The precise date slips my memory but Christmas was coming and the boys could not take off work long enough to go home. The four of us discussed it every evening for several days. We wanted to go, they could not go, what to do, what to do. That was the question. Finally, we all agreed Maxine and I could go on the train.
After settling it, the two of us begin packing our suitcase but we were both a little on the nervous side. Going on the train, by ourselves for hundreds of miles was not a pleasant thought, but by now, it seemed we must see our parents at Christmas. Around two weeks or less before Christmas the boys took us to the depot and helped us board the train. We were exactly as we looked; two kids excited, scared, happy and yet sad at leaving the boys.
Our fathers met us at the depot and we were so happy to see them, then mothers, sister and brother. I had a sister and she had a brother. Our houses were side by side. We were happy and giggling, telling them all about our new life, the mustard cake, the bicycle rides, and the hamburgers at midnight, and they laughed at us the whole time. The following days found us shopping for gifts and Maxine and I spent time with our parents in law. I cannot remember if she went to see her husband parents the same days I stayed with Ed’s parents, but we wanted to do the right thing. Ed’s parents lived ten miles from us and her in laws lived a little further, I think, but not sure. We met some of our school friends to catch up on their lives and ours. When we had seen everyone, purchased the last gift, we were suddenly lonesome and miserable.
We got together and held a whispered conference. We did not want to hurt our parents but we wanted to go home and it was still about five days until Christmas. Our parents, however, could read us like books, so they asked if we were ready to go home, in spite of it not being Christmas yet. We were ashamed, but we admitted we were ready to leave and we asked if we could exchange Christmas gifts and then leave.
Our parents made it a memorial Christmas and we had one of the best. Our fathers purchased train tickets, learned the time of leaving and all the particulars. Our mothers helped us pack all the gifts we had received, including the ones for our boys when we got there. They fried chicken and packed lunches, with biscuits and other goodies large enough to last two full days.
When we boarded the train about 7 o’clock AM, and after our fathers left, we learned we were not going the usual route because of some unforeseen problem. We had not told the boys we were coming home. We were to get a taxi home and surprise them.
The train trip was exciting but we soon dozed a while. Waking up it was noon and so we opened our lunches and began to feast on the delicious food our mothers had provided. Suddenly we felt conspicuous and looking around, our fellow travelers were staring at us and, we saw they were not eating. We hesitated, not sure what to do, but then we just looked at one another, shrugged our shoulders, and continued eating. It was not a matter of being selfish; it was a matter of not having enough food to share with that train full of people. We did not look up again. Upon finishing, we repacked our food and leaned back in our seats.
After talking a while we looked out the window to see where we were and then we lay back to doze as the rumbling of the train rocked us to sleep. I cannot remember what town we stopped for passengers, but the stop and activity caused me to open my eyes. My head was leaning on the window and so I was just seeing the people standing outside. My eyes were closing again, when suddenly a dear face, with head between his hands peered right into my eyes. Oh, well, I jumped up saying, ‘Mackey, the boys are here!’ She scrambled up saying, ‘no they are not!’ Nonetheless, she ran out with me, telling the conductor we wanted out luggage.
What a reunion. How could they be at that particular train station? How did they come that way since we had detoured from the regular route? Why would they even look at a station since they were on their way home to LA? So many questions, but the truth was, only the Lord could answer them.
No one was more surprised than Maxine and I that going ‘home’ meant going to our husband. In addition, we were just as surprised that they missed us and were on their way to get us. It was a beautiful, happy time riding home, laughing and exchanging the happenings of our absence one from the other.
Go HERE for the next installment.
Aunt Sue, While I read these inserts, I run little film strips in my head. I “see” you and Mama in your pinafores doing all this house keeping and cooking, and I love you so for it. It’s the only insight I have into her earliest life. Her life was so short, and as hard as she could make it. You girls must have had some joyous times, before the children started rolling in. I hear I squalled a lot. Back to the 16 year olds. Tell me more. You are so good at this . How come no one ever knew? My aunt,.. the author,..who’d a thunk it? Love, Larrie K.
Larrie K, had we lived closer in your childhood perhaps you would have known more about your mother. She was sweet and precious. Her death at 29 was such a horrible surprise to the whole family. As you know sometimes we make ill advised choices and it touches many lives. We just need to treasure the good choices, the good memories. Steve probably has memories of her he has shared with you. I am glad you feel some joy in reading about her young life with your father. We were happy.., we were breathless.., we opened our arms to the new world we entered. Thank you for writing. Love you, too.