The streets of Dubuque were alive as usual just few weeks after the robbery. Old fashioned trolleys , people in their automobiles, were roaming to and fro,...people were walking, some riding bicycles here and there and everywhere. Shops and other different kinds of businesses were opening up for the day. It was a beautiful day in April. The sky was so blue, the sun shining bright in the nearly cloudless sky.

Things were going well for one man that morning, it seemed. He was walking to one of the shops on Rhomberg Avenue, till almost out of nowhere, someone grabbed him and pulled him into an alley. The man was robbed of his money, and beaten. The criminal used the same weapon from his last robbery: a hammer, and he gave his victim a blow to the head. Another man saw the whole thing and started chasing the man as he had taken off running down the street. He soon caught up with the robber, and soon received the same fate as the other man, he was robbed and beaten, although he wasn't hurt as badly. The chase after the robber soon began again! And soon a crowd had formed and joined in chasing the man.

"Good God?" Fred Lay Jr. questioned, as he saw the crowd approaching. He was out in one of the city ambulances, as he was one of their drivers. He saw the man being chased, and blocked the end of the road. "What's going on?" He asked, looking confused, as he had stopped his ambulance and had gotten out.

Two men had taken hold of the robber, in case he thought of trying to escape again. "This man's committed a robbery….and we think he's the cause of the one that happened three weeks ago. It's time to put a stop to it!" One said.

"How could I forget that? My Grandmother still isn't doing too well, I think…..She's staying with my parents right now."

Fred Jr. chatted with the men awhile, then the police were finally making their way over. "Thank you for blocking the road, Mr. Lay…..You're practically a hero. We've been after this man for some time now."

"It was…nothin'…. Well, I just parked…You know what, you're welcome." Fred Jr. chuckled and shook the police officer's hand.

"Boy, Irene sure won't believe it when I tell her about this!" He said to himself as he watched the police arrest the man. He went on to see if he could help any of the robber's victims.

"Mr. John S. Cody, of Dubuque, was convicted of a robbery on Rhomberg Avenue early yesterday morning. Authorities say this was his second occurrence of the crime, both times, using a hammer as his choice of weapon. Yesterday, Cody was being chased by several townsfolk until Mr. Fred G. Lay, a resident of Dubuque, had blocked the road until authorities came. Cody is sentenced to 25 years in prison….."

"Only 25 years…." Fred muttered as he read the article in that morning's paper.

"I think he deserves more if you ask me." Frances told him, laying down a plate of German Apple Cake and a cup of coffee in front of him.

"I didn't." Fred chuckled. "Anyway, I agree with you…but that's how much he was sentenced. It's done with."

"I know."

"Can't help but feel proud of our boy, though." Fred grinned a little.

"Oh, I know…" Frances smiled. "You think he's read the paper yet?"

"Yeah, I bet he has….Why don't you sit down and have a little breakfast cake with me?"

"Do you want me to get heavier?" She laughed and sat down next to him.

Fred shrugged. "I don't care…..I'm just glad you put the pounds back on as quick as you did. That cancer sure gave both of us a scare."

"Well, we made it through, didn't we?" Frances smiled, and held his hand. "I feel great now."

"Then don't worry about your weight….You look great no matter what."

"Yeah….right." Frances smiled and rolled her brown eyes. She took a bite of her coffee cake and changed the subject. "….I want Ma to stay with us as long as she can."

"She can live here with us for as long as needs…..I actually like having her here!" He chuckled.

"Fred..." She laughed.

"Really...She can stay here as long as she needs to. I don't mind."

(

Helen was standing in Cornelius Bayless, the college administrator's office. He was a thin older gentleman, with fierce looking eyes, a balding head and a small gray mustache.

"You're 20 years old, aren't you?" He asked her.

"Yes sir….Well. I will be…..well, I guess I am. Today's my birthday…..But what does that have to do with….?" She began.

"I just wanted to be sure…." He told her. "You're an exceptionally bright young lady. I'm sure you have a feeling why I called you in here…."

Helen looked at him puzzled, and kept quiet. She wasn't sure of what to say.

"Graduation…" He went on to say. "Is next week…..And you, young lady have managed to finish all of your classes. You'll be graduating a year earlier. May I say, congratulations Miss Lay."

Helen broke in a huge smile! "Thank you so much, Mr. Bayless!"

"It's your hard work that have paid off. You're a wonderful student, young lady."

"Thank you…" She beamed.

"You can go back to your dorm and pack your things and go home…..Just be sure to join us here again next week for graduation." He laughed.

"Oh, yes sir!" Helen giggled.

Helen was informed that her job at the gymnasium was no longer valid. The college had given her the job, and now she was finished with her work. So she headed on over there to pick up her last paycheck. She saw Eddie there after he had just finished one of his workouts. He was wearing his long boxing shorts and a white cotton shirt.

"Hey you….Happy Birthday!"

"Thanks Eddie!" She smiled and stood there just gazing at him.

"So how are you celebrating?" He asked.

"Oh….we'll probably just have a special dinner or something."

"That's nice!"

"Would you…like to come with me?" She asked, hoping he would say yes!

"Yeah, I would…..just let me go change real quick." Eddie told her, and left and changed into a gray Henley shirt and put an argyle sweater vest over the top, and changed out of his boxing shorts and into some dress slacks. He carefully smoothed back his jet black hair back with his fingers. "Perfect." He smiled at his reflection in the mirror.

Helen picked up her very last paycheck and explained to Eddie that she wouldn't be working there any longer. They talked all about it on the walk to her home.

"I guess I just have to come visit you at your house then."

"I guess." She smiled. "There it is there, with that huge pine standing next to it." Helen said as they crossed the little wooden bridge.

"Nice looking place. Looks big!" Eddie smiled.

"Oh, I guess it is….Three bedrooms, I think."

"Wow."

"My father built it….the garage too."

"Bet he's got a nice machine in there!" Eddie grinned.

"I suppose so…That's a guy's thing. I normally don't pay attention."

"Guess so." Eddie laughed.

"What?"

"Oh, that it's a guy's thing." He smiled….He had actually laughed because he was thinking how she had said that was cute.

"Do you have a one?"

"No…..But I'd like one….Never mind." He laughed again and smiled that smile at her. The gorgeous smile that made her feel almost weak in the knees!

They walked up the steps to the front door and went inside. "Ma?...Papa?...Is anyone home?" Helen called. Her grandmother Franziska came out of the kitchen and into the front room and met them.

"Your Papa is off at work, and your Ma went to run a little errand.." She said, and her attention quickly turned to Eddie. "Oh how sweet, Helen!….You brought your little boyfriend with you."

Eddie stood there and chuckled a little. Helen didn't think it was all that cute and funny though.

"Grandma….Eddie's…just a good friend…." She was slightly embarrassed, and blushed a little. Helen glanced nervously at Eddie and then at her grandmother.

"Just a friend…Okay, I see." Franziska smiled. "Well, how about you two come into the kitchen and have some coffee and cake."

"Sure, Grandma…." And they both followed her into the kitchen. "Why isn't he?" Franziska whispered to her. "Grandma!...He's right behind us…." She muttered back. "What?...Snag him while you can, dear!" She grinned at her granddaughter while Helen just smirked. Yet, the smirk broke into a smile.…..As soon as Helen walked in the room, a great big ol' "SURPRISE!" was shouted. EVERYONE was there! Fred Jr., his wife Irene, and their little girl Marlene…Uncle Joe, Aunt Nona and all 6 of their children were there. Some of Helen's friends from college were in the room, and good friends of the family, Ed Graf and his sister Lucille were there too …..and of course, Helen's parents were there as well.

"You lied to me, Grandma!" Helen nearly shouted, but cracked up laughing. "You lied…..and you're such a sneak!" She laughed and went and hugged her dear grandmother. "I seriously had no idea!"

"That was the idea!" Franziska laughed.

They all had a nice little party for her and had a wonderful time. They had some good food and birthday cake and drinks, and everyone went into the front room so she could open her birthday cards.

"Here's one from Freddie….." She smiled as she opened the envelope and took out the birthday card. "Here's something fresh from my garden…." Helen read what the birthday card said on the front of it. "Oh look, it has a little gardener on it!" She looked at the little girl figure dressed in a green dress, pearl necklace, with a little green watering can on the ground next to her. "Has the funniest looking hair though!" She laughed at the stringy-looking hair on the little cartoon.

"Only modeled after you, sis." Fred Jr. laughed.

"Oh, you hush." Helen laughed.

"Open the card." Fred Jr. grinned.

Helen opened her birthday card, but suddenly let out a shriek! "SPIDER!" She tried shaking the card in an effort to get the spider off of it, but it wouldn't move! She touched the spider and found out it was only plastic! Helen and everyone in the room laughed. "Happy Birthday…"Brudder" Helen read what Fred Jr. had written on the card.

"That was a good one, though I feel like slapping you…..Brudder." Helen chuckled and hugged her older brother.

Helen opened more birthday cards….but one she opened was a lot more sweet and special.

"To a Dear Daughter On Her Birthday

Once upon a time there was

A baby dear and sweet

Who brought a world of happiness

And made life more complete,

And with each passing year she grew

Still sweeter every way- -

And it's that little girl, grown up,

Whose birthday is today!

Happy Birthday,

Ma."

"Oh Ma…" Helen hugged her mother and stayed in her arms a few seconds. "I love you." She said softly. "Thank you for the beautiful card."

The party was over soon after and everyone went home, except for Ed and Lucille Graf.

"Helen…" Ed smiled widely at her. "We would like to take you to our place…..You and Lucille can ride horses…..and I'll be there too….to guide them. You haven't ridden before, right?"

"No…not much actually."

"Well…..I'll be there. You won't have to worry any." Ed smiled. "I think you'll enjoy it."

"Sure!" Helen smiled. "Let's go!" And so they went to the Graf farm, where they would have picnics every summer. Helen went to the barn with Ed and he guided a horse out for her.

He helped her mount the horse and carefully gave her the reins. Ed Graf stayed close by to teach her some things she didn't know about riding. She almost fell off the horse, but he lent a hand and helped her steady herself. Lucille sat on her horse, just smirking at the way her brother was acting around this girl. And Mrs. Graf couldn't get enough of it and was taking photographs of their little outing. Mr. Graf had taken Helen home when their few hours of fun riding was finished, and Lucille helped her older brother put their two horses away.

"You like her…."

"Who?" Ed Graff asked.

"You know who….Don't play dumb with me, brother….You like Helen Lay and you know it."

"I think…..it's more than just like." He confessed.

"What?" Lucille asked, surprised.

"I think I love her…..Ever since a few years ago. Always coming here for picnics every summer….I know it sounds silly, but I can't help it." He explained.

"Why don't you ask her out?"

"She'll say no….Have you seen how she acts around Ed Walbrun? They like each other….A lot. You can tell."

(

Helen made it back home, and found a special little birthday surprise.

"Looks like one of your birthday guests came back, Helen." Fred smiled at his daughter.

"You don't mind, do you?" Eddie asked her, she was standing in front of him, the two just smiling at each other. "I've been wanting to ask you something."

"Is it about what happened earlier?" Helen laughed a little, but then the embarrassed feeling came on again.

"Actually….I think your grandma's right. Maybe we should be….boyfriend and girlfriend." Helen smiled as he said this.

"Sorry if this is a bit corny." Eddie laughed, and hooked a hand in his pocket and ran the other through his jet black hair.

"No. No, it's just fine." Helen giggled and smiled at him still.

"So….how 'bout it?" He asked, and grabbed her hand softly.

"I'd like that…" Helen smiled and nodded.

"And how old are you, young man?" Franziska Gruber asked him.

"I'm 23, Mrs. Gruber." He smiled.

"3 years…" She said. "Not a bad age difference!"

"Grandma…." Helen smiled, blushing.

"What? He's 23, you're 20...It's not too bad! All I'm saying!" Franziska grinned at her grandaughter.

A/N: Found Fred Jr.'s obituary at my Grandma's house and I read that he worked for the Dubuque fire department and was an ambulance driver.

Just like in this chapter, the same man who robbed and beat my great great great grandma Franziska Gruber, tried it again on someone else a few weeks later…..A certain man saw it and started chasing him. The robber tried the same thing on him, but he wasn't hurt as bad. A crowd had been chasing the man, when someone (unknown) stopped him by blocking off the road with his truck until the police got there and sentenced the man 25 years in prison…The newspaper article and the man's name in this chapter is simply made up. :)

The birthday cards in this chapter were real. :)

Ed Graf and his sister Lucille were real people. Their part in this chapter was inspired by a few photos of them I found. Lucille and my great grandma Helen were on the horses, with Ed standing off to the side.

Ed Graf was indeed in love with Helen. But Helen wanted Eddie Walbrun instead. :)

My great grandpa Eddie's outfit in this chapter was from a picture of him. :) Dang, he was a good dresser! I like that style!