Tensions were high, as rumors floated about that Germany was going to start a World War again. Emma couldn't even remember the first World War, having been born three years after it ended. But these worries soon cleared out of her head as she simply lived on Walton's Mountain, where you could hardly worry about outside matters for long.
"Hello, John Curtis." Emma cooed, holding the little boy in her arms as Mary Ellen talked to Olivia from the couch.
"Curt is on another shift." She whined. "It feels like I never get to see him."
"Mary Ellen, you know what it's like to be busy. You'll be going back to nursing school soon." Grandma frowned.
"I know Grandma, but I just can't help it."
Elizabeth skipped through the door. "Hello!"
"Where have you two been? Where's Jim Bob and Erin?" John frowned, setting down his glasses and turning from his desk where he had been pouring over papers.
"Jim Bob took Erin over to get a job in Charlottesville." Elizabeth said, dropping her satchel on the arm chair. "She wouldn't let us know what job it was." She tiptoed up to John and sat on his lap placidly.
Erin pranced through the door with Jim Bob as the family sat down to eat supper. "I got a job!" She smiled, sitting down beside Jason.
Grandpa nodded proudly as he handed her a plate of food. "Wonderful, wonderful. What is the job?"
"Oh, it's a switchboard operator. I start as soon as I graduate." Erin shoved food into her mouth, barely stopping to breathe.
"Erin, honey, slow down." Olivia frowned.
Erin flushed. "Sorry mama. I'm just really hungry."
"Do you have to go to New York, John Boy?" Elizabeth said quietly, poking at the food on her plate.
"Yeah, honey, if I wanna get my book published and get a full time job." John Boy looked down. Lately he had been considering not going at all, but how would that get him anywhere? He just wasn't interested in work at the mill like Ben.
Emma sipped at her cup of coffee as she finished clearing up after dinner. "Erin, fancy going to a movie tonight?"
"Uh, I'd love to," Erin said. "But, G. W and I are going for a walk soon."
"Oh, okay." Emma smiled, sighing inside. Everyone was so busy lately, with dates, and jobs, and life in general. Emma stopped herself quickly from being nostalgic, and thought back to Curt's words from last year.
"It's hard to describe the indescribable feeling of not wanting your siblings to grow up and to stay young forever... "