From the Improvement Era, June 1939 –

June Comes Again

By Rosa Lee Lloyd

“Come home, John,” it was an excited whisper into the telephone. “Something dreadful has happened!”

Katherine Sholls didn’t wait to hear what effect her words had on her husband. She was too absorbed in what was going on in the living room to care about that. After all, there was a limit to everything; her throat caught in a tight little sob.

The idea of an eighteen-year-old daughter walking in calmly on a dewy June morning and announcing: “Tommy and I want to get married’ — -we thought we could get our recommends by next Wednesday. You see, we want to leave for Spring City as soon as possible. Tommy’s got a job there.”

As casual as that! No big apology, no dramatics — just the cadence of spring in her voice, the June sun shining from her eyes and a smile on her lips as she looked down at the school books under her arm. “Guess I won’t need these — for a while anyway.”

“Peggy Ann! What are you talking about!” Katherine forced a tolerant smile past her stiff lips. She’d have to pretend that Peggy Ann was only making believe. Things like this couldn’t be true. She was a little girl — a child — hardly old enough to have a boy-friend!

“I said. Mother, dear,” Peggy Ann was very patient, “that Tommy and I want to get married. We’re fed up with parties and dances; we want to settle down — ”

“For goodness’ sake,” wailed Katherine. “You and Tommy are only children!”

“Now, look. Mother,” she sat on the ottoman at Katherine’s feet. “It’s this way. Tommy and I have had a grand youth. We’re both graduated from high school, had one year in college; Tommy worked all last summer with his Dad — ”

Her voice sped on and Katherine heard it vaguely, catching a phrase now and then— “We love each other” — “Tommy won’t go without me” — “We’re willing to work” — “correspondence school ” — “study at night.” All the time Katherine seemed to be listening, her mind was racing along wildly. She must call John — he was a lawyer and used to deciding other people’s affairs; he would know just what to do.

Then Tommy came to the front door — a gay, buoyant Tommy, Some of the June sun was in Tommy’s eyes, too, and when he swept Peggy Ann into his strong arms right there before Katherine she felt as if some new and undiscovered beauty had been revealed to her. For the first time she seemed to see, as an outsider, the vital force that made things like this happen.

And yet she wasn’t ready to have it happen to her little girl. Oh, there should be years and years of Peggy Ann’s going to school and getting ready for parties, and then a long, long engagement with a brilliant wedding reception at the end.

Blinded by her tears, she had made her way to the telephone and called John. Soon he would be home and the dear, warm comfort of his soothing voice would tell her it was all a joke — she had just been dreaming.

Peggy Ann’s laugh in the living room made her think again, “My little girl wants to get married | — actually to go away from John and me!” Self-righteous anger flamed from Katherine’s dark eyes. Restlessly she watched from the window for John to come and settle this nonsense!

A few minutes later his big car pulled into the driveway and parked behind Tommy’s little blue “puddle jumper.” She had a swift glance at John’s face as he stepped out of the car. That deep crease between his keen blue eyes — he only had that when he was worried or thinking deeply.

He disappeared into the garage and the next instant she could hear his hurried step in the back hallway. She met him in the kitchen, felt his big arms holding her. Oh, she was glad she had John.

“Kay, darling, what’s the trouble? I drove like fury — ”

Then in low whispered words she told him. Their little girl, their little Peggy Ann, wanted to get married! Had he ever heard of anything so dreadful, so really ridiculous?

John held Katherine at arms’ length. The deep crease between his eyes was almost gone and a big sigh gave him a comfortable letdown.

“Gee, darling, I thought someone was killed or dying the way you acted — ”

“But, John!” Katherine was just the least bit annoyed; “they’re serious. They mean it; they want to get married next Wednesday!”

John gave a long low whistle, then walked to the sink and took a cool drink.

“Well, well,” he said, in an amused sort of way, “we’ll have to do something about that — ”

“Do something!” stormed Katherine, “Of course we’ll have to do something. The very idea of kids like that — ”

Did she imagine it or was there an amused twinkle in John’s eyes? Sometimes he could be the most provoking person. Now, for instance. Why didn’t he stride in there and tell those two youngsters they couldn’t do any such ridiculous thing? But no, no, he only stood there calmly with his arms folded across his big chest, the long six feet of him propped up against the ironing board closet. He looked as if he were sizing up the situation. Yes, Katherine thought impatiently, she might have known that was just the way he would act, as though he was trying a case before the Supreme Court. This was a time for action. Something had to be done. She opened her mouth to speak, but checked herself as she saw another big car come into the driveway and park behind John’s. Tommy’s parents.

“John, you meet them, dear — I’ll slick up a bit.”

Once inside her own room she closed the door and leaned against it. Now they would settle things. No matter how hard those children argued they would just have to be separated!

Her face looked strangely different to her as she sat before her dressing table. There was a tight, twisted look on the pretty mouth, a fine line in her forehead that hadn’t been there earlier in the morning, and her warm autumn-brown eyes seemed to carry a faint hint of frost. Quickly she patted the dark waves of her hair into place, added a touch of rouge to her cheeks, matching the dusky rose of her morning coat. She didn’t look thirty-seven; people everywhere thought she and Peggy Ann were sisters, John always called them his two girls; again that little tight sob caught her throat.

When she entered the living room she noticed with a sharp glance that Tommy and Ann still stood dangerously close together by the window. Her eyes met her daughter’s and flashed like steel striking steel.

The face she had seen in her mirror a minute before seemed reflected in the face of the young girl before her. There was the same little queenly toss to the head, a spunky challenge in the short-tilted nose. Only the eyes seemed different.

Just the difference, Katherine thought, between June and October. “Now, if we can keep business going — ” Mr, Brent pushed the words past his big chest as he lounged luxuriously on the velvet sofa.

Mrs. Brent was sitting stiff and reserved in the straightback chair by the console table, and John, still looking thoughtful and judicious, stood with one arm leaning against the mantel.

“Good morning,” Katherine tried to bring the music back to her voice. “I’m so glad you came over; it seems we have something very important to decide — ”

John would be annoyed at her plunging into it headlong like this, but there was no use talking about trivialities when you were anxious to get things straightened out. She had always been out-spoken.

“Tommy and I are going to get married,” Peggy Ann said the words simply like a child reciting from a primer.

Katherine tried to quench the rising anger welling up inside of her, but her voice shook a little as she spoke.

“Peggy Ann, it seems to me that you should let your father speak first. After all, he is head of the house, you know.”

You never could tell what John was thinking when he wanted to hide it. Even now he turned around slowly from the mantel and looked kindly at the two young people by the window.

“Now look here, kids,” his voice had that pleading quality that Katherine loved. “Why don’t we call this off for a year or two, say a year from next fall.”

“Them’s my sentiments, too,” chimed in Mr. Brent. “Tommy can work in the store with me next winter; he can save a little; maybe I’ll make him a partner.”

“I’m strictly against a hasty marriage,” this from Mrs. Brent as she sat with both hands folded so tightly in her lap that the knuckles showed white.

“And I’m right with you, Mrs. Brent,” Katherine said.

John didn’t speak. Katherine followed his eyes focused on Peggy Ann and Tommy. They were framed in the big window and the morning sun streaming in through the glass curtains made little dazzling lights in her dark curls like sun on copper. And as Katherine looked at Tommy she suddenly thought of a picture in her old school book — a Viking ready for a storm.

“It’s no use. Mother,” Peggy Ann’s voice had the cool assurance of youth. “We’ve made up our minds.”

“But, darling,” Katherine was trying, different tactics now. “Can’t you see how much better it would be to wait — even till fall? We’ll make a trousseau— we’ll have a wedding reception. There’ll be parties and showers and an announcement tea . . .”

“Mother, dear,” Peggy Ann’s smile was tolerant, “You don’t seem to understand that I don’t want those things. All I want is Tommy.” Katherine shut her eyes as Tommy’s hand closed over Peggy Ann’s.

“What I would like to know,” said Mrs. Brent, her nervous voice cutting indignantly through the quiet that followed, “is how things came to such a point without any of us parents knowing about it?”

“Me, too,” puffed Mr. Brent, “that’s what I’d like to know.”

Tommy spoke now for the first time. His voice was clear, decided, but still respectful.

“Dad, the trouble with you is that you’ve forgotten you were ever young. All you think about is business. Why, I’ve known Peggy Ann ever since she was a ‘freshie.’ I’ve always been crazy about her — or maybe you wouldn’t understand what that’s like?”

“But marriage, son! Great scott! You might be crazy about a lot of girls before it’s time to get married.”

Tommy gave Peggy Ann a reassuring smile.

“Not a chance, Dad,” he said, and turned as though he had made a final speech.

Katherine tried to fight off the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Hopefully she turned to John. He just had to do something. He could forbid them to get married — he could even threaten them!

“How old are you. Tommy?” John asked quietly. Oh, Katherine knew he would find a way.

The boy slipped unsteady fingers through his yellow hair. His eyes lifted quickly — almost defiantly, Katherine thought.

“Nineteen,” he clipped the single word.

“Not of age,” John said. “You can’t marry without your parents’ consent.”

“You’re right, sir,” Tommy answered as though the answer had been carefully considered. “But who’ll know I’m only nineteen if I tell them I’m twenty-one?”

John’s eyes found Katherine’s and held them for a moment. The kids had thought of everything and were determined to carry through their plans.

Katherine knew that things were getting dim before her eyes — the room was stuffy. Gradually she let herself tumble to the floor and remain there quietly during the hub-bub that followed.

“Get Dr. Jason!” John gave orders while his strong arms lifted Katherine to the sofa.

Katherine knew she could revive herself quickly if she wanted to. She really hadn’t fainted, but maybe if Peggy Ann thought she had it might change the situation. She wanted desperately to open her eyes to see what she was doing, but she kept them closed.

Presently she could hear Peggy Ann. at the telephone calling Dr. Jason.

She could feel John’s cool, strong hand on her forehead. She had a twinge of disgust for herself — she hated women who had hysterics, but something had to be done to make youngsters realize what they were doing to their parents.

Katherine decided now to open her eyes — Mr. Brent might decide to throw some water on her face if she didn’t.

The first thing she saw was that deep crease between John’s eyes. Tenderness swept through her. It wasn’t John she wanted to worry. Quickly her eyes searched for Peggy Ann and Tommy. They were by the doorway to the dinette. Tommy’s big fair head was bent down close to Peggy Ann’s dark one, whispering.

Katherine groaned, not from any physical discomfort. The groan took the place of a frustrated wail. John was talking to her now in that low pleadtag voice of his. “Come on, Kay, brace up. The doctor will be here in a minute — ”

The very thought of that roused Katherine. Dr. Jason was too clever for any woman’s tricks to bluff him.

“Peggy Ann,” she let her lips form the word, “Where is my little girl — my baby — ”

Peggy Ann came to her then, but Tommy came too. She still held on to Tommy with one hand while she sat on the sofa beside her Mother.

“Feeling better, now. Mom?” this in that light, carefree way of hers. Fearless or indifferent? Katherine couldn’t decide which, and it just seemed wiser not to answer but to smile wanly and let her hand rest tenderly on Peggy Ann’s dark curls.

When Dr. Jason came, he decided rest and quiet would be the best thing for the remainder of the day; then in the morning she must come to the office for a complete examination. John and Peggy Ann both followed Dr. Jason out to his car.

Mr. and Mrs. Brent insisted on Tommy’s leaving with them. “The very idea,” scolded Mrs, Brent, “of your wanting to stay here with Mrs. Sholls in such a condition — ”

They drove away with a reluctant Tommy, but not before Katherine had seen his eyes meet Peggy Ann’s in a look tender and clinging.

After they had gone John and Peggy Ann helped her to bed. She tried and tried to catch her daughter’s eyes. The girl seemed kind, solicitous, but unapproachable.

John insisted on the sleeping powder Dr. Jason left, Katherine didn’t want to sleep — she needed to stay awake to think things out.

“I’ll stay with you, Kay,” John promised.

“Oh, John,” she reached for his big capable hand ( it was so nice to have John to cling to), “you will figure a way out of this, won’t you, dear? Promise me you’ll find a solution to the whole thing?”

“Yes, dear.” Strong, reassuring fingers closed over Katherine’s. “I promise to find a solution — ”

• • •

It rained that afternoon. Katherine awoke intermittently to wonder what the tapping at her windowpane was, and then to think vaguely, “It’s raining — ” Then drugged sleep would catch her again. Once she was awake enough to have the whole morning incident flood her consciousness. She could hear Peggy Ann’s light footsteps upstairs, restlessly to and fro. Was she pacing the floor? — packing her trunk? And John, where was he? Then she heard him in the basement moving boxes about — sounded sometimes as if he were unpacking things. Then the sleeping powder took effect again — John — Peggy Ann — the June rain —

It was early twilight when she really awoke. June twilight after rain! She arose and walked to the window feeling the breeze cool against her face; the rich odor of fresh earth and growing things made her nostrils quiver. All the world was laboring to express itself. The sun in the west was flaming red and gold — what poet had said it was like the glory of God? And it was, too, Katherine thought. The branch of a big boxelder tree swished lightly against her windowpane. A sparrow fluttered in the branches, and Katherine could see it spread its wings to cover the blue eggs. Life! Katherine thought, eternal life; creation repeating itself in everything. Then the father bird swept down through the sky, straight to the very branch where the nest was cradled. Suddenly Katherine knew she must tell Peggy Ann what marriage meant — birth, pain, sacrifice. Yes, she would tell her everything. Now she believed that all her joy rested in Tommy’s love, that marriage was a lark, a honeymoon. Katherine’s fingers trembled as she fastened the blue satin dressing robe. She must hurry to tell her!

Peggy Ann listened dutifully. She sat cross-legged on the foot of her bed. The flowered cretonne of her long housecoat covered her slight figure completely, and she looked like the big doll on the window-sill by the cedar chest. Katherine’s quick eyes noted the freshly ironed under- things — the dainty satin nightgown she had given Ann for Christmas lying folded on top, virgin white and untouched.

Katherine sat before her daughter. All her mother’s love glistened in her eyes. She must make her understand. As her voice sped on, she was even surprised at her own eloquence. Once when she told of her suffering when her own baby was born, quick fear flashed for a moment in Peggy Ann’s eyes, but was soon replaced by a shining, tender radiance. Katherine told of their financial struggles — poverty — years of hard work, sometimes they had even been hungry!

“But you had Dad,” Peggy Ann said the words simply, like a great truth.

Katherine pleaded, she argued, she even threatened. Peggy Ann’s eyes were lifted as though she could still see the stars in spite of the blush-pink ceiling in her bedroom or the roof of the house above it. Her voice when she spoke was still heady with youth, but Katherine heard only the ageless quality of a girl in love.

“You mean well. Mother, and I love you for it, but after all I have to learn these things for myself. And anyway,” her brown eyes were shining, not with tears but with anticipation, “I’ll have Tommy to learn them with me.”

It was a defeated Katherine who walked slowly back down the stairs. Wearily she lay down again upon the bed. This morning her illness had been feigned, but this evening she was sick at heart. She turned her face to the wall and mentally traced the pattern of the modernistic flower in the wallpaper.

Then John came to the door, rapped gently to see if she were awake. He had a book in his hand; Katherine could see it was her old kodak album, the one she had in college. Why, that had been packed in the bottom of the old tin trunk in the basement! What did he want with that?

“Look, dear, remember this?” he said kindly, putting the book on her lap after helping her to a sitting position with fluffy pillows behind her back. “Here, move over a bit — I’ll sit here by you.”

The light from the shaded bed lamp was focused on a picture of herself when she was a “freshie.” She was standing knee deep in snow, with her school book under her arm, a white tam pulled jauntily over one eye. December, 1918, was written in white ink under the picture.

“You were sweet, Kay — a little stubborn, but still mighty sweet. Remember that day?” She followed John back through the years. Yes, she could remember how they had both cut classes that day. “Let’s get away alone,” John had whispered, and they had hiked off through the snow, not feeling the cold.

John turned the page. There was the first time John told her he couldn’t live a week without her, March, 1919, was written under that picture.

“And this one — gee, I’ll never forget,” there was a tense note in John’s voice as he turned the pages over to the middle of the book. “Remember Stubby Lynch took a flashlight picture up at the weinie roast — remember, Kay?”

June, 1919! Ten of them in their hiking clothes! John was lying on his stomach roasting weinies on a long stick. There were Mayme and Ernest, Ethel and Joe, Bob and Sue. Then she and John had left the gang — walked on down the hill toward home — and John had told her, “Kay —I love you — let’s get married — let’s tell our folks now!”