prospect always loomed. His father’s letters had implored them to take heart if he did lose his life, knowing he served the Lord and the sailors under his spiritual care to the end.
Six months ago, when they’d received word his father had been injured, they were not overly concerned, because Dad’s letter told them he was recovering in Hawaii and would be home soon. They’d been a little worried when the letters stopped after that, but a call into Veterans Affairs confirmed he was well and still recovering. Now Kenny wondered if there was more to the silence.
He blew out a slow breath. He couldn’t imagine building a future without Dad’s advice, prayers, and guidance. When he was a child, he’d always climb on his father’s lap when he got home from work. His dad would listen to Kenny’s discoveries of the day and answer Kenny’s questions—like how to make a prop plane from sticks and a rubber band, and why the ants down by the creek didn’t like to swim. Kenny smiled, remembering those days.
Even after his dad had left for the open seas, Kenny couldn’t stop sharing the high points of his day with him, but now he put his thoughts into letters. Every night he wrote to Dad, laying out everything that happened, trying to make the mundane details sound fascinating or funny, and wishing he had something more heroic to tell.
“Kenny, are you there?” In the background he could hear his sister talking to someone—maybe one of his aunts or a neighbor. Homesickness rushed over him, surprising him, and he longed for her presence. To see the peace in her eyes and to claim some for himself.
“I’m here.” He gripped the phone. “Mom, what’s wrong? What happened?”
From the stairs came the uneven click-click of Mr. Schwarz’s cane, preceded by a cloud of cigar smoke.
“Yesterday in the mail was a bundle of letters. You know how long it takes them to get through. They must have had quite a trip from Hawaii to take so long—”
“And the letters, Mom, what did they say?” he interrupted.
“There was a lot of news. A few months’ worth, but in them your father explained the accident and his injuries. He happened to be in the section of the ship hit by the torpedo. So many men weren’t as lucky. Many didn’t survive.”
“And Dad? What happened?”
“His leg was crushed, Kenny. It—it’s amazing he survived, but they had to remove his leg. His left leg.” Her voice caught. “I’d known he’d been injured, but, well, I didn’t expect it was something so life-changing.”
Kenny envisioned Dad’s faith-filled eyes. Even though his father’s strong back could carry any burden, like Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress , he also knew how to lay his burdens before the Lord.
Kenny leaned his shoulder against the wallpapered wall, water-stained and peeling. “Did it say when he’s coming home?”
“Your dad said he was recovering well—or as well as could be expected. He was hoping to leave soon. At least that’s what he said in the last letter that was dated over a month ago. Oh, I wish it didn’t take so long to get the mail. But, Kenny, he sounded good. His faith is strong, but…” She faltered. “For a man like him to lose a leg—”
Kenny heard the operator pick up.
“I’m sorry, but prepare to hang up. You have one minute. You are about to lose your circuit.”
“Mom, is there anything I can do?” he hurriedly said.
“Just pray, hon. Pray for your dad.”
“I already am, Mom.” His throat tightened and suddenly he wanted nothing more than to be with his mom, to hold her and his sisters. “Mom, do you want me to come home?”
“No, no. Don’t even think about it. You’ve got important work to do. You know, finding a good woman and, oh, that reporting thing you do too.” She chuckled. “Just teasing, honey. You know I’m very proud of what you do.”
“I know,” Kenny responded, grateful that, even now, his mom retained her sense of humor. “I love you.
Six months ago, when they’d received word his father had been injured, they were not overly concerned, because Dad’s letter told them he was recovering in Hawaii and would be home soon. They’d been a little worried when the letters stopped after that, but a call into Veterans Affairs confirmed he was well and still recovering. Now Kenny wondered if there was more to the silence.
He blew out a slow breath. He couldn’t imagine building a future without Dad’s advice, prayers, and guidance. When he was a child, he’d always climb on his father’s lap when he got home from work. His dad would listen to Kenny’s discoveries of the day and answer Kenny’s questions—like how to make a prop plane from sticks and a rubber band, and why the ants down by the creek didn’t like to swim. Kenny smiled, remembering those days.
Even after his dad had left for the open seas, Kenny couldn’t stop sharing the high points of his day with him, but now he put his thoughts into letters. Every night he wrote to Dad, laying out everything that happened, trying to make the mundane details sound fascinating or funny, and wishing he had something more heroic to tell.
“Kenny, are you there?” In the background he could hear his sister talking to someone—maybe one of his aunts or a neighbor. Homesickness rushed over him, surprising him, and he longed for her presence. To see the peace in her eyes and to claim some for himself.
“I’m here.” He gripped the phone. “Mom, what’s wrong? What happened?”
From the stairs came the uneven click-click of Mr. Schwarz’s cane, preceded by a cloud of cigar smoke.
“Yesterday in the mail was a bundle of letters. You know how long it takes them to get through. They must have had quite a trip from Hawaii to take so long—”
“And the letters, Mom, what did they say?” he interrupted.
“There was a lot of news. A few months’ worth, but in them your father explained the accident and his injuries. He happened to be in the section of the ship hit by the torpedo. So many men weren’t as lucky. Many didn’t survive.”
“And Dad? What happened?”
“His leg was crushed, Kenny. It—it’s amazing he survived, but they had to remove his leg. His left leg.” Her voice caught. “I’d known he’d been injured, but, well, I didn’t expect it was something so life-changing.”
Kenny envisioned Dad’s faith-filled eyes. Even though his father’s strong back could carry any burden, like Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress , he also knew how to lay his burdens before the Lord.
Kenny leaned his shoulder against the wallpapered wall, water-stained and peeling. “Did it say when he’s coming home?”
“Your dad said he was recovering well—or as well as could be expected. He was hoping to leave soon. At least that’s what he said in the last letter that was dated over a month ago. Oh, I wish it didn’t take so long to get the mail. But, Kenny, he sounded good. His faith is strong, but…” She faltered. “For a man like him to lose a leg—”
Kenny heard the operator pick up.
“I’m sorry, but prepare to hang up. You have one minute. You are about to lose your circuit.”
“Mom, is there anything I can do?” he hurriedly said.
“Just pray, hon. Pray for your dad.”
“I already am, Mom.” His throat tightened and suddenly he wanted nothing more than to be with his mom, to hold her and his sisters. “Mom, do you want me to come home?”
“No, no. Don’t even think about it. You’ve got important work to do. You know, finding a good woman and, oh, that reporting thing you do too.” She chuckled. “Just teasing, honey. You know I’m very proud of what you do.”
“I know,” Kenny responded, grateful that, even now, his mom retained her sense of humor. “I love you.
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