Happy Days Are Here Again
By: Kristi N. Zanker
Part V
During the time Johnny was gone, I told my parents about him. I thought they'd be angry with me for being with someone like Johnny, but they weren't. They told me that I was a good person; I was there for someone who needed me. I also told my friends. They were happy for me that I had a boyfriend. I told them that Johnny wasn't just a regular boyfriend. He was a special person. I think they understood. Tammy and I wrote to Johnny, and once we received a letter. Only two words were censored. You couldn't tell where you were fighting in the war, because anyone could read the mail. When I opened the mailbox, and found Johnny's letter inside, I was ecstatic. I found Tammy in the kitchen helping Mother with dinner, and together we read the letter in the living room. I read it out loud.
"Dear Tammy and Julia," I began.
"Everything's fine here, not much to tell you. I'll be at (here's where the letter was censored) for a while and then moving on. Not much excitement yet, but I have a feeling the war could be over really soon, maybe after Christmas. Remember to keep listening to the record, then I won't seem so far away from you both. Tell Tammy I miss her and I'll go rock collecting with her to make up for the time I've missed. Give her a hug for me..." I skimmed the next part of the letter.
"Does it say anything else? Is that it?" asked Tammy. I didn't want her to hear the rest of the letter.
"There is more, I can tell by the look on your face! Please read it."
"I can't," I told her, "you won't understand what I'm reading about. You have to be my age to understand." Tammy sulked. She missed Johnny as much as I did. Just then, Mother called Tammy into the kitchen to help her finish dinner. She obeyed her and left. I had the living room to myself now. I continued to silently read the letter.
I was just thinking something the other day, if the war is over by Christmas, I could be home by spring. I miss you terribly Julia. I told my Army buddies about you and they want to meet you, too. I laughed and told them that you were mine and mine only. I never got the chance to tell you, but I'll tell you now. Julia, I love you. This isn't the best way to say it, but I wanted to tell you so bad before I left; but I didn't want it to sound like I wasn't coming back. But don't worry, play the record and think of me and I'll definitely be thinking of you. Remember, I'll always be with you.
He signed the letter Love, Johnny. There were tears in my eyes. He loved me! No one has ever told me that before. On the inside I felt a mixture of pain and happiness. Johnny loved me and I really loved him. I wish I could've told him that. I played "Happy Days Are Here Again" on our phonograph in the living room every night. My sister and I would sing along. Now it was our few minutes of pure happiness. Johnny felt close to us, every time we heard it. Mother had bought a blue star to hang in our front window for Johnny. There was no one home to hang one in his window. His father will remain in jail for a while. Now our house looked like Mrs. Hutchins' with her star for her son.
On April 30th, 1945, my family was gathered around the radio listening to the news. Adolf Hitler, madman of all madmen, had just committed suicide in his Berlin bunker. We were still feeling the effects of President Roosevelt's death, which had happened on the 12th. We felt a shock of relief when we heard the news about Hitler. It was then we knew that the Nazis couldn't hold up anymore without their leader. The war could end soon and Johnny would come home and who knows what would happen? Perhaps, Johnny and I would get married. Maybe not right away, but we knew we were in love with each other. I was sitting in the chair, hearing the news, when the doorbell rang. I got up to answer it. When I opened the door I saw a man in a uniform. It was a man from Western Union.
"Good afternoon, miss. Is Mrs. Robertson in?" I had a funny feeling in my stomach. I told him that she was and called for Mother.
Before Johnny left, he had told me that he wrote my address to have letters or worse, telegrams sent to. He didn't want to send anything to his father. The man waited while Mother came to the door. He handed her a telegram. No words were spoken. It seemed as if time had decided to stop. No words needed to be said, because my mother already knew the answer, and so did I. When the Western Union man stood and waited with a telegram, it only meant one thing.
The man left after few minutes. Even though I knew the right answer, my mind bounced back and forth in denial, until I saw the two stars marked on the crisp, clean, typed paper and the words:
WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT JOHNNY MORTON WAS KILLED IN ACTION...
I couldn't read anymore. I started screaming. My parents tried to calm me down, but it was no use. I ran outside to the tracks where Johnny and I last saw each other. I sat down on the ground and wept. I knew he shouldn't have gone! Now he would never be coming home. I dreamed all the time about what could happen if Johnny came home, ever since he told me that he loved me in his only letter. Those thoughts about getting married were gone. It would never happen. Johnny wasn't ever coming back. I didn't want to know where he died. He would probably be buried in some Army cemetery in Europe. I hated his father for mistreating him; making him go to war. I hated Hitler, Mussolini, and Hirohito for starting this terrible war. It took the people we loved away. I sat there for who knows how long. My parents and sister came to me and walked me home. Tammy looked like she had been crying. She told me she was going to keep her rock collection forever as a memory of Johnny. I was going to keep the record, Johnny's only moments of happiness. A couple of days later, Mother bought a gold star to hang in our front window.
I stood on our front porch, with my family, and watched the parade go by. Confetti was thrown everywhere and there was laughing, hugging, and crying. A week ago, I found out that Johnny had died. If only he could've just held out a little longer. But who knew the war would end the first week in May? At least it was the end for Europe. We were still fighting the Japanese. But that could be ending soon, also. Now everyone was excited that one part of the war was over. I cheered along with everyone else, but felt emptiness in my heart. It was then, when I understood Johnny's mother's words. Even though Johnny's father beat him and hurt him terribly, Johnny didn't stay bitter long. He had met Tammy and me. It occurred to me that we were the "happy" part that Johnny got in return. Johnny did tell me that before he left. It was only now that I understood the words. Even if it was for a short time, perhaps, God had a plan. Who knows? I was still sad that he would never come back, but I was also glad that he had a happy part in his life.
First, it was his mother, and then it was Tammy and me. Johnny was with his mother and sister again and was probably very happy. That thought stayed with me as I went into the house and into the living room. I put 'Happy Days Are Here Again' on the old phonograph. The needle came down on the grooves and the voice started to sing... "Happy Days Are Here Again..."
"This is for you, Johnny," I said quietly and kept on listening to the song.
Copyright © 2000 by Kristi N. Zanker
Comments? Questions? Please E-mail me.
Copyright © 2011 by Kristi N. Zanker
The background for this site came from Absolute Backgrounds.