the beach. Help her in the garden. She's gonna need you to keep her busy. Can you do that for me?"
I nod, pushing back the covers and giving him a giant hug. "I promise. Is Willis gonna remember me? Does he know Nonni isn't here anymore?"
Daddy lets me sit on his knee. "He remembers you. He's only been gone for two years. And we wrote him about Nonni. Look, Heddy, I know you're a little scared, but I promise you everything is going to be fine."
I lay my cheek against his shoulder. When he says it, I believe things will be fine. Willis will come home and we will be a real family again.
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Momma is dropping things. She is nervous and keeps apologizing, not so much to me as to the room. She won't walk on the beach. The closest I can get her to it is to stand at the edge of the yard and look out at the ocean.
"I remember when you and Willis used to play in the water almost every day. Didn't matter if the water was cold or warm. Neither one of you missed the opportunity to jump right in. He taught you to swim. Do you remember that?"
I shake my head. I don't remember it, not exactly. I remember him carrying me out into deeper water, then letting me go. I remember the salt water as it stung my eyes when my head dipped below the surface. He had looked so far away. I stretched my toes trying to feel the sandy bottom but there was nothing. I could hear his voice, yelling for me to kick my feet and move my arms. The happiness in his voice as he said "you're doing it, Heddy. Keep on kicking your legs. Push the water with your arms. Swim to me."
"Neither your daddy nor I knew he was going to teach you. Yes, ma'am, Willis loved having a little sister."
"He was kind of mean to me."
"He teased you. That's all. Why, your Aunt Lana was mean as a snake to me when we were growing up. It's just something brothers and sisters do. But don't you ever doubt that he loves you. Every letter he wrote he asked about you."
My mother's face is turned to the sky, a smile on it. She looks so pretty. She looks happy pretty. Daddy said her heart was about to burst it was so full of joy.
As the afternoon dwindles and the sun starts to dip below the tree tops, we start dinner. She fries up two eggs for each of us. "I'm not sure what time they'll be getting home. Last ferry runs at ten. If they don't make that one, I guess they won't get here until tomorrow." Her words trail off and I know the thought of going to bed with no Willis home makes her sad.
"Let's play checkers after dinner," I say, swirling my biscuit around in the runny yellow part of the egg.
Momma studies me for a second, then nods. "I'm pretty good at checkers. You aren't gonna cry if I beat you, are you?"
"Are you gonna cry if I beat you?"
She playfully pinches my cheek. "Go get it set up on the dining room table and I'll be there as soon as I finish with the dishes."
I pull the cardboard box out of the bottom of the china cupboard and carry it to the dining room. It only takes me a few minutes to set it up. I hear her humming as she washes the dinner plates and I wander to the window. There isn't any sign of Daddy and Willis. The evening air is cooling and the leaves on the trees ripple a little in the evening breeze.
"Ready?" Momma calls from the dining room.
I cast one more hopeful look towards the road then run back to play checkers.
We play three games before Momma finally says she's checkered out. I won two of those games. "You aren't gonna cry are you?" I tease.
To my surprise, Momma bursts into tears. "This is torture, Heddy. Where are they? I just want to see my boy."
"They're coming home, Momma. Daddy promised. He keeps his promises."
She uses the edge of her apron to dab her eyes. "You're right. I know he does. I'm being silly, aren't I?" She tries to smile through her tears. "Your momma is just being silly."
"I won't tell him you were scared. Okay?"
She looks at me with eyes that glisten like jewels and opens her arms. "Come here. You've been a big help to me. Through all of this. I love you, Heddy."
As she wraps her arms around me, I hear the faintest of voices. They are here.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has discovered a German man living on the beach in Dr. Monroe's abandoned beach house. She has met a new friend named Lester, who helps his aunt at the post office. And now Willis, who has been over seas for two years, is finally coming home.
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Momma loosens her hug and looks towards the front door. We have left the big door open with only the screen door keeping the mosquitoes out of the house. She starts to stand and looks at me as she slowly walks toward the front door.
"They're here, Heddy. He's finally home."
I hang behind her, my stomach twirling suddenly at the thought of seeing my big brother for the first time in years. Momma moves quickly over to unlatch the hook on the screen, then steps back, her hands clenched together as if she were praying.
The porch boards creak and I hear his voice. "You don't know how many times I'd close my eyes and picture this porch. Damn, it's good to really be here."
Momma doesn't seem to hear the bad word Willis used, she just stares at the screen door, waiting.
When it opens, Daddy steps aside and lets Willis enter. The smile on my daddy's face is about the biggest one I've ever seen. "We're home," he says, looking from Momma to me.
Momma opens her mouth to speak but nothing comes out. She just shakes like she's cold. For a few seconds she just stands there unable to move. Finally, she runs towards him, throwing her arms around him and just saying the same thing over and over. "My boy is here. Praise the heavens, my Willis is home."
He hugs her tightly, his eyes closing as if he's praying as well. He looks different than I remember. His hair is darker, his shoulders broader and he doesn't look like a boy anymore. He pulls back long enough to look at Momma. "I missed you all so much. I lived for the letters you would send." He looks over at me. "Heddy, I used to tell the guys in my unit stories about you."
I smile bashfully. I can feel my cheeks burn. "Hey, Willis."
He steps away from Momma and limps into the living room. "You think you might have a hug for your brother?"
For a moment, I try to picture the old Willis. He smiles and opens his arms. "I missed you, Heddy." His voice cracks as he says it. "You remember me, don't ya?"
Daddy nods at me. I feel my feet moving and before I know it, I'm swept up into the arms of my brother. "I'm home," he whispers as he holds me. "I was so afraid I'd never see y'all again."
**********************************************************************************************
We sit in the living room late into the night, listening to him talk about the different countries he was in. He says his favorite is France. My eyelids flutter as I listen. The sounds of the waves mixing in with his stories. I fall asleep and dream about the rolling fields filled with the fragrant purple flowers he described.
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I wake up sometime after everyone else has gone to bed. I push off the covers and go to the window. I can just make out the silhouette of Willis as he stands at the edge of the yard and looks out at the ocean. He looks so lonely, not at all like the strong man who came home a few hours ago.
I wish Nonni was here right now. She would tell me what to do. I slip my feet into my sandals and quietly go down stairs. The back door is slightly open and I go stand on the back steps. I wonder what he's thinking about. I know he's glad to be home, but maybe he's a little scared as well.
"Willis," I call, making sure I don't scare him. "What're you doing out here?"
He turns enough to look over his shoulder. "Hey, what are you doing up?"
"I just wake up sometimes."
He nods and draws in a deep breath of air. "I used to tell my friends about this place. They called it the magic island. Most of them came from the city, but there were a few who grew up out in the country. None of them had to ride a ferry to get to the mainland. I would tell them about the hurricanes and the Nor'easters that would blow through here. I started to believe this was a magical place, too."
"That's what my friend, Lester says about it. Says we are safe here."
"Is he the kid who is staying with the Collettes?"
I shake my head. "He's nice. Momma gave him some of your old clothes. He only had wool pants when he came here."
"I'm glad you have a friend. I used to worry about you, you know. You've always had a hard time getting on with others. I was glad when Nonni came to live with y'all. But when she died, I felt like you were all alone again."
I look out at the pale foam on the waves that roll towards shore. I wish I could tell him that Nonni is still here, but I can't, not yet anyway. "He's gonna be leaving at the end of summer. He misses home."
"I sure know what that's like," Willis says softly. He absently rubs his hip with his hand. "This hurts like a toothache."
"What happened?"
"I just got tumbled around and landed wrong."
"Did anyone else get tumbled?" I step closer and take his hand in mine, looking up to see him twist his mouth and close his eyes.
"Yes, Heddy. Some got tumbled real bad. Some couldn't come home." He squeezes my hand and looks down at me.
"I'm glad you got to come home. I'm sorry I was afraid of you at first."
He doesn't answer right away, just nods before he finally answers, "I am too."
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has discovered a German man hiding on the island in an abandoned house. She has a new friend named Lester who works with his aunt at the post office. Now, her brother Willis has finally come home.
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Willis is slowly getting used to the days here on the island. He flinches when there are loud noises and often just sits silently on the front porch. My momma tells me to go out with him, keep him talking ... about anything. Don't let him be by himself for too long. He is better when my daddy gets home. They will sit out there and talk in low voices long after it gets dark. They stay outside until the mosquitoes drive them inside.
After he'd been home a week, he announces to Momma that he and I are going to walk to the post office and gather any mail. I'm happy because he will finally meet Lester. And maybe seeing Willis home from the war will give him hope for his own father.
"Momma said you were keeping the island safe by checking the shore for pirates and U-boats." Willis says as we walk down the rutted path.
I nod, then look at him to make sure he isn't teasing me. "Are you making fun, Willis?"
He shakes his head. "No. As a matter of fact, there are women and girls in France who are part of what they call the Resistance. They carry secret messages to their troops and do other things to stop the Germans. You are brave like that, Heddy. I have no doubt you'd do just like them if you lived there."
I smile. It's nice that Willis thinks I'm brave, but my mind goes to Artie. He's a German, but he's not like the ones Willis was fighting. Artie is nice, and he's afraid of Hitler just like we are.
"So, tell me about your friend." Willis reaches and tugs a sea oat free. He runs it across my cheek, tickling me. "Does he like you as much as you like him?"
"What do you mean? He's my friend, that's all."
Willis tilts his head. "Are you sure about that? Cause, when I suggested we go to the post office, you sure did scramble to get ready. Why, you even ran upstairs to brush your hair. Now, the Heddy I remember would run from the hairbrush."
I look to the other side of the path, anywhere other than at him. He will see my face turn pink and then he'll think I'm in love with Lester and that simply isn't true. He's my friend, that is all. Besides, Lester gave his heart to that girl Lucille back home.
"Hey, it's okay to like a boy. It's gonna happen, probably more than once. Do you like him?"
"He said he's got a girl already. Her name is Lucille. Said she was real pretty. He wouldn't like someone like me. I ain't pretty. I'm odd. That's what my teacher says. She told me I was an odd duck."
Willis sighs and steps closer, putting his arm across my shoulder. "Heddy, you might not look like a movie star, but that's okay. There will be some boy who will look at you and think you are the most beautiful girl in the entire world. I promise you that. Now, I won't tell anyone if you like him."
"I guess I do. I keep thinking about him going away at the end of summer and it makes me real sad."
"Well, you can't stop the summer from ending but you can have fun with him while he's here."
I wish it was that easy. But every new day brings us closer to the day we have to say goodbye.
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Maybe it's because Willis is a soldier, but Mrs. Collette lets Lester come home with us. He's pretty dirty again, but Willis doesn't mention it. He asks Lester all about his dad. Tells him about the naval men he met while he was overseas. Lester listens intently, as if Willis is talking about his father.
"Where is your dad? On a ship or stateside?" Willis asks.
"He's in the Pacific. Been there for almost six months. He used to write home about twice a month, but then his letters got less and less and they had big black lines through them."
"Well, Lester, they do that so if the mail falls into enemy hands no important information will help them. It's done to keep your dad and his shipmates safe. It's usually boring stuff they censor."
Lester nods and looks back at me as I trail behind them. There really isn't enough room on the path for us to walk three across, so I let them walk and talk. "You have never been this quiet before, Heddy. Cat got your tongue?"
"No. Just listening to y'all."
Lester follows Willis around like a puppy for most of the afternoon. I have to beg him to come down to the beach with me. He only agrees after Willis says he's going to go upstairs and read.
"You're brother is nice. My dad would like him, you know, even if he is army."
"They're on the same side, silly."
Lester arranges his shoes and socks on the sand neatly. "That doesn't matter. Army likes Army and Navy likes Navy. That's just how it is."
"You want to build a sandcastle or ... maybe walk to see how Artie is?"
"Maybe we shouldn't go down that way. You're brother just came home. Artie is German. It just doesn't seem right."
I squat and dig my fingers through the wet sand. "You still don't trust him, do you?"
Lester kneels and starts pushing the sand around. "I want to. I really do."
His glasses slide down to the end of his nose and he awkwardly pushes them back with the back of his hand. When he catches me looking at him, he blushes. "What?"
The end of summer will be here before you know it. If I wait, he'll be gone. I might not be as beautiful as Lucille, but I'm here, right in front of him. Without another moment's hesitation, I lean forward. My lips land right on his.
"Heddy," he says, his voice sounds like the wind just got knocked out of him. "You kissed me."
I settle back on my heels and wait for either tears or laughter, but Lester simply smiles and looks at me.
"That was nice," he says. "But next time, I'll do the kissing."
I build the biggest sandcastle I ever have. I'm happy digging in the cool sand, even giggle when a rogue wave washes out the exterior wall. I'm happy because I have a boyfriend.
I steal a glance at him, noticing the tiny freckles that are scattered across his nose. Lester is officially my boyfriend.
By GWHARGIS
So far, Heddy has discovered a German man hiding on the island. Her brother, Willis has just come home from the war. And thanks to a talk from her brother, Willis, she now has her first boyfriend, Lester.
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Lester goes home after dinner and a game of checkers. He picks Willis as his opponent over me, so all I can do is sit at the table and watch. It's kind of boring because they do a lot of looking at the board and scratching their chins as they decide where to move their checkers. When Momma and I play, we move the circles around really quickly. We would have done three games in the time it takes Lester and Willis to get through this one. But Willis ends up winning. Lester takes it pretty well, even reaches over and shakes Willis's hand.
Both Daddy and Willis walk him home, leaving me home to keep Momma company. I stand at the window more than a little mad that I wasn't invited.
"It isn't even dark. Why couldn't I have gone with them?"
Momma puts her book down and smiles. "Sometimes it's best if boys have time with each other."
I turn back to the window and stare out of it. The shadows have laid claim to most of the yard.. It looks cool but it isn't. The little thermometer in the kitchen window was reading 92 degrees just after dinner. I wonder what boys talk about. My pulse quickens when I think about something. What if Lester tells my daddy and Willis that I kissed him? Would Daddy give me a whipping? Momma would probably cry. Matter of fact, I'm sure she'd cry. I shouldn't have done it, I just shouldn't have.
"So, what did you and Lester do at the beach this afternoon?" Momma asks, slowly turning the page in the book. "Did y'all have fun?"
The panic races up my throat, and before I know it, I blurt out the worst possible thing, "Well, we didn't kiss, if that's what you're thinking."
Momma looks over the edge of her book, her eyebrows raised. "Um, I wasn't thinking that, well, least ways not until now."
My hands are shaking and before I can stop myself I run over and throw myself at her. Tears stream down my face in shame. "I'm sorry, Momma. I just did it. Don't think bad of me. Please, don't tell Daddy or Willis."
To my surprise, Momma squeezes me and I hear her laugh softly. "I don't think less of you, Heddy. I know you like Lester and he likes you. But, maybe kissing each other should wait for a little while. Kissing comes with responsibility."
"What kind of responsibility?" I sit back but still close to her.
"Kissing means you're an adult. You aren't one and neither is Lester. I promise not to tell your daddy or your brother. Maybe the next time he goes to kiss you, tell him it was nice the first time but today isn't a good day for it. Or, you can tell him the truth. You just aren't ready for it."
I nod, but I don't feel like that. I liked kissing him.
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I'm in bed by the time Daddy and Willis get back. I creep over to the door and press my ear against it, listening to what they are talking about. I don't hear my name or Lester's name mentioned so I climb back into bed. I kick off the covers and toss around until I can't stand it. The air is thick and humid, the sheet beneath me is damp with sweat. I tug the top sheet free and lay it out on the floor below the window. The floor boards are cooler and I can feel the air moving slightly from the window. I roll onto my side and stare up at the indigo sky. Tiny white stars are splattered across it, making me think about the tiny little freckles on Lester's nose.
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I hear him. His voice full of anger and fear. Daddy is trying to comfort him while Momma cries and begs him to settle down. I'm afraid to go out into the hall. I don't want to see Willis like this. It won't be the Willis I know. It'll be a different Willis. I push myself off of the floor and take timid steps to my bed. He sounds so scary. His voice raised and shattering the silky quiet of the night.
Someone sits beside me, their feathery touch letting me know it's Nonni. "Don't be frightened, Heddy. He's trying to get the demons of war out. He isn't gonna hurt you. He doesn't understand what makes people do the things he's seen."
Nonni should know. She is smart. I shouldn't be afraid but I am. I'm afraid of the Willis in the other room. I'm scared for my Momma and Daddy. I hear something fall on the floor in his room. He's scared and I'm scared, but not of the same thing.
"He needs you, Heddy. Go tell him how much you need him." Nonnie moves to the window and smiles at me as she points to the bedroom door.
I put my hand on the glass knob and turn it. I can see into his room, he's hunched over, his arms almost covering the back of his head. "Willis," I say.
Daddy looks at me, his eyes clouded with concern. "Everything is okay, Heddy. Go on back to bed."
"He's scared, Daddy. When I'm scared, I like to go down to the beach. Willis, you want to go to the beach with me?"
He doesn't answer, just sniffs and continues to hold his arms over his head. Then he pulls the cover back and looks at me. Without a word, he swings his legs over the edge and struggles to stand.
Daddy reaches behind him and hands him his cane. Willis's breaths come out in irregular bursts, like mine used to when I'd have a crying fit. He follows me down the stairs and through the kitchen.
"Nonni says sometimes you just need to breathe in good ocean air."
Willis wipes his forearm across his eyes. "You miss her don't you?"
I nod. I wish I could tell him how close she is.
We sit on the sand, neither saying anything for rest of the night. I see the burnished streaks of the rising sun and nudge him. "You're safe now."
I watch him as he struggles to stand. I wonder if those war demons are still there tormenting him, or if the sound of the waves have lulled them to sleep.
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