Page 12 of Cocky Origins: May and Jerald Cocker

Jerald grins like he can’t help it. “I’m a planesman.”

“What’s a planesman?”

“We call it a boat. Or the sub. Or vessel, sometimes, I guess. But mostly we call it a boat.”

“What job does a planesman have on the boat?”

“I steer.”

My eyes go wide. “You’re in control of the whole thing?”

“The Captain is in control, but he trusts me and three other men to take direction as quickly as he gives it.”

“They must think the world of you. And while I was watching you drive I thought to myself, you look at home behind the wheel. Is that why?”

“Guess it is.”

“This must seem like peanuts compared to an entire submarine!” I pull back my windblown locks. “You steer the whole boat, wow! That’s so important!”

Dazzling green eyes land on me long enough for my heart to skip two beats, before returning to the road. “Everyone in the Navy is important, May.”

8

MAY

Jerald removes his hat as soon as we’re inside her house, but the other boys don’t. Peter asks, “Say, where are your parents anyhow? They won’t be walking in the door at any minute, will they?”

Lily smirks, “That would be a riot!” while setting her handbag on the oak hutch. It’s a lovely home; I’ve often thought so. Four levels including the basement, beautifully decorated by Mrs. Howard, a woman who passed down her worrisome ways to her daughter.

Sable just can’t help herself from taking Lily’s bait. “Oh you think so, do you? I don’t see you volunteering your house, Lily Marlow! It’s all good and well for you to act so la-di-dah when it’s not your folks who could walk in on you at any minute alone with strange boys.”

Hank objects with a dazzling smile. “We’re not strange, if I do say so myself. Think about it, Sable. We’ve seen you at church nearly every other Sunday, haven’t we?”

She frowns, not wanting to give in to his charms. He’s just the sweetest thing, but Sable is bullheaded and nothing can change that about her character. “Church and here are two very separate things. They’d think you strange enough, believe you me!”

Peter whistles, “Say, is that a new record player? Can I have a look?”

He strolls over while Gertie tries to make peace with Sable’s better judgment. “How long are they gone for, Sable? You did say just earlier this evening that you were alone for two more days, didn’t you? Before May fainted, I mean.”

Lily laughs as she follows Peter to choose a record, “Oh, let her be. If she couldn’t complain she wouldn’t have anything to talk about.”

“That isn’t so!”

“Yes it is so. Don’t be such a sourpuss.”

Marvin reassures Sable, “I think it’s reasonable to be cautious.”

Impressed with his support, she pauses, gathers herself together and walks to the kitchen. “If you are going to be in my home, I can’t have you hungry.” Throwing her hands on her hips, she says, “Well, are you going to help me, Marvin, or aren’t you?”

He dashes after her like someone shot him out of a circus cannon.

Jerald and I have been standing beside each other this entire time. I’m aware of his closeness and somehow wish it were closer. Together we watch his brother guiding Gertie to a chair where he sits on the arm and tells her a story I couldn’t focus on if I tried.

With Peter and Lily arguing about records and using them as weapons to swat each other with, Marvin and Sable preparing practical snack options, and Hank charming Gertie into a puddle, Jerald asks me with a private tone, “Would you like to step outside? It’s an awfully nice night.”

My heart beats so fast I answer with a nod. He opens the door for me, and a warm Georgian breeze greets us with a heavenly smell floating on it. “Lily, your favorite smell!”

She runs to poke her head into the foyer. “Night blooming jasmine?”

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