Читать книгу Tree - William Schey - Страница 2

Recovery and the Future

Reacquainted at college, the men often had lunch together. Except for being in the same unit in the service and spending some time in a military hospital in Japan, they had little in common. They did share growing up near Chicago, but their childhood homes were in areas that were very different, both economically and culturally.

Each was grateful for the fortunate series of events that brought them together. They were glad to be home without having to worry about crawling through some desolate battlefield in an alien place. “Cigarettes do save lives,” Jonathan said, “especially when they’re in the hands of clumsy truck drivers.”

Neither had a specific plan for the future other than taking full advantage of the GI Bill. They envisioned completing their degrees and presenting their credentials to prospective employers who would be happy to hire them, dedicated and well-educated as they were. Despite his optimism over future prospects, Jonathan knew there was always the fall back option of joining his father’s business.

Jackson, too, kept his options open. If college didn’t lead to a good career, he could always work with his dad in the mills, a guaranteed job with excellent pay and benefits. Certainly, he would earn enough to court Mary Collins, a fine Irish lass and his high school sweetheart. He might even ask her to marry him.

What began as casual conversations over burgers and coffee solidified into a real friendship.They took math and science together and struggled through. Both enjoyed english literature and composition, but their favorites were courses in historical non-fiction, including foreign wars such as the one they had recently left. While many of their discussions were about philosophy or history, on occasion they talked about less profound topics like the Chicago Cubs and Bears.

Each lived at home with their parents—Jackson in a blue collar neighborhood and Jonathan in a more affluent area. They met up frequently and double dated when they could. Jackson saw Mary exclusively, but Jonathan usually brought his “Girl of the Week.”

“You know, your dates would make excellent magicians,” Jackson said.

“Why’s that?” Jonathan asked.

“Well, they have this incredible ability to make themselves disappear right after they arrive.”

Jonathan’s attitude toward these women was typically one of casual indifference until he met Dori. Call it love at first sight or whatever, she truly knocked him over.

After two years at college, both men married just a couple of months apart, and each served as the other’s best man. Jackson and Mary got married at St. Augustine’s, an elegant, old church on the southeast side. The ceremony was followed by a lavish reception and dinner with about 300 friends and relatives, many of whom could trace their ancestry to the Emerald Isle, in attendance. The party continued until just short of three in the morning, and more than a few seasoned old Irishmen, still whooping and wailing at the end of the festivities, looked as if they were just getting warmed up.

Jonathan and Dori opted for a smaller wedding at a downtown hotel with only immediate family and Jackson and Mary present. The ceremony was led by a Rabbi, but religious ritual was held to a minimum. Although only a small group attended, the reception was joyous and festive. As the last guests were leaving at about one in the morning, Jackson grabbed the microphone and unfamiliar as he was with Hava Nagilla, he sang his own off key version of Danny Boy. Of course, he changed “Danny” to “Johnny.”

“We’re going to postpone our honeymoon,” Jackson said.

“We are too,” Jonathan replied. “We’ve decided to wait until we have more time and cash to splurge on a really great trip, maybe to Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, or Europe.”

“Great thinking,” Jackson said. “We may choose some other destination, but you can bet that Pyongyang won’t be on the list.”

Jackson left college after three years, because he’d run out of money. He had done well in school, but he had accumulated some debt, and Mary was pregnant. Leaving school didn’t bother Jackson. He had more education than he ever thought he’d get, and he had a wife he adored along with a great job opportunity. He expected to work two years at the mill at which point he’d be eligible for an administrative position. At that point, he’d have sufficient time to complete his education, and, as a tremendous bonus, he’d have his first child while he was still a young man.

Jonathan was also doing well in school. He was secure financially, because Dori had a good job and his father was generous. He graduated fourth in his class of 165, quite a feat, although Jackson pointed out that if he had stayed the course, Jonathan might have been fifth.

Dad would have preferred a career in medicine or law for his son, but he was happy to offer Jonathan a position in the family business. Without other offers, he adjusted to the job quickly and began saving some money, a good thing since Dori’s bouts with nausea turned out to be a typical case of morning sickness.

When Jonathan thought back to his stint in Korea and his time in the military hospital, he was grateful that his life was turning out so nicely. He had a job that was guaranteed for life. He was earning more than he probably deserved. He had a nice apartment in a decent neighborhood and a pregnant wife who loved him a ton.

Jonathan and “Jack,” as he was called by those who knew him well, saw each other even more than when they were in school. Mary and Dori got along famously, and since both were “with child,” they had much to talk about. The couples lived at opposite ends of the city, but the wives worked downtown and met a couple of times a week for lunch. Of course, most of their conversations had to do with their pregnancies.

The couples were together almost every weekend. “How are things going at the mill?” Jonathan asked on one of those occasions.

“It’s OK,” Jack said, ”mostly routine and nothing to get excited about.”

“You don’t seem very enthused,” Jonathan said.

“Fact is, I’m not,” Jack said. “I mean it’s OK, but I can’t imagine staying there too much longer.”

“Then, why don’t you come to work at the plant with me and Dad,” Jonathan said. “We need more people we can depend on, and this would be a good time for you to make a move.”

Jack’s response was quick and firm. “Sure,” he said. “What’s the deal?”

Soon after Jack went to work with Jonathan and his father, Jackson the Third was born. A young cousin, unable to pronounce “Three,” called him “Tree,” and the name stuck. Not to be outdone, Dori gave birth to Michael about a month later.

So it was that Michael and Tree began growing up together. They shared so much time that they talked alike, enjoyed the same toys and games, and called each other’s parents Aunt and Uncle.