HodgePodge: Remembering Roy
HodgePodge by Charlie Hodge
Sally says she expects a letter once a week.
Mom has said nothing along those lines at all, but that’s Mom. strong, sweet yet solid. Her quiet, unassuming demeanor carries a huge amount of expectation. God I love my Mom.
Sally knows she has me wrapped around her wrist however always plays just the opposite role of how “Roy runs the show.” As if.
I run a good fishing pole – that’s about it.
It looks like I will be doing some letter writing while I am gone. Therefore, I thought I’d start a journey of my travels, for what they are worth, just to get the writing hands working. It will likely be the only work they see for the next few weeks or months.
I jest, but must admit it is nice to get away from the grind of work at home today and take this day off for me. Dad suggested I take a “deserved break – some time for you and the dog,” he grinned patting my shoulder and then patting ‘Buddy.’ I grinned, watching his awkward gestures, wondering if he saw me as another dog or Buddy as another kid. Regardless the pats seemed pretty much the same.
So here I am hanging out at my favourite fishing spot along the creek behind our spread. Sitting beneath this weeping willow with Buddy curled up next to me floods me with warm recollections of my youthful days assuming a similar position. I’ve hauled a few fish out of this gentle moving stream, and a bundle of wonderful memories.
Like the day Tommy John and his sister Dancing Moon hauled nine fish out of the water in less than an hour while Buddy and I shockingly stole only one from Mother Nature. “You white guys can’t fish any better than you can hunt but you won’t let us fight in your wars even if we are dumb enough to want to,” Tommy chuckled. Earlier that day Tommy and I went to register to serve and help push back Hitler and his power-hungry Nazi’s. For some reason they wouldn’t let Tommy join, though they told him to come back in a bit.
It’s hard to realize how quickly things have moved. I leave tomorrow to head overseas.
This is also the special spot where several years ago I caught my sister Milly kissing her boyfriend Charlie Banner. Things were getting very passionate and were clearly not slowing down when Buddy and I wandered around the edge of the creek where it swallowed the willow. I’m not sure if I was feeling protective of my sister, embarrassed by the scenario, or just being a little jerk but I started whistling loud and that nullified the nuptials.
I could tell Charlie was miffed by the interruption, but he played it down. “Oh, hey Roy how you doing,” he startled, his face turning redder and redder by the moment.
“Roy don’t be telling Dad about this please. He’s not in the mood today,” Mildred begged me.
She knew her secret was safe. Dad is pretty protective of the three of us alright. Especially ‘Dory.’ Doris had Dad’s heart wrapped around her finger from birth and rightfully so. Everyone loves Dory – it’s almost impossible not to – with the exception of the fact that she talks too much.
Actually, both my sisters never stop talking. I swear whenever they engage in a conversation, I can leave to go fishing, chores, or work, and when I come home there still be on the same discussion.
Today both my sisters are married and have men that adore them. Charlie enlisted two years ago when he could and joined the RAF. He’s posted in Europe but we have not heard of any action involving him yet. Meanwhile Dory had a boy named Bobby she adored (and so did Mom) but sadly he went off to war at the very beginning of the blood affair and was killed on a transport ship to England. Everyone was devastated. He died in a war he never even got to fight in.
Syd married Dory after hounding her the past two years. I think he guilted Dory into it marrying him saying he did not want to go to war without someone to come home to. Being the angel she is, my sister honored his begging. I’m not crazy about the man but I do believe he loves the girl, he’s nice to my family, and wants to make the world a safer place so I wish him well. Syd is over in England but due to poor eyes is stuck in none-combat duty. He is making lots of nose to change that.
I must admit as nice as sitting by this creek is today I am feeling apprehensive and sad.
There is a gnawing in my stomach that does not feel right. That the world is not right and may never be right again. Buddy is looking at me with a sad face and I am afraid today may be our last time fishing together on this little creek. A feeling like we will not be connecting in this spot again. He has been my best friend since we were both kids.
Now I am off to war.
I suppose I should head back to the house and get packed up as I leave tomorrow.
I think I will tuck this letter into my pack and finish it on the train as a reminder to write home.
Suddenly, I am not in such a hurry to go anywhere.
Photo Credit: Mission Creek | Rob Moses Photography
