“Well, okay, but hold the fort down till we get back.”
As they went down the steps, Norma called out, “Linda, you hold on to Aunt Elner’s hand now.”
Norma smiled as she watched Hanna Marie and Linda head off to the barnyard with Aunt Elner, so excited. She remembered when she had been that age she had felt the same way, coming out to the farm to visit. So much in her life had changed since then. Everything but Aunt Elner. She was still the same sweet person she always was. She even looked the same.
* * *
THE WHOLE TOWN’S TALKING
* * *
by Mrs. Ida Jenkins
The whole town’s talking about the new pink stoves and refrigerators now offered. What fun. Finally the kitchen doesn’t have to be the same old black and white dull affair it was in the past.
Also, there is much excitement about the new planned community being built right off the new interstate highway. As we are so close to Joplin, Husband Herbert tells me that within a year, over 75 affordable brick ranch-style homes will be ready for commuters. So many new young couples are needing housing. Husband Herbert says this will be a real boon to our downtown and schools.
Some say that a weeping willow tree brings bad luck. Well, I have it on good account that under one of the lovely weeping willow trees that line our lake, Miss Edna Bunt said “Yes” to Mr. Ralph Childress. By the way, did you know that the willow’s origin is China? We don’t agree with their Communist policies, but we do love their trees.
Have you done your Christmas shopping? I haven’t. However, downtown is so festive and merry with all the lights strung across Main Street, it makes it all such fun. We love the music piped from the stores now. Have you seen Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the hardware store window? Yes…it glows!
By the way, a fresh sprig or two of holly placed upon a mantel or holiday table is so festive…don’t you think?
* * *
1956
At the city council meeting that May, as they discussed whether the town needed its own police department, Merle Wheeler brought up a good point. He said, “I don’t think it’s good for a town not to have some kind of law and order. It looks like we don’t care.”
“I agree,” added Glenn Warren. “And we don’t want to have to call in the Joplin Police every time we have a little problem. Besides, we have to think about the future. I heard this new rock and roll music is a Communist plot to lower the morals of our young people. Have you seen that Elvis Presley guy? Who knows what they will start doing next? We need to be ready.” It was put to a vote and passed.
At the same meeting, Mayor Ted Nordstrom brought up another excellent point. “Listen, while we’re at this, don’t you all think it’s time for us to have an election? I’ve been doing this for a long time, and somebody else might want a chance to run for mayor.”
Herbert Jenkins quickly spoke up. “It would just be a waste of time and money, Ted. Nobody is going to run against you…and for God’s sake, don’t give my wife any ideas about running for mayor. She’s never home as it is.”
Later, when newspaper owner and editor Cooter Calvert covered the meeting, he reported the yes vote to create a local police department. But he did not include anything about a possible mayoral election. He knew it was withholding information from the public, but Ida Jenkins was already driving everyone in town crazy with all of her hare-brained projects. If she ever became mayor, there’d be no telling what the woman might do.
Lucille Beemer had been at Still Meadows for quite a few years now, and she still loved her job. It was fun to see all the different reactions from people who arrived there, especially the ones who had been so terribly sick, to not have any more pain and to suddenly feel light as a feather. And every day was a surprise. You never knew just who might be coming up next.
Lucille Beemer didn’t know it, yet, but in a few days, she was going to be in for a surprise herself.
Lucille had just finished greeting Mrs. Koonitz and welcoming her to Still Meadows. She no sooner had gotten her settled in when another resident arrived. “Good afternoon, and welcome to Still Meadows,” Lucille said. “We are so happy you are with us, and we will do everything we can to make you feel at home. May I ask, to whom am I speaking?”
“What?” said a man, who was still clearly a little confused.
“To whom am I speaking?” she repeated.
“Oh. I’m Gustav…Gustav Tildholme.”
If Lucille hadn’t been dead, she would have fainted. This time, she really was speechless.
After a long moment, Gustav said, “Is anybody there? Hello?”
“Gustav, it’s Lucille Beemer. Do you remember me? I used to be your teacher?” She waited, but he did not answer. He obviously didn’t remember her, so she continued on, trying to hide her disappointment. “Well, there’s certainly no reason in the world you should, it was so long ago. I just want to let you know that you are up at Still Meadows, safe and sound, and you have a lot of family and old friends here that will be so happy to say hello. Shall I tell your mother you are here or would you rather rest first?…Gustav?”
“Do I remember you? I never forgot you for one minute. I even remember what you were wearing the last time I saw you.”
“Oh.” Lucille was taken aback. “Do you?”
“My God, yes. Is it really you?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Suddenly, a flood of memories came rushing back, and Gustav was once again a big, handsome, strapping boy of sixteen, and she was still the pretty young teacher of eighteen with roses in her cheeks.
Gustav never saw the little spinster with gray hair and glasses she had become. She never met the bald, wrinkled old man that he was today. In each other’s eyes, they would always be young.
They both had so many questions they wanted to ask, but Gustav’s parents could not wait another minute and called out, “Hello!” and soon others were joining in to speak to him as well.
Katrina said to Lucille, “It must be so nice for you to have Gustav here. I remember that he was always one of your favorites.”
“Oh yes,” replied Lucille. “He always was.”
* * *
THE WHOLE TOWN’S TALKING
* * *
by Mrs. Ida Jenkins
Criminals, beware! This week, the whole town’s talking about our very first officer of the law, Mr. Ralph Childress, a recent graduate of the Police Academy in Kansas City. I am sure with Ralph on the job, we will all feel much safer. So when you see him in his brand-new black-and-white police car, give him a wave.