Excerpt
Lucy wasn’t smiling like she used to when she folded her letter, slipped
it into the envelope, sealed it with a kiss, and applied the three-cent stamp.
Even the spring in her step lacked the zeal she typically exhibited during her
walk to the post office. The words on the paper were true to her commitment.
They spoke of the news from the home front, stories that helped Stan’s
morale, and made sure her underlying message was being proud, supportive, and
encouraging. The words wandering around in Lucy’s thoughts, however,
were in stark contrast to this messaging.
Ever since Stan was assigned to
the navy radar training school, Lucy had become more and more unsure in her
belief that things would be okay. His work as an Aviation Machinists Mate
stateside meant he was safe. And Minneapolis was relatively close to home.
Being trained as a radarman for shipboard duties meant it was more likely he
would be sent overseas into a combat zone. This caused a higher level of
worry. Like everything else this war has put in short supply, her ration of
optimism was slowly being depleted, and the resources for replenishing that
reservoir were becoming scarce.
Her quandary was not letting Stan know
about this foreboding, even though he was normally her most trusted sounding
board. She tried to talk about this with her sister Millie. But Millie’s
approach to these heartfelt struggles was to fix them, make them go away, or
advise Lucy, “Try not to think about it.” This was not the type of
support Lucy needed.
During her alone time, sitting staring out the
window, the overwhelming emotion that prevailed over all others was that she
really missed her husband. She now knew what being heartbroken felt like.
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