Heart of a Volunteer
Chapter One: May 21, 1966
*All street names and addresses are made up. All cities are real.
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
The lanky young man walked up to his mother. She was once a beautiful woman with long chestnut hair and a small frame. She was still the most gorgeous sight he had ever seen. Her hair now had hints of gray and she had gained some weight, but not much. But those eyes, my God, those eyes. They still sparkled with enthusiasm and love. They still were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
The boy, young man he reminded himself, had soft brown colored hair and stood around 6'2. The boy had been an amazing football player at the University, and sure enough he had a girlfriend standing a few steps behind him. The girl was no more than 21, blond hair and blue eyes. Wonderful eyes, but not nearly as amazing as the older lady's.
"Where's dad?" the boy asked.
The mother broke down. The boy hugged her close. "He...died," she said.
They had expected it for some time. He had not been well since he came back from a reunion at Pearl Harbor about a year ago. The doctors said it was cancer. The boy's girlfriend squeezed his hand and walked away. The mother and boy stood in the courtyard, sobbing together. "My father's dead," the boy said.
The man walked over to them. The mother looked up and gasped. "Your father isn't dead," the man said.
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There were so many emotions in Danny, the boy, that instant. He wanted to run over and hug his birth father. He wanted to punch him and make him feel pain for not being there for him when he needed him the most. But most of all, he felt shock. His mother had told him his father died four months after Pearl Harbor, serving his country. Was she lying to him? Or did she really believe that?
"Danny?" the boy asked.
"I am your real father. My name is Daniel Benjamin Walker. I am sure you have many questions about me, since you think I died in April of 1942. And so do you, Evelyn."
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FLASHBACK
APRIL 1942
JAPAN
"You can't die, Danny! You know why? 'Cuz you're gonna be a daddy! Danny, you're gonna be a daddy!" Rafe said, kneeling beside Danny.
Danny wanted to smile, but he was too weak. Then, logic overcame him. He didn't deserve Evelyn, he didn't deserve a son with her. "No, Rafe, you are," Danny mumbled. He passed out.
He woke up in a hospital bed in China. He tried to gather his thoughts, but it was hard to think. He knew he couldn't let Rafe see him. A nurse walked in, ready to change something. "Mr. Walker, you're awake," she said, the only nurse who knew how to speak English.
"Is Rafe McCawley here?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
"Tell him I died. Give him a casket, make it seem real, lady. I need you too," he mumbled.
"It's strictly against procedure," she said.
"You've gotta help me lady. He won't go back if he knows I'm alive. Listen, I don't have much money, but I'll pay you whatever I have." He grabbed her hand.
"That isn't necessary," she mumbled. "I owe great debt to America. I will do anything you ask."
He smiled and then fell unconscious again.
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University of Tennessee dorm room
Knoxville, Tennessee
May 1966
"He had a casket," Evelyn said. "We buried you!"
"He had a casket," Danny agreed, "but you didn't bury me."
"What happened?" Evelyn asked.
"Well, the nurse and I became, friends. She did what I asked of her. I knew that I didn't deserve you or Danny, not after the way I just took you from Rafe. So after I woke up, she told Rafe I died. She made it real official, Rafe never knew."
"How did you get back, dad? I mean, without letting anyone know," Danny asked.
He sighed. "I lived in China for three years. With Betty, the nurse who treated me. Right before we came back to America, we married."
Evelyn gasped. Danny held her hand. "Are you still...married?" Evelyn asked.
"She died two years after we got married," Danny said looking at the ground.
"I'm sorry," Danny said.
"Thank you. But, Evelyn, please don't get mad."
"What?" she asked, not sure if she was ready for more heartache or not. He pulled his wallet out of his pants and retrieved a picture. The girl in the picture was around 20, had dark skin and eyes, her hair was jet black.
"That's my daughter, Kimberly."
Evelyn sighed. "Betty was Chinese?" she asked.
"Yes," Danny said. "Betty died during childbirth to Kim."
Danny tried to take it all in, as did his mother. He had a half-sister, and his birth father wasn't dead.
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FLASHBACK
December 5, 1946
Nashville, Tennessee
Danny held his daughter as the doctor tried to revive Betty. "Come on," Danny whispered. "Come on Betty, you can make it..."
He saw the life drain out of her. "No," Danny whispered. "Please, Betty, come back for me." Kim let out a loud shriek and Danny held her tighter.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Walker," the doctor said. "Elizabeth Walker, time of death, 7:47 A.M."
Danny sat and rocked Kim in his arms. He didn't know how to take care of a child with a wife, let alone without one.
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14 Maple Avenue
Bristol, Tennessee
Danny followed his son and former girlfriend into the house that was built on his and Rafe's fathers' land. He sat next to his son in the kitchen while Evelyn made coffee. Another boy came in and Danny immediately saw Rafe in the boy.
"Hello?" the boy said, questioning the stranger.
"Eric, this is my father," Danny said.
"What? That isn't Rafe," the teenager said innocently.
"Eric have you ever noticed I don't look anything like you?" Danny asked. "Don't talk, act, think, play sports, do anything like you? We are half-brothers," Danny said.
Evelyn poured the coffee and sat down, totally silent.
"Hello Eric, I'm Daniel Walker. Your parents and I were great friends, before they thought I died," Danny said.
Just then, a girl no more than thirteen came and got some juice out of the refrigerator. Upon realizing someone other than her family was in the room, she smiled and ran into the living room, Danny realized she was still in her pajamas although it was around noon.
"Rafe's daughter?" he asked Evelyn. She nodded, still keeping silent.
"That's Chelsea. My half-sister," Danny said still being his father's source of information.
Danny glanced out the window and saw his grave. He sighed. "I'm real sorry about Rafe," he said.
"Thanks," Evelyn mumbled for the first time they had come to the house.
"Anyway, dad, where's Kim? I'd really like to meet my other half-sister."
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University of Tennessee dorm room
Knoxville, Tennessee
Kim grasped Matt's shoulder as he lowered his lips from her face to her neck. She smiled before pushing him away. "That's enough," she mumbled.
He quickly agreed to stop what he was doing, realizing he shouldn't risk their 18 month relationship. "So, what's the deal with all these books?" he asked.
"We're in college," she said, pulling her hair into a quick ponytail before piling the books on a table.
"So...that doesn't stop you from totally ignoring your studies," he said playfully.
"Well, I have a huge test tomorrow, and I still want to be a journalist, I'm gonna need to pass it."
"Is that my cue to leave?" Matt asked.
"Yea," she said. "But you are so taking me to the party on Saturday," she made him promise.
"Of course, babe," he said, leaving her to her studies.
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Bristol, Tennessee
"At the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, just like you," Danny said, answering his son's question.
"Hmm," Danny said thinking if he knew a Kim Walker or not.
"How did you find us?" Evelyn asked, her first statement that was loud enough to hear.
"I turned on my television set and who do I see starting wide receiver at the University of Tennessee? My son."
Danny blushed a bit and Evelyn smiled. "So, why did you find us after all these years?" Evelyn asked.
"That leads to my next question. It's been bothering me for two years now. I have no family other than Kim. And you know how kids are these days. I've actually been looking for you. I wanted to meet my son. I went to see Kim and I saw you too in the courtyard. I figured then was as good of a time as any."
"Danny," Evelyn started, "stay with us. If only long enough to get a job and a house in town, so be it. I don't think Danny would mind you taking his room, he lives in Knoxville anyway. Maybe it will do some good for the children to have a father figure around since Rafe's gone." She wiped a tear from her eye.
Danny hated to see Evelyn cry. He put his hand on hers, but she pulled away. He understood that he shouldn't try to make a move yet. But he had been waiting for her for 25 years.
**If this seems a little(or a lot) like Smiling Back, please no that I did not mean to rip off RogueAngel, who wrote a remarkably beautiful and moving tale of Danny living. I am trying to focus more on Danny and Evelyn in the aftermath of Danny living. It is sort of necessary to have Danny fall in love with a Chinese nurse and have a child, and I am sorry that it is what her story is like. Thanks for reading this!
Chapter One: May 21, 1966
*All street names and addresses are made up. All cities are real.
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
The lanky young man walked up to his mother. She was once a beautiful woman with long chestnut hair and a small frame. She was still the most gorgeous sight he had ever seen. Her hair now had hints of gray and she had gained some weight, but not much. But those eyes, my God, those eyes. They still sparkled with enthusiasm and love. They still were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
The boy, young man he reminded himself, had soft brown colored hair and stood around 6'2. The boy had been an amazing football player at the University, and sure enough he had a girlfriend standing a few steps behind him. The girl was no more than 21, blond hair and blue eyes. Wonderful eyes, but not nearly as amazing as the older lady's.
"Where's dad?" the boy asked.
The mother broke down. The boy hugged her close. "He...died," she said.
They had expected it for some time. He had not been well since he came back from a reunion at Pearl Harbor about a year ago. The doctors said it was cancer. The boy's girlfriend squeezed his hand and walked away. The mother and boy stood in the courtyard, sobbing together. "My father's dead," the boy said.
The man walked over to them. The mother looked up and gasped. "Your father isn't dead," the man said.
*******************************************************************************************************
There were so many emotions in Danny, the boy, that instant. He wanted to run over and hug his birth father. He wanted to punch him and make him feel pain for not being there for him when he needed him the most. But most of all, he felt shock. His mother had told him his father died four months after Pearl Harbor, serving his country. Was she lying to him? Or did she really believe that?
"Danny?" the boy asked.
"I am your real father. My name is Daniel Benjamin Walker. I am sure you have many questions about me, since you think I died in April of 1942. And so do you, Evelyn."
********************************************************************************************************
FLASHBACK
APRIL 1942
JAPAN
"You can't die, Danny! You know why? 'Cuz you're gonna be a daddy! Danny, you're gonna be a daddy!" Rafe said, kneeling beside Danny.
Danny wanted to smile, but he was too weak. Then, logic overcame him. He didn't deserve Evelyn, he didn't deserve a son with her. "No, Rafe, you are," Danny mumbled. He passed out.
He woke up in a hospital bed in China. He tried to gather his thoughts, but it was hard to think. He knew he couldn't let Rafe see him. A nurse walked in, ready to change something. "Mr. Walker, you're awake," she said, the only nurse who knew how to speak English.
"Is Rafe McCawley here?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
"Tell him I died. Give him a casket, make it seem real, lady. I need you too," he mumbled.
"It's strictly against procedure," she said.
"You've gotta help me lady. He won't go back if he knows I'm alive. Listen, I don't have much money, but I'll pay you whatever I have." He grabbed her hand.
"That isn't necessary," she mumbled. "I owe great debt to America. I will do anything you ask."
He smiled and then fell unconscious again.
********************************************************************************************************
University of Tennessee dorm room
Knoxville, Tennessee
May 1966
"He had a casket," Evelyn said. "We buried you!"
"He had a casket," Danny agreed, "but you didn't bury me."
"What happened?" Evelyn asked.
"Well, the nurse and I became, friends. She did what I asked of her. I knew that I didn't deserve you or Danny, not after the way I just took you from Rafe. So after I woke up, she told Rafe I died. She made it real official, Rafe never knew."
"How did you get back, dad? I mean, without letting anyone know," Danny asked.
He sighed. "I lived in China for three years. With Betty, the nurse who treated me. Right before we came back to America, we married."
Evelyn gasped. Danny held her hand. "Are you still...married?" Evelyn asked.
"She died two years after we got married," Danny said looking at the ground.
"I'm sorry," Danny said.
"Thank you. But, Evelyn, please don't get mad."
"What?" she asked, not sure if she was ready for more heartache or not. He pulled his wallet out of his pants and retrieved a picture. The girl in the picture was around 20, had dark skin and eyes, her hair was jet black.
"That's my daughter, Kimberly."
Evelyn sighed. "Betty was Chinese?" she asked.
"Yes," Danny said. "Betty died during childbirth to Kim."
Danny tried to take it all in, as did his mother. He had a half-sister, and his birth father wasn't dead.
********************************************************************************************************
FLASHBACK
December 5, 1946
Nashville, Tennessee
Danny held his daughter as the doctor tried to revive Betty. "Come on," Danny whispered. "Come on Betty, you can make it..."
He saw the life drain out of her. "No," Danny whispered. "Please, Betty, come back for me." Kim let out a loud shriek and Danny held her tighter.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Walker," the doctor said. "Elizabeth Walker, time of death, 7:47 A.M."
Danny sat and rocked Kim in his arms. He didn't know how to take care of a child with a wife, let alone without one.
********************************************************************************************************
14 Maple Avenue
Bristol, Tennessee
Danny followed his son and former girlfriend into the house that was built on his and Rafe's fathers' land. He sat next to his son in the kitchen while Evelyn made coffee. Another boy came in and Danny immediately saw Rafe in the boy.
"Hello?" the boy said, questioning the stranger.
"Eric, this is my father," Danny said.
"What? That isn't Rafe," the teenager said innocently.
"Eric have you ever noticed I don't look anything like you?" Danny asked. "Don't talk, act, think, play sports, do anything like you? We are half-brothers," Danny said.
Evelyn poured the coffee and sat down, totally silent.
"Hello Eric, I'm Daniel Walker. Your parents and I were great friends, before they thought I died," Danny said.
Just then, a girl no more than thirteen came and got some juice out of the refrigerator. Upon realizing someone other than her family was in the room, she smiled and ran into the living room, Danny realized she was still in her pajamas although it was around noon.
"Rafe's daughter?" he asked Evelyn. She nodded, still keeping silent.
"That's Chelsea. My half-sister," Danny said still being his father's source of information.
Danny glanced out the window and saw his grave. He sighed. "I'm real sorry about Rafe," he said.
"Thanks," Evelyn mumbled for the first time they had come to the house.
"Anyway, dad, where's Kim? I'd really like to meet my other half-sister."
********************************************************************************************************
University of Tennessee dorm room
Knoxville, Tennessee
Kim grasped Matt's shoulder as he lowered his lips from her face to her neck. She smiled before pushing him away. "That's enough," she mumbled.
He quickly agreed to stop what he was doing, realizing he shouldn't risk their 18 month relationship. "So, what's the deal with all these books?" he asked.
"We're in college," she said, pulling her hair into a quick ponytail before piling the books on a table.
"So...that doesn't stop you from totally ignoring your studies," he said playfully.
"Well, I have a huge test tomorrow, and I still want to be a journalist, I'm gonna need to pass it."
"Is that my cue to leave?" Matt asked.
"Yea," she said. "But you are so taking me to the party on Saturday," she made him promise.
"Of course, babe," he said, leaving her to her studies.
********************************************************************************************************
Bristol, Tennessee
"At the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, just like you," Danny said, answering his son's question.
"Hmm," Danny said thinking if he knew a Kim Walker or not.
"How did you find us?" Evelyn asked, her first statement that was loud enough to hear.
"I turned on my television set and who do I see starting wide receiver at the University of Tennessee? My son."
Danny blushed a bit and Evelyn smiled. "So, why did you find us after all these years?" Evelyn asked.
"That leads to my next question. It's been bothering me for two years now. I have no family other than Kim. And you know how kids are these days. I've actually been looking for you. I wanted to meet my son. I went to see Kim and I saw you too in the courtyard. I figured then was as good of a time as any."
"Danny," Evelyn started, "stay with us. If only long enough to get a job and a house in town, so be it. I don't think Danny would mind you taking his room, he lives in Knoxville anyway. Maybe it will do some good for the children to have a father figure around since Rafe's gone." She wiped a tear from her eye.
Danny hated to see Evelyn cry. He put his hand on hers, but she pulled away. He understood that he shouldn't try to make a move yet. But he had been waiting for her for 25 years.
**If this seems a little(or a lot) like Smiling Back, please no that I did not mean to rip off RogueAngel, who wrote a remarkably beautiful and moving tale of Danny living. I am trying to focus more on Danny and Evelyn in the aftermath of Danny living. It is sort of necessary to have Danny fall in love with a Chinese nurse and have a child, and I am sorry that it is what her story is like. Thanks for reading this!