A Waltons Story - Chapter 12

A Waltons Story

(The Waltons Fan Fiction)

By: Kristi N. Zanker

Disclaimer: All publicly recognized characters, settings, etc. are the property of Lorimar Productions and Warner Bros. Television. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. I, in no way am associated with the owners, creators, or producers of The Waltons. No copyright infringement is intended.

12.

The Automat

John-Boy, Elizabeth, and Melissa left the apartment around ten-thirty and took the streetcar to the nearest Horn & Hardart Automat. John-Boy glanced over at Elizabeth who stared out the window at the stores and restaurants that glided by. A big grin appeared in the reflection.

“Everything’s so close,” she said. “You could just get up and walk and you’re there!”

“Sometimes it’s like that, honey,” John-Boy chuckled.

“No one wears overalls here. They’re all dressed up like they’re going to church,” she remarked.

“Well, you’re in the city now…when you go out, you dress up.”

“Do we look dressed up enough?” asked Elizabeth.

“You both look beautiful.”

“Oh, John-Boy!” Elizabeth now had a smug look on her face.

He sighed and remembered when he was nearing his teens years ago and that Elizabeth was approaching those awkward times.

The conductor called out each street as they came to a light. When their stop was called, John-Boy took Melissa’s hand and Elizabeth followed them. They walked a few blocks to the Automat, stopping every so often to gaze in the windows with the glamorous clothing and toys on display.

Once at the Automat, they stood in line and peered at the large box-like windows in front of them. Each window slot had a different dish of food. When it was their turn, they went up to the lady behind the cash register and placed their order. Their food was served in a matter of minutes. As John-Boy carried the tray over to an empty table, Elizabeth commented that she had never seen food served that quickly.

“It takes a long time to cook food at home,” said Elizabeth. “Here it’s already done…just like that!” She snapped her fingers.

“Well, they prepare it here too; it’s just ready for the customers right away,” said John-Boy, who set down the tray on the nearest empty table they could find. The two girls sat down across from one another, Melissa was next to John-Boy. He took their food off of the tray and handed it out to each respective eater.

Everyone got quiet as they ate. John-Boy noticed Elizabeth’s expression change. He could see a frown forming. It almost looked like she was going to cry. Perhaps she was homesick again. Maybe she didn’t like the city food and wanted her Mama’s cooking.

“Elizabeth, are you alright?” he asked.

“I’m fine, John-Boy,” she replied.

“We’ve had this discussion before, honey. I know you. When you say you’re fine, I know you’re not.”

“It’s just that…well, I better not, you know…she’s here.”

Elizabeth had pointed at Melissa with the end of her fork. Melissa oblivious to the conversation and gesture gobbled up her chocolate chip cookie.

“You’re right,” John-Boy said, then looking over at Melissa. “Tell you what. How would you like to go to the playground on the way home?”

Her tiny face popped up and squealed, “Yeah!”

*~*~*

“I’m worried about Daisy,” Elizabeth said, who turned away from John-Boy momentarily to watch Melissa sail down the slide.

John-Boy placed an arm around her shoulder, drew her close and kissed the top of her head.

“I know. I’m worried too. She’s tired all the time and her condition is taking all the energy out of her. That’s why I’m happy you’re here, honey. I’m grateful for your help. But I want to show you more of the city too. You didn’t just come here to be with Melissa.”

“Oh, I don’t mind. I always wanted a little sister.”

“I know…but I want you to have fun too.”

“I want Daisy to be okay.”

“She’ll be fine in a few days, I reckon.”

He then realized that he hadn’t said I reckon in months. John-Boy had been away from the mountain for such a lengthy time that it almost frightened him. It was just words and yet, they were home to him. In an instant, a pang of homesickness crawled its way in, and suddenly he wanted to go and talk to his Mama and Daddy.

“John-Boy?” Elizabeth’s hand gently pulled on the sleeve of his shirt.

“What is it, honey?” He gazed toward the playground, watching as Melissa ran to the swings. A group of little girls swung with her, trying to swing at the exact same time. Elizabeth laughed at them, and told John-Boy how she used to swing on the swing in their front yard all the time.

“I can’t picture you being a Daddy. You’re just my big brother,” she looked away, embarrassed at what she had said.

“I’ll always be your big brother, Elizabeth. There will be a time in your life when you’ll become a Mama. And I know you’ll do just fine at it. I’ve seen how you take care of Melissa.”

“I help take care of John-Curtis too, when Mary-Ellen is at work. She gives me ten cents for looking after him. I almost have over a dollar saved up.”

“That’s very good. I’m looking forward to becoming a father. I just hope I can be as good as Daddy.”

“Oh, John-Boy, you’ll do just fine. You took care of me!”

“You and everyone else; I have plenty of practice.”

He then called for Melissa who ran to him and babbled on about all the things she went on. The three walked back to the apartment building.

As they entered their apartment, they found Daisy on the couch.

“She’s sleeping,” said John-Boy, as he put his finger to his lips for Melissa to know to be quiet.

“Come on, Melissa, I’ll read to you. It’s almost time for your nap anyway,” said Elizabeth.

“I wanna see Mommy, I don’t wanna take a nap!” she whined

“You have to, if you don’t, you won’t get any stories,” said Elizabeth.

“You know what happens when you don’t go to bed, young lady,” said John-Boy.

Melissa hung her head.

“You can see your Mommy when you wake up. She’ll be awake too,” said Elizabeth.

“Okay.”

John-Boy watched as Melissa dragged herself after Elizabeth. He knelt next to the couch, leaned over and kissed Daisy on the cheek.

“Daisy,” he whispered, as he gently nudged her. “We’re home.”

Her eyes opened and blinked at the light that streamed into the room from the open curtains. Her hand covered her eyes.

“Do you have a headache? Do you want me to close the shades?” he asked.

“No, it’s okay,” Daisy replied, sat up and rubbed her stomach.

John-Boy placed his hand on her stomach.

“Can you feel the baby yet?” he asked.

“Yes. I think the baby’s awake most of the time,” Daisy laughed.

“Are you hungry?”

“A little.”

“I’ll heat you some soup.”

As John-Boy got up from the couch, Elizabeth came down the hallway. She announced softly that Melissa was asleep.

“I couldn’t even get to the fifth page of the book and she was out. How are you, Daisy?” Elizabeth sat in the chair next to the couch.

“I’m doing fine, honey. Your brother’s making soup. Would you like some?”

“Sure, I’ll have a little bit. The food at the Automat filled me up.”

“Did you like that?”

“I sure did! I’ve never seen food served so fast before.”

“I know…it’s really something. I’m glad you all had fun today. Maybe, when the time is right, you can visit us again and we’ll bring our baby along too.”

“I think the baby would like that,” Elizabeth said, grinning.

Like Melissa earlier in the afternoon, Elizabeth fell asleep as soon her head hit the pillow. John-Boy could hear a faint snore coming from the living room. He had been writing in his journal for the past hour at the kitchen table. Daisy had gone to bed over an hour ago. When he was finished writing about the day and how worried he was about Daisy, John-Boy closed his tablet, shut off the small light bulb that hung above the table and went to their bedroom.

As he changed into his pajamas, he watched how restless Daisy was.

“Darling?” he called softly.

“Is everyone asleep?” she asked.

“Yes, you should be too,” he said.

“I can’t sleep.”

John-Boy tossed his shirt over the chair of his desk and put on his pajamas. As he climbed into bed, he said, “I know” and kissed her goodnight.

“Daisy, since we’re both up, I want to ask you something. I’m not an expert on pregnancy, but I don’t remember my mother feeling as tired as you are with all my brothers and sisters. Maybe we should call your doctor,” said John-Boy.

“It’s just me, don’t worry about it. I’m meeting with the doctor next week.”

“Are you sure… I’m really worried about the way you’ve been feeling.”

“Really, I’ll be alright. But thank goodness Elizabeth is here to help with Melissa. I know lately I haven’t had the energy for much.”

“Are you sure?” John-Boy asked again.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

The hands of the alarm clock spun quietly as the second hand ticked loudly, echoing across the room. Dawn was several hours away. For now, everything stood still and let time control what happened next.

“John, wake up!” Her voice pierced through the ticking, disrupting it and John-Boy’s sleep. It was a voice of alarm.

“Hmmm? What is it?” he said groggily, then looked looked over at Daisy, as she leaned over the bed, and vomited in the trash can.

“Oh God, Daisy!” He raced to the other side of the bed.

He watched as she tried to get up but her body surrendered to the pain that cascaded its way through. Daisy keeled over and was crying.

“No, don’t! Don’t get up!” John-Boy shouted.

She tried again and that was when he saw it. The blood. A thick dark pool formed where she had been. He began to shake.

“Help me! Help me, please!” she said.

He was frozen. Get up! Get up! His mind screamed. He’d never seen that much blood come out of someone before. An animal yes, but not a human being. Right then he wished his mother and father were a phone call away. He wished he could run down to Ike’s and call up Dr. Vance. However, Dr. Vance was gone from the mountain now, he moved to the city. Curt! Curt would know what to do. But neither Curt nor Mary Ellen were not here to help either.

A memory quickly flashed into his mind. He had delivered Sarah Jane Simmons’ baby. He had never seen anything like it, but this was different. Get up! Get up! Get help!

“John!” Daisy cried.

“Daisy, Daisy, I’m here! I won’t let anything happen to you,” his voice quivered, holding back the tears that had begun to form when he thought of his parents. The shaking did not go away, but he managed to help her to the bathroom. He laid her on the floor and placed towels underneath to collect the blood…and their baby. Another sharp pain made its way through. Daisy winced and let out a yell.

“John, help me!”

“Elizabeth! Elizabeth!” he shouted. “Elizabeth, come here!”

He heard footsteps as she ran down the hall, then a gasp at the doorway.

“John-Boy! What happened!” she said with alarm in her voice.

“Go get Millie and have her call a doctor.”

“John-Boy—“

”Go now! Hurry!” He peered at the frightened face that stared back at him. She was shaking too.

The footsteps ran away. John-Boy heard as Elizabeth attempted to unlock to door. She eventually got it unlocked. The door hit the wall, as she threw it open. Next he heard Elizabeth pounding on Millie’s door, begging her to come out and help.

“My word, child! What’s wrong!” John-Boy heard as Millie had answered the door.

“Daisy’s bleeding real bad, we need a doctor!”

*~*~*

It had been fifteen minutes since the nurse spoke to him. She had said Daisy was resting. Resting? He wanted to shout at the nurse, she had been resting all the time! Why did this happen?

Millie had called for an ambulance to take Daisy to the hospital. John-Boy had watched in horror as the large vehicle raced down the street, with its siren blaring. He stared at the men who came into their apartment with a stretcher. He pleaded with them to be careful. Millie had taken Melissa to her place to calm her down. John-Boy told Elizabeth to go too, but she wouldn’t listen.

“Don’t do this now, Elizabeth. I mean it!” with a sternness in his voice.
.
“I want to stay with you, John-Boy. You can’t be alone,” she cried.

“No!”

“Please—I want to make sure you’re okay.”

He sighed, “Alright.”

Now, she rested her head on his shoulder. He was glad she had begged to come along.

“Hospitals are scary. Remember when Grandma had her operation?” Elizabeth said quietly..

“Yes, I remember,” answered John-Boy.

“Everyone was there. There’s no one here now.”

“You’re here, Elizabeth. I’m glad you talked me into letting you come with me. I didn’t want you to see everything, but you’ve showed me that you really are brave and grown-up.”

“John-Boy, I’m really sorry about your baby.”

“I am too, honey.”

“Mama lost her baby. I wanted to name her Joy, remember?”

“I remember, Elizabeth. That was sad, but Daddy said that was a blessing. Mama wasn’t as far along as Daisy had been. It doesn’t make it any easier though.”

“When can we see Daisy?”

“I don’t know, honey. We have to wait. Waiting is part of being in a hospital.”

“I wish they would let us see her, she’s only resting the nurse said.”

“I know, but they want to check on her, to make sure she’s okay. They don’t want people in the way.”

“Oh.”

“Mr. Walton?” said a nurse, clad in white, who now stood before him. “You can see your wife now.”

He thanked the nurse and told Elizabeth to wait there. John-Boy followed the nurse down the corridor to Daisy’s room. She held the door open for him, as he stepped inside the white, sterile, gleaming room. He quietly walked over to the bed, where she lay, motionless.

Her face was so pale. John-Boy reached out and gently took her hand into his. He caressed her fingers, one by one.

“Daisy,” he whispered. “I’m here. I won’t leave you. Everything will okay soon. I know it will.” He felt a lump in his throat.

She responded by squeezing his hand and then tenderly told John-Boy she loved him.

His words echoed hers.

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