Author's Note: First of all, I'd like to thank you for the reviews. It encourages me a lot. Secondly, I'd like to apologize for not updating. No, I did not have author's block, it's just that I was proofreading the document a lot of times just to make sure it's free from flaws. I want the readers to enjoy my story as much as possible. Finally, I'd also like to apologize for giving Mrs. Vitello a first name. Why you ask? In the show, her first name was never mentioned, so I feel bad about it being inconsistent and all. It's just like giving Arnold a last name, and that's not right!
A correction from the previous chapter: And if you met her, please send to her my regards.
Chapter 2: Letters and Pies.
"Uh, I think my laundry is done. I think I'll go down and check them out." Mr. Hyunh said and leaves the room.
"Uhh… oh yeah… I need to call Lola. I mean, it has been a while you know." Ernie replied as he got up from his chair.
"I also have to call Lola, grandpa." Oskar promptly said.
"OSKAR!!" Suzie and Ernie yelled at him.
"What? I can't think up of any good excuse to run away from grandpa's boring war stories." Oskar tried to reason.
"Well, why don't you haul your lazy butt into our room and watch the babies for a change?" Suzie insisted. Their twin girls were born two years after Arnold moved out from the house. Oskar had become more responsible ever since their children were born, but he still slacks off from time to time. By responsible, he had acquired a real job as a saxophonist in a local jazz club thanks to Harvey. The pay's not great but was enough to support the whole family, plus the money that Suzie makes working at the grocery store. The twins were sleeping when Suzie left them to have lunch.
"Ehh…" he sighed, "okay Suzie…"
"So what? Go on, get! It's not like I care or anything." Grandpa yelled at them, as he watches Mr. Hyunh, Ernie and Oskar left the dining room.
"Heh, heh… works like a charm." Grandpa thought, with a smirk spreading across his face.
"Don't worry guys, I'll save some pies for you," Arnold said to the three men.
"Goshdarnit Arnold! Why'd you have to be so thoughtful?"
Everyone had left, except for Arnold's immediate family and Suzie in the dining room.
"Well, I for one am staying. Your war stories have always intrigues me, grandpa." Suzie said with interest.
"Damn! I can't get rid of the girl! Oh well, better her than those deadbeats…"
"So… what's your story about this time?" Suzie continued.
"Well, I think Arnold here can clear things up. Go on, short-man. Tell her," grandpa said with a mouthful of pie.
But Arnold was interrupted by his grandmother, enforcing discipline on her only son, "Miles, didn't I tell you not to play with your food?" grandma scolded as she slaps Miles' hand because he was poking his slice of the pie. Grandma's behavior had gradually become more normal ever since Arnold parents' were found.
Miles rolled his eyes, "Okay mom, okay… I'm sorry I played with my food."
Arnold looked at them for a moment with a smile, then he turned his head to Suzie, "Um, well… I found grandma and grandpa's letters that they sent during the Second World War. I thought it might be interesting to read from a first hand view, rather from the history books."
"Oh… I see. You know, my dad had always told me stories about when he was serving in the Korean War. I think it might be fascinating as well to hear yours, grandpa." Suzie replied as she cut her pie into half.
"Well, what are you waiting for, short-man? Read it."
September 6th, 1943
Dear Gertie,
I am actually surprised that you're replying. I even stared at your envelope for minutes on end before opening it. Even as I'm writing right now I'm still in a state of disbelief.
Thank you so much for replying.
Your letter has certainly made my day more cheerful, in contrast of the morbid, somber look of the battlefield which I am in now. It has been nearly three days in this foxhole, and to kill time, I might as well write a letter here rather than waiting to get back to the base and write to you on my bunk.
Upon arrival in Sicily, we were sent to a city which is now controlled by the Allies. You said that Margaret was here in Sicily, so during my break, I quickly went to the city hospital and asked whether if she's there, just to try my luck. She was working there, but unfortunately, she was just assigned to another hospital on the other side of the island, where I heard that we just gained victory there. The number of the wounded is high so I believe they are short-handed there and in desperate need of more nurses and doctors. If I was a day earlier, I would've met her.
Upon hearing the name Margaret, grandma was smiling proudly, in respect of her.
I'm glad that you're actually enjoying the work that you're in. Rosie must've been a great motivator, huh? I apologize for my rather poor handwriting, because as I'm writing right now, my hands are trembling quite violently. We just had a minor skirmish with the enemy remnants and I was quite shocked at the turn of events. Writing, somewhat can help calming me down. Don't worry about me, I am fine.
"It was a minor skirmish that lasted about 20 minutes, if my feeble mind recall correctly." Grandpa rectified.
"Who's Rosie?" Suzie asked.
Grandma was quick to answer that question, "Folks called her Rosie the Riveter. She was an icon for us working girls back during the war. You could see her posters everywhere back in those days."
"Was she a real person?" Miles asked.
"Til' this day, I still don't know." Grandma replied. "Some said she's true, some said she ain't."
Sicily is quite an interesting place actually. The place is absolutely beautiful and the locals here are very friendly and are very keen to help us out. They even gave us some authentic Sicilian food for free, which I am craving right now. Here's an interesting story that I want to share with you; I was in a Allied controlled city doing my patrol with a platoon buddy of mine where all of the sudden this old lady came to us and asked for our help. We were happy to help of course, but we felt that there was something peculiar with her. This platoon buddy of mine, who, bless him, knows how to speak Italian, told me that she found two bodies at her backyard while she was picking some firewood. Boy, was that a shocker!
I'm sorry to hear about your father Gerthie. But you have to understand sometimes that when our country needs our help, we have to oblige. I'm sure that your father does not forget about his responsibilities to his family. Remember the time when he brought you and your whole family to the Capital when you were nine? And after that you constantly bragged to us how good a father he was? That's something.
That Mitzy will never learn, won't she? Enough about her, let's talk about our friends. My contact with Mike is lost now, so I don't know how am I supposed to tell him the rather unfortunate (or fortunate?) remark that Marie said. By the way, I thought he sent some letters to her? Anyway, from a letter that Mae sent to me she told that she and Diane went out to join some baseball league or something, is it true? And regarding James, what is he doing right now? Is he still working with that cartoon company producing propaganda newsreels? And what about Will?
Well, I'm done writing now, and coincidentally, our platoon's relief just arrived. I'm looking forward to a hot shower, eating real breakfast rather than these rations and sleeping on a bed. I apologize for the rather short letter I'm sending, because for the past few days there's nothing interesting to write about but the things that I've mention earlier, and I'm quite in a hurry right now. I'll end my letter with a quote from Winston Churchill that I just heard, it might be interesting:
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
Sincerely,
Phil.
"Wow, I'm impressed grandpa." Arnold said with a smile.
"Arnold dear," his grandmother interrupted, "just how many letters you found in the attic?" she inquired.
"I don't know; I haven't counted yet. I found them in a shoebox."
"Which means you've found it all, Arnold."
"Nice. Should I read the next one?"
"Yep, go right ahead," grandpa replied.
September 27th 1943,
Hey Phil,
Yeah, yeah, I replied to your letter, so what Chin-boy? Just don't get too comfortable about it. It's not like I'm going to reply to each and every letter you're sending, although, strangely I think that's what I am doing right now. Anyway, I'm disappointed that you haven't met her yet, but nevertheless I am relieved to hear that she's still out there and alive. I bet by time you are reading this, you've met her by now. Well, better watch your back out there, who knows there's still some Germans lingering about in that island waiting for a good opportunity to strike.
Two dead bodies in the backyard huh? It is interesting I give you that. Were they soldiers, civilians or something other than those? This story should prove worthy of making Cindy sick to her stomach. I'll add some fabricated details more to make it more graphic. She can't stand hearing to this kind of story, because as you well know, she is very queasy. Hey, it might not be the best revenge ever, but just to see her face turn green would give me the satisfaction until I can think up a bigger, worser prank.
Arnold noticed some trace of dried up teardrops over the paper on the next paragraph, washing the ink of some of the words away.
Can we please stop talking about my father? I had enough of hearing that slob's name, so please never mention him in your letters again. I know he did take us for an outing, but that was a long time ago. He has changed significantly after that. He's a whole new person after he got back from the war, far from the caring, compassionate father that I used to know. It breaks my heart just the thought of it.
Grandma shook her head when hearing that line.
The ship that I told you earlier is in her final stages and in its testing phase. The dang thing floated thankfully, but has yet to be christened with a name. I personally would love for it to be named USS Gertrude, after me. But, it's all a pipe dream I guess. They'll probably name the ship after a president, a city or an important general, not a commoner such as myself. Whatever works I guess.
"You wanted that ship you've been working on to be named after you grandma?" Arnold chuckled.
"That ship was a destroyer I think, and they did name it Gertrude!"
Arnold was shocked, "whoa, really? I don't recall of hearing any famous Gertrudes grandma."
"You're not good at history, aren't ya, short-man?" grandpa suddenly intervened.
"Gertrude was the name of this city founder's wife, Arnold." Miles quickly added. "Her full name was Gertrude… Gertrude…" he said while snapping his fingers, trying to remember the last name, "McPherson, I think."
"And you are correct, sir! 10 points for ya!" grandpa said jubilantly.
Suzie giggled at the joyful grandpa. Arnold was smiling at the sight, and continues to read.
I know it has been God knows how long since you've left the neighborhood, so I'm going to tell you what has change and what has not in the neighborhood. Marie's mother has just opened a flower shop just nearby your house. She says that flowers are more profitable these days than a general store. The city council is planning to build a new city park after the war is over. Personally I think they should concentrate more on providing spaces for the war effort than erecting a park named after the Mayor's wife. We live in a city governed by stupid bureaucrats, and that just ain't right. But on the bright side, it'll bring more green in this concrete jungle. And, rumor says they're going to build a giant aircraft factory at the outskirts of town, but I don't know when will they going to start building it.
"Giant aircraft factory?" Arnold asked.
"Our city lost the contract." Grandpa said, sighing. "A small town in Washington won it, I think."
"The one in Everett?" Miles asked.
"Yep," grandma replied, "just think what'll happen to our city if we won the contract."
"So what happened to that place now that the plan was scrapped?" Arnold asked.
Grandma, grandpa, Miles and Suzie said in unison, "Dinoland."
Are you just illiterate or you can't read properly? If Mae and Diane said they're in a baseball team, then of course they're in a baseball team! They went out to join the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League representing our fair city. And so far, we're on a winning streak, thanks to 'Miraculous' Mae and 'Dashing' Diane. Just writing their nicknames they gained makes me cringe. Oh, Marie said to me that she never opened any of the letters that Mike sent, but she keeps all of it, though.
James no longer works for that animation company. Lisa said he quit the job and got enlisted in the Air force and now he's in some airbase in New Mexico doing his basic training. He said to Lisa that he quitted his job because he became tired of it, and also he wants to be just like his hero, Buck Rogers. I actually laughed out loud when Lisa told me that. Some people just won't change, but in this case, won't grow up. Whatever makes him happy, I guess. And Will wanted to join the airborne infantry, but unfortunately he was physically unfit to join. So he went back to his old work at the local newspaper company, and what I've heard he was assigned with the Pacific Fleet to photograph pictures in that area. So if you saw any pictures about that particular place in the papers; that must've been his handiwork.
Well, that's about it. My hands are getting tired from writing this letter. Also, I need to prepare dinner for my family, since it's beginning to get dark here. I don't have any famous quotes to share, but I do have these words to say to you:
Stay sharp, and keep on fighting!
Sincerely,
Gertrude.
Grandpa suddenly felt some uneasiness in his stomach, "Ohh… my stomach… Pookie, this pie taste familiar… what kind did you bake?" he asked.
"I think it's raspberry," grandma replied, as she walked over to the sink.
"RASPBERRY?! Oh my God… excuse me, I have to go to the 'office' for a while…" he said, holding his stomach.
And that's the end of Chapter Two. I hope you enjoyed it! Any views and comments? Write it in the reviews. To know more about The Allied victory in Sicily, Rosie the Riveter and The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, visit the local library or search the internet!