The fall of 1948 was, overall, a happy one for my family. My brother and sister-in-law, Jim Bob and Patsy were expecting their first child. They made the announcement on their first anniversary in May. My sister-in-law Toni was also pregnant with her and Jason's first child, due to arrive in February. This little boy or girl would have a birthday close to their daddy's. My sister Mary Ellen was also pregnant with her third child, due at the same time as Jason and Toni's. Jenny and my children were getting older, so we were thrilled to be getting new nieces and nephews soon. My sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law Drew had just celebrated their first anniversary in April. It was a happy time in my family. Another celebration was my youngest sister Joy's upcoming thirteenth birthday. But what should have been a happy time was a very scary and uncertain time. "History repeats itself" is a quote many of us know. Well, in September 1948, we saw that very quote come true in our family in a very scary way.
September 3, 1948
Joy walked home from school with her nieces and nephews. Joy was the only one of John and Olivia's children still in school. Now, it was mostly grandchildren at the Walton Mountain school. Joy was the oldest of the group, nearly a teenager. She would turn thirteen on her September 16th birthday.
"It really is amazing how much Jen looks like Elizabeth." 49-year Olivia remarked, watching her daughter and grandchildren walk up the driveway.
"I know it is." Olivia's 32-year old son John-Boy smiled. "She's the spitting image of her Aunt Elizabeth. Jenny and I said that from day one. She doesn't look like either of us, but Aunt Elizabeth's got her branded really well."
Olivia smiled. "Your Aunt Bernice is the same way." Olivia smiled, referring to her sister. "She doesn't look like either of your grandparents, but she's the spitting image of our Uncle Cody."
John-Boy chuckled. "Very true. I guess it runs in the family."
Olivia grinned. "But she sure has your contagious toothy smile."
John-Boy laughed out loud. "I've been told that."
John-Boy's wife walked in. She would turn 32 on the 16th. Joy was born on her sister-in-law's 19th birthday. This early connection caused the two women to have an especially close relationship.
"Are the kids home yet?" Jenny asked, Susan on her hip.
"They're walking up the driveway with their Aunt Joy as we speak." John-Boy grinned.
Soon the screen door slammed and the voices of children echoed in the house.
"Don't slam Grandma's door." Mary Ellen commanded her sons.
That night, everyone ate outside at John and Olivia's house. John's 71-year old mother still lived with them. John was 54. He used to think that 50 sounded so old. Now to that age and beyond, he realized he still had a lot of life ahead.
After supper, John-Boy and Jenny, Jason and Toni, Jonesy and Mary Ellen, and Ashley and Erin all took their respective children home. Cindy went home to tuck Ginny and Charlie in bed. Ben and Cindy still lived in the old shed on his parents' yard. She came back and joined Ben on the porch swing. Jim Bob sat with his arm around Patsy. Elizabeth sat on Drew's lap. John held Olivia's hand. Esther sat in one of the chairs.
"Where's my sister-in-law?" Drew asked, referring to Joy.
"I don't know Drew," Olivia said. "She was in doing homework."
"I'll go check on her." Drew said. He got up and went inside.
"Hey Little Sis, how's it going? We were just asking about you. We're all hanging out on the front porch if you want to join us." As an only child, Drew was very happy to inherit brothers and sisters when he married Elizabeth. He loved all of his wife's siblings and their spouses as if they were his own siblings.
"Oh, I can't." She replied. "I just got assigned a lot of pre-algebra homework today."
"Oh, I was a whiz at algebra when I was in high school. Let me see if I can help you."
"I can do it myself!" Joy snapped.
Drew's eyes widened. "I'm sorry Honey. I was just gonna offer to help."
"Well I don't need your help. I can do it myself. I'm not a baby anymore." Joy got up from the table, about to go upstairs.
"Joy, I didn't mean that you're a baby. I was just gonna offer to help. If I can be of any help to you, please let me know." Drew turned to go back outside.
Joy paused. "Drew, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I know you were only trying to help. I'm really sorry."
Drew smiled. "I know, Honey. It's okay. We all have bad days."
Joy smiled slightly. "I'm sorry."
Drew hugged her. "It's all right. If I can help you at all, please let me know."
"I will. Thank you."
Drew smiled and went back out onto the porch.
"How's Joy?" Elizabeth asked.
"Struggling with pre-algebra, but she insisted she could manage herself."
Elizabeth nodded.
"Our baby's gonna be 13, Livy. Can you believe that?" John asked his wife.
"Where did the time go?" Olivia leaned her head on her husband's shoulder. "It seems like she just started school. Now, she's gonna be a teenager."
"Well all our other kids grew up, so I guess we should expect it. Look in front of us." John smiled.
Everyone laughed.
"I was thinking of taking her to Charlottesville to get our nails done, have a fun sister day." Elizabeth smiled.
"That's a good idea." Cindy smiled. "Ben and I were gonna invite her over for supper one night, make her feel special. I've already asked my mother to watch the kids."
"We should do something special for her too." Jim Bob said to Patsy.
"We can take her to a movie." Patsy suggested.
Joy sat in her bedroom. It was a very quiet, calm evening, so she could hear the voices softly drifting into the night air.
She kind of ignored the voices after a few minutes. She didn't want to spoil any surprises her sisters and brothers and siblings-in-law had for her. She went back to her pre-algebra assignments.
PEMDAS? Was that what Mrs. Fordwick told us to remember for order of operations? Or was it PEDMAS? Grrr… I had math!
Halfway through the assignment, she decided to call it a night on math.
I have all weekend. Maybe I'll take Drew up on that offer to help me tomorrow. I can call Elizabeth in the morning and see if it's okay for me to come over.
Joy yawned. It had been quite the busy week. I wonder if I'll make it through seventh grade. We're barely two weeks in and I already miss summer.
She leaned her head back. She decided to turn in early. She went downstairs and told all her siblings and siblings-in-law goodnight, as well as her parents and grandmother.
Joy walked back up the stairs and into her room. She paused when she entered her bedroom.
Little Women? Didn't I put that book back on my shelf earlier this evening? It's here on my bed now. Maybe Mama was in my room this afternoon.
Joy pondered that thought for a moment.
She couldn't have been. She was at the store and then she came home as soon as she got the items and started supper since everyone was coming over!
