There probably will be more. (I have story ideas for through June 1942--what I don't know is if I will continue past that point.) I'll need something to Remember WENN with during those long, long long periods of no new episodes.)
I've realized that I'm not going to be able (or want) to keep the story strictly at the station. So, this story contains the first away-from-the-station scene.
Rupert Holmes, Howard Meltzer, and AMC own the rights to Remember WENN...I just like to play.
Gertie didn't smile as she handed Betty the mail. No one had smiled for days. Everybody was still in shock--Betty more than the others.
She watched as Betty thumbed through the letters quickly. "This one is for Maple. Is she here?"
Gertie nodded. "They were listening to the radio..." Betty looked at her.
"Did something happen?" She was trying to control the alarm in her voice.
"We just declared war on Germany and Italy." Gertie took a deep breath. Four days of bad news--what she would give for just one piece of good news.
"Oh..." Betty glanced at the clock--almost one o'clock. Scott would be in Washington in a few hours...
"Betty?"
"Sorry." She closed her eyes and bit her lip. "Well, I should give this to Maple."
Gertie watched her walk slowly down the hall.
The door flew open and Hilary entered with a flourish, followed by Jeff. "You have to stop following me," Jeff said.
Hilary shook her head. "I am not following you. I am just with you. I don't want you...Well, I don't think you should be alone."
"Why? Last time I checked I am a legal adult."
"That's a matter of opinion..."
He turned and stared at her. "What are you worried about?"
"Nothing, why should I be worried, we're only at war...Young men are joining up and going away."
Jeff smiled slightly. "Is that what's bothering you?"
"No...Yes...No," she said emphatically. "I just don't want you...well...You know." Hilary was uncharacteristically without words.
"They didn't want me," Jeff said placing a hand on her shoulder.
"They what?" Her eyes flashed as she turned to face him. "Why? I mean, when did you go do that?"
"Two weeks ago." Jeff shrugged slightly and smiled weakly at Gertie.
"Two weeks ago?" Hilary sagged slightly, then straightened. "You would. London...I don't think I could..." She stared at the wall.
"They didn't want me," Jeff said again. "My other ex-wife..."
Hilary glared at him. "The Nazi Nymphomaniac? The Czech Charlatan?"
Jeff nodded.
"Because of that wanton woman?" Her eyes opened wide. "I am going to grind her gizzards...She's why they don't want you?" She stormed down the hall.
Jeff took a deep breath, "That wasn't too bad."
Gertie silently agreed as she turned to answer the phone. "No, I'm afraid I don't have that information. Sir, you will need to ask...Really?" She pulled the plug. People were asking her questions she didn't have the answers to.
#
#
"It's from my sister?" Maple asked as she took the simple white envelope. Betty shook her head, she didn't have any clue how to answer that. "You wouldn't know. It just surprises me," Maple added in explanation. "Henry was the only member of the family that tried to remain in contact...after...well. It's been a long time." She stared at the envelope. "I can't think of any reason for her to write. I can, but none are good."
"Do you want me to..."
Maple shook her head and opened the envelope. She stared at the letter for several seconds before standing. "I..." She ran out the room, dropping her letter. Betty bent down to retrieve it. It was dated the 10th.
#
#
Betty found Maple sitting in the manager's office. She looked at Betty, then stared at the desk. "I'm sorry. I just..."
"Maple, I'm so sorry..."
"Henry was a good kid. Cute," Maple smiled slightly at the memory. "Smart too. Mother had hoped he would go to college..." She took a deep breath. "The funeral is Sunday...He was the baby of the family. He was only twenty..." She burst into tears.
"We can rearrange the schedules, so you can...go." Betty felt helpless.
"I don't know," she said between sobs. "I'm not exactly welcome at home...Henry was the only one who would write me. He hated lying to mother about it...I didn't even know he was in the navy..." She took the letter Betty held out to her. "Please, I'd like to be alone." Betty nodded and slipped out.
#
#
A voice blaring over the loudspeaker drowned out what Maple was saying. Betty stood at the announcement. The train to New York was now boarding.
Maple straightened her simple black dress as she stood. "I don't think this is such a good idea."
Betty shook her head, "Maple...The train leaves in ten minutes." She'd agreed to accompany Maple to the station. For the past two days Maple had wavered about her decision to go to Brooklyn for the funeral mass. She had finally decided late Saturday night--just four hours ago.
"I can't Betty..." She picked up her purse, and Betty was convinced the other woman would fly out of the train station if she could. The few passengers around ignored them.
"Maple, it's your choice."
"I know." She took Betty's hand. "Thanks. I mean that. You and Scotty, are probably the best friends I have..." She picked up her small overnight bag. She held her head high as the started to walk toward the train.
"Maple..." Betty hugged her, then pulled back. "Let me know when you are returning, I'll meet you." Maple wasn't sure how well she'd be received by her family, or how long she'd be staying in New York.
"Thanks. Thanks for everything."
Betty waved as she boarded the train, then slowly turned away. She debated going back to her empty apartment and pretend to sleep for a few hours or just go to the station and get some work done. Neither held much appeal.
She stood there observing. A group of young men, obviously headed to boot camp. The women gathered saying good-bye...mothers, sisters, wives, girl-friends. She took a deep breath--and turned away.
"Betty!" A voice called out. She spun around.
"C.J."
The young man smiled. "It's good to see you. You look good...well."
Betty laughed. "I thought you were in Philadelphia...We miss you, but we all realized that NBC offered better..." She suddenly frowned. "No, C.J..."
"I've joined the navy," he said proudly. "I'm off to San Diego. I've never been to California." A voice boomed out an announcement. "That's my train. Say hi to everyone for me...And congratulations--I wish I could have been there." He embraced her and ran back toward the group.
Betty watched as the group of men boarded the train and waved merrily as the train slowly pulled out from the station.
#
#
Mr. Foley fired the shot, then dumped a sack of sand. He picked up the bells and waited for Jeff to make the announcement that WENN had completed another broadcast day.
He looked over at Maple, who was had shown up in the morning looking exhausted, her only comment about the weekend being, 'the show must go on.'
He smiled at Eugenia, he'd promised to escort her home--but first he was worried about Maple. He started to tell Eugenia that he would be right back, but she stopped him.
"Poor Maple," she said. "Betty convinced her to spend the night at her place." Eugenia dropped her voice to a whisper. "And poor Betty, they'd only been married a few days before Scott joined up."
Mr. Foley started to tell her what he knew about that, but he had promised Scott not to say a word. He had wondered how Scott knew a former assistant to the U.S. Attorney General, but had decided it was perhaps better not to know...
"Mr. Foley?" Eugenia asked. "You coming?" He nodded quickly.