Unforgettable
Chapter 1: The Knock on the Window
January 1st, 1941-
It was around one at night when the last guest left. The Roaner's had been having a family reunion to ring in the dawn of the new year. Amelia, the Roaner eldest daughter at age 15, had been waiting for months for this day to come. She would finnally get to see her older brother, Edward Jackson, for the first time in ten years. Their parents had separated when Amelia was only five. She never got to know her brother and had few memories of him so naturally she was excited about the reunion.
The night had finnally come. Amelia eagerly waited beside the door, greeting her relatives with a hug or a kiss. But after an hour of waiting, there was still no sign of Edward. At first Amelia thought that perhaps his car had broken down, or there had been bad traffic on the way, but then the letter came. Amelia's mother had been flipping through the bills and sharing a glass of wine with her sister when she found a letter from her husband and Edward. Knowing how much Amelia loved opening mail from her father and brother, Ms. Roaner gave the letter to Amelia to read first. A broad grin danced across Amelia's face when her mother handed her the letter. She tore open the envelope and excitedly began to read. But as her eyes fell over the stationary, her smile slowly trickled of her face.
Dear Molly and Amelia,
I hope this arrives before the new year's celebration. As you know, six months ago Edward volunteered for the navy. Well, this past October, Edward was one of several local volunteers selected to go to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. He left in early November, but he didn't want me to announce his departure until he was sure he'd be staying. He wrote me this past month and he seemed very happy at Pearl Harbor. He's now stationed on the Battleship Arizona. Neither he nor I will be able to attend your New Year's Celebration, but Edward sends his love.
Sincerely,
Henry Jackson
At that instant, Amelia's heart felt ripped from her body. She couldn't believe it. Here she had been planning and waiting for months to see her brother for the first time in a decade and what does he do? He joins the navy, thousands of miles away. Countless emotions filled her body. Anger and sorrow, hatred and love. All these were racing through every inch of her, banging right through her heart. A heart that was hurt.
"Amelia darling! What's the matter?" her mother said rushing to her side. Amelia hadn't realized it until then, but she had been crying half way through the letter. Her mother took the letter from her hands and read. Amelia watched as her mother's eyes darted across the paper, first confused, then shocked, then sad and hurt. "My god…" She looked to her daughter and threw her arms around her, in an attempt of comfort. "I'm sorry baby, I know how much you wanted to meet Eddie. But don't you see he had to go? He's doing a great service to our country and we should be proud. Maybe he can visit for Easter." Amelia's tears suddenly stopped and she looked up angrily at her mother. "How can he be doing a service to the country if we aren't even in the war yet! It's not America's problem, it's the stupid old brits. Doesn't Eddie see that?" she snapped at her mother. "Amelia Elizabeth Roaner! You shall not use the word 'stupid' in this house, especially in front of all your relatives! If you cannot stay done here without spreading your anger about Edward then go to your room right now, young lady!" "Fine mother." Amelia nodded and calmly turned towards the hallway and headed to her room. She carefully shut the door, and quietly laid down on the bed. For the next ten hours, she wept.
Around one o'clock, Amelia's mother kissed her eldest daughter good night and headed off to bed. Amelia sat quietly in her room, her tears had stopped. She decided that what her mother said earlier about Edward doing a service to America was right. She had been listening to the radio lately and it seemed that the U.S. would soon be joining the war whether we liked it or not. So she pushed away her grudges on her brother, and considered him to be a hero.
It was only about six hours until dawn so Amelia decided it was well past time for her to be getting to bed. She changed into her night clothes and buried herself under her warm covers. She was just about to fall into a deep sleep when she suddenly heard a strange tapping sound on her window. She flicked on her bedside lamp and sat up in bed, frightened but intrigued with the unfamiliar tapping sound. Carefully and quietly, she crept over to the window. Taking a deep breath, she quickly tugged on the blinds. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" her scream pierced the air and she stumbled backwards, falling onto the floor.
In the window was the bright face of a beautiful young girl with big curly locks of golden hair that hung around her head and gave her an innocent babyish look. She laughed at the sight of her friend on the floor and knocked on the window again, wanting entry. Taking another look at the girl, Amelia sighed a breath of relief and stood up, pulling the window open.
"Bonnie Marie Tyler! Honestly, I never though I'd see you peeking into my bedroom window in the middle of the night," Amelia exclaimed, pulling her friend in through the window. Bonnie giggled and pulled a large suitcase through the window, dropping it on the bed. Amelia looked with interest at the suitcase. "What's this?" she said. A sly, devilish smile spread across Bonnie's sweet face. "Let's just say, we're going on a secret mission." Amelia raised and eyebrow. "Secret mission? Something tells me I should toss you back out the window before I get involved."
The girls shared a laugh and a smile as Amelia motioned for bonnie to sit on the bed. "So 'Melia, how was your day?" Bonnie said, changing the subject. Amelia heaved a sad sigh and said, "Not to good. I got word from my Father today. You know how my brother Edward volunteered for the navy? Well, early November he got shipped to pearl harbor, in Hawaii." Bonnie's bright hazel eyes widened in excitement. "Really?! Well then, our secret mission will be even better!" she exclaimed.
Amelia gave her a questioning look. "Tell me about this 'secret mission' you are so keen on us going on." Bonnie took a deep breath and smiled. "Well…My father told me today that the navy's looking for lots of young women 18 and older to join the navy as nurses. He said that the next group of nurses that joined the navy was going to be shipped straight to pearl harbor. Then, I began to think…you and I look older than 18. We love excitement, and you always said it was fun to try new things. So…" Bonnie said, grinning spectacularly.
"Wait a second, you actually think we should run away from home and join the navy to be nurses? Why would we ever want to do that! You'd be lying to the government, Bonnie. This is big time!" Amelia protested. "Oh come on, 'Melia. It'd be fun to get out of this boring little town and really go someplace exotic! We'd be doing a service to our country and-" Bonnie began. "And does the fact that we'd be meeting thousands of available guys have anything to do with it?" Amelia said, smirking at her friend. Bonnie blushed slightly and giggled. "Well, that's a definite plus but…" Amelia shook her head and said, "I'm sorry Bonnie, you can run off and lie about your age and get yourself blown up if you want to, but I'll be taking no part in it."
Bonnie took her friends hand and squeezed it. "But just think…Hawaii, Pearl harbor, Edward." Amelia looked at her friends pleading, puppy like face. If she went with Bonnie, she'd finnally be able to see her brother. On top of that, Hawaii sure sounded like fun. And then there was the thought of the thousands of guys she would meet, maybe even that special someone. With all of this in mind, a smile spread across Amelia's face. "Alright, but if we get caught I'm blaming this whole thing on you." Bonnie did a small victory dance. "Pearl Harbor, here we come!"