Page 35 of The Flyboy's Girl
Chapter Fifteen
December 7, 1941
When Sunday arrived, I was still floating on cloud nine at the thought that Paul may be home for Christmas.
Dressing for church, I made my way to the kitchen to have breakfast with my parents.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” my mother says as I enter the room.
“Good morning,” I cheerfully reply before kissing my dad’s cheek on the way to my seat at the table.
Placing a few pancakes on my plate, my dad asks, “Ruby, how’s your job going?”
“Really well. Mr. Palmer is so nice, and since he’s new to his position, we are learning together.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear that.”
Just as Dad starts to ask me another question, the telephone rings, and Dad excuses himself to answer it.
Concerned of the timing of the call, Mom and I listen to Dad’s side of the conversation.
“Thorpe,” Dad says as he answers the call and listens intently to the caller has to say.
“They what?” We watch as Dad sighs, his shoulders slumping at what he’s been told, and runs his hand across his forehead. “Casualties? Yeah. Call the Captains and have them meet me at HQ in fifteen minutes, and send the car.” Hanging up the receiver, and looking completely defeated, Dad turns back to us.
“Edgar, what’s wrong?”
Standing with his hands on the back of his chair he says, “The Japanese just attacked Pearl Harbor.”
“Oh dear Lord,” my mother says as my chest begins to tighten and tears fill my eyes.
“Number of casualties are unknown at this time, but expected to be many.”
“What can we do?” my mother asks.
“Pray,” he says as he turns to go to their room to change into his uniform.
“Mom,” I murmur, voice filled with emotion.
“Oh sweetheart,” she says taking my hand. “Let’s not worry too much just yet. You heard your father, the best thing we can do right now is pray.”
When Dad returns dressed in uniform, he kisses the top of my head and then my mother. “I’ll update you when I can. I don’t know how late I’ll be.”
“Do what you need to, we’ll be fine. I expect the other children will call soon, I’ll tell them what I can.”
Watching my parents together, I can see the worry in my father’s eyes, but his shoulders relax the tiniest bit just knowing that Mom is here to support him. Tears begin to fill my eyes again as I begin to pray harder that I’ll have the chance to support Paul in the same way.
* * *
We didn’t seeDad again until the next day when he came home to shower and change before heading back to his office. According to the Joint Board, the President would be making a declaration of war against Japan today in his address to the nation. Casualty numbers were still coming in, it would likely be a few days before the final numbers, and names of those injured or killed were released.
Arriving at work on Monday, Mr. Palmer met me at my desk.
“Miss Thorpe,” he asks, voice filled with concern. “Have you heard anything from Paul?”
Giving him a weak smile I reply, “No, not yet.”
“If you need to leave, I completely understand.”
