Page 6 of Cocky Origins: May and Jerald Cocker

Holy cow, her smile lights up the gymnasium and gets me smiling, too. Not an easy feat these days.

A sharp-faced nun races up. “What’s the meaning of this? Unhand her!” And she’s accompanied by two others just like her but twenty years younger.

I rise and stand May up, checking to see if she’s steady while her friends explain, “She fainted, Sister!”

“Yes, that’s why they were like that.”

“He caught her!”

“Well, he can let her go now!”

I smile and tip my hat. “Sister Charlotte.”

Her eyes go wide.

4

JERALD

A circle of onlookers has grown and everyone is leaning in. Hank and his friends walked over, too.

Turning to May, I take off my fedora and ask, “Need some fresh air?”

Sister Charlotte all but shouts, “I think not! Miss Kearns will not be walking with the likes of you, Jerald Daniel Cocker. I remember you!”

I smile, “You even remember my middle name? If I weren’t so apologetic I’d be flattered, Sister. You’re right of course. I shouldn’t be here at all, especially after you forbid me to ever return. See, the trouble is I told my brother — you remember Hank, don’t you?” I motion to where he rocks on his heels, nodding a greeting. “You see Hank talked me into coming tonight, but I rejected the invite at first, knowing how you’d feel about it.” Truth is, I’d forgotten all about the incident, years overseas wiping such trivialities from my mind. “But then he reminded me that in just three days time my submarine departs.” At her scan of my civilian wardrobe I explain, “Oh, my mother is washing my dress blues, Sister, or I’d have worn them, I assure you. I’m a Navy man now, proud to be so, not the rebellious boy you met four years ago, and I won’t be able to see my kid brother again for many months, if not a year or more. He was awful stricken with the idea of not spending time with me while I’m on leave.” I rub my lip with my thumb. “And well, one never knows what this war will bring…”

The last thing she wants to do is disrespect a serviceman’s need to see his family.

However, poor gal, she also knows I’m the guy who spiked her punch bowls when I was a senior, enough to get both schools blotto.

She’s about to blow, angry at my being so dang charming. But the nun on her left leans over. “Isn’t Congressman Cocker a considerable donor, Sister Charlotte? Are these his sons, because if they are…?”

Hank winks at me.

Cornered, Sister Charlotte barks. “You boys go back to where you were! Peter Tuck, wipe that smile off your face or I’ll throw you out on your keister alone!”

“Yes, Sister.”

Peter, my brother, Marvin, and I, all walk away as the crowd disperses.

With the sisters marching into a dance floor that will feel their thwarted wrath, I look over my shoulder at the blonde angel with eyes I’d like to drown in. “Say, tell me about the doll.”

“Haven’t thought much about her, to be honest, Jer.” Hank rakes his sandy-brown hair back and nods to Peter for help. “At the games she never says a peep. This is the first dance I’ve seen her at. What about you, Tuck? What’s the dish on the dish?”

Peter shrugs, “Just like Hank, I haven’t noticed her much.”

“What about Lily?” Hank smirks, “Have you noticed her?”

Peter tips back his fedora. “Yes sir, Lily Marlow is a dangerous girl. I’d like to find out how much.”

Hank hits my arm. “Tuck’s had eyes on her since last year, but she won’t give him the time of day. He’s sure he’ll win her over!”

Tuck smirks, “Wanna lay a wager on it?”

My brother laughs, “I’ll pass!” but loses the smile as he catches me frowning with my mind on the doll. “Jer, if you wanna beat it, I understand. Sister Charlotte won’t let you take anyone to the dance floor after that, and I don’t want you bored sick on account of I asked you to come.”

Chewing my lip and staring at the dance floor while I plan, I mutter, “Don’t wanna dance with any girl but her anyhow.”

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