Joining The Army - Entry 1: My Entire Universe
Sunday, July 1, 1937
Chattanooga, TN
I storm out of the Galaxy Hop; it’s after 11pm but the night air is still warm with a gentle breeze. I light a cigarette and take a long drag – the Galaxy is one of the few places that brings me comfort, but not tonight. Julie rushes out after me not far behind.
“***...” Julie yells.
“Don’t call me that!” I angrily respond, exhaling a cloud of harsh smoke.
“Chance! Come back! You still have to finish the set with Sammy!”
“The man knows how to sing, he can fend for himself!”
“He can’t sing like you, though!”
“You should have thought of that before you humiliated me in front of the entire bar!”
Julie catches up and grabs me by the arm. “You kind of threw me off guard when you proposed to me after that last ballad.”
I face Julie, “you know I’m in love with you.”
“Babe, you’re a boy...”
“I’m eighteen! I’m an adult! Just because I was essentially raised by you doesn’t make me a child!”
“Your mother left me in charge just before she passed...”
“And now I’m in charge of myself! I’ve been putting this off because I thought there was a future with us, but it’s clear there isn’t. I’m leaving to work in the military.” I reach into my coat pocket and hand Julie a military form I filled out months ago. “I’m joining the army.” I look down at my shoes in despair to avoid eye contact.
Julie reads the form and begins to tear up. She gently places a hand on my cheek, brushing away my long curly hair, raises my face so my eyes meet hers and whispers in disbelief, “you’re not really leaving. This is a joke.”
“No joke, love!” I snap still agitated but don’t remove myself from her soft touch. “You were my entire universe and that was just ripped away from me by you in front of a crowd of people! I’ve got nothing left to lose!”
“Babe, you could get hurt. Or worse...” Julie begins to quiver as she cries.
“Nothing can hurt me more than what just happened in there,” I whisper in a tempered tone as I gesture towards the bar. “Quit your whining, will you?!” I remove myself and my recruitment form from Julie’s grasp and walk off into the night.
Julie wails in despair as she sinks to the floor and places her hands over her face. I really should go straight home.
- Chance
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Julie’s Diner - Entry 1: Who’s This Man That Just Walked Into My Diner?
Saturday, July 1, 1939
Chattanooga, TN
It’s 5:30 in the morning and I’m opening the diner. My parents left me an inheritance so I used some of it to open this joint. I really don’t need to be working, but it has been a dream of mine to open a diner since I was a little girl. It also saves the rest of the inheritance for my later years.
When I open I use the time not only to task but also to commune with God, thanking Him for providing me with the opportunity to own a diner and provide the community with a welcoming and safe place to congregate. There are a lot of creative people in this city, so the diner is decorated with paintings done by local artists, and there’s a stage at one end for musicians to perform on open mic nights.
As I open I hear the cook, Walter, in the back preparing for breakfast service. Betty, a waitress, and Joe, another cook, both get in at 6:30 to grab a cup of coffee and settle in before they start their shifts at 7.
The morning starts slow but picks up around 7:30. By 8 we’re at a busy pace when I hear the door chimes gently ring. I casually glance at the door and see a well built man in a navy uniform walk in. A number of military professionals have visited the diner on their way to join the upcoming war efforts. I smile at the handsome man as I pass by and keep walking. Then I stop dead in my tracks. He seems familiar. I do a quick 180 on my heels, my jaw drops and I feel my eyes dilate with shock.
“Babe?!”
Chance removes his hat and beams at me from ear to ear. He doesn’t have long curly hair anymore, but instead a nicely trimmed military cut. He now has muscles where there used to be a slender physique, his cheek bones pronounced and jawline squarely chiseled.
“How are you, love?” Chance asks me in a gentle but firm tone.
I just stand here, eyes wider than the empty plates in my hands. My grip relaxes and the plates fall to the floor and smash to smithereens on either side of my bottom jaw.
- Julie
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Julie’s Diner - Entry 2: I’m Off To War
Saturday, July 1, 1939 (part 2)
Chattanooga, TN
“Earth to Julie?” I say in a sassy tone.
“Babe! Sorry! What are you doing here?!” Julie leaves the pile of now unusable plates on the floor and walks over to embrace me and kisses my cheek affectionately.
“I’m here to see you, love. I’ve got about a month before I have to head back to work. Politics, both local and international, are going crazy. There’s a war coming.”
“So I’ve heard. You’ll be on a battlefield. I don’t know how I feel about that.”
“Actually, I won’t be in a battlefield – at least not in the way you think. While I did exceptionally well in my army training, my drill instructor saw qualities in me that he thought would work better in other areas of the war effort. When I finished my army training I got sent off to a private spy academy, owned and operated by the navy, where I excelled even more than in the army.”
“Look at you, my multi-talented man!” Julie exclaims with her arms still around my waist.
“Oh, I’m a man, now?” I smirk.
“Man-child! You didn’t let me finish!” Julie exclaims as she pulls away and her cheeks redden in embarrassment.
“Nope! Not letting you take that back! I’m a maaan!” I exclaim in a humorous but assertive tone.
Julie laughs uncontrollably. “Fine! You have become a man in your time away! Happy?!”
“And you like it,” I add coolly.
“I have to get back to work!” Julie says frantically. “Here are my house keys. Make yourself comfortable and help yourself to the food in the refrigerator.”
“Okay. But, first,” I lean into Julie flirtatiously, “may I have a coffee to go?”
Julie hastily makes me a coffee in a ceramic mug with cream and sugar and hands it to me. “Now go!” she swoons breathlessly.
I walk out with my coffee, head held high and a proud smile on my face. I light a cigarette as I walk to Julie’s house.
- Chance
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Julie’s House - Entry 1: A Silk Map
Saturday, July 1, 1939 (part 3)
Chattanooga, TN
I finally get home at noon.
“Sorry I took so long, babe. I didn’t plan on you randomly showing up today. The good news is that this is the start of my weekend, so my next two and a half days are all yours.”
“No worries, love.”
“Don’t they feed you in the army?!” I exclaim as I examine a now empty refrigerator.
“I’m in the navy now.”
“You know what I mean!”
“A boy’s gotta eat,” Chance says sarcastically.
“You won’t let me live this man stuff down, will you?”
“Never.”
“I’m a maaan!” I mock Chance as I pull him in for another hug. “I’m glad you’re home, babe.”
“Love?” Chance looks at me with dreamy eyes. “Have I ever told you that my favourite place to be is in your arms?”
“Stop!” I yell as I pull away smiling like an idiot, my cheeks going rose.
“Again, never.”
I make us coffee and we sit down to chat.
“You obviously can’t talk in detail about your work,” I state with a glimmer of hope in my tone.
“Nope. Not even supposed to tell you I’m a spy. But! I will tell you that I’ll be given a silk escape map that will be sewn on the inside of my pants. Typically Americans are given escape maps made of acetate rayon, but my direct boss has a connection in the British navy and because I was his star student I am being rewarded with a silk escape map made in Britain.”
“Oooh, silk!” I say impressed.
“You stay quiet about my work and the map is yours IF I come back from the war.”
I slap Chance on the arm and yell, “stop!”
“My days!” Chance laughs. “WHEN I come back from the war.”
“That’s better! And I expect that silk map in my hands after the war, mister! Now, what made you the star student?”
“I was the most teachable spy in the academy. I was able to absorb information, retain and apply it at an accelerated rate. My peers couldn’t keep up!”
“I’m proud of you, babe!” I lean forward and kiss Chance on the forehead. “Want to go to the Galaxy for a drink? I told Sammy to meet us there at one and John will be happy to see you.”
“Sure. I’ll still have to get my usual cran and tonic, though. I’m not yet twenty-one.”
“Right! Hard to tell with all that muscle you’ve gained and the big boy haircut.” I finally see Chance blush. “Ha! I’ve got you turning red now!”
Chance doesn’t respond. Instead he grabs his hat and heads for the door. I follow and we light cigarettes on our walk to the Galaxy Hop.
- Julie
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The Galaxy Hop - Entry 1: Drinks With John & Sammy
Saturday, July 1, 1939 (part 4)
Chattanooga, TN
“Chance! Happy to see you!” John yells as he pulls me in for a choke hold of a hug that can only be shared by male friends who have known each other a lifetime. “Look at you in your navy uniform! The army wasn’t good enough for you?!”
“Not according to my drill sargent. He shipped me off to the navy where my skill sets were better applied.” I don’t tell John about being trained in a private spy academy.
Sammy sneaks up behind Chance and gives him a slap on the backside. “Boy! You want to explain why you left me high and dry two years ago?! And also explain how to get an ass that firm!” Sammy pretend-shakes pain off his hand.
I turn around to face Sammy. “Sorry about that, brother man. I didn’t mean to leave you in a tight spot, but you know what happened.”
“Ahhh! I don’t blame you! I would have done the same, cool cat!”
Sammy and I embrace. He has always been an older brother figure to me. He even used to sneak me the odd shot of gin in my cran and tonics when we used to perform at the Galaxy Hop.
The four of us sit down at a booth. Julie orders a Manhatten, John a beer, Sammy an Old Fashioned and I ask for my cran and tonic. Sammy subtly nods at the waitress, Stephanie, and sneaks me a wink without Julie or John noticing. I smile to myself. Sammy and Stephanie are childhood sweethearts who got married just before I left for the army.
“How have you been, Chance?” Stephanie asks as she leans over and kisses me on the cheek.
“I’m well, Steph. Sorry I bailed on you guys. Some best man I turned out to be, huh?”
“Hush!” Stephanie slaps my wrist. “You did what you needed to do. And look at the man you have turned out to be! I see the way Julie is looking at you. She is as proud as a woman can be, isn’t that right, Jules?”
“Prouder,” Julie winks at me.
“Thank you, Steph,” I respond. “How are you?”
“Same old, you know?” she responds. “Just work and taking care of this big baby,” Steph gestures to Sammy. “I’ll grab your drinks and join you guys for a bit while it’s slow.”
“That would be lovely,” I respond.
The five of us enjoy each other’s company not only for that afternoon but also for the rest of the month before I have to head back to service.
- Chance
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It’s Nice To Have Chance Home - Entry 1: But He Has To Go Back To Work
Saturday, July 1, 1939 (part 4)
Chattanooga, TN
Chance spent the month at Sammy’s. Now he’s standing in my diner with a single bag by his feet. I know there’s nothing I can do to make him stay. I place my hands gently on his cheeks and kiss him on the lips. It’s not the first kiss we’ve shared this month, but this one is the most passionate. He places his arms around my waist and pulls me in for the tightest hug he’s given me since he was a small child. He’s such a sensitive soul.
“Come back in one piece, okay, babe?”
“Toe tag or no toe tag?” Chance says facetiously.
Cut eye forms just below my brow as I look into his eyes say sternly, “no toe tag!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Chance laughs.
We decided to hold off getting engaged until Chance gets back from the war. It’s the hardest thing in the world saying bye to him, but at least it’s on more pleasant terms than last time. We kiss and hug one last time, telling each other that we love each other. He picks up his bag, winks at me and walks out the door. I start to cry uncontrollably as I head to the back office with a cigarette to calm down.
- Julie