Week 02

Jimmy's Home

"Honey!" says Ma to Pa after a hard day at work at the dinner, "tomorrow is the big day!" Pa, with a big smile on his face, walks towards Ma and gives her a kiss on the cheek.
"I know sweetie, I've missed our boy too" Pa says as he hugs Ma. "But its getting awfully late and we both still have to go to work in the morning so lets try to go to bed." Ma changes into her night gown as Pa brushes his teeth getting ready to head off into bed.
After an almost sleepless night Ma wakes up and fixes Pa some breakfast. Coming down the stairs already dressed for work Pa sits down and enjoys his meal. "Don't worry about my lunch sweetie, you go ahead and sit down here with me and relax some," Pa insisted to Ma. Reluctantly Ma sat down. Holding hands Pa finishes his eggs and bacon, gives Ma an understanding look, and lets go of her hand. Without a word Ma stands up, pushes in her chair, and grabs the plate. Pa by now already at the phone in the living room begins dialing a number when suddenly the phone rang. At the sink, Ma pensively washes the dishes. Over the sound of the running water Ma doesn't hear the phone ring. Even so, maybe if the water wasn't running Ma still wouldn't of notice. She was so lost in her thoughts.
See recently with the news of her only son Jimmy being able to come back home from war she's been more scared than ever something bad might happen. Everybody has noticed but nobody has said anything. Jimmy is that kind of kid that grows on you. Always a smile on his face. That boy could sure get himself into trouble sometimes but finding a way out, he always did. Real gentlemen too, ever since most folks can remember. Jimmy as an only child still was like a brother to the town kids. The people of Lawrence, a small town in Bogotukcy about an hour away from Allen Town in Pennsylvania, are close. Every one's looked froward to his return.
In another Lawrence home a block down and three houses over from Ma and Pa, Bill is putting on his uniform. Bill is the town sheriff. Not too deep of problems ever arise in the town and Bill likes his donuts so he's got a little extra weight on him. Finishing tying his shoes he hears a knock at the door. Its Dicky and Ricky. Ricky's most fond of Jimmy out of all the town kids. Jimmy thought him how to read and play ball so he wouldn't get pick on at school. Dicky has been following Ricky around since he and his mother moved into the town. Dicky likes to help Ricky out and most of all play with him. He hangs on every word Ricky says the same way Ricky does Jimmy.
"Good morning sheriff Litwitz" both kids say in unison. "I was talking to my mom last night about Jimmy and well Sir I've decided I want to do something extra special for him" Ricky said. "Ya know, seeing how he's been extra special with me and all."
"And whats this special thing?" asked the Sheriff.
"I'm not sure myself yet Sir, I wanna see how much money I can gather up." "Maybe enough to buy him a Coke," Ricky responded. Having woken up in a joyous mood Bill offers Dicky and Ricky a deal.
"If you boys wash my car I'll take you into work with me at the station and we can think a little harder on what to do." Without hesitation both boys agreed.
Meanwhile back at Ma and Pa's house Pa finished talking on the phone and went to go give Ma a kiss good-bye before leaving for work. Feeling Pa's cool lips against her cheek brought her back from her nostalgic thoughts of her young boy.
"You wouldn't mind me taking you to the dinner, would you?" "That was Mark on the phone just now and his wife's car broke down." "Good thing it happened before she got on the highway." "Since Nik has his car and is out of town, I figured I could give you both a ride." "You and her haven't had the time to talk like yous use to." "Miss Betty's Bop Shop isn't too far off from the dinner." Pa said to Ma. Ma already somewhat distracted just nodded her head yes and put away the last dish. "Mark's back has been hurting so I'll drive my car over to their house that way he doesn't have to ride his bike," Pa added.
"Okay honey, I'll drive over at the same time so you don't have to walk back" Ma said to Pa as he went searching for the car keys. Mark and his family live two streets over from Bill.
Ricky and Dicky cleaned the car the best they could. Bill grabbed his new Sheriff hat and headed out the door. "Sir," in a high pitch voice little Dicky says. "Can we stop by my house and tell my mom about the deal so she isn't worried about me?" he asked.
"Sure Dicky, but first we've got to pick Joe up" Bill told Dicky. Joe is an old friend of Bill and watched Jimmy grow up. Joe practically took Pa in as his own after his dad died in World War One and mom got deported back to Germany. Although Pa was an older teen at the time he still needed a father figure. Joe owns the town mechanic shop where Mark and Pa work. Jimmy would go help his dad at work after school or whenever he wasn't coaching Y-11 baseball. Being elderly it isn't safe fro him to drive anymore.
During the day work gets done but everybody is mostly just waiting for Pa to go pick Jimmy up at the train station. Dicky's mom didn't mind and Joe got picked up. Mark is at the shop fixing the transition on his wife's car. Bill and the boys driving around town killing time. They've forgotten to talk about ideas for "the special thing". Pa not to long ago arriving at work from dropping off the girls.
Approaching the hour Ma calls Pa at work to tell him that she can't go with him. "Its been so long Pa" a tear rolling down her face as she says the words over the phone, "but today is a busy day and no one can leave early." Ma hangs up and goes to clean off a table now with just empty plates. Pretty soon the tears start to stream thinking of the last time she cleaned up after her son.
Then the moment came. Pa left the mechanic shop ten minutes early eagerly anticipating the arrival of his only son. Bill, Joe, Ricky, and Dicky on there way to the mechanic shop.
At the station Pa sees Jimmy getting off. Jimmy calls out to him with excitement, "PA!" With a hug like you've never seen before Pa embraces him rapping him tightly in his arms. Its was almost as if Pa was trying to make up for all the hugs Ma and him had missed for the past year and a half.
Jimmy and Pa have their special bond in the car. Just enough time for each other alone with looks that said just as much as words. Not everything needed to be said.
Like teenage girls at a slummer party once at the mechanics all the boys gathered around Jimmy. Glad he was home safe and interested in catching up they all intently payed attention to him.
At last, Jimmy's returned.