Chapters - 17 & 18

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Chapter Seventeen: A Found Family

When they got to the table the whole family had already seated themselves, they were talking quietly. The minute Jerld approach the table Olivia stood up and holding the back of the chair next to her said; “Jerald you sit by me and Jimmy you sit between Johanna and Kaylee.”
Jimmy looked at Jerld hopelessly then he turned to Mr. B. and asked:
“Is that OK, Sir?” Mr. B. smiled, nodded and said to Jimmy.
“Yes Jimmy it is OK and thank you for asking, that was very polite of you.” “Mr. Tyler and Mr. Mitchel please think of our table as being your table and the girls and Rose and I your family. “Now let’s bow our heads and thank the good Lord for all that he has given our family.”
Jerld was dumbfounded in all the years he and Jimmy had been friends he had never heard Jimmy sir anyone. There was something strange going on in their lives, but Jerld did not understand it or was he sure it was what he wanted.
Jerld and Jimmy sat in the chairs that they had been assigned to by Olivia. Jimmy looked like he was trying to squeeze his large frame into a very small box.
His elbows were pressed to his sides and he sat up as straight as he could.

Fearing that at any moment he would explode out the chair and onto Johanna and Kaylee.
Kaylee reached over and poked Jimmy in his aide and said “Gotch-Ya.”
Jimmy game up and out of the chair as if it was a hot seat, knocking it over and stumbling backwards. Jerld saw that look of anger swell up again in Jimmy’s face and started to say something, but ha wasn’t quick enough. Kaylee bounded out of her chair and grabbed Jimmy’s arm and laughing said: “Did I hurt you? Please forgive me.” Then she reached up and gave Jimmy a kiss on the cheek.
It was only a peck, but to Jimmy it was one of the most affectionate things that had ever happened to him. He melted; there is no other way to describe it. His face redden and the widest smile Jerld had ever seen suddenly appeared. Jimmy looked around at everyone and they all were laughing and smiling.
The grin got larger and Jimmy said: “Now I guess I am one of the family.” Rose with a huge smile and shaking her finger side-to-side said; “Kaylee Jimmy gets your piece of pie tonight, you were naughty.”
Kaylee looked into Jimmy’s eyes and said: “Is that all I have to give him Mother?” Jimmy blushed and looked down at his shoes.

Mr. B. blurted out’ “Young lady that’s enough of that, let all sit back down and pray.”
As all the heads bowed Mr. B. started: “Lord please accept our thanks and appreciation for the two young men you have sent to us. Please give us the strength to cope with any difficulties we may have to face in our daily lives. Dear Lord again I would like to express our family’s gratitude for the food, clothing and shelter you have provided us with. Lord stay with Mr. Tyler and Mr. Mitchell as they do their daily duties, serving you.”
Jimmy raised his eyes ever so slightly and looked at Jerld. He had his head bowed; eyes closed and was nodding his head up and down as he repeated Mr. B.’s words. Jimmy‘s mind was in a state of confusion and he was scared. “What’s happening to us,” Jerld thought.
During he rest of the dinner there were discussions about what each of the girls had done that day. Then Mr. B. said; “Rose I was very proud of these two young men today. I think they deserve a toast.”
Lifting his glass of water he presented it to the middle of the table and Rose and the girls did the same.
“Here’s to Misters Tyler and Mitchell may they enjoy and be successful in there new careers.”
A look of surprise and humbleness appeared on both of their faces.

This was a kindness neither one had ever been confronted with before. So they just sat and enjoyed the moment.
“The dishes need to be done, and tonight Rose and I aren’t doing them, we will be in the living room. Kaylee will see that the table is cleaned and the dishes get put away.”
Mr. B. reached up and put an arm around Rose’s shoulder and said: “May I escort you to your chair?” for a moment the two of them seemed to have shared a moment that only they understood.
Jerld was getting up from the table when Johanna lightly grabbed him by the elbow and whispered: “After Bible study let’s go for a walk in our back yard.”
She then led Jerld into the kitchen and there stood Jimmy with Olivia trying to tie an apron around his waist. “Mr. Tyler you and I are going to wash the dishes.”
“Not me” he chuckled.
The embarrassment could be seen in Jimmy’s eyes, but there also was a smile on his face: “Do I have to wear this?” he pleaded.
“Yes you do, now stand still.” Olivia half hollered.
Jerld and Johanna laughed as Olivia tugged at the apron straps. She could barely get them around Jimmy and Jimmy wasn’t helping the matter.

Each time she grabbed for one tie or the other Jimmy would turn around the opposite way. Olivia seemed to be using Jimmy as a maypole as she danced around him and he just kept turning.
From the living room Mr.B.’s voice bellowed out: “You boys both have to help with the dishes, and if Rose makes me wear apron both of you have to. Now all of you get those dishes done so we can have our bible study.”
Johanna held out an apron to Jerld and asked: “Do we have to dance too, or can that wait till later.”
In her eyes Jerld saw a promise of something to come, but he wasn’t sure what exactly what it was. He decided that he would wait and let Johanna make the first move. He grabbed the apron and put it on and he attempted to tie the strings, but they were exceptionally long and hung down almost to the floor.
He felt Johanna reaching down and grabbing each apron string.
She was standing directly behind him and with a string in each hand reached around Jerld’s waist in an attempt to tie the excess string in the front. As she did this Jerld felt the warmth of her body pressing against his back.
She was moving slightly side to side as if trying to get a better grip on each string.

As she did this, her breasts like two small pillows fluffed gently back and forth across his back. Jerld reached down and cupped both of her hands in his as if he was tying to pull the strings tighter. Her hands felt warm and soft to his touch and he gently caressed each finger as he pulled their hands away from the knotted strings.
Still holding one of her hands he turned to face Johanna and said: “Lets get these dishes done so we can enjoy ourselves later.”
Johanna smiled and gently hung on to one of his fingers.
“Lig you and Mr. Tyler do the washing and when you are all done come and get Mr. Mitchell and I, we will be in the back yard.”
Pushing the door open Jerald stepped back to let Johanna go out first. She step in front of him only taking a couple steps before the sound of the heavy old door closing was heard. It was like a starter’s pistol at a track meet. Johanna turned and threw her arms around Jerld.
Hugging him with a death like grip, Jerld felt her hands pushing his apron aside and began groping for an opening in his belt that would allow her hands to caress his maleness. Jerld was taken back and he recoiled backward.
“Whoa, what’s going on here?” It was more of a statement then a question that unintentionally sprung from Jerld’s lips. Johanna didn’t seem to hear it.

She put her other hand behind Jerld’s head and pulled his head down until their lips were fumbling for each other and when they did meet Johanna’s tongue plunged in to Jerld’s mouth. Her tongue was like a viper striking again and again. Jerld was struggling to keep some small control over Johanna hands but it was useless to even try.
She had worked her fingers into his groin area and was cradling both his balls and his dick with one hand, while pulling on the back of his head with all the strength she could muster.
The two were entwined like a twisted candle that was on fire at both ends. Jerld fell back against the back porch railing and landed in a half sitting and standing position. Johanna’s grip on his crotch area and the back of his head didn’t loosen, but when he stumbled backward it dragged her body on top of him.
The next thing Jerld knew his fly had been unzipped exposing his manhood to the cold night air.
Then warmth gradually seemed to surround his exposed dick. It was like a warm cover being placed over his privates to warm them. Slowly the warmth was enveloping his entire groin area and a rhythm of syncopated love making over took his entire body. Johanna’s warm breath was now coming in gasps and Jerld could feel it on his lips.

The darting tongue was in perfect harmony with the now moist gentle movement of Johanna’s pussy as her hips pulsed back and forth.
Jerld was still not sure of what was happening. He knew of course that they were having sex but wondered with each forceful stroke of Johanna’s hips, if he was in fact being raped or if some how he had in some way mislead Johanna.
Jerld had had sex many times since the first time with Robin and the twins, but this was the first time it had been somewhat forced on him. Not that he wasn’t responding. His dick felt like a gigantic sausage, but he had never had sex that was not as a result of him initiating it.
Suddenly the love juices burst from both of them and they collapse into each other’s arms.
It was at that time Jerld realized that throughout their love making Johanna had not once opened her eyes. As he cuddled her, her head was buried into his chest.
Johanna said quietly; “The dishes must be done by now, we better go inside.”
She pulled away and straightened her blouse and skirt just as Lig opened the door and said: “Come on in you two love birds. The dishes need to be dried.”

Immediately Jerld thought “Did she see us?” He was thankful that Johanna stood between him and the doorway because he had not had time to tuck his manhood back into his pants or straighten up his apron. Turning slightly away from the door he zipped up his pants and looked down to make sure the results of their love making was not still clinging to the front of his fly.
Johanna pranced into the kitchen as if nothing had happened. “Where are the dishtowels?” “Come on Mr. Mitchell, we got to get these dried before Daddy comes in here with a switch.”
Jerld straggled over to the sink and was handed a drying towel from Lig.
She said with a big smile: “Now don’t get anything on the front of your pants it will stain.”
Jerld again wondered:” Did she see us?”
Jimmy and Lig walked out of the kitchen with Lig hanging tightly onto his arm. Jimmy looked happier then Jerld had seen him in years.
Johanna and Jerld stood drying the dishes, not looking at each other or saying a word. When their hands touched accidentally Johanna would draw back as if she didn’t want him to even touch her. When the dishes were dried she said loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Kaylee the dishes are done, do you want me to put them away?”
“I would appreciate that and send Mr. Mitchell in here so we can get ready for our Bible study.” Kaylee responded.
Johanna looked at Jerld and gave a go-on nod and then started to gather the dishes to put them away. Jerld just turned and walked out the kitchen door and into the Daisy Room without a word being said.
It was only a few minutes when Johanna appeared and said; “All done, Kaylee you and Jerld sit together tonight and Olivia you and Jimmy, I’ll start off with mother.”
Mr. B. took his usual place in the center chair and said: “Let’s begin. “Jobs 5-22” Mr. B called out, again it was as if Jerld had a magic book, it fell open to the page with that exact verse.
He jump up and started to read and when he had finished he hesitated. Who was he going to kiss, surely not Mr. B.
Mr. B. sensed his predicament, “Jerld usually the only man playing is me, so now that you and Jimmy has joined us, I guess we will have to change the rules a little. If you or Jimmy are first when I am in the center chair you will get your choice of who you want to kiss and put into the center chair.”
As Jerld looked around the room all eyes were staring at him except for Johanna, her head was lowered looking at the floor.

Jerld said: “Don’t worry Jimmy I wouldn’t kiss that mug of yours for a hundred dollars.” I am going to choose the prettiest lady in the room.” With that said he walked over to Mrs. Bailey and said; “May I kiss you?”
There was a loud guffaw from Mr. B. and he said: “You see that girls he has only been here a couple of days and he is trying to steal my Rosie.”
Mrs. Bailey stood up and said; “Mr. B. and I never had a son. So I have never been kissed by anyone else except him and the girls.
Mr. Mitchell I feel it is an honor that you have chosen me out of all these beautiful ladies, so before MR. B. has a fit please do.”
With that Jerld bent over and lightly lifted her hand, as he had seen in the movies, and kissed the back of it.
He then stepped aside, bowed and made sweeping motion with his hand and said: “Your Chair Ma’am.” lifting her hand as she got up from the chair.
MR. B. chuckled: “Well I’ll be, we have Casanova here.”
The game continued until Olivia finally won and when she did she said. “I’m not going to kiss Kaylee, Jimmy hasn’t won yet, so Jimmy I am choosing you.” With that she walked over and planted a big kiss on Jimmy’s cheek and bowed and waved her hand, imitating Jerld and said: “Your Chair Sir.” Jimmy was petrified he couldn’t move or say a word.


His eyes swelled up with tears and his hands shook as if someone or something was rattling them. He tried to talk and his voice trembled so much he became tongue-tied.
Mr. B. seeing this said: “Olivia that is not in the rules so Jimmy doesn’t have to take the center chair.” “Jimmy I hope you don’t mind but we changed one rule tonight so I think that’s enough.”
“Mother do you have our desserts ready for us now?”
“Yes J.B. I do, you all relax now and I will bring it in.” Rose responded. A nervous smile took over Jimmy’s face as he said: “Olivia you had me for a minute, but I was going to try anyway. You see I don’t read to good, but for a kiss like that I would do about anything.” Olivia bent down and kissed him again.
Rose returned from the kitchen with a tray full of pie. The meringue on each slice looked like a huge cloud had settled over the lemon filling. Each piece was about four inches wide at the crust and at least three inches high. The auburn crust had been meticulously rolled into a perfect one-inch ring, resembling a picture frame, surrounding a tantalizing mouthwatering work of stomach art.
Rose, starting with Mr. B. handed a slice the pie, a napkin and a tiny fork to each of them.

When she was done she said: “Honey would you taste it and let us know if it is worth eating. “
Jerld and Jimmy both had already chipped off a piece that was heading for their mouths. Each of them with an appetizing fork full paused midair looked around and noticed that everyone had their desserts perched on their laps. They, almost in unison, slowly let their arms fall to their laps. The tinkling sound of the forks hitting the small china plates sounded like a wind chime to Jerld, but not a head turned.
Everyone, as if they had done it a thousand times eagerly waited for Mr. B. to proclaim the pie all right to eat.
Mr. B. gently cut the tip off his slice and lifted up in the air, looking at it’s texture, then he lowered it to his nose and smelled it, as if it was a bottle of fine wine. In a motion that resembled a bee entering its comb the small fork full of pie flew into his mouth.
Mr. B. in a very exaggerated movement closed his mouth trapping the morsel of dessert and his lips curled into a gigantic smile;
“Rose you have again out did yourself. This is the finest piece of pie I have ever tasted. If every one doesn’t get to eating theirs I’m going to start grabbing theirs and eat them too.” Rose’s face brighten with a smile as everyone franticly dug into the delicious dessert.

Of course Jimmy’s was first to hit his mouth and in a surprising happy voice he said; “The best Mrs. B., the best, it’s as good as my momma’s.”
They ate and talked until it was time for bed. Mr. and Mrs. B. were the first to excuse themselves with a, “Don’t you kids stay up too long.”
Johanna turned to Jerld and asked; “Time for our walk in the back yard?”
It was said as a question and Jerld hesitated momentarily before responding: “Ye-uh sure.”
Kaylee piped up with: “Jimmy lets you and I go out front and sit in the swing.” Jimmy smiled and looked at Jerld and said; “You bet.”
Johanna led Jerld out into the back yard. Jerld looked around, it was a beautiful back yard. The projects where he had grown up had no back yards. There was only a front parking lot; a back parking lot and the children’s play area. At one time the play area must have had grass, but over the years through neglect the grass was now dirt on sunny days and mud on the rainy days. Even now the smaller kids in the projects think of it as a wonderful place to play, they have nothing else.
Looking around the yard it was evident that Mr. and Mrs. B. must have a great deal of pride in their home and its surroundings. The yard was about seventy-five feet wide in both directions.

In one corner there was a small glassed in house. Jerld marveled at it, he had never seen so much unbroken glass in his life. In the windowed house stood numerous flowerpots all perfectly lined up in several rows. Each row had a different color flower interspersed with pots filled with a variety of green leaf plants.
There was one plant that stood as high as his shoulders and it had several rose colored flowers that were as big as a pie plate. The flowers were so heavy each one had to be tied up to a separate stake to support it. Jerld thought to himself: “Momma would love this place.”
In the opposite corner stood a miniature house that was a duplicate of the one they had just left. It also showed a little weathering but structurally it appeared to be well built. There were several windows that were closed and again to Jerld’s amazement none were broken.
In the center of all this sat something Jerld had never seen before, it looked a lot like a merry-go-round that he had seen at a street carnival in Gary when he was a very small kid. But this was different; it didn’t have any small fake horses and other animals for kids to sit on. Instead it had a small picket fence that surrounded a sitting area and a roof that looked like a church steeple with a black iron rooster sitting on its peak. This merry-go-round did not move.

Jerld’s train of thought was broken when he heard Johanna say; “Lets sit in the Gazebo I have to explain something to you.” She walked over to the white merry-go-round and climbed up a step and sat down on the small bench that encircled the inside of it.
Jerld sat down next to her, but because of the roundness of the floor he also was turned so he was looking at her at the same time. He felt uneasy and waited for her to talk first. After several minutes of her looking down at the floor she looked up with tears in her eyes and said: “Jerld I’m sorry.”
Jerld had seen many women cry before, but Johanna’s crying was not a hysterical cry. The kind where there is screaming and flailing of the arms. She didn’t sob like he had heard at the funerals that his mother had taken him to. Her cry was a silent, chest heaving, breaking down of her pride and her womanhood. Jerld let her cry for a few minutes then he reached over and cupped her hands in his and said: “About what Johanna, about what?”
Johanna still looking into his eyes said: “David my poor David.” Jerld had thought he had misunderstood her and that she had meant to say Jerld.
“Johanna you don’t have to feel sorry for me. I love it here and what we did earlier was great, but I think we need to talk about it, don’t you?”
The tears shot out of her eyes like a yard sprinkler.


She smiled in a sympathetic way and said: “No Jerld it’s not you its David my boyfriend and hopefully soon to be husband.”
“Until five months ago David was my boyfriend, we had known each other since grade school.”
“We really hadn’t associated with each other until I went to college at Northwestern University. I had only spoken to him a few times before seeing him in one of my college classes. According to Daddy he was not good enough for me. He never said that in so many words, but I just could tell Daddy thought we were better then David’s family.”
“Being the only familiar face in the class, I went over and sat by him hoping he could help me if there was a need. In grade school David was considered a Nerd and sort of kept to himself.
He graduated high school at the top of our class and received several scholarship offers, accepting one to Northwestern to study Pre-Med.”
Jerld wondered what did this have to do with him. As he looked into Johanna’s now drying eyes he said “Go on.”
She continued: “We started to talk in class and before long we were meeting in at the library to do our homework. That eventually led to us riding the “El”, elevated train, home together each day.”


“Two years had past and my mother and dad knew I had a boyfriend and were patiently waiting to meet him. I was not sure how Daddy would accept him so I put it off as long as I could.”
“There was this beautiful park just two blocks from here. Every day David would walk me home through that park so we could share some intimate time alone. We would hold hands and kiss whenever we were alone and that is as far as it would go.”
“One day as we walked out of the woods there stood my mother and father; they had decided to take a walk in the woods that evening also.
When they spotted David and I together it was from a distance and they were unable to see David closely.”
Daddy hollered out: “Look Rosie we finally caught Johanna and her boyfriend,” and they hurriedly approached us. I was shaking like a leaf and still holding David hand when Daddy got close enough to see David’s face.”
He screamed: “Damn you, get away from my daughter.” He then walked up as close as possible to David, grabbed my arm pulling me away from David and slapped David as hard as he could in the face.”
“Rose take Johanna home.” Pointing to David he said: “We are going talk.” “I had never seen my Dad so mad his whole body was shaking and my Mother said: “Let’s go Johanna, we need to get home, “Now.”

My mother had never shouted at us girls but her “NOW” was as loud as I had ever heard her speak. I tried to pull loose from her grip but it was like five chains wrapped tightly around my arm and felt like they could guillotine my upper arm in half. It was no use to struggle I knew my mother would drag me home if necessary.”
“I was to learn later, from David, that my father, now standing nose to nose with David, spewed out pure hatred as if he was a torturer getting ready to kill a man he hated vehemently.”
David told me, Daddy through clenched teeth said: “It was you people who killed many of my friends and two of my brothers, whenever I see people of our color I want to vomit. I do my best to contain my terrible dislike for your race, but I will not allow my daughter to be seen with you or even have my name associated with your kind in any way.”
With his venom spilling out into the chilly night air my father began to pummel David’s face. “David was much smaller then his aggressor, if he stood straight up and loaded his pockets with gold he would only be about five foot six inches and weigh one hundred and thirty pounds.”
“There he stood defenseless being beaten by a man twice his size. Finally David said he went down, and looking up he met eye to eye with a crazed black monster that wanted to kill him.”

“David would not let his attacker bring him down to his level. He looked up and through his bloody eyes and swollen lips and said; “May God forgive you.”
“It was as if a sledgehammer had hit my Father on the head. He stumbled back and grabbed his mouth as he whispered, “Oh My God, Oh My God,” he then turned and staggered away as if he had been the one who had been beaten.”


Chapter Eighteen: Racists Come in all Colors.

“David told me that he laid where he was for a few minutes, feeling his face and trying to wipe away the blood that caked his nose and eyes. It felt like several teeth had been loosened, but at least they were all still there. David slowly got up and was surprised that he didn’t have much pain, which was to come the next day. David shuffled his way back through the woods and to his apartment.”
Johanna said: “When they had gotten home her mother didn’t say anything except: “Get up to bed before your Daddy comes home.”
Johanna got undressed and was just crawling into bed when she heard her mother open the front door. Then her father’s voice crying said: “Rose, Rose, my God Rose I almost beat that young man to death.”
Then there was silence except for a quiet murmur of two voices reading the Scriptures. “The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want he maketh me to lie down beside still waters…………. The voices trailed off into nowhere.”
Johanna continued: “The next morning I got up and went down to breakfast. When I got to the table my sisters and mother were there but my father was gone. Mother said: “Your father had some early business to take care of.”
“Girls before we eat I have something I would like to tell you.”

“Last night your father did something that he is terribly sorry about and it’s time you were told why he feels so strongly against people like Johanna’s boyfriend.”
Kaylee and Olivia just looked at each other as if to ask: “How did they find out?”
Mother continued, “ When the Second World War started your father was only sixteen years old, but he went immediately to the recruiting office to enlist in the Navy, his two older brothers were all ready in the Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor. Because of his age he wasn’t allowed to enlist. This crushed your Father he wanted to fight for his country.”
“As the war in Europe rage on he followed it progress closely, always wondering if there was anyway he could enlist in the Navy with his brothers. So he too could protect his country, when and if they became involved in the war. Then December 7, 1941 came and Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan. The next day, even though he was only seventeen, with his parent’s permission he enlisted. When he went to the recruiting station they were only excepting enlistments in the Army that day. He felt that he could serve his country just as well in the Army so he signed up to leave the next day.”
“The second day he was in boot camp he received word that his two brothers had been killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.”

“Although this was devastating to him it made him more determined to do what ever he could to end the war. When he had completed his boot camp they let each new recruit choose what branch of the Army they wanted to serve in. He chose the Army Air Corps thinking he would learn how to fly.”
“He did get to fly, but not as a pilot. He was assigned to a cargo plane that did nothing but transport body bags filled with soldiers killed in battle. The men assigned to this duty were called the Death Squad.”
“My sisters and I sat entranced in what my Mother was telling us. Our Daddy had always been a very quiet man and had never spoke of the war in front of us,” Then she continued with what her mother had said: “Day after day they would fly into a staging area to pick up a plane load of soldiers who had made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It was your father’s job, along with several other soldiers, to load and stack the body bags till they had a minimum ninety-one bodies. During the trip back to a neutral base your father was assigned to sit in the back with the dead, he said he had cried until his eyes were swollen. Each bag had a tag with the soldier’s name and the city and state he was from, written on it. “
“If a bag looked like it was in an awkward or uncomfortable position your father would do his best to straighten it into a position that seemed more natural.”

“As he did this he would talk to each one. “Sergeant Bryan Howard, I hope you have wonderful weather when you get home to Texas.” “Or he would say, “Private Jacob Jones, I hope that makes you more comfortable.”
“He did this as his way of honoring them and to help him keep his sanity. Knowing that his plane would hold ninety-one bodies he started to keep track of the bodies by drawing a small star on the inside wall of the plane’s fuselage for each trip his squad made. After several months the inside wall of the plane was covered with the stars. Your father hated his job but to him it was a way to provide service to his country and respect to the dead soldiers. Someone had to do it and right now that someone was him. So he would do his very best to make the soldiers’ last flight an honorable one. “
After they had reached their destination and the bodies were unloaded and lying on the tarmac, your father would say a prayer for them and with tears filling his eyes he would snap to attention and salute them. “
“He made a vow to them that if the chance ever came for him he would do whatever he could to avenge their deaths.”
“After the war was over and he came back home he always remembered that promise he had made and felt a terrible sadness that he wasn’t ever able to keep it.”


“That morning when mother had finished telling us this sad story we all sat silent, now knowing why our father never spoke of the war or Japan or had anything to do with the Japanese people. Then I knew why my father was so angry when he saw me with David. You see David’s full name was David Allen Yasamoto. He was an American born citizen of Japanese parents,” Johanna said.
“I saw David one more time after that and we again walked through the same woods, holding hands, as he explained to me what had happen that night. As he described what happened and what his feelings were for me I could feel, in his hands, the hatred that he now had for my father. When he talked of the beating he had suffered, it was almost as if he hated me, he held my hand so tightly it was as if he was getting back at my father by hurting me. When he had finished we both knew that the love we had for each other had been tarnished and that it was over between us. We kissed and he bowed and said: “I am sorry my flower, the soil of our love has been poisoned,” with that he turned and walked away.”
“I sat down on the ground and cried as I had never cried before. Then as I struggled to get up a feeling of hatred for my father came upon me.”
“I didn’t have to struggle to raise any longer, suddenly my spine stiffened and my body became rigid.

I stood very straight and stiff and I also made a vow.”
“I would get even with my father someday I would hurt someone my father was very fond of. Jerld, that someone was you.”
She lowered her head and the tears again began drop to the white floor of the Gazebo.
“Jerld that is why I acted the way I did the other night. During dinner I could see and feel a kinship that was beginning to form between you and my Father. It made me angry, it should have been David receiving his adoration not you. Jerld there was no love involved in what we did the other night. It was just my desire to control anyone who had gained my father’s affection,” Without a pause she said: “Jerld I hope you understand and can forgive me.”
Jerld lifted her head and looked into her eyes and said: “I do and I will always remember what you have told me. The last few days have been some of the best days of my life. Love, Life, and Death all had different meanings to me before your family accepted Jimmy and me.”
Jerld grabbed her hand and said: “Let’s go back in.”
When Jerld and Johanna entered the house they heard laughing and a sort of cackling going on in the front yard they walked to the front door just in time to hear Mr. B’s voice booming out the upstairs bedroom window.

“Be quiet out there, some of our neighbors might want to get some sleep.”
There stood Jimmy with his legs spread wide and hands on his hips in what use to be his meanest ready to fight stance.
The way Jimmy looked now would not have even scared a baby squirrel. He was standing in the middle of a pile of dried leaves that had not been disposed of. Leaves scattered all over the yard and Jimmy and the girls were covered with them.
Jimmy sounded like a wounded goose; his attempt to sound mean was destroyed by his smiling eyes and his chortling. He would growl, “Don’t do that again or I’ll get you.” Then he again would be bombarded by arms full leaves, by Kaylee and Lig. It was apparent that this had been going on for some time. They had reached the bottom of the pile, which still had mostly wet leaves. The leaves stuck to Jimmy and the girl as if they were multicolored combat patches from a leaf war that was destined not to have any winners.
When Mr. B. shut the window it all started again with whispered taunts and threats coming from the combatants.
Jerld and Johanna stepped out on the porch and when Jimmy and the girls saw them they stopped for a second until Lig said: “Let’s get them.”

Then the leaf war escalated into a full battle of Jimmy’s troops against Johanna and Jerld’s outnumbered army. The battle continued until Jerld screamed. “We surrender, we surrender.”
Then from the closed bedroom window Mr. .B’s was heard, “Its about time, I was getting envious.” Rose rolled over and wrapped her arms around Mr. B. and said: “Are you now.”
The girls decided it was time for bed so they each said good night and as Kaylee walked by Jimmy she tussled his hair and said: “You’re not so tough.” Jimmy shrunk away, looking up responded: “Get away before I drag you into that big pile of leaves in the woods”
Kaylee just smiled and said: “Hum that might be fun.” and then ran into the house.
Jerld and Jimmy sat on the swing and said nothing for several minutes. Then Jimmy broke the silence: “Jerld this is good.” Jerld responded in a very sad tone of voice, that Jimmy recognized immediately, “Yes Jimmy this is very good, it’s a shame we hadn’t met Mr. B. and his family several years ago.”