Chapter 26

April, 2004

“I remember the lights being turned on and being told to use the bathroom before we got in the car,” Mallory said, putting the popcorn bowls on the coffee table. “I asked her why and she said we were going to see Grandmom. She always drove at night so I didn’t think a whole lot about it.”

“The back of the car was crammed with suitcases and boxes. Our cat was under the seat yowling. I tried to soothe her and got scratched,” Audrey added. “She was always a little bitchy.”

“I don’t remember getting in the car but did wake up with my head on Mom’s lap, cuddling Freddie,” Rebecca recalled. “I can still smell pine trees blowing in from her rolled down window.

“And skunk!” Mallory added.

“Anyway, I’d start to drift back to sleep and she’d punch that button on the floor changing the headlights. Every time it clicked, headlights passed us and she’d go back to using the brights.”

“That was a dark two-lane highway.” Elizabeth joined in. “I remember the click of her changing radio stations. The beige buttons were worn and they always reminded me of chiclets,”

“Nothing on most of that highway except a few small motels with neon lights announcing vacancies. And, our beloved South of the Border signs,” Audrey added. “I always knew we were close when I smelled exhaust fumes from driving through the Baltimore tunnel.” She punctuated her memory with mock vomiting.

“Don’t forget the taste of those saltine and peanut butter crackers. Imagine…we were clueless that summer would change our lives,” Elizabeth said with a hint of melancholy. “And Daddy’s.” Then she smiled and grabbed some popcorn.

Mayport, FL - August, 1968

“I think I’m close,” Bobby said, inhaling deeply from his cigarette. He looked across the bar at the stool where he’d first seen Rose. There was a brunette looking back at him. She gave him a flirtatious wave. Not wanting to be rude or worse, encouraging, Bobby nodded politely and shifted his attention to Tiny.

“It’s been over a month, Bobby! Don’t you think it’s obvious she doesn’t want to be found? Look around. There are so many women just for the pickings. Most of them with no kids.”

“Damn it, Tiny! Those little girls are not a deal breaker,” Bobby said, glaring at Tiny, daring him to insult Rose. “I’ve spent time with Rose in her home and those four girls. They’re shy, charming, spunky and cute. The little one loves to sit in my lap and read Dr. Seuss books.” Bobby fought back tears. “I’m tired of being alone and trolling bars. And—bachelor quarters? Jesus, I’m not a kid anymore.”

“Okay, okay! I’m not here to talk you out of finding her,” Tiny said and lit a cigarette. “I just hate seeing this get under your skin. Tell me why you’re close?”

“Rose is good friends with the neighbors a couple doors down. They babysat Rebecca when we went out. Sometimes on the weekend, we’d all get together and cook-out. The kids played well together. It was happy. Well, lots of laughter and the usual bickering.”

Bobby grew quiet and flipped his Zippo open and closed.

“Then they probably know something. Hope they like you.”

Bobby felt his whiskey hitting and the pain was dulled. Before he could answer, the jukebox blared Dolly Parton’s song. He flinched and felt like she was singing to him, When you left you thought I’d sit, An’ you thought I’d wait, An’ you thought I’d cry, You called me a dumb blond, Ah, but somehow I lived through it... “Bartender, another round.” Bobby pointed back and forth between him and Tiny. “Remember that song was playing the night I met Rose here?”

“You remember that?” Tiny said, looking at Bobby with a lifted brow. “I can’t remember the names of some of my dates the morning after.”

“I saw her sing that song on the Porter Wagner show. Just thought of it as another one of those women’s libber jabs,” Bobby reached for his whiskey and shot it in one swig. “Touche!”

“Pretty soon they’ll be pumping their own gas.” Tiny raised his glass in toast fashion. “Damn girls! Making life complicated and changing all the rules. They need to watch re-runs of Leave it to Beaver.” Tiny chuckled and shook his head.

“Glad you’re amusing yourself. Here’s a thought for you... how would you like having sex with June Cleaver?” Bobby said and they both laughed and shook their heads no. “I’ll take my spunky blonde Rose.”

“Good luck with that. Hope the neighbors have something for you,” Tiny said and ran his fingers through his hair.

“I’m supposed to go over in the morning and talk to Ruth. I’m sure she’ll try and feed me.” Bobby stared into his beer. “I think she likes me. Hell, I hope so.”

August, 1968 – Havre de Grace, MD

Elizabeth and Audrey were doing breakfast dishes for their grandmother. Mallory and Rebecca were in the other room watching Saturday morning cartoons. The small house had no privacy; a living room merged into the eat-in kitchen. Since Elizabeth could remember visiting her grandparents, they always made room for them. Quilts were folded into sleeping pads and someone got the couch. Her mother and grandmother were sitting across the room, drinking coffee and smoking, engaged in a barely audible discussion. Glancing over her shoulder, she watched her mom crush the butt into the ashtray. She’d been fascinated with the same well-used plaid beanbag ashtray they’d been using for years.

“Did you have fun at Aunt Daisy’s?” Audrey asked Elizabeth while she dried another plate and put it on the stack.

How did she answer that? She’d been sent to her aunt’s house for over a week. She was still reeling from her mother’s announcement that they weren’t going back to Jacksonville Beach. Mom was looking for a new home and would enroll them in school later in the summer.

“I play with Kelly while Aunt Daisy watches soap operas,” Elizabeth whispered. She didn’t want the adults to hear her complain. “Kelly cut up worms and put them in dirt to make muffins in her little baking toys. She pulls off lightning bug bodies and puts them on her fingers as jewelry. Aunt Daisy thinks it’s cute. I don’t think she likes me. I cried a lot.”

Audrey shrugged and started drying the glasses. “It might not be that bad. We’ll be here when it snows and we can make snowmen, ice skate or have snowball fights. Didn’t you have fun at the July 4^th carnival at the park?”

“We do that every summer when we’re here on vacation. I want to go home and be with my best friend, play kickball in the street and watch Dark Shadows eating a Pop Tart,” Elizabeth said in a voice hopefully low and private to her sister. She swished her hand around the dirty water for the rubber sink stopper. It reminded her of a rubber pancake and didn’t always hold the water for the whole wash job.

“Are you almost done girls? It’s still cool enough to go down to the waterfront. Your uncle is already there riding his mini-bike,” their mom said. It was obvious she wanted them to leave so the adults could talk. Elizabeth jumped off the stepstool and headed to the living room. “Your grandmother has some stale crackers you can share with the ducks,” her mom added.

“Can I finish watching Bugs Bunny first?” Elizabeth asked.

“Fine but be finding your sneakers and be ready to go outside for a while.” Elizabeth couldn’t put her finger on the look on her mother’s face. It kind of looked like the way she got when Mr. Bobby came over, but her cigarette trembled in her hand.

Elizabeth lifted the sofa skirt and sorted through the shoes hidden and out of the way. She pulled Mallory’s plaid ones, her white ones and guessed Audrey would not get her white ones dirty. “Is Rebecca going with us?” Elizabeth realized she’d interrupted the women’s chattering.

“Absolutely not. Aunt Daisy is coming over in a little bit. She can play out back with Kelly,” her mom answered.

Audrey plopped the wax bag of saltines on the couch and looked under it for her shoes. Mallory and Rebecca were laughing at Marvin the Martian. Elizabeth sat behind them, tying her shoes and leaning on the doorway, listening to her mom and grandmom.

“What are you going to do, Rose?” her grandmother asked, refilling their coffee cups.

“Ruth wasn’t supposed to tell him where I am,” she answered. “I’m on the list for subsidized housing and the base may have a job for me. I’ve been putting in applications downtown. A couple of classmates have already called. Mom, I’m so confused. Damn it, I’ll show all of them I can take care of myself.”

“But you always sounded so happy when you called.”

“Mom, we’ve been talking about this for weeks. I can’t take care of the girls or find a decent job in Florida.” Her mother paused and Elizabeth heard a match strike. She looked over her shoulder and glanced at her mother. Her hand was still shaking. “I feel like I’ve been a single mom for a long time—even when John and I were married. Maybe this is the way it’s supposed to be as a Navy wife but I don’t like it.”

Elizabeth slowly pretended to watch cartoons but was not going to ignore the conversation in the kitchen. Maybe their father was coming back!

“At least tell her to give him our number. Just talk to him, Rose.” Elizabeth’s grandmother said it so low that Elizabeth strained to hear.

“Mom, I sold the house, the furniture and the girls’ toys and souvenirs from overseas. I’d have to go back and start over.” Her mom leaned over her coffee cup. Elizabeth couldn’t see her eyes but could feel her sadness. “I have a better chance here to find a house and job. It’s lonely down there.”

Elizabeth teared up at the thought of her Siamese twin dolls that she’d left guarding her bed in what was now somebody else’s bedroom. What was so bad that her mom would do that? What had they done to make Mom so mad? Was it putting the kitten on Mr. Bobby’s leg? He never seemed mad at them for that, but he must’ve been.

The living room door rattled and Aunt Daisy bounced in with Kelly. For a second, Elizabeth was distracted from the kitchen talk. Kelly ran over to Rebecca and started giggling, showing her a new pink ball.

“Hey, Rose. I’m here for you, baby. Hey Mom,” Aunt Daisy hugged them both and went around the corner. The sound of the metal cabinet opened and closed. The jiggling of the coffee cup on the saucer accompanied her back to the table. “I got your call this morning while I was making Kelly pancakes. I came as soon as I could.”

“Girls, it’s time to go play. Be back by lunch,” Elizabeth’s mom’s voice didn’t sound debatable. “Maybe we can get subs down at Viola’s.”

All three jumped up, Audrey grabbed the crackers and they headed for the alley. They’d walked down the hill and over to the waterfront many a summer. The smell of hamburgers hovered on the sidewalk as they passed a line of patrons out the door of Shorty’s Grill.

As they crossed Eerie Street, the smell of the brackish marina grew stronger, combined with a hint of tar from the docks, all so familiar. Mallory started running towards the swings. “Later!”

“Don’t leave the park!” Elizabeth yelled, sounding too much like their mother. Audrey and Elizabeth looked for a dock with less activity. Marina patrons didn’t bother them if they hung out on the less busy docks.

“There’s the mama duck over there... hanging by the reeds,” Audrey said and pointed.

“Look how big those babies are!” Elizabeth sighed and smiled. “Give me some crackers.” Both of them walked to the end of the dock and sat with their legs dangling over the water. Audrey crackled the wax paper and pulled a single cracker out. The mother duck quacked and headed towards them. Minnows skimmed the surface as if they knew the crumbs were up for grabs.

“Seriously, give me some crackers, Audrey.” Elizabeth wasn’t in the mood for Audrey’s selfishness, especially after hearing there wasn’t anything left of her stuff in Jacksonville Beach. Audrey handed her a couple more crackers. “Want to know a secret?” Elizabeth wanted to spill but wondered if she should tell Audrey anything. Maybe she should be as stingy with her intel as Audrey was with crackers. And crayons. And her Barbies.

“You found out that Mom took us to Big Cone for ice cream when you were at Aunt Daisy’s?” Audrey threw her barb Elizabeth’s way.

“Audrey, why do you do that? Why do you have to say stuff to hurt?” Elizabeth refused to let her see tears. Focus on the mother duck and babies. They love me. Audrey quietly handed her two more crackers. Elizabeth took that as an apology.

“Okay, so what’s the secret?”

“Mom is talking about someone wanting to find her here. Do you think Daddy is coming back?” Elizabeth asked.

“Daddy’s in California. I heard Mom say she would never go that far away from her family,” Audrey answered. Now Elizabeth was confused.

“She told Grandmom that she gave everything away. The only thing I grabbed was Daddy’s Bible when I grabbed my pillow for the ride,” Elizabeth’s voice was flat. She avoided looking at Audrey.

Neither girl spoke. They watched the ducks instead, paddling at their feet to greedily grab up the crackers. The sound of a mini-bike motor made them both turn to the playground. Mallory was hopping on the back with their uncle and he peeled back to the trail.

“She better not come back hurt,” Elizabeth moaned. “It’ll be my fault.... again.”

No one spoke. For Elizabeth, the morning’s adult conversation was complicated, too hard to figure out. Audrey didn’t seem concerned. Elizabeth didn’t understand moving without the Navy van. Finding the familiar brown boxes, drawing paper insulating their treasures and the anticipation of their father returning from sea. This was different, like they’d all run away from home.

The silence was broken by the sound of the train crossing the Black Bridge. The whistle blew and the tracks made their familiar clickety-clack under the weight of the boxcars’ wheels. It was the same hypnotic sound Elizabeth heard three times a day, and once more at night as they settled into their beds on the floor.

“That’s all the crackers,” Audrey announced and balled up the wax paper. “Hey, I have a dime that I found. When we go to Viola’s, want me to buy you some penny candy?”

“Can I get a Sugar Daddy?” It cost a penny or she could get something five for a penny. But Elizabeth knew how to make it last for days. She just rewrapped and hid it. There wasn’t any point to chewing it. It got stuck in her teeth and became more work than fun.

“Sure,” Audrey answered nonchalantly. “Let’s go to the swings and try and get Mallory. We need to get home soon.”

Before they’d gotten there, Mallory came around the corner on the mini-bike grimacing. Their uncle headed towards them, then squeezed the brakes, spraying dust all over them. “What’s wrong?” Audrey and Elizabeth said at the same time.

“I burned my leg on the muffler,” Mallory said, revealing a fresh burn on her upper calf. “Mom’s going to kill me. I can’t cover this in these shorts.”

“My mom is going to freak out if Dad finds out,” the uncle said panicked. Everyone looked at each other as they silently brainstormed.

It was Audrey who spoke first. “Before me and Elizabeth get the subs, I’ll pull out my clam diggers. They should be long enough. Where should we put them?”

“How about under the steps by the laundry room door?” Elizabeth suggested and looked at Mallory. “You’ll have to figure out where to change.”

“Let’s head back now. Y’all wait and bring the bike to the backyard in about ten minutes,” Audrey said and turned around. Elizabeth and Audrey jogged towards the alley.

“I can smell the subs already and taste my Sugar Daddy,” Elizabeth said grinning, refusing to think about Mallory’s burn. The three musketeers were at their finest against childhood angst. They passed the hamburger grill, up the alley with tar bubbles starting to emerge like acne. They politely opened the gate and the laundry room door, ready to take everyone’s lunch order. But the room was silent and they saw their mom cradling the phone.

Elizabeth instinctively knew not to speak and her grandmother’s finger at her lips confirmed. Elizabeth only heard the final words of her mother. “You can tell him to call me before my dad gets home from work. If he doesn’t, I can’t talk. (pause) I have to go. No, I’m not mad at you, Ruth.” She hung up the receiver and turned towards the kitchen.

“Good girls. We’re ready to order lunch. Where’s Mallory?” Rose asked.

“She and Scott are walking back with the mini-bike,” Elizabeth said. It really isn’t a lie, she told herself. Her mom reached under the living room table for her purse.

“Three Italian subs, cut in quarters. That’s four pieces,” her mom instructed and handed her a ten-dollar bill. “Don’t play on the way and stay away from Big John’s house. You never know if he’s sober or not.” Elizabeth just took that as a warning. She knew the house but she hadn’t had the word sober in a spelling bee.

“Okay, Mommy,” Audrey said and gave her a hug, hiding the pants as they skipped out the back door.

After they tucked the pants, they went out the back gate. Elizabeth stepped gingerly up the tar alley, avoiding getting tar bubbles on her sneakers. Insects were singing from the cherry trees. She felt sweat rolling down her back.

“Was Mommy talking to our neighbor, Mrs. Parsons?” Audrey asked.

“That’s what it sounded like to me,” Elizabeth answered, trying to hide her excitement. Maybe we’ll get back home... wherever that was.

August, 1968

It had taken two hours for Bobby to convince Ruth to admit she knew where Rose was hiding. He’d bought extra time to plead for her help by offering to make biscuits from scratch. She made it clear that Rose was moving on but wouldn’t tell him where.

By the end of breakfast, she finally agreed to try and call her friend.

“I can’t promise I’ll reach her,” Ruth said and opened her address book.

“I’ll wait on the porch,” Bobby said, closing the door. He looked down the street at Rose’s house. The For Sale sign was gone and a red VW was in the driveway. In less than five minutes, Ruth opened the front door. She wasted no time telling him Rose needed to think about it.

“She said she would call me by lunch,” Ruth said. Bobby felt numb, like the tiny blonde had him by the balls. His emotional scale would be tipped one way or the other.

“Thanks for doing that, Ruth. Do you mind if I wait?” he asked.

“Of course! I need to clean the kitchen,” Ruth said, holding the door open. She gently patted his back as he walked by.

“Let me help. I made part of the mess,” Bobby said politely.

“I’ve got this and it will help me pass time,” Ruth said and tussled her son’s head as he was glued to the cartoons on TV. “Terry, why don’t you go play outside some before it gets too hot.”

“Only if I can play with my b.b. gun,” Terry said defiantly.

Ruth rolled her eyes and Bobby silently agreed. There were bigger fish to fry right now. “Bobby, do you mind getting his gun off the top of the bookshelf?” She headed for the kitchen cabinet and removed the box of b.b.s.

Terry jumped up from the TV. “Thanks Mr. Bobby.” He ran towards the patio doors, stopping long enough to grab the box from his mom.

Bobby snapped the television off and picked up the morning paper. “If you really don’t need help, do you mind if I read the paper? There was another nuclear test by France on Muruora Island and conflict in the Suez Canal.”

Bobby knew the base activity was at an all time high alert. He hoped at least that Rose’s revolt and emotional atom bomb dropped into his personal life was moving towards a faster truce. He struggled every day to push the distractions aside to keep his job from suffering. Yeah, she’d definitely shown him that she was no dumb blonde.

“Sure, but I want the crossword puzzle,” Ruth shouted from the kitchen.

He settled into the chair across from the quirky Felix the Cat clock. He felt mocked as the eyes and tail ticked away each second for forty long minutes. Finally, the phone rang and Ruth rushed to answer. Bobby’s heart raced and he broke out in a sweat.

“Hello? Oh hey, honey,” Ruth said, looking at Bobby and shaking her head. “Everything’s good but can I call you back? I need to leave the line open.” (pause) “Yes, he’s still here. Rose may be calling soon and I don’t want the line busy.” (pause) “Okay, we’ll see you in a few hours.” There were no words exchanged in the room as she hung up the phone.

Bobby read his way to the Sports page. The Milwaukee Braves had moved to Atlanta. He’d been a huge fan while on his Westpacs. Now, they were in the South. Last year while visiting his sister in Atlanta, they’d gone to a game. Maybe one day he would take Rose and the girls to a game. Felix was still grinning from across the room as the hands approached noon. “Hey, Ruth. Do you think Rose would like going to a baseball game?”

Before she answered, the phone rang. Ruth crossed her fingers at Bobby. “Hello?” Hey, Rose.”

Bobby stood up and pointed at the patio doors. He wanted them to talk without him—plus he needed a cigarette. He just wanted to wait and hear Rose’s decision without second-guessing what was being said.

Bobby paced outside. Her son was shooting his b.b. gun at beer cans lined up on a sawhorse. He wondered what Rose’s girls were doing.

“Mr. Bobby, watch this,” Terry shouted. The pings from his gun hit each can and for good measure, he knocked a little green plastic soldier from the sawhorse. “See that? I’m going to be an Army man!”

“Not a sailor?” Bobby asked, snubbing out his cigarette.

“I can’t swim and I want to shoot guns,” Terry answered. He turned around, sat cross-legged and poured more b.b.s into his Red Ryder.

The patio door slid open and Ruth motioned for Bobby to come back inside. They went into the living room. The couch was covered with clear plastic and crackled as he sat.

He saw nothing in Ruth’s facial expression. “That was fast,” Bobby remarked, not knowing if it was a good thing or bad news. “Just give it to me straight.”

“You can have the number but you have to call before 4:00,” Ruth smiled. “She’s open to talking.”

As he listened, he realized he had been holding his breath. “Where is she?”

“I can give you the number but she’ll tell you what she wants you to know,” Ruth said, protecting the trust between her and Rose. “I need to make lunch. Want a sandwich?”

“Only if it comes with a beer. Or two,” Bobby said. He needed to close the deal. “I’ve thought about what I want to say for weeks. Suddenly, I’m drawing a blank.”

Ruth held up her wedding band finger. “I believe it’s, Will you marry me?”

Bobby felt his face flush and nodded his head. “Can I use your phone after lunch? I’ll pay you for the long-distance charges.”

“Of course. I’ll take Terry out for ice cream down at the beach and call Frank to meet us,” Ruth said, already thinking ahead to prevent Bobby from getting cold feet.

Bobby and Tiny were sitting at a table on the beach at The Seaturtle Inn. Bobby nervously cracked crab legs and washed them down with his beer.

“Did you have any problem getting leave?” Tiny said, licking cocktail sauce from his fingers. “We’re slammed with work orders.”

“I have a bunch of leave saved up. I think Chief Russell is hoping I’ll get refocused once I bring them all back,” Bobby said, digging through his steam bucket. “Everyone has been a lot of help so I did find a house and made a plane reservation. Uniform’s ready and my watches are covered.”

“How long are you going to be gone?”

“A week. I’ll fly out in the morning and Rose is picking me up in Baltimore. She’s got the...” Bobby stopped before he said it. “God, what a scary word.” Bobby laughed shakily and shook his head. He stared out on the low tide line. The sound of the waves relieved some of the anxiety gripping his gut. “Rose has the marriage license. We can get married any time after tomorrow.”

“What about the girls?”

“Rose’s sisters are splitting them up for a couple days. They’re good girls and doubt they’ll be hard to handle. You need another beer?” Bobby saw the waitress heading their way.

“Sure. We’ll go in later and I’ll buy you your last bachelor whiskey shot!” You’re breaking a lot of hearts!” Tiny said, raising his eyebrows and cocking him a shitty grin. He leaned forward and his face changed. “But, seriously, aren’t you a little scared becoming a husband and an instant father?”

Bobby paused and swirled his answer in his head like brandy in a snifter. “This may sound corny but I had the best parents that a child could ask for. They always found a way to take care of all of us. Pops would share with anyone in the town that needed something. We didn’t always have enough to share. It wasn’t unusual to have more than one iron in the fire while they figured out how to keep food on our table, clothes on our backs.”

The waitress brought the new round of beers. Bobby waited until she left the table and continued to answer Tiny’s question. “I think I’m less intimidated about being a father than I am a husband. Scenarios play of the wrong guy neglecting or abusing Rose, predators on the girls... we’ve seen and heard it all from port to port. Bottom line is Rose makes me smile and keeps me on my toes. I want to take care of them. They bring something soft to my rough edges.”

“What about their father? Her ex? Is she still in love with him?”

Bobby cringed inside as Tiny turned up the heat on the sore subject. “She said he’s hardly home. Besides, he’s been sent across the country to school. She won’t leave the East Coast. Her family’s her anchor when she’s lonely,” Bobby said. “And we know Navy wages don’t leave a lot of room to buy plane tickets. Damn, I had to scramble for mine. Worth every dime when I get...my girls... home. Mrs. Rose Higgins and her four little women. Oh, and a damn cat! Now, is this interrogation over? We’re supposed to be drinking.”

“Sounds like a Doris Day and Cary Grant movie. Okay, let’s go inside and have some shots. Get this testosterone party started,” Tiny said and slapped Bobby on the back. “If we keep going this way, before you know it, we’ll be trading our fruit of the looms for panties.”

Bobby laughed and couldn’t resist adding, “I see lots of panties in my future! Are you following the Braves?”

“Yankees fan.”

“Of course you are,” Bobby couldn’t help but notice the polarities between him and Tiny. “What do we have in common?”

“The Navy,” Tiny said, turning on his heel as a cute co-ed flirted at him. “And the ladies, Bobby.”

Havre de Grace, MD – 1968

The living room was cramped as cousins and siblings grabbed any real estate to watch Bowling for Dollars. The smell of spaghetti and garlic bread wafted in from the kitchen. Elizabeth was distracted from the excitement of the adults eating at the table by the TV show airing from Baltimore. The emcee called the next bowling contestant to draw from the huge bin of postcards.

“You know the rules, Mr. Carter. Our jackpot is $720 and if you get a strike, you will split it with your pen pal. Please pull a postcard from the pile.” The emcee opened the cage and Mr. Carter dug deep and presented it to the host. “Okay, head to the bowling lane and you will be sharing your winnings with.... Mrs. Helen Boukbumner.”

Elizabeth and the entire room erupted in laughter at the last name. Mallory started pairing the last name with her sisters. “Elizabeth Boukbumner! Audrey Boukbumner!”

Uncle Scott elbowed Audrey who had grabbed a place on the couch. “Hey, your mom could be a Boukbumner.” They both laughed as Elizabeth glared from the floor, cross legged in front of the small black and white TV.

“Can you be quiet so we can see if he wins the jackpot? There’s a cool trip to London if he makes two strikes in a row,” Elizabeth hissed. She felt cranky and hungry. She tried to ignore the smell of her grandmother’s dinner. The adults were taking a long time to finish.

But the dining room was buzzing with a hidden excitement among the adult females surrounding her mom. For several days, Pig-latin was being used a lot when the kids were around.

“You know I wrote the pen pal post card address down for Grandmom? She put the stamp on and I took it to the post office,” Audrey bragged. “They do this show in Baltimore near where we get the Gordon bluecrabs.”

Elizabeth ignored the bragging. It was a normal exercise in these situations to get drawn into Audrey’s word duels. But the visual of a bushel of blue crabs being scattered on the picnic table in the backyard reminded her again of how hungry she was. She knew how to clean a blue crab and use the little wooden hammer on the leg and claw meat. The yellow can of Old Bay seafood spice followed her family, regardless of the military moves. They used it on crabs, shrimp and even popcorn. The crashing of the bowling pins reminded Elizabeth to ignore that memory for her grumbling tummy.

“Look, he did it. He and Mrs. Boukbumner get another chance to win the trip!” Mallory shouted. “You know they might get to fly on an airplane if he wins the next part.” The bowling ball spun down the lane and hit the king pin square on. Mr. Carter and his peanut galley in the studio jumped to their feet as all the ten pins viciously fell off the wooden platform.

Contrasting the melodic tenor of falling bowling pins, the sound of plates being scraped at the sink distracted her from the victory. Elizabeth watched her grandparents head to the porch door to smoke in the backyard as moms began dishing out spaghetti for the kids.

“Okay, plates are heading to the table. Come and get it but remember, Scott and Audrey have dish duty,” Aunt Daisy said. There were six servings and a pitcher of Kool-Aid in the center of the table. The pitcher’s purple face smiled and sweated on the red and white checked vinyl table cloth. It was just like the one in the TV commercial. But he didn’t speak, just stared at all of them, waiting to be drunk.

Scott, Audrey and Mallory ran past Elizabeth as she refocused on Mr. Carter jumping up and down with his second strike. Now, he got to try for that new car after the following commercials. The Ivory soap commercial immediately played ahead of the car battery sale. Maybe Audrey was right, Grandmom filled the bathroom with Ivory soap because of wishing to be the pen pal wanna-be. For as long as she could remember when bathing in the small bathroom at their visits it always smelled like soap. The soft, soggy soap reminded her of how many had hit the shower before her.

As Elizabeth stared at the release of the third ball for the new car, she was shaken back to reality by her mom’s voice. “Elizabeth, dinner time. Turn off the TV and let’s get done.” The ball and pins crashed and two pins remained upright.

“Coming, Mom,” Elizabeth felt sorry for the man in the blue bowling shirt but had to admire his courage to take a chance on TV. He didn’t win it all but his family still jumped all over him. The emcee handed him a lottery ticket and sent the audience back to a new advertisement. No one seemed to be disappointed.

She clicked the program off and headed to her plate of spaghetti. Mr. Carter hit a sore spot. She missed the circle of her family unanchored by a man who risked winning or losing in front of his loved ones. She used to feel that way about her parents. She wanted to be that brave for someone and surrounded by smiles and hugs.

“Okay girls. We’ll be outside. Don’t waste time if you want to play before bedtime,” Rose said, grabbing two plates off the dining room table. “Rebecca and Kelly are with us. Get done and head out. I have something to tell you.” Her smile was different than it had been for the past few weeks.

“Did Grandmom get picked for Bowling for Dollars?” Audrey asked. Scott nudged her, suppressing a chuckle.

Elizabeth saw a gleam in her mom’s eye and her cryptic comment intrigued her. “Well, no, but we have hit the jackpot and there is an amazing adventure in our future.”

Elizabeth overheard Scott whisper to Audrey, “Your new name is going to be Boukbumner and you get to look at pictures of their honeymoon in London!”

Elizabeth kept her head down and sprinkled parmesan cheese on her spaghetti. She watched her grape Kool-Aid sweat from the small glass jelly jar. Eating quietly, she finished before the others and walked to the sink with her plate. She could look out the window at the adults laughing below. The aluminum green and white woven webbed chairs circled the smoking smut pot. Before she could get trapped by Audrey to help with dishes, she snuck out to the backyard. She craved some alone time. For weeks, she felt as if she’d lived in piles. They slept in piles, crammed in the car for drives in the country and shouldered in a small room to watch TV. She missed her best friend. Ever since they’d left Florida, Elizabeth felt her life was claustrophobic. She stayed in the shadows and quietly sat at the redwood picnic table, alone with her thoughts.

Fireflies blinked and bats dove in and out of the alley street light. Elizabeth loved the graceful dance of the fireflies. They were like fairies. She’d patiently held out her hand, waiting for one to rest. She hoped they knew she had no intent to pluck the magical green pulsing light for her own selfish vanity. My name’s not Kelly, she whispered to her fairy friends sitting on her palm.

As they rejoined the pulsating glowing tribe, she envied the joyous and gentle spirited army. Maybe they weren’t just blinking but singing an ancient melody passed along for generations. But each summer, there were fewer and they were harder to find. Maybe she should have been a firefly with a chance to live their magical nights. But, deep inside she knew the beauty of this wondrous fragile creature did not survive without a fight. Some fell to predators, pesticides or Mason jars. Elizabeth realized that each year, her childhood felt like it was reduced to that of a firefly captured in a glass jar. There was no way out until the lid was taken off.

She watched the women engaged in lighthearted banter as they passed around a bottle of wine. Her grandfather’s silhouette was framed by the shed window. It was obvious Granddaddy was absorbed in his own private tinkering project. The radio was playing an Orioles game. She heard her sister giggling and turned to see Audrey and Scott blowing bubbles from the dishwater at each other.

She hated summer. No, she hated this summer. This was not the way summer vacation was supposed to go. The rope was tightly knotted and she was tethered to her sisters. Her family was battered from something too advanced for her little girl mind. Daddy was gone. Her home was gone. Her friends didn’t know where she was.

As she quietly sat on the edge of the old redwood picnic table, Rebecca ran over to her. “Lizabeth! Guess what? Mr. Bobby is on his way here!”

Elizabeth’s heart jumped. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah! I get to go to Aunt Daisy’s with Audrey tomorrow night,” she said. “You and Mallory are staying with Aunt Violet.”

“How do you know that?” Elizabeth asked, holding up her hand as a landing pad for the fireflies. Three of them fluttered over her palm.

“Kelly threw the ball too hard and it went under Mommy’s chair. When I went to get it I heard her telling Aunt Daisy and Aunt Violet how long she needed help,” Rebecca said. “You know what we get to do first tomorrow?” Elizabeth signaled what, with her cocked chin.

“We get to go to the laundromat, wash clothes and flip through that cool Bible story book. You know the one on the chain?” Rebecca bubbled. “It has the neatest pictures.”

Elizabeth smiled. She suddenly felt ashamed that she’d ignored the lessons of hope and faith from the book she’d read many summers. Maybe all this had been a test. Sorry, God. “That is a really neat book. And don’t forget, we get a cold Coke... if the vending machine works.”

“Or Mommy will let you take us down to the candy store,” Rebecca said, skipping back to her cousin. Suddenly it dawned on Elizabeth that her baby sister looked up to her. Her mother trusted her with the safety of her sisters. Her shoulders felt lighter and she sat up straighter, eager to make her mother proud.

Change was in the wind. Maybe Mr. Bobby would take the lid off the firefly jar and she’d rejoin her friends. Or better yet, he’d make two strikes for the jackpot and a trip to Florida! She’d jump up and down. Maybe even give him a hug, too.

It had been four hours since Tiny dropped Bobby off at the Jacksonville Imeson Airport. Bobby tried to get a MAC flight but if he secured a seat, it could be three days before he arrived in Baltimore. That would have been a huge chunk of his leave. Eastern Airlines provided a military discount and traveling in his service dress whites saved space in his suitcase. As he placed his hat on the floor under his window seat, he had to smile. In the concourse, he’d sat beside a young boy and his mother.

“Mr.? Can I try your hat on?” he asked, tapping on Bobby’s right arm. The mother’s head jerked up and she lost interest in her magazine article.

“Jimmy!” she said, but Bobby jumped in.

Bobby smiled at the memory of his brother putting his on young Bobby’s beaming head. “Of course!” Bobby said, offering it to Jimmy. He couldn’t help grinning as it fell cock-eyed on the little red headed boy. Jimmy couldn’t be much older than Rebecca. Grinning and looking at his mom, there was a gap from a missing tooth.

“Thanks, Mr. Sailor. I can’t wait to tell my dad that I got to wear a real Navy hat,” Jimmy said, beaming as he handed it back. Jimmy’s mother smiled and returned to her magazine.

On the plane, Bobby had been careful storing it so he didn’t scuff the patent leather brim. He snuffed out his cigarette and closed the little ashtray built into the armrest as he focused on the pilot’s approach to the airport.

Rose had never seen him in this uniform. He liked the summer whites, double-breasted jacket’s CPO’s eagle insignia on his left sleeve, and the way the six gold buttons trailed down the front, offering an elegant statement. No more crackerjacks for this Chief Petty Officer. He realized that shedding the crackerjacks for a chief’s uniform was a rite of passage in his career, just like marrying Rose and her four daughters would be his rite of passage as a man.

The plane touched the runway and bounced a couple times, bringing Bobby back to his present task. He reached under his seat and retrieved his hat. No turning back. It had been the longest six weeks in his life. Even extended WESPAC deployments and FRAM overhauls hadn’t caused the amount of anxiety he’d felt these past few weeks trying to find Rose.

The ladder had been rolled and secured at the plane’s door. “Thank you,” Bobby said to the stewardess, and covered his head. His patent leather shoes trotted down the metal stairs and briskly across the tarmac. Airport personnel pointed to the sidewalk leading to the glass doors. All these years in the Navy, he’d never searched the faces of families waiting at the end of the gangway. He and his single buddies usually hit the pier looking for the Chief’s Club and easy women. Now as he entered the waiting area, he eagerly scanned the sea of faces. His gait had slowed down and he stepped aside. They’d agreed if she’d been delayed, they would meet at baggage. Before he’d resigned to heading out, he locked eyes with Rose entering the room. He wasn’t waiting for her to reach him as he zig zagged through the crowd. He paused and looked at her blue eyes brimming with tears. Without thinking, his hand cradled her chin and they kissed. PDA was a no-no but he couldn’t wait. He pulled her into his chest and smelled the familiar musk of her perfume. As hard as he tried to control his relief, a couple of sobs gently shook them both as he kissed her again.

“I love you, Rose,” Bobby confessed, reaching for his handkerchief to try and recover from his emotional slip. “Sorry. Do you still want to marry me?”

“I better get you to the altar soon, Chief,” Rose said, staring hungrily at him. “Do you know how handsome you are in that uniform?”

“Yeah, I had to beat them off in Jacksonville,” Bobby smiled. He omitted that it was a little red-headed boy coveting his hat.

Rose shook her head. “Let’em try. You’re mine.”

Bobby placed his hand at the small of her back and led them towards baggage claim. “Yes, I am Mrs. Higgins.” He walked tall and proud beside his future wife. “How are the girls?”

“Everyone is fine and excited. My parents and sisters are waiting to give us their approval,” Rose said. “I told them we would stop by first before heading to the motel.” She looked up at him with a frisky grin.

“You’re killing me, Rose,” Bobby said, raising his eyebrows lustily.