A Quilt for Jenna (16 page)

Three weeks after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Bobby sat with Reuben at the little chrome dinette set in the kitchen of their apartment. They had finished dinner, and Bobby was drinking a beer. Reuben sat across from him with his own beer, looking morosely down at the tabletop.

“I'm going down tomorrow to enlist,” Bobby said, getting right to the point. “I went over to the Marine Corps recruiting office in Akron yesterday, and they seem to think that I'm a suitable candidate for grunthood, so I'm going in for a physical and then it's off to Parris Island. You're welcome to stay here while I'm gone. I've already talked to the landlady, and she's fine with that.”

“Bobby, I—”

“Don't try to make me change my mind,” Bobby cut in. “I've made it up and nobody's gonna change it. Pearl Harbor decided it for me. The Japanese have underestimated the will and anger of the American people. The guy at the recruiting station told me that hundreds of men have come in to—”

“Bobby, will you just shut up and listen for a moment?” Reuben took a deep breath and then began to talk quickly and earnestly.

“I've been thinking long and hard about what you said a few weeks ago. I still feel that killing other men isn't a good thing, and I think if everybody really did what Jesus says in the Bible, there would be no killing in the world, and everybody would get along or at least just leave each other alone.

“But I've come to see that in every group of human beings there will always be someone who tries to get it over on everyone else. And there are all kinds of ways that we do it to each other, from talking behind people's backs to crushing another country with an army. I think people are just born that way. As long as there are men like Hitler and Tojo, there will be wars because tyrants think they should be in control of everyone else and they'll do whatever it takes to achieve that.

“I know there are bad men in America too, but for the most part, this is a free nation with lots of room for everybody. And you were right—it stays that way because some men and women are brave enough and care enough to willingly lay down their lives so their neighbors can stay free. I said that I believe there are some things worth dying for, and I was talking about Jerusha. But your questions made me see things in a different light. It occurred to me that if the Germans or the Japanese got their hands on America, they would take away our rights. Then there would probably be no Reuben and Jerusha in that sort of future. So I had to make a decision.

“It was a hard choice because it went against everything I've ever known. I don't know if Jerusha will ever understand, but like you, I've decided to go and fight those who want to destroy our country. In fact, I beat you to the punch. I've already signed up. I've been accepted for the Marine Corps, so if you're going to sign up, it looks like we'll both be headed for Parris Island. I'm hoping that if I make it back alive, I can make Jerusha see why I did this.”

Bobby hardly knew what to say. “Well, my friend, that's the longest speech I ever heard out of you.” He leaned forward to take Reuben's hand in a grip of friendship. “I don't know what's ahead for us, but I'll do my best to make sure you make it back to that gal of yours.”

That was the day your troubles really started. The war did something to you. It wounded you inside, and later you made choices that hurt Jerusha and Jenna. I wish I had kept my mouth shut and just let you stay in Apple Creek.

A sadness filled Bobby's heart as he thought about the tragedy that had broken Reuben and Jerusha's lives.

Why am I still alive, living my comfortable life in Apple Creek? I should have died in that trench on that God-forsaken island. But I'm here and Jenna is gone, Reuben is gone, and now Jerusha is gone. Why couldn't You let them be, God, and cause me trouble instead? Shoot, I don't even believe in You, except maybe as a big troublemaker in the sky. I guess I'm a perfect candidate for tragedy. So why not me? Why them?

From the front room came the sound of a knock on the door. Betty went to see who it was. Bobby heard voices, and then Betty came rushing into the kitchen.

“Bobby, Henry's awake! Mark Knepp came over to tell us. He'll give you a ride back to the doctor's office if you want to talk to Henry.”

Bobby grabbed his coat and gloves and went into the front room.

“Bobby,” drawled Mark. “Henry's come to and he's been asking for you. He's pretty shook up and it's hard to understand what he's saying, but it seems he wants you to come. I got my car out here and I can take you over. Boy, it's still a humdinger out there. Can't see ten feet in front of your face.”

Bobby finished pulling on his coat, and the two men rushed out into the frigid air, climbed into Mark's Ford, and headed to Dr. Samuels' office. When they arrived, a nurse showed them the way to the back of the office, where Dr. Samuels was waiting.

“He's in here, Bobby, but he's not very coherent. Keeps saying the same thing over and over. He's been asking for you.”

Bobby went into the room. Henry was lying on the bed covered with several blankets. He had a nasty purple bruise on the right side of his head and face. A thick white bandage was wrapped around the top of his head. His eyes were having a hard time focusing, but when he saw Bobby, he tried to pull himself together.

“Bovvy...helv her,” he said.

“Where is she, Henry?” Bobby asked. “Where's Jerusha?”

“Hid a cow, Bovvy,” Henry said.

Bobby turned to the doctor. “What's wrong with him, Doc?” he asked.

“He's had a terrific blow to the head. He still can't tell me how many fingers I'm holding up, but he insists he needs to tell you something.”

“He does,” Bobby said. “Henry was driving Jerusha Springer to the quilt fair, but when Mark found Henry, he was alone. So Jerusha is somewhere out there in this blizzard, and Henry is the only one who knows where she is.”

“Bovvy...Bovvy, gid ober here,” croaked Henry. “Godda gidder... godda help.”

Bobby leaned over Henry's bed. “Where is she, Henry? Where's Jerusha?”

“Liddle Jenna gone, Bovvy,” mumbled Henry. “So sad...so sad.”

Bobby took Henry by the arm. He tried to make Henry look at him, but Henry was staring at the ceiling.

“Is he going to be all right, Doc? Is he going to be able to tell me anything?”

“I'm surprised he can even talk at all.”

Bobby was growing desperate. “Henry, boy! You've got to pull it together and tell me where Jerusha is,” he shouted.

Bobby felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Easy, Bobby,” Mark said. “I know you want to find Jerusha, but you have to give Henry some time. The boy is hurt bad, but he's strong as an ox. He'll come to in a while.”

“But she might die out there if she's not already dead!” cried Bobby. “I've got to find her, and Henry's the only one who knows where she is.”

“Why don't we calm down and pray?” said Mark.

“You go ahead if you think it will help, Mark,” Bobby said as he turned away. “I'm not sure I want to ask anything of a God who would let my friends get into such trouble.”

Just then Henry mumbled a few more words. “Ony a banket, Bovvy...ony a banket. Code, so code. Godda gidder, Bovvy...too code... too code.”

Bobby went back to Henry's bedside. He wanted to grab the boy and shake him, make him talk, say anything, but he knew Mark was right.

Suddenly Henry looked right at Bobby and grabbed his arm. “Godda gidder, Bovvy. Gonna die...too code...too code,” he mumbled.

Henry collapsed back on the bed and closed his eyes. The doctor moved to the bedside, took Henry's wrist to check his pulse, and then opened the boy's eyelids and checked his eyes.

“He's out again, Bobby,” said Dr. Samuels. “He'll probably be out for a while. Go back to Betty's place, and I'll send someone over to get you when he's awake.”

“C'mon, Bobby, I'll take you,” Mark said. “Then I'll come back here and wait. I got nothing else to do, and I left plenty of food for the animals out at my place. As soon as he wakes up again I'll come get you. You should get some rest.”

“Okay, Mark,” Bobby answered. “I guess I can't do any more until he comes to.”

The two men left Dr. Samuels' office and drove back to Betty's place. Mark dropped Bobby off and headed back downtown to wait for Henry to wake up. When Betty saw Bobby's face she knew that things didn't look well for Jerusha.

“He's incoherent,” Bobby said. “He keeps rambling on about the cold and little Jenna Springer, but he wasn't alert enough to give me any clue as to where Jerusha is. I have to decide whether I should just go out and comb the roads for Henry's car or wait here until he wakes up. Either way it's a long shot as far as finding her in this weather.”

“It doesn't look good, does it?” Betty said.

Bobby slumped down on the couch and closed his eyes. “No, Betty, it doesn't look good at all.”

C
HAPTER
19

Trials and Tests

B
OBBY CHECKED ON THE SNOWPLOW
but decided to wait for Mark to come get him instead of going out again. In truth, he needed the rest and took a nap on Betty's couch after a small snack. He slept soundly for two hours until he felt someone gently shaking him. It was Betty.

“Bobby, wake up. Mark's here to take you back to Doc Samuels' office. Henry's awake again.”

Bobby swung his legs over the edge of the couch and sat for a minute with his face in his hands. Then he looked up. Mark Knepp was standing by the front door. His hat and the shoulders of his coat were covered with snow, and a little pool of water was forming on the hardwood floor around his feet.

“Henry's awake, and he's asking for you again,” Mark said. “He's sounding a little more coherent now.”

Bobby gave a little groan and rubbed his hands through his hair.

“I don't think that nap did me any good,” he said with a grimace. “I feel groggier than when I went to sleep.”

Bobby stood up and went to the coatrack, grabbed his coat and hat, and pulled them on. Together the two men started out the door.

“Let me know what's happening if you have time,” Betty said.

“Well, if Henry tells us where Jerusha is, I'll come back here to get my tractor and head right out, so I'll let you know then,” Bobby answered.

“I'm going with you to look for Jerusha,” Mark said.

“It's pretty nasty out there. It'll be tough going,” Bobby said.

“If you plow ahead, I'll follow close with the car,” Mark said. “That way when we find Jerusha we can get her out of the storm quicker. There's not much room for her up in that little cab of yours. I got brand-new studded tires on the Ford, so she'll be fine behind your plow.”

“All right then. Just make sure you stay close behind me.”

A few minutes later the two men arrived at the doctor's office, and Dr. Samuels met them at the door.

“Come on in, fellas,” he said. “Henry's asking for you again, Bobby.”

They went into the back room. Henry looked up at them from the bed and then focused on Bobby.

“Bovvy, godda gidder...Godda gidder.”

Bobby sat down by the bed. “I know I have to get her, Henry, but you have to tell me where she is.”

“Bovvy, where's Reuven? Godda gid Reuven,” Henry said.

“I don't know where Reuben is. He's gone, and I don't know where to find him. No one does. Right now we can't worry about Reuben. We have to find Jerusha. Where is she, Henry?”

“Godda gid Reuven, Bovvy. Reuven will gidder.”

Bobby frowned in frustration. “Henry, I told you, I don't know where Reuben is. Now just tell me where you left Jerusha.”

Henry's eyes twitched and he screwed up his face as he tried to speak. Then a tear ran down his face as he slowly answered. “Don't remember, Bovvy. Don't remember...”

Bobby stared at the boy and then shook his head. “I'm with you, Henry. I wish Reuben were here,” he said quietly. “I could really use his help to get through this one.”