05/29/2023
We felt it was important to post the rest of Arthur’s story on Memorial Day 🇺🇸
Arthur
“Why don’t you put that in your pocket,” Arthur’s father said to him as he knelt on the floor of his old room holding a pocket watch his grandfather gave to him. He was just a boy when he had given that to him, but now he was a man. A young man, at 18, and about to be deployed into the army. “Are you all packed, son,” asked his father. “Yea, I’m just thinking about the day pop gave me this watch.” “Why that day?” his father said. “Because he told me that time is the one thing we cannot control, and to make sure I make it count.” “He told me that same thing once, boy did he live a full life.” “Now let’s get your things together,”said Arthur’s father. Arthur grabbed his travel trunk and looked around at the room that held him. It was much smaller now, but would always be home. As he went down the stairs the smell of peach pie and cinnamon filled the air. “Smells like home,” Arthur thought to himself. Momma was in the kitchen whipping up a pie to have a nice sendoff for her only boy. They had a small house but it was fine living for them. They didn’t need much. Momma had nice white curtains hanging and a couch with flowers that were all shades of pink. In fact, when momma had it delivered, papa just stood there in awe. He turned and looked at her and tried not to say it but his laughter caught up to him. He looked over at her and said “We’ll it looks like a dang dress if you ask me.” Arthur and his sister Cass couldn’t help but laugh with him. Momma laughed but then said, “You can laugh all you want but it’s staying.” Nevertheless, that couch did stay. That was the kind of relationship they had. Momma made papa believe he was in charge, when really everyone knew who ran the house. “Come taste this, sweetie” Momma said to Arthur’s father. Papa leaned in for a taste of pie but stole a kiss instead. “Oh Al, you’re just so funny aren’t you.” “ Now you don’t get to taste.” Said momma. Arthur always looked at his parent’s relationship and knew that’s exactly what he wanted. A love that never skipped a beat. A love that would last beyond life. They all ate a good meal, and finished with Momma’s sweet peach pie. Arthur had never left their town, so this would be an adventure for the next six weeks at training camp. He was scared, but knew it was his duty. That night Papa drove Arthur three hundred miles to his training camp. It was right outside this small town called Jewel. It looked like a cute little town with houses that stood there way before him. He hugged his father and they said their goodbyes and he was off into camp. He got up to the table and announced his name, “ Arthur Laine Kolb, Sir.” The man signaled a young man to come over, and he stamped his trunk with his initials. “You’re in number thirteen,” the man said. He began walking towards his bunk when he heard, “Arthur! Arthur!” Arthur turned around and saw his best friend Frankie pushing through the sea of green to get to him. “What are you doing here, I thought you weren’t able to come.” “ I know, but my doctor signed off on my papers, so here I am,” Arthur said. They hugged with a sigh, knowing what they would eventually be going into. Luckily, they were put in the same quarters and had each other through out the strenuous training they would be put through. About a week after they arrived at the training camp, they were allowed to go into the town that lay right outside the gates. They went out to the first speakeasy they came across called Lucy’s. They went in and sat down and an older man came up and said “ hold on boys, let me get my daughter.” “Lucy!” The man yelled out to the tables. “Coming Daddy,” A sweet voice said. A long haired brunette popped up from a table of girls and came over to the bar. She looked right at Arthur and said “ What can I get you.” Arthur was struck. He couldn’t even answer her because he was so surprised at the beauty standing before him. Frankie smacked Arthur’s shoulder and said “Arthur you in there buddy?” “He’ll just take a beer.” Lucy looked at him funny and said “ok..” She walked away to get the other guy’s order and Arthur felt like he could breathe again. Frankie just smiled at Arthur and knew he was feeling something for this girl. Lucy came back over to Arthur and said, “So you boys are from the camp right,”Arthur said, “why yes ma’am we are.” “Oh, why you’re polite, aren’t you?” Lucy said staring at Arthur right in his deep blue eyes. Lucy shook her head a little and walked over to a crowd of customers that just walked in. Arthur couldn’t help but keep his eyes on her. He wondered what she was like, and wondered if she would give a poor boy like him a chance. Lucy walked back over and got them more drinks. “Thank you ma’am,” Arthur said. “Now, why do you gotta be so nice,” Lucy said back to him. “It’s just who I am, ma’am,” Arthur said with a smile so big that Lucy blushed. She then walked back over to get drinks for the other boys sitting at the bar. Frankie turned to Arthur and said, “You have to ask her out, she likes you.” “How do know that?” Arthur said. “You’re kidding me right?” Frankie said. “She was blushing and staring right at you,” Frankie said with such confidence that it made Arthur think he might have a chance. He looked down the bar at where she was and she was laughing and being just as sweet to the boys sitting there, so Arthur’s thought of asking her out slowly slipped away. They finished their last drink and began to get up. Lucy walked over and looked at Arthur and said “eight o’clock.” Arthur looked up at her and said “I’m sorry ma’am what is at stake eight o’clock?” Lucy smiled and said, “That’s the time I get off.” Arthur stood there with no words for a second, but gathered up his confidence to say, “ I’ll see you then, ma’am.” Frankie put his arm around Arthur and said, “see I told you man, she likes you.” All the boys wanted to walk around town, but it was close to eight so Arthur stayed back to wait for Lucy. Right at eight she came walking out, looked left and then right where Arthur was sitting. She smiled and as she walked down the couple steps she said “you know, you didn’t have to wait.” “I didn’t want to be late ma’am.” Arthur said. Lucy smiled and put her head down. She looked back up with big brown eyes like she didn’t know what this feeling was but she wanted more of it. They started walking down the street and Arthur said, “I don’t know my way around here, so you may have to pick the place we go,ma’am.” “You don’t have to keep calling me ma’am,” Lucy said. Arthur looked over at her and said, “what would you have me call you.” Lucy stopped and said, “you can call me Lucy, or Lucille.” Arthur thought Lucille was the prettiest name he had ever heard, and said “Ok Lucille, where are we going.” Lucille was Lucy’s full name and no one ever called her by her full name, so she knew he was going to be different. She felt a little glimmer run through her body as he said it. She knew this was going to be a night she would never forget. “There’s a speakeasy down the street that has a great band tonight, if you like that sorta thing,” Lucille said. “Well then it looks like we’re dancing tonight,” said Arthur. Lucille blushed just at the thought. She looked down and smiled and said “looks like we are huh.” They walked to the speakeasy at the corner of Willow and Bayside street. Lucille started walking up the steps when she realized Arthur wasn’t behind her anymore. She turned around and there he was pushed up against the wall by some local boys looking for a fight. Bo Hengle and his buddies were pushing Arthur around asking him why he was there. They pushed him up against the brick wall. Arthur had his fists clenched and was ready to swing, but knew the trouble he’d get in back at camp if they found out. He thought it was worth getting in trouble for this, and right before he was about to swing Lucille jumped right in front off him. She looked at Bo right in his eyes and said, “He’s with me.” “Sorry Lucy, we didn’t see you.” Arthur was never more attracted to someone than in that moment. Lucille grabbed Arthur’s hand and pulled him away. Arthur thought about his own parents in that moment for some reason. It could’ve been the spark he was feeling, or the happiness that just entered his life. He looked at Lucille as she smiled back at him and couldn’t believe what this night was turning into. They found a table and sat down across from each other, and ordered a couple drinks. They couldn’t take a sip without looking at each other, and that made them laugh. Then the band started playing a song that Lucille loved. Arthur could see it on her face, so he stood up, put out his hand and said. “ Would you fancy a dance, Ma’am?” “I told you to call me Lucille.” “And, yes I would.” She took his hand and they danced for the next four songs. Then, as if it was planned, a slow song came on just as they were about to sit down. She just about got to the table when she looked back and there he was standing in his uniform waiting for her to come back to him. She walked over and they started swaying, hands in hands, in a moment that changed them. By the end of the song they were cheek to cheek, lost in the magic of the night. When the song ended they both took a step back and smiled. “ I ought to get home.” “My pop is probably waiting up for me,” said Lucille. “ I’ll walk with you.” Arthur slowly grabbed her hand and said, “let’s go.” They started walking down Willow street with big trees and just enough space to see the stars. It was quiet, and all you could hear was the sound of their footsteps. Lucille pointed to a house and said, “That’s my house right there.” She turned around and Arthur was on one knee. “Ma’am, I don’t know if it’s your pretty smile, the confidence that you possess, or the way you look at me, but I can’t not have you in my life.” “Maybe this is crazy, but I know you feel it too.” “Please say something,” Arthur said. Lucille looked down at Arthur with a shocked face, that started turning into a smile. “Now you have to call me Lucille.” Arthur looked up and smiled and hugged her so tight that her feet lifted off the ground. Arthur knew that very first night that he couldn’t let her go. Sometimes love can be found in the smallest of moments. It can hit you so fast you didn’t see it coming. Sure, everyone thought it was too fast. Everyone thought they were crazy to get married this quick, but they knew what they wanted. They knew they would never get that feeling at the pit of your stomach, like a love story was in the making, with anyone else. They spent the rest of the five weeks doing everything they could together. They had more dancing nights and night picnics to see the jewels in the sky, as Lucille would call them. One night they went to the field by the water where the crickets would sing. They put a blanket down and Arthur sat up with Lucille’s head on his lap and said, “Why do you call them Jewels?” “Well that’s why the town is called Jewel,” Lucille said. “The founder of our town said he’s never seen the stars sparkle like they did here, and said they were like jewels.” “That’s how we got our name.” Lucille looked up at Arthur as he smiled down at her. “ “Well you are the jewel of Jewel,” Arthur said as he kissed her forehead. Every time they were together sparks flew higher than the stars that twinkled like jewels. It was a once in a lifetime love. Something many people don’t find, and they had it. They had it all because they had each other. Arthur looked down at Lucille and said, “You know I wasn’t kidding when I got down on one knee.” “I know,” Lucille said. “I would marry you tomorrow,” She said with such confidence. “So why don’t we?” Arthur said. “I’ll marry you anywhere, anytime,” Lucille said. “Then it’s a date,” Arthur said. Lucille knew this wasn’t just a fling or a summer love. It was more than that and she felt it every time Arthur would look at her. Once the sky filled with clouds they decided to end the night, but just as Lucille was standing Arthur grabbed her hand. They started dancing right there in the middle of the field. Arthur dipped Lucille and she laughed putting her hands up towards the sky. They were young and more in love than most people knew in a lifetime. Arthur walked Lucille home that night with such happiness in his heart. Lucille gave Arthur a kiss and walked up her steps. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow ma’am,” Arthur said, just before she went inside. “Meet me at the old church on Willow street at eight,” Lucille said. “Eight in the morning ma’am?” Arthur said. “The eight where you can marry me beneath the jewels,” Lucille said as she went in the house. Arthur went back to camp, and asked every boy he knew if they had dress clothes, but no one brought them. The next morning they got orders to leave the following day, so Arthur still had one day to marry the love of his life. He had just completed his training for the day, when Frankie walked in and said, “All the boys are going into town one last time. You should join us.” Arthur looked up at Frankie with a big smile and said, “ I’ve got a big date tonight.” Arthur cleaned himself up the best he could, and went into town to look for the church. He saw willow street and started walking down when he saw Lucille standing in the most beautiful dress he’d ever seen. “You like it?” Said Lucille. “It was my moms,” she said. “You look…you look like the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen,” Said Arthur. They grabbed each other’s hand and walked into the church where Lucille had it all arranged for a wedding. There were flowers and candles all along the aisle. The preacher was a friend of Lucille’s, so it was easy to persuade him to marry them. They were married in the most subtle of ways but to them it was magical. They walked down the aisle smiling and holding hands since now they were a married couple. By the time they got to the end of the church Arthur had picked Lucille up and carried her out. “Where to now, Lucille,” Arthur said. “Let’s go out to the field,” Lucille said. Arthur carried her all the way down Willow street to the beginning of the field. He put her down, and then picked her back up. Lucille laughed and said, “What are you doing?” “I’m not ready to put you down,” Arthur said. She could see a look on his face that was new. It was a worried look. She didn’t want to pry, but it scared her in that moment. They got to their spot beneath a willow tree, and laid in each other’s arms for hours. Finally, Lucille got the confidence to ask Arthur why he seemed upset back there. He answered, “we got orders to go tomorrow.” “This is our last night together,” Arthur said. “You’ll come back to me,” Lucille said. “What if I don’t, Lucille?” “ You have to promise me that you will live a full life, and be happy,” Arthur said. Lucille looked away with tears in her eyes and said, “I don’t know how I will go on without you.” “Come here,” said Arthur. “Let’s just enjoy the night we have.” They enjoyed each other’s company the rest of that night, and feel asleep in each other’s arms. Arthur woke up in a panic, and had to get back to camp. Lucille knew her Pop would be out looking for her if she didn’t get home. They shared a kiss that felt like it was their last, and each went different directions looking back at each other every couple steps. Arthur would write Lucille every chance he got. Until, one day Lucille didn’t receive a letter. They simply stopped coming. She hadn’t seen him in eight weeks and now the letters stopped. She was missing him more than ever, when two men showed up on her doorstep. “Ma’am, are you Lucille?” “Yes, is this about Arthur?” “Is he ok?” “His letters stopped,” Lucille said frantically. “Ma’am, we are so sorry to inform you that Arthur was killed in battle.” They placed his trunk and belongings on the ground. It had his initials on it and it smelled like him. “No, it can’t be him,” said Lucille. “He’s supposed to come back to me,” Lucille said crying and holding herself up on the chair by the door. “He has to be here for this,” she said. “For what, ma’am?” The one man said. Lucille looked down.
