Sudden Sadness

Chapter 46

B 24 Crew

A sudden end and a new partnership – Carol, Shiloh, Brent, Lawrence, Young Tom, Helen - 1994

"Where've you been?"

"I've looked for you forever and a day."

"Where've you been?"

"I'm just not myself when you're away."

- Don Henry / Jon Vezner -- Where’ve You Been? Kathy Mattea -- Willow in the Wind


Sudden Sadness

“Can you and Katie stay with Mom for about an hour? Tom wants to talk to Carol and I about the farm. Mom won’t leave, maybe you and Katie can go home with Tom when we get back. Carol and I will stay with Mom.”

“Let’s go over to that café on Huron, it should be quick at this time of the day. Brent and Shiloh, are you hungry?”

“Starving Uncle Lawrence, waiting is hard work.”

“We’ll soon fix that.”

“The doctor said his vital signs are fading, it was a massive stroke. He doubts he will last the night.”

“Grandpa will die?”

“Yes, Brent there isn’t any hope now. I was thinking of asking Grandma to come stay with us what do you boys think?”

“I think she would love it, much more beautiful than here.”

“What do you think Lawrence, they have lived here a long time?”

“She might, going to be difficult to live here without Dad. We can ask her tonight as we sit with her.”

“These boys are starving I believe they said, let’s order.”

The waiter took Lawrence and Tom’s order, then Carol ordered for the boys and herself, “Cheeseburger, fries, coleslaw, and strawberry shake for each of them. I’ll have an Asian salad. Now we have food on the way; we can talk with Tom.”

“Tom why did you want to talk with us?”

“I know things will change on the farm when Grandpa Parker dies. I want to buy my father’s part of land be your silent partner Aunt Carol.”

“Why do you want to do that Tom?”

“Katie and Mom really have no interest in the farm. I have wealth accumulating from stock in the game development company. I bought other stocks in tech companies that are growing and adding value. Now, I am working on a finance development team for online loan applications. I believe it will be even more lucrative for me; international finance firms have all the money.”

“How did you go from games to high finance?”

“We were trying to protect our game from piracy. I become a security expert. I am highly valued now for my skill in online security. I always get paid in shares which have greatly gained in value. I can direct some of my assets to be farmland. Mom would love to use the money to buy a vacation home in a warm place with water and sand. “

“That’s true Tom. Your mother would rather have a place in the Caribbean than a farm. I also know your wealth has accumulated; farmland would at least be something real, not electronic imaginings hidden in a television screen. I would be willing to not be an owner. Carol can you work with your nephew?”

“I think I could, I’m surprised. I don’t think you’ve been there since that Christmas when Mom and Dad came out.”

“I haven’t but I want to help continue the family tradition. I feel like it is a good use of my income. Also, I want to help you get an Internet presence.”

“Internet I am not even sure I know what the Internet is.”

“I will show you, but you need to use it for promotion and efficient delivery of products.”

“I don’t understand now, but maybe I will.

-

“Cheeseburger, fries and a shake were they good?”

“Yes, almost as good as home.”

“When we’re done, we’ll walk back over to the hospital. Tom you can drive the boys to our house, Carol and I will stay.”

“You OK going with Aunt Carolyn and Katie?”

“Yeah Tom has great games on his computer.”

“We’ll call when we know.”

“You two do what you’re told, Tom may let you play computer games all night. You do what Aunt Carolyn tells you.”

“We will”

“Everyone go home with Tom; please rest we’ll stay here.”

“Let’s go into the room now.”

“We will sit with you. Our touch and voices may be comforting.”

“He was just like always. I didn’t see any change. Tom just fell and was unconscious. Thank you for coming so quickly Carol. The boys are so big now. I am glad they are here. My tall handsome pilot now so sick.”

“Is that how he was in Kansas a tall man in uniform?”

“I decided he should meet me. You see how the officers reacted. It became obvious who were the decent guys by the way they interacted with the trainees. Peggy had access to the personnel files. She told me Tom was from a farm; he was back from Europe. A group of us were at the movies. Peggy was so bold, she just said to him 'Hey Captain flyboy where you from?' Tom said he was from a farm. Peggy was expecting him to say something like this she immediately said, ‘Helen is from a farm maybe you both speak cow or something’ Tom laughed so hard, ‘He asked how well I spoke cow?’"

"I told him I had many words with our milk cow, but she had never had much to say. He asked me if I wanted to grab something at the canteen where we could discuss the proper words for milk cows his had often been harsh. We just bonded after that. It was the right time for us. Tom was looking to life after the Army Air Corps. Within a few weeks we were planning our lives together. “

“Did you worry about living with his parents after you got married?”

“No, they had a big house. Much larger than my folks and it seemed the best way to get Tom through school. Leon was in the Navy and gone. After I had Lawrence Grace was a great help. Kenny was too he was still in high school when were there. In those days people grew up with families around. I am glad we did. Grace taught me so much, she and Eldon were like my parents in some ways but very different in others. It was a great start to our marriage.”

“What have the doctors told you?”

“They say there is no hope, he’s in a coma. The nurse said watch the monitor and I will see when the levels decrease. Touch, talk, and pray was her advice. It is time to talk about a memorial service. We will have one here and Tom wanted to be buried in Franklin.”

“Should we have a service at the church?”

“I think so. We have many connections there. There are spaces in the plot beside Eldon and Grace that was his plan. It seems best to end back where we started.”

“Lawrence and I talked at the café with the boys. If you want to come, live with us at the farm, we would all be glad to have you.”

“It would be a big change from where our lives have been. I might, it may be best. I will think about it.”

“Here Lawrence I’ll hold his hand awhile, you can sit with Mom.”

Carol held his hand and began to softly sing, she had learned several old hymns, carols, and kid’s songs from church. Helen noticed the monitor change; she and Lawrence stood on the other side and held his hand as Carol sang. Thomas Parker tenacious winner of legal cases, survivor of the B-24, preserver of the Parker family farm, passed away with his family at his side. His passage accompanied by the soft sweet voice of his once rebellious daughter.





Photo of B-24 crew piloted by James Stewart - plane and crew lost on bombing mission a great uncle of my grandson James E. Davis named in honor of his MIA relative - yes my son and I did want to name him James Tiberius