It seemed like the entire town of Shelby had shown up at the bus station to say goodbye to Billy, John and D.J. not that the towns people mattered to the three heroic boys.
"You take care of yourself okay." Eve wept hugging her brother "And if it's not to much to ask can you try to bring John home with you alright."
"I promise Evelyn." D.J. crossed his heart and moved further down the line
"You know Daniel you're the only boy in this world I trust my daughter with, now you better come home to her because if you don't she ain't datin' again till she's outa my house." Rafe joked patting him on the back
"You got yourself a deal uncle Rafe, I do love your daughter more then you can imagine."
"I know you do son but trust me I can imagine." Rafe glanced over at Brenda who still had Billy in a death grip and was beginning to embarrass him in front of all the other men.
"I'm proud of you Junior don't you ever forget that." Danny shook his son's hand then pulled him into a hug. "Remember easy on the throttle."
"Yes Dad. Mom how you holdin' up?"
"I could be better but it's time to cut the apron strings. Daniel have I been a good mother to you? I've given you everything you needed right? You don't think you would've been better off with your real mother do you?" Annaly stood in front of her husbands son looking him in his chocolate eyes and for once in Danny Juniors young life he felt like her son.
"Of course not Ma oh no Jesus I love you mom." He kissed his mothers forehead and moved on the last person in the line.. Amelia.
"You know you've still got time to change your mind."
"You know that's not gonna happen Am."
"I know. Come down here." She pulled his collar so her lips were grazing his ear. When she released him he stared at her wide eyed
"A baby?"
Amelia nodded in response and he picked her up and spun her around.
"I love you and I love you." He kissed her and then dropped to his knees and kissed her stomach "And I will be home safe as soon as I can be."
"Bring Billy back when you come."
"Last call for all passengers for Hunter Army Airfield Savannah Georgia." Boomed over the intercom forcing D.J. John and William to pick up their duffels and get on the bus. The rest of the family stood on the platform as the bus began to move then suddenly jolted to a stop again. The door swung open and D.J. stuck his head out it
"I'm gonna marry you." He screamed
"You bet your ass you are now get goin' so you can get home already." Amelia yelled back
And as the bus bumped along down the dusty country road Amelia got a feeling in the pit of her gut that she would never see the love of her life again.
While Billy was saying good bye
"You know you can always runaway to Canada." Billy's girlfriend Mary told him holding onto his had for dear life.
"My father would never speak to me again, besides would you want to be datin' a draft skipper?" He peered into her brown eyes with his sharp green ones.
"If it means you're safe yes."
"Oh come on Mary I'll be fine I'll be back before you know it. How long could this war last anyway? Hey don't cry." He wiped the tears from her cheeks
"Don't leave then."
That's when they were called to board the bus. William leaned over and wrapped his arms around Mary in a vice like grip and lifted her up kissed her put her down walked halfway to the bus turned around ran back kissed her again and got on the bus.
"You take care of yourself okay." Eve wept hugging her brother "And if it's not to much to ask can you try to bring John home with you alright."
"I promise Evelyn." D.J. crossed his heart and moved further down the line
"You know Daniel you're the only boy in this world I trust my daughter with, now you better come home to her because if you don't she ain't datin' again till she's outa my house." Rafe joked patting him on the back
"You got yourself a deal uncle Rafe, I do love your daughter more then you can imagine."
"I know you do son but trust me I can imagine." Rafe glanced over at Brenda who still had Billy in a death grip and was beginning to embarrass him in front of all the other men.
"I'm proud of you Junior don't you ever forget that." Danny shook his son's hand then pulled him into a hug. "Remember easy on the throttle."
"Yes Dad. Mom how you holdin' up?"
"I could be better but it's time to cut the apron strings. Daniel have I been a good mother to you? I've given you everything you needed right? You don't think you would've been better off with your real mother do you?" Annaly stood in front of her husbands son looking him in his chocolate eyes and for once in Danny Juniors young life he felt like her son.
"Of course not Ma oh no Jesus I love you mom." He kissed his mothers forehead and moved on the last person in the line.. Amelia.
"You know you've still got time to change your mind."
"You know that's not gonna happen Am."
"I know. Come down here." She pulled his collar so her lips were grazing his ear. When she released him he stared at her wide eyed
"A baby?"
Amelia nodded in response and he picked her up and spun her around.
"I love you and I love you." He kissed her and then dropped to his knees and kissed her stomach "And I will be home safe as soon as I can be."
"Bring Billy back when you come."
"Last call for all passengers for Hunter Army Airfield Savannah Georgia." Boomed over the intercom forcing D.J. John and William to pick up their duffels and get on the bus. The rest of the family stood on the platform as the bus began to move then suddenly jolted to a stop again. The door swung open and D.J. stuck his head out it
"I'm gonna marry you." He screamed
"You bet your ass you are now get goin' so you can get home already." Amelia yelled back
And as the bus bumped along down the dusty country road Amelia got a feeling in the pit of her gut that she would never see the love of her life again.
While Billy was saying good bye
"You know you can always runaway to Canada." Billy's girlfriend Mary told him holding onto his had for dear life.
"My father would never speak to me again, besides would you want to be datin' a draft skipper?" He peered into her brown eyes with his sharp green ones.
"If it means you're safe yes."
"Oh come on Mary I'll be fine I'll be back before you know it. How long could this war last anyway? Hey don't cry." He wiped the tears from her cheeks
"Don't leave then."
That's when they were called to board the bus. William leaned over and wrapped his arms around Mary in a vice like grip and lifted her up kissed her put her down walked halfway to the bus turned around ran back kissed her again and got on the bus.