The Years in Your Ears - August, 1946
Tommy, quit poking Mary Kay. And fix your shirt, Stevie, it's hanging out.
Would you look at all these people! I haven't seen this much celebration since the war ended! Oh look, honey! Way over there. It's Bob and Ellen. HEY! HEY BOB!
Mom, I gotta go. I told Gloria that I'd meet her up at the church.
Well you can at least say Hi to Bob and Ellen, can't you?
Aw, gee Mom! I told her I wouldn't be late this time!
Oh, let the boy go, Louise. We'll catch up with you later, son. ... Geez, Louise, was I that jittery when we were dating? It's been so long that I can't remember. Hi Bob. Ellen. Oh, Stevie had to run off to see his girlfriend. He's taking her to the street dance and carnival later tonight, but he's gotta see her today, too. Where do these kids get the energy?
My, Ellen, that dress looks so nice on you. I wish I'd looked as good carrying my babies as you do carrying yours. Why, when Tommy was on the way, I...
MOM!! TOMMY CALLED ME A PIGGIE!
I DID NOT!
Yeah he did, Ma! I was over there talking to Laura, and you know she's in the swimming races with me, and Tommy came up, and he asked us what we were talking about, and I said that I was talking about the races, and he asked me if I was swimming in the races, and I said yeah, and he said that I must be swimming in the ones with the pigs!
Tommy! Did you say that?
Noooo....
Don't you lie to me, young man! Now apologize to your sister. And Mary Kay, why don't we meet you and your friend down at the park?
Hey, Bob, what do you think about those pig races? I told Louise we should watch it from somewhere where we could get on the newsreels. I tell ya, I never thought it would take a bunch of swimming farm animals to get Kirkland on coast-to-coast radio and in the theatres. What a world! Did you hear how they came up with the idea for the races? Somebody read somewhere that when they were doing those A-bomb tests on Bikini Island, they found a bunch of pigs swimming way off shore, and they were surprised to find out that they took so well to water. I don't see what the big deal is, though. You could tie my hands and feet, and strap a grand piano to my back for that matter, and if you dropped a bomb in my back yard, I'd swim like a bat outta Hell, too!
Henry! Watch your mouth. You know, little pitchers.... So tell me Ellen, who got your vote for Festival Queen? We voted for Jean Lund. I know her family, and she's such a pretty girl. I sure hope she wins.
I hope I win! Not the contest, the car! Every vote we cast increased my chances of winning that '46 Chevy. I've been driving my old jalopy since before the war, and you wouldn't believe how much wear and tear three kids can put on an auto.
TOMMY! Stay away from that dog! OH! Now look at you! We're not even here 15 minutes, and you already look like the wreck of the Hesperus. Henry, I've got to go find someplace to clean him up. Why don't you come with, Ellen. Henry, we'll meet up with you and Bob at the races. Tommy, I don't know how many times I've told you...
Kids! Y'see what you've got to look forward to? I tell ya, Bob, in about 10 years you're gonna look back to when you were fighting your way across Europe, and you're probably gonna feel a bit of wistful nostalgia. Ah, I'm just kiddin'. Hey I think we've got time to grab a couple beers before the race. Let's go, buddy.
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Alan J Stein