Page 10 of Cocky Origins: May and Jerald Cocker

Sister Charlotte is in shock.

She and the other nuns are standing with their jaws dropped, blinking fast.

“I’m… I’m telephoning… your… your parents!”

May rolls down her window and hangs out of it while I drive. “Oh please don’t, Sister Charlotte! Why must you be so mean? Don’t you remember how much fun life was when you were just a girl?”

I chuckle to myself and stamp on the gas pedal, following Marvin to Sable’s house.

The legal speed limit of thirty-five miles-per-hour does not apply tonight, that’s for certain!

7

MAY

I’ve gone and done it, haven’t I?

Sister Charlotte is probably dialing the operator right now. Connect me to the Kearns residence. Or perhaps she’s run to her office where her files are, searching for each of our phone numbers and the names of our parents so she’s more prepared. I’m in the worst trouble, especially because I can’t stop smiling.

From the backseat, Gertie says, “A convertible! What are you, the Mayor?”

Hank explains in a lower volume for just her, “Our Father is bigger than that. Did you hear the nuns saying our Pops is in Congress? He makes laws.”

As he launches into how the House of Representatives works, Jerald and I exchange a look that makes my body tingle. “You’re in the Navy?”

Pale green eyes fixate on me, and return to the road. “That’s right.”

He doesn’t offer more, so I’ll just enjoy the view for a moment. Mother would call his an honest jaw. I like that nose, too. If my blonde hair were naturally curly like his, I wouldn’t have to pin-curl it every night. It looks soft. I’m glad it’s not slicked down like some of the boys wear it. He’s such a confident driver, too. My father always drives with both hands on the wheel. Jerald’s so in control.

My mother will have a fit when she discovers what I’ve done, but the truth is I feel perfectly safe with the Cocker Brothers. Their friends are good guys, too, although Lily likes to pretend Peter is a pain.

“Did you just enlist, or have you already been... over there?”

I regret my question. Something about it made him frown. I know so very little about the geography of the war, especially since we’re fighting both Germany and Japan and those are in completely different places.

“I hope my vague ‘over there’ didn’t make it seem that I’m a chucklehead.”

Jerald laughs, “No, I think that’s about right. Besides, I can’t say exactly where I’ve been or where I’m going. Confidential.”

“Oh, I see.”

Hank pauses his teachings. “My brother is a hero! Forget about geography, think deeper! Do you know where he lives? Underwater in the ocean where it’s so dark even the sun can’t reach it.”

“You’ll have to excuse Hank. He has grand ideas.” Jerald throws me a wink, then focuses back on the road to ask, “How old are you, May?”

“I don’t like numbers. I find them confining.”

A grin flashes, and his brother laughs like a balloon just popped.

Gertie explains, “No, it’s true! May is always saying that numbers are jails that limit the imagination!”

Hank asks, “Say, are you gals sisters? That’d be swell, huh? Two brothers and two sisters!”

Gertie is quick to explain, “We may as well be. There isn’t a single thing about me that May doesn’t know.”

“Oh well friends is alright too, I guess.”

“Best friends!” she corrects him. “Since we were five right after my parents moved here from Ohio, right May?”

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