Back in River Run . . . .
Linda is sitting in the house wondering what had just
happened. The Metcalf home had always been the center
of activity. Only a couple of months ago, the house
was full. Things had changed in so many ways since
Sara’s death. Mom and Al had gotten married - after
Mom dropped the bomb that she was pregnant. Hank had
blamed Al and the Union for Sara’s death. He couldn’t
bring himself to live in the same house with Al and
the memories of Sara. He got a job in Chicago and
hadn’t been home in over a year.
Mom had given birth to Michael - a beautiful baby boy.
The house had been hectic enough after his birth and
then Mom had contracted polio. Then, to add insult to
injury, the Sloans had accused Al of being a communist
to try to move the attention from their shady dealings
in the Heritage Village housing development. It had
been impossible for Al to get a job after that.
Hank’s best friend, Charlie, had discovered that his
British war bride, Caroline, had been the management
fink during the strike. This, on top of the fact that
she didn’t want to start a family, had been the last
straw for Charlie. He had left Caroline and moved in
to Hank’s room.
Then there was Jeff and Ginger. They had surprised
everyone in the family when they started dating.
Ginger had been Linda’s best friend since they were
nine years old. No one knew when or how they had
started dating, but after awhile it was obvious to
everyone that they were made for each other. When
they had called off their engagement, Linda thought
she was going to have to clobber both of them to bring
them to their senses. They had driven themselves and
everyone around them crazy. Thank God for Coach
Zelnick. Jeff had told Linda that it was the Coach
who had rigged Arthur’s car to break down and given
Jeff the opportunity he needed to get Ginger back.
The house was empty. Hank was gone; Charlie had moved
out; Jeff was off to the minor leagues in Wichita to
try to get his baseball career on track again; and
Mom, Al and Michael had just left for New Jersey - Al
hoped that he would be able to find work there. What
was she going to do in this big, empty house all by
herself. At least now that Jeff and Ginger were back
together, Ginny would be coming around more again.
Linda’s thoughts were interrupted by the telephone
ringing. That must be Ginger, she thought.
“Linda, this is Mrs. Szabo. Do you know what in the
world my daughter is up to now?” Ginger’s mom sounded
a bit confused which, with a daughter like Ginger, was
understandable.
“What do you mean, Mrs. Szabo? What’s wrong?”
“She and Jeff are supposed to be getting married
tomorrow. I come home from delivering a cake and find
a note from her saying she’s gone to Wichita for a
week and that she’ll call me when she gets there.
Wichita??!! What happened? Did they have another
fight? Have they called it off again? Is Jeff there?
Maybe he can explain this to me.”
“Did you say Wichita?! Jeff isn’t here, Mrs. Szabo.
His baseball coach called and the Indians are giving
him another chance. He had to leave tonight for
Wichita to play in the minor leagues before he can
come back up to the majors.”
“What do you mean Jeff left for Wichita? You mean to
tell me that they are both on their way to Wichita?
Together? Before they get married? That girl is
going to be the death of me yet. She knows I have a
weak heart. What is she trying to do to me?” Mrs.
Szabo is on the verge of hysterics.
