any more,” Ian said, walking back with the bottle and two glasses in his hands. “You’ve got me feeling dizzy and I ain’t even took a drink yet.”
“You know those big War Bond rallies they have, the ones with all the Hollywood actors and singers?”
“I think I heard a few on the radio last year,” his father said.
“Well, they’re having another one start up in two weeks, going to twenty different cities by train, up and down the East Coast. Starting in Boston. They want me on it.”
“You’re going to be on a train with all those famous people?”
“Yep. I guess the plan is to have a big rally in each town. They’ll put on some kind of a show, and at some point they’re going to stick me out in the middle of the stage and have me tell a little bit about that last mission. Guess the idea is to get people to give money and buy bonds.”
“My gosh, Shawn! But you know . . . I can see that. I went out and bought ten dollars worth at Hodgins’s the morning after you told us your story. Shawn, you’re going to be famous.”
“Maybe for a little while, anyway.”
“This is . . . it’s just so much to take in. Patrick’s going to be so proud when you tell him.”
Shawn let out a long sigh when he heard Patrick’s name. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s Patrick. I’m going to be gone for at least four months on this thing.”
Ian sat down in his chair. He let out a similar sigh. “I didn’t think about that.”
Shawn could tell the implications were beginning to click.
After a few moments, his father said, “Well, son. We’ll make it work somehow. We’re family. We’ll get by. You’ve got your duty. And I’ll do my best to do mine.”
“Dad, I’m glad you feel that way, but to tell you the truth, I think it might just be a little much. I know you could do it, and I know you’re willing. But I’ve been thinking about a plan on the train, a way this all could work, so it won’t be so hard on you, or on Patrick. I want your time with him to be full of grandpa stuff, not cooking and cleaning and laundry. ”
Ian lifted his head up and looked at him. “What do you have in mind?”
Here goes, thought Shawn. I hope he’s ready for this.
When Shawn awoke the next morning, he didn’t feel like a major. He didn’t feel like a man who’d just been handed a dream assignment. And he didn’t feel like a Medal of Honor winner. One part of him knew these were big things, huge things. The kind of things that should provoke awe and wonder and gratitude. But without Elizabeth there to share them, it all felt so empty.
He was glad the plan was coming together so well. Mrs. Fortini was on board and his father was surprisingly open to the idea of hiring Miss Townsend to be Patrick’s nanny, after they talked it through. But even that . . . they talked it through. No yelling, no bickering. In the end, his dad even offered to pay her salary and the board money to Mrs. Fortini.
Only two obstacles left. Miss Townsend and Patrick.
Patrick was still upstairs getting ready for his first day at his new school. He was so excited. Yesterday before Shawn got home, Mrs. Fortini had walked Patrick to the school, about six blocks away. She’d timed it so he could watch all the kids as the school bell rang, ending the day. He hadn’t been around any kids his age since he’d left their old neighborhood on Clark Street. That’s what he needs, thought Shawn, kids his own age. He’ll be fine after he gets over the disappointment. At least that was the plan.
Shawn looked down at the notepad by the telephone, smiled as he read Miss Townsend’s name and number, in huge letters and numbers, obviously written by Patrick. He dialed her number and waited nervously as it rang.
“Good morning, Child Services, Katherine Townsend speaking. How can I help you?”
“Hi, Miss Townsend. This is Shawn Collins, Patrick’s father.” “Captain Collins, what a surprise.”
“Actually, it’s Major Collins
“You know those big War Bond rallies they have, the ones with all the Hollywood actors and singers?”
“I think I heard a few on the radio last year,” his father said.
“Well, they’re having another one start up in two weeks, going to twenty different cities by train, up and down the East Coast. Starting in Boston. They want me on it.”
“You’re going to be on a train with all those famous people?”
“Yep. I guess the plan is to have a big rally in each town. They’ll put on some kind of a show, and at some point they’re going to stick me out in the middle of the stage and have me tell a little bit about that last mission. Guess the idea is to get people to give money and buy bonds.”
“My gosh, Shawn! But you know . . . I can see that. I went out and bought ten dollars worth at Hodgins’s the morning after you told us your story. Shawn, you’re going to be famous.”
“Maybe for a little while, anyway.”
“This is . . . it’s just so much to take in. Patrick’s going to be so proud when you tell him.”
Shawn let out a long sigh when he heard Patrick’s name. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s Patrick. I’m going to be gone for at least four months on this thing.”
Ian sat down in his chair. He let out a similar sigh. “I didn’t think about that.”
Shawn could tell the implications were beginning to click.
After a few moments, his father said, “Well, son. We’ll make it work somehow. We’re family. We’ll get by. You’ve got your duty. And I’ll do my best to do mine.”
“Dad, I’m glad you feel that way, but to tell you the truth, I think it might just be a little much. I know you could do it, and I know you’re willing. But I’ve been thinking about a plan on the train, a way this all could work, so it won’t be so hard on you, or on Patrick. I want your time with him to be full of grandpa stuff, not cooking and cleaning and laundry. ”
Ian lifted his head up and looked at him. “What do you have in mind?”
Here goes, thought Shawn. I hope he’s ready for this.
When Shawn awoke the next morning, he didn’t feel like a major. He didn’t feel like a man who’d just been handed a dream assignment. And he didn’t feel like a Medal of Honor winner. One part of him knew these were big things, huge things. The kind of things that should provoke awe and wonder and gratitude. But without Elizabeth there to share them, it all felt so empty.
He was glad the plan was coming together so well. Mrs. Fortini was on board and his father was surprisingly open to the idea of hiring Miss Townsend to be Patrick’s nanny, after they talked it through. But even that . . . they talked it through. No yelling, no bickering. In the end, his dad even offered to pay her salary and the board money to Mrs. Fortini.
Only two obstacles left. Miss Townsend and Patrick.
Patrick was still upstairs getting ready for his first day at his new school. He was so excited. Yesterday before Shawn got home, Mrs. Fortini had walked Patrick to the school, about six blocks away. She’d timed it so he could watch all the kids as the school bell rang, ending the day. He hadn’t been around any kids his age since he’d left their old neighborhood on Clark Street. That’s what he needs, thought Shawn, kids his own age. He’ll be fine after he gets over the disappointment. At least that was the plan.
Shawn looked down at the notepad by the telephone, smiled as he read Miss Townsend’s name and number, in huge letters and numbers, obviously written by Patrick. He dialed her number and waited nervously as it rang.
“Good morning, Child Services, Katherine Townsend speaking. How can I help you?”
“Hi, Miss Townsend. This is Shawn Collins, Patrick’s father.” “Captain Collins, what a surprise.”
“Actually, it’s Major Collins
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