Joe and Helen Ch. 1: Joe's Story
I lived in this house for several years. Even after my husband left me for the sweet young thing he met and the divorce was final. I have a nice, large backyard, which I care for religiously. And adjacent to my yard, facing the side street is a small house where an old man lives.
We never had much to say to each other, just hi, or how’s the weather, stuff like that. But one summer day as I was mowing the grass in my yard, I noticed his was rather high, so I just started mowing his grass as well. Ok, I’m not that much of a Good Samaritan, but you know, he’s not looking too spry of late, and I’m not above doing a good deed.
Well, by the time I was finished and put the mower back in my garage, he was sitting in a chair in his yard sipping a beer and watching me. “Care for a beer?” I wasn’t going to turn it down, being hot and thirsty, so yelled, “Sure, I’ll be right over.”
I debated whether to run right over there or take a quick shower first. Ok, the shower won. I am hot and sweaty and always have that itchy feeling after cutting the grass; so I showered quickly, pulling my hair back in a pony tail and donned a pair of cut off jeans and a tee shirt.
“Sorry, Mr. Archer, but I have to shower after I mow, it makes me itchy.” He just waved his hand, handed me a cold beer and I sat on the chair next to him.
We made small talk. He told me to call him Joe like everyone else does. And I gotta say, sitting here with this old man was so peaceful and calming to me. It was evening, the sun was going down, the newly cut grass has that neat smell. After a couple beers I was all mellowed out and it appeared Joe was, too.
I said, “So how long have you lived here?” “Oh, since the 40’s, right after I came back from the war.”
I’d been around my grandpa enough to know a little bit about that era. And sitting there quietly, companionably with this old man, it was nice. Then, breaking into my thoughts, he started talking…
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Joe’s Story
Like a lot of young bucks coming home after the war, I was cocky and sure of myself and ready to conquer civilian life like we conquered the enemy. Unlike some guys coming back, I knew my Helen was waiting for me. She was sweet and loving. Her mom had passed away while I was gone, and she was living with her dad, adding to her hope chest and just on pins and needles waiting for our wedding day.
Our wedding day was fantastic, too. We had a quiet ceremony, with just close family and friends, but the real celebration was about to begin. As I closed the door after helping her into the car, Helen’s dad, Charlie, handed me a flat package and clapped me on the back, wishing me all the luck in the world, and telling me to open the package later. He had a twinkle in his eye, but at the time I really thought nothing of it.
We had a short honeymoon; I think both of us were anxious to get to our little home and start the day to day living like married people. Unpacking the suitcases in our bedroom, and putting clothes and things away, suddenly Helen spied the flat wrapped box her father had given me. “What’s in the box?” she inquired innocently.
”I haven’t opened it yet, let’s see.” I gingerly tore the paper and ribbon away, opened one end of the box, with Helen sitting at my elbow on the edge of the bed. Damn! I didn’t say it aloud, but Helen was giggling, and I sat there looking at a wooden paddle lying innocently in the box.
“The secret to a happy marriage” was scribbled in her dad’s scrawling handwriting. Well, I didn’t know quite what to do with it, so just looked at her and she said, “Don’t look at me! He gave it to you.” I couldn’t imagine ever wanting to or needing to use such an implement on Helen. So, embarrassed, I closed the box, shoved it under the bed and began picking up the paper and ribbon.
“Your Dad has quite the sense of humor,” I remarked and got up to do something in another room.
Well, time went by, and sooner or later, you lose the feeling of having to be on the best behavior with your new spouse. We all have little habits we try to hide from the other, or are unable to hide. After awhile, though, I began noticing an odd habit my wife had.