LJI S8 W33 -The Call That Never Came- Duty
She’d met him on the bus.
He was so handsome in his uniform and he smiled at her and offered her his seat. He stood up and their eyes met for an instant and Marta fell in love, just like that. She wondered if he felt it too. She looked back and smiled at him as she got off at her stop.
Marta had moved to town to attend college in preparation for a career in fashion design and merchandising. Her late grandfather had gifted her a sizable trust fund that paid her tuition and rent. She had a modest little apartment on Main Street over a local grocery store where she worked part time to have a little extra spending money.
One day later that week while she was minding the register at the grocery store, a customer placed a bottle of pop on the counter.
“Excuse me, Ma’am. Would you ring this up for me, please?”
Marta looked up and couldn’t believe her eyes. It was him! It was the soldier from the bus but he was not in his uniform. He seemed even more handsome wearing a light blue denim shirt with the collar flipped up.
“Err, yes, of course. “Be Sociable. Have a Pepsi.” She nervously blurted out the slogan without thinking.
“I’m really glad you said that ma’am.” He grinned.
“You are? Why?”
“Well, I have been looking for you ever since I saw you on the bus last week. I noticed your stop and have been walking up and down Main St. hoping to run into you. I hope you don’t think I’m strange. If I’m bothering you just say so. I’ll leave right away.”
“No. No……but why were you looking for me?” Her heart was beating so hard in her chest; she feared he could hear it.
“I really can’t explain it, ma’am. I just had to see you again. I wanted to follow you right off the bus that day but I had to be somewhere else and couldn’t. Would you like to have a Pepsi with me sometime?”
Marta was beyond happy. She was convinced that dreams do come true. Somehow she managed to gain a little composure and accept his invitation.
“I get off work here at four o’clock. We could meet over at the Malt Shoppe near the park…”
“Perfect. I’ll be waiting. By the way, my name is Larry. What’s yours?”
“I’m Marta. See you soon.”
Marta could hardly wait for four o’clock. She primped just a little in the store’s back room mirror and was glad she had on one of her prettier sundresses. She skipped over to the Malt Shoppe and sure enough, there he was leaning back against the building with one leg drawn up bent at the knee. He stood up straight giving a little wave as she approached. He took her arm and led her to the soda fountain where they shared a chocolate ice cream soda with two straws.
She learned he’d been drafted into the army and had trained in electronics after he completed his basic training. He was home on leave before being shipped over to Germany or was it Lebanon. She felt like she had known him forever. They talked about music and movies and she told him her dreams of becoming a designer. After several hours that felt like only minutes went by, he walked her home and asked if he might take her to church on Sunday.
”Our pastor is having a little send off and blessing so I will have to wear my uniform. My parents will be there and I want them to meet you.”
“That would be lovely. Which church? Shall I meet you there?” Already Marta couldn’t wait to see him again.
“I will pick you up at 9:30. The service starts at 10:00 and maybe we can have lunch afterwards?”
“I’ll be ready. Let me give you my phone number, though, just in case you need to reach me before then.”
Larry took her number, winked and said, “Okay. See you Sunday.”
The rest of the week dragged on for Marta; back and forth to classes, a few shifts in the store and no desire to eat, waiting for the phone to ring. She was smitten.
Finally Sunday morning arrived and Larry was prompt and looked dapper in his Dress Greens. He held her gloved hands and beamed, admiring her tiny flower print dress and pale pink cardigan sweater. He grinned from ear to ear. On the way to the church, they talked. She admitted to being nervous to meet his folks, but silently she was imagining a future when they might all be going to church for her wedding. It was that serious!
Larry’s parents were welcoming and friendly, a sweet couple much like Marta’s own parents. They all chatted for a few minutes after the service then Larry pulled her aside to go for lunch.
He took her to a little café in the next town over. She still had such butterflies in her stomach that she couldn’t eat much but she did make an attempt with a cottage cheese and fruit salad. Larry ordered a big juicy hamburger with pickles and potato chips. They laughed when his catsup squished out onto his plate. Marta was totally captivated with Larry and hopelessly in love. She searched his face for some expression, anything to validate that her own feelings were being reciprocated.
“Marta…” be began, hesitantly.
Here it comes, Marta thinks, he’s going to tell me he loves me.
“Yes, Larry?” She focused on his mouth and the words about to come out.
“ Well, this is it, Marta. I’m sorry.”
”Sorry? For what?” Marta sank back into her chair and her face flushed with fear.
“I have to ship out tomorrow morning. I need to be at the airport at 5 a.m.”
Marta was sure her heart had stopped. Here she was waiting for an “I love you,” and he was telling her he had to leave…tomorrow. And this time tomorrow he would be gone! She had known he was home for only two weeks but it hadn’t occurred to her that he was already at the end of his leave.
“I…I…didn’t realize….” And she started to feel her eyes welling up with tears and couldn’t speak any more.
"I know. I’m so sorry,”he said, handing her his handkerchief. They stood. He put his arm around her, paid the check and ushered her into the cool afternoon air. As they made their way back to her home, he poured out some of his own feelings.
“When I got drafted, I was really mad. I didn’t want to go. I had friends who enlisted, went on purpose but I couldn’t understand it. I was young and immature and I just wanted to goof off and have fun. I changed when I went to basic training. I grew up. A lot. I learned responsibility and patriotism and that there are things in the world that matter a whole lot more than my just having fun and wasting my time. I became a soldier. My job is to protect our country and in doing that, I will be protecting you, Marta. I don’t want to leave you, but I have to do my job.”
“When will you get home again?” Marta sobbed.
“I really don’t know. It depends if I get orders to Lebanon. Our meeting, how it happened now, the timing is so bad but…I have to believe that things will work out for the best.”
Larry took Marta’s chin in his hand and turned her face up to his. He kissed her ever so gently. First love, first kiss. It was so bittersweet.
In her heart, Marta knew she would remember this moment forever.