It was a Thursday afternoon and Janet opened the front door of her parent’s house where she still lived. She couldn’t believe who she was looking at. It was Allen in his Army uniform. They were childhood sweethearts who met when Allen flunked and had to repeat the third grade. Since they were born a year apart, his academic faux pas ignited their spark. They played together after school and during school, Janet sat to the left of Allen for nine years and made sure he graduated with her. They held hands when the teacher wasn’t looking.
Once Allen could afford to buy a motorcycle, he had her name put on the seat in silver studs. She never said she hated riding the bike, but she loved clutching him from behind and taking in the smell of his leather jacket.
It was prom time. Well Allen and his motorcycle buddies were simply too cool for something like that corny. Janet pleaded with him to bring her to no avail.
Janet: Well Harold Schmidt asked me and I am going to say yes.
Allen: Harold Schmidt is a nerd.
Janet: You’re right, and he’s my nerd on prom night.
So Janet and her mother shopped for a prom dress. Allen would go to pick her up for their Saturday afternoon ride.She’d be out shopping. Her father (a helpless and mean old drunk) would answer the door and say something like: Man you really screwed that one up, buddy.
Prom night came and Harold picked up Janet. He proud a corsage and fumbled to pin it to her dress thanks to his trembling hands. They hopped into the back seat of his dad’s Hillman Minx and off they went. Harold’s father glanced at the nervous couple in his rearview mirror and thought his son had done pretty darn good securing a date with a girl as striking as Janet. Once inside the prom, Harold brought Janet punch. Then they danced. Janet was beaming since Allen had been far too cool to ever dance. But as soon as they sat down at their table, the sound of a very loud motorcycle could be heard revving its engine just outside the gymnasium doors. Through them stormed Allen. He scooped her up and said you’re coming with me.
It was so Officer and a Gentleman.
Two weeks later, he was drafted into the Korean War. Janet kept living with her parents even though he pattern of the day was to plan a wedding right after graduation. She got a secretarial job that she’d rush home from every night to read Allen’s letters. Never missed a day. One Thursday afternoon, Janet answered the door and couldn’t believe it was Allen in his uniform. She hadn’t seen him in two years. No time for the mushy stuff. We’re getting married tonight. I have to go back Saturday.
So their wedding was organized in three hours. The church was under construction, so they had to be married across the street in a VFW hall. There was no time to buy a dress. Janet fit into her sister Arlene’s dress with some alterations. Seems Arlene had a bun in the oven on her special day. She was Matron of Honor and Allen’s brother Doug was Best Man.
July 3, 1953
By 8:30 PM they were husband and wife. Janet standing to the left of Allen. Holding hands. They drove to New Hampshire for a one night honeymoon which Janet recalled like this:
I didn’t have a clue what the hell was going on.
Two days later, Allen flew back to Munich where he was stationed. Janet returned to her parent’s house and went back to work. She rushed home to read the latest letter from Allen. He never missed a day. Two years passed. Allen returned and started college on the GI Bill. Then Janet got pregnant. They bought a house. They had another child. They built a life.
December 26, 2006
Janet and I walk into Allen’s hospital room. He’s all dressed and all smiles because he’s finally going home. But he’s not. Janet and Allen get in the back seat of the car and I intentionally drive a different way that avoids the roads he might remember as pathways leading him home. We’re checking him into a mental health facility. His Alzheimer’s has progressing rapidly.
I glance back at them in the mirror.
Sixty years later and they still held hands.
Janet to the left of Allen just like in the third grade.
Oh my heart! A love story for the ages…sorry Harold. ♥️
What a great story – just lovely. True love for sure….Go Mom!