And Along Came Jake (15 page)

"I love you Jake, you know that." She paused. "Do you remember what Big Paul said about opportunity?"

"I remember." He nodded, thinking about conversation in the old barn.

"Well, this is one of those times, Jake. You don't have to do it now, but if you go now, maybe you and Edwin could end up in basic training together, and look after each other."

Jake smiled, knowing she was right. He took a deep breath and the two made their way to the recruiter's office. They walked in the office and found the recruiter asleep, with his feet propped up on his desk.

"Excuse me Sir?" Jake quietly called.

"Don't call me sir!" the recruiter said opening one eye. "I work for a living!" He sat up straight, and tapped the rank sewn on his uniform. "I'm a Staff Sergeant of the United States Army, and you will address me as such."

"Affirmative, o-or Rodger, or M-Mayday, or whatever you're supposed to say, Sergeant!" Jake stumbled over his words.

"That's better son!" Staff Sergeant (SSG.) Bradford said "What can Uncle Sam do for you today?"

"I-I would l-like to j-join the Army s-s-sir, I mean S-Sergeant." Jake stuttered, looking at Madison who was giggling.

"Great!" He said, shaking his head. "You know, we had a boy enlist this morning who stuttered like you.

Jake shyly laughed "I don't normally stutter, I was just––"

"He's scared, Staff Sergeant Bradford." Madison interrupted.

SSG. Bradford lightened up, while Jake and Madison sat and listened, as he told them all about the Army's benefits and rewards. He made the army sound like it was paradise on earth, and promised the army would care of his every need.

After about an hour of nonstop information, asking many questions and performing exercises for the recruiter, the moment of truth had finally come. He handed Jake a small stack of papers and a pen, and told him to sign each on the dotted line.

Jake reluctantly and slowly signed each one, then Staff Sergeant Bradford gave him one last chance to back out, before taking the oath. Jake talked with Madison for a few seconds, and nodded at the recruiter signifying he was ready to swear in.

Staff Sergeant Bradford led him to a room which had an American flag standing tall. He instructed Jake to raise his right hand and repeat the words he spoke. Jake lifted his right hand, and began to repeat.

"I, Jake Henry Patterson, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Once finished, SSG. Bradford ordered Pvt. Patterson to do an about face to complete the ceremony. After he crudely performed his about face, he smiled and shook the hand of his new brother in arms.

"Well Private Patterson, welcome to the United States Army, you'll be headed to basic training next month."

Jake looked at Madison, who was tearing up, but had a joyful, proud look on her face. "I'm so proud of you, Jake!" she said with a smile "Let's go tell my parents."

They said goodbye to Staff Sergeant Bradford, and left the recruiting office. They only walked a few steps when Jake stopped, dug in his front pocket and got down on one knee. Madison cupped her hands over her nose and mouth, and her eyes began to well up.

"Madison Nichole Brierly" Jake said holding a small diamond ring in his hand. "Will you do me the honor of being my wife––Madison, will you marry me?"

Madison choked up, and tried to respond, but nothing came out, so she just bit her bottom lip and vigorously nodding her head.

"Is that a yes?" Jake asked.

"Yes, it's a yes!" Madison said, finally able to catch her breath and regain some composure.

Jake slipped the diamond on her finger, stood up, and lifted his wife to be. He twirled her around as they kissed. The moment was interrupted when they heard clapping behind them, so they turned to see who it was.

"Congratulations Private Patterson." Ssg. Bradford smiled. "Doesn't get any better than this, now does it?"

They both nodded then walked hand in hand to Madison's house. They decided to stop at Big Paul's furniture store to tell him and Edwin the news. As they neared the store, they saw Edwin and Ashley talking outside, then noticed Edwin kneel on one knee, saying something to his girlfriend. The next thing they heard was Ashley scream 'yes' from the top of her lungs and jumping up and down. Jake and Madison knew exactly what took place, and began to run to congratulate the two on their engagement.

Madison ran up to her cousin, and they both began jumping up and down, then stopped and simultaneously showed off their new engagement rings. Meanwhile, Jake and Edwin shook hands and began to pat each other on the back.

"What's going on out here?" Big Paul asked as he walked out of his store.

All four began talking at once, trying to tell Big Paul the details and how ironic it was that they were now all engaged to be married. "Okay, one at a time, one at a time." Paul said, trying to control the situation. "Jake, why don't you go first."

"Well, first of all, you're now looking at a soldier in the U.S. Army––"

"Y-You joined the A-A-Army?" Edwin asked, interrupting him. "W-What a strange d-d-day."

"It gets stranger." added Madison. "Shortly after Jake swears in, he stops me in the middle of the street and proposes, and then––"

"And then," Ashley interjected. "Edwin just proposed too, and I said yes!"

Both girls started jumping up and down again, holding hands and screaming. Big Paul was trying to soak in all this new information, and put his hands up, hoping to calm everyone down.

"Let me get this straight." he said, trying to make sense of it all. "So as of today, Jake and Edwin are now in the Army, right?" No-one said a word, just nodded their heads. "And all four of you are now engaged—do I understand this correctly?"

"Yes sir!" Jake said, "We didn't plan any of this, honest."

"Y-Y-Yeah!" Said Edwin "W-We didn't p-plan anything."

"In that case, I think this calls for a celebration." Big Paul grinned. "Tomorrow night, at my house, Invite your friends and family, we're celebrating Blackwater's newest soldiers and newly betrothed."

They eagerly agreed, then went to tell their parents the news. Some took it easier than others, but after the shock started to wear off, they were happy about the engagements but still had their questions about the enlistments. They both committed to two years of service, not a very long time, but there was a war going on, and the fact they could go was all too real.

They went to bed that night with much on their minds, although everyone seemed to be at peace with all that transpired. The next day, news quickly spread of the recent events, many residents in Blackwater began cooking and baking food to bring over to Paul Suttons house, for the celebration to be held that evening.

Jake, Madison, Edwin and Ashley helped Big Paul prepare for the party. They wouldn't let him do anything, insisting on doing it all themselves, with his direction. They set up tables, chairs, hung lights and put everything in place.

It was six o'clock in the evening when people started arriving at Mr. Sutton's house. As everyone greeted each other and began making their plates, Mr. Sutton began clanging on his glass with a knife, getting everyone's attention.

"Hello everyone and welcome," Big Paul said. "Today I would like to first celebrate Jake Patterson and Edwin Birch joining the United States Army, and begin their service to our country. Secondly, I'd like to celebrate the engagement of Jake to Madison Brierly and Edwin to Ashley Brie––."

Mr. Sutton's speech cut off by clapping and whooping from the crowd. Jake, Madison, Edwin and Ashley's parents all stood behind their respective children, hugged and congratulating them all. After a few minutes, Mr. Sutton regained control of the joyful crowd.

"It's been brought to my attention" he said "That Jake and Edwin will leave Blackwater for basic training on January 31. Because they'll be leaving so soon, possibly going overseas, they've all decided to marry on Saturday, January 8, which is only a few weeks away. It looks like Blackwater will be hosting its very first double wedding, at the old church; all of you are invited."

Again the crowd began to cheer loudly, cutting Mr. Sutton off, so he just smiled, shook his head, and began to mingle with the crowd. "Enjoy yourselves!" he yelled "Don't forget to congratulate these lovely young men and women."

The celebration continued until almost midnight, and one by one, they all left Mr. Suttons house and went home. The four 'special guests' and their parents, stayed to help Big Paul clean up.

After tiding everything up, they sat and talked for a few minutes, thanked Big Paul, and around two o'clock in the morning went back to their respective homes.

It didn't take long for Jake, Madison, Edwin and Ashley's parents to fall asleep. However, the newly engaged, laid in their own beds thinking about their spouse to be. They all began to ponder, and think, about life, and how the military would most definitely change it forever.

—

A Time To Remember

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The month of December was complete chaos as the brides and grooms to be, their families, and the town of Blackwater prepared for the double wedding. Plans were set, changed, moved, changed again, then finally reverted to the initial plan, with only a few extras details. Gowns, tuxedos, flowers and rings had been purchased and ordered, and Blackwater was completely converted with decorations, signs and banners all over, honoring their two new soldiers and the upcoming double wedding.

"Madison, hold still, honey!" her mother said securing a few pins in her wedding dress, altering it for a tighter fit.

"I'm tryin' Ma!" she said, squirming. "I've already been standing here for fifty hours, and Jake will be here in a bit to pick me up."

"Oh Madison" her mother said. "Quit exaggerating, it's only been twenty minutes or so, stand still or I'm gonna prick you with this needle."

"Well, it feels like fifty hours…Ma, are we almost––"

Madison was interrupted when they heard Jake's special knock at the front door. Although Jake Patterson's been able to come and go in the Brierly's home as he pleased, he developed a certain habit, a special knock before he would enter. Not that it was required, but he just did. He'd knock fast two times, slow two times, and finally fast two times again. He'd wait a second, then open the door and let himself in.

"Hold on Jake, don't come in!" Mrs. Brierly yelled, sucking on her finger after being stuck with the pin. "Give us a minute please?" she continued, then whispered "Madison, you stuck me with this pin when you jumped!"

"Sorry ma!" she whispered. "I wasn't expecting him so soon, he was supposed to be here at ten."

"It is ten!" her mother quickly whispered back. "You should've told me!"

"Sorry ma" she said again. "I must've lost track of time."

"I must've lost track of time."
her mother sarcastically mocked as she smiled. "Now hurry baby girl, get up-stairs and change, we'll finish this later."

Mrs. Brierly opened the door and saw Jake standing there, hands in his pockets and a look on his face that said 'oh boy.' "Sorry Jake" Mrs. Brierly said, but you can't see Madison in her wedding dress before the wedding, it's bad luck you know!"

"That's ok, Mrs. B., is she comin' down?" he asked

"Yes, she––"

"I'll be right down Jake!" Madison yelled, unknowingly interrupting her mother.

Mr. Brierly came downstairs, about to tend to his crops when he saw Jake sitting on the couch, talking with Abigail. "Mornin' Jake" Mr. Brierly said. "Hey, come with me. I wanna show you something."

Jake followed Mr. Brierly outside to the little shed where he stored his crop seeds. Jake had never been in there before, and apart from Madison's room, this was the only other place considered off-limits.

When they reached the small shed, Mr. Brierly took out his keys, and unlocked three padlocks to the door that housed his family secrets.

"Jake, my boy." Mr. Brierly said, before opening the door. "Now that you're gonna' be a part of the family, I want to let you in on our little family secret."

"You mean the secret to your crops?" he asked with excitement in his voice.

"That's right Jake." he added "come on in, I wanna pass this secret on to you and Madison."

Walking in, it didn't look like anything special, just a normal shed with several sacks of different seeds. There was a large barrel of dried fertilizer in one corner, and a barrel of water in the other.

"So what's the secret Mr. B? All I see are seeds, fertilizer, water and a workbench. You can get all this at Mr. McFarland's plant and crop store."

"That's true Jake" he agreed. "And that's exactly where I get all my stuff."

Mr. Brierly waved Jake over and began to show him the family secret. He told him what to do, and Jake did everything exactly as instructed. Mr. Brierly first instructed Jake to grab one scoop of fertilizer and dump it in the empty bucket, underneath the workbench; the scoop held about two cups. Next, he told him to take the ladle hanging on the side of the water barrel, and put one ladle full in the bucket with the fertilizer; the ladle held only about half a cup.

After the water was in the bucket with the fertilizer, he was told to mix it with his hands until it made a moist paste. It wasn't as easy as it sounded, and Jake kept wanting to add more water, but Mr. Brierly told him to continue mixing and everything will turn out just fine.

Once Mr. Brierly approved of the consistency of the moist fertilizer mix, Jake was told to put three scoops of seed into the bucket. Jake surveyed the different sacks and finally decided on corn.

Using the same scoop as the fertilizer, he began to put three full scoops of corn seed into the bucket. Mr. Brierly told him to mix everything together, until each seed was completely coated with the moist mix.

After Jake was finished, Mr. Brierly told Jake to dump the bucket on the workbench, and spread out the seeds evenly.

"Okay Jake" Mr. Brierly said. "That's all for today, we need to let them sit overnight. We'll mix them in new fertilizer and water batch for the next two days. After the third time, we choose our patch of land, till the ground then plant the seed, that's basically it. The reason our crops do so well is because they soak up the fertilizer before they ever go in the ground. During the growing stages, they will continue to be fertilized. The corn seed won't be planted until April or May but by that time, you'll already have gone through basic training, and wherever the Army stations you. Just remember these steps, and your crops will grow abundantly and be delicious. When you and Madison have children, you can pass it along to them. Please promise me Jake,—promise me you'll keep it in the family."

"I promise Mr. B." He nodded, as the two walked back to the house.

Madison was on the couch talking with her mother, when she saw Jake, she ran over and playfully hit his arm.

"So" she joked "Are you a farmer now? Ma told me that my dad was telling you the family secret."

"I guess" Jake said, rubbing his arm. "We'll just have to wait till I'm out of the Army to really put it to the test."

Jake and Madison went to meet Edwin and Ashley to discuss some final wedding plans, and after they left, Madison's parents sat and talked about how fast their little girl was growing up.

The next couple of weeks were spent planning the double wedding, set for Saturday, January 8, 1944, only one day away. The gowns and tuxedos were tailored, the church and reception hall were ready and decorated, and all the guests in town were busy preparing a special dish to bring for the feast.

Jake and Edwin made separate honeymoon reservations at a getaway near the Mississippi River, located on the eastern part of St. Louis. They each rented a one room cabin, right on the river. Not many people vacationed on the river in January, so the cabins were cheap this time of year,

They selected the two cabins with the nicest views and features. They decided to put some distance between them, for obvious reasons. They would be separated by a thick wooded area, as well as a few unoccupied cabins. If they wanted to visit one another, they could do so by taking main trail.

They already talked about having a couple barbeques together, but ultimately, they wanted to spend quality time with their new spouse. They knew after the honeymoon was over, basic training would follow, then the Army could send them anywhere.

Around six o'clock in the evening, Jake, Madison, Edwin and Ashley went to Big Paul's and found him sitting outside, on his rocking chair, talking to Tommy Holliday.

"Hi Big Paul, Hi Mr. Holliday!" Jake said as they walked up.

"Well hello there youngsters!" Mr. Sutton said. "Nervous yet?"

They all chuckled and nodded as Big Paul told them he hired Tommy Holiday to work at the furniture store; his first day would be on Monday. "Have yourself a good ol' time, Jake." Paul Sutton said. "Tommy's been in the business long enough to find his way around alright."

"Don't worry Jake" Tommy said "The shop's in good hands, and I'd be happy to work under you when you return from service."

"I'm not worried Mr. Holliday." Jake replied. "As a matter of fact, I was going to ask Big Paul if he'd consider hiring you while Edwin and I are away, but it seems sometimes we think alike."

Tommy stood and put on his hat. "I guess I'll be getting home now. The suns going down, and I want to get some rest before the big wedding tomorrow."  He smiled, limped a few steps, then turned around "You know boys, war isn't glamorous. You don't have the comforts of home, you sleep when you're able, you eat when you feel like you're about to starve to death, and the weather never cooperates. There's only one good thing about being at war, but that good thing is also a horrible thing."

"W-W-What's that, M-Mr. Holliday?" Edwin asked.

"Making friends." he answered, as he lowered his voice. "I've never felt camaraderie like when I was in the trenches with the boys. I've never had friends like the ones I fought alongside of."

"I don't understand" Jake said puzzled. "What's so horrible about that?"

Mr. Holliday's eyes began to tear. "The friends I made, the times we shared, talking about life and home when the bullets weren't flying past our head, were some of the greatest times of my life. Unfortunately, I lost most of them in the battle of Argonne. After that, I swore I'd never make another friend while at war. The pain of helplessly watching them die before your eyes, and hearing them call out for their mother for the last time was the worst thing I've ever experienced in my life. We were all each other had, and so many of us died in a country that wasn't even our own." He pulled out a chain from around his neck and finished, "This is the dogtag of my best friend Willie Saxton. He was a little fella from Texas, only nineteen years old; Texas was all he talked about. He'd tell me over and over, about the last stand those boys made at the Alamo. We met in basic training at Camp Sherman Ohio, then departed in France, when he died in my arms. Boys, I don't know if you're goin' over or not, but if you do,—Godspeed. Fight for your country, and fight for the fella next to you, that's the only advice I can give." He smiled, tipped his hat, then slowly limped toward home.

There was complete silence for a few moments; Big Paul noticed Madison and Ashley holding tightly to the arm of their fiancé's with fear in their eyes. Big Paul cleared his throat "Like the man said, it's getting dark, y'all should be getting home and resting up for your big day tomorrow."

"Mr. Sutton" Madison called quietly. "We came to invite you to have supper with us this evening, at our house. Edwin and Ashley's parents will be there, along with Jake's mom and her boyfriend, what do ya say, will ya come?"

"Y-Y-Yeah Big P-Paul, it'll b-be fun!" Edwin added.

Mr. Sutton began to cough. "To tell you the truth gang, I'm gonna turn in a little early tonight, I'm not feeling so well."

"What's the matter?" Jake asked. "You haven't been yourself lately, and you've been coughing an awful lot."

"I'm old Jake, and my body's getting tired. I just need to rest that's all. I'll be as good as new, and ready for the wedding tomorrow, wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Okay, Jake said "Rest up, and take care of yourself, we'll see you tomorrow."

"Oh wait!" Big Paul said, slowly rising from his rocking chair, and walking into his house while coughing. "I almost forgot to give y'all your wedding gift."

When he returned, he was holding a medium sized box which made a clanging sound when he moved. He placed it in front of Jake and Madison, then walked inside and came out with a second box, the same size, and making the same sound, setting it in front of Edwin and Ashley.

"Go ahead." He smiled. "Open it!"

The two women opened their box, and their eyes lit up as they pulled out the most beautiful four piece china set they'd ever seen. Jake and Madison's had a royal blue design, while Edwin and Ashley's had a deep burgundy design.

"Mr. Sutton this is just beautiful." Madison said, thanking him.

Ashley agreed. "It's so gorgeous, where'd you get them?"

"Me and Jenny picked them out in our younger years" Big Paul said as he coughed. "She absolutely loved them, and I wanted to give them to someone who'd appreciate and take care of em'. I'm not sure how much longer I have on this earth, but since I don't have any children or family left, I wanted y'all to have them for your special day."

"Thank you, Big Paul." Jake said. "But why not give it to us tomorrow?"

"Oh, I almost forgot" Mr. Sutton reached in his pocket, avoiding the question. "Here, I only have two left, so I wanted to give one to each couple."

He handed them an old picture of him and Jenny when they were sixteen years old, a picture taken on their wedding day. This was the first time anyone in Blackwater had seen Big Paul and Jenny in their younger years.

Big Paul was a very handsome and stunning young man, and Jenny's beauty had them all but captivated. They all gasped, their jaws dropped to the floor as they gazed at the photo. When they turned the picture over it read 'Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sutton, May 3, 1888.