By: Penelope Anne Bartotto (Flying-Strawberries~Handyman)
Andy was the local handyman, and he was a popular fellow with a heart of gold. Anything that was broken, Andy could fix it, like magic. He'd been born, raised, and would most certainly end his days in the wee burg of Pine Junction, and he was fine with that. He had lived a full life, and his ninety years had been good to him. He had only two regrets, and yet, his heart wondered if they were regrets, or just mislaid dreams, easily forgotten. Andy sat down to his dinner at the local cafe, and saw the many happy couples and his mind drifted back in time, to a pretty girl, standing in the strawberry fields...
It was the summer of 1942, most of the men in the community had volunteered for military duty after the attack on Pearl Harbor, so the Little Farmer was short handed for the annual harvest of the strawberries. Andy had tried to join every branch of the service, but severe asthma and poor vision prevented him from being able to serve. He was very disappointed as he had dreamed of being a pilot since he was first aware of the wonder of flight. Something about the idea of flying free, above the clouds was a wonderment he thought would be the bees knees. The war was heating up in Europe and Andy worried about his friends, and family as more and more left the safe haven of home, and marched into destiny. He was proud to do what he could on the home front, and did his part as a proud American in every possible way.
He was working for the Hüffman family, who though residents of Pine Junction since the eighteen hundreds were being ostracized for their German heritage. Many people were refusing to come to the fields for the Pick-Your-Own-Berries option, that was generally a family tradition. Andy would never understand how fickle the human race could be. The low business had caused the need for a harvest crew to come in and help get the strawberries to markets. Andy could always use a few more dollars in his pocket and he loved being in the outdoors, so the four weeks of work were well worth it to him. He expected to make enough to get the bed of his 1937 Dodge Commercial Express refitted to be more useful at this time. He was starting to make a name for himself as the man to go to when you needed things fixed. He hoped to make his truck a portable tool shop, so he could go to the customers, or they could come to him. He had inherited his grandfather's farm on the edge of town. A converted barn was now his workshop, where he could often be found tinkering.
The day ahead was going to be a long, hot one and Andy had stopped to grab a drink of water after three hours of picking berries and loading the bushels onto the bed of the truck, Otto had brought into the fields. He was sitting down, the hard earth a delightful cool sensation on his weary body, when he started looking around the fields. A few yards ahead were the ones still designated for the Pick-Your-Own crowds, and his heart stopped when he noticed a pretty redhead stand up and stretch her back. Emma Rose Watkins was probably the prettiest girl in town and there wasn't one man who hadn't set his cap on her. Last Andy knew she had been dating Walt Archer, the mayor's son. Walt had recently shipped out for overseas, a Navy boy.
Emma Rose stood alone in the field, picking fresh strawberries and placing them gently into a hand-woven basket. The sun brought a brilliance to her red hair, sending a glimmer of color everywhere. She was dressed in a simple, but sweet sundress and wore a pinafore over it, most likely to protect her pretty dress from the green leaves and ruby red berries. Andy found himself fixated on her, following her with his eyes, wishing she would look his way. He was noticed, Otto smucked him upside the head with his hat and in his thick German accent said, "Eyes front boy, and hands a working." Though a knowing smile was planted firmly on Otto's face.
Andy took another swig of cool water, swiped the sweat from his brow, and stood up. He hefted the next 15 bushels onto the truck, and headed to his picking area. The hot sun baked down and soon Andy needed to do something about it. He stripped his white t-shirt off and tucked it into his jeans pocket. He was engrossed in working hard, and thinking hard about a project at home, when he heard a sweet voice speaking.
"Hello, could you possibly help me?"
Emma Rose's voice sent chills down his spine, good ones, not bad, definitely not bad. He stood up, brushed the dirt from his hands with his soiled bandanna and looked at her, trying to calm his nerves. He offered his assistance and soon had her at the checkout stand, chatting with Gretchen, Otto's beloved wife. He was about to head back to the fields, when he saw Otto pull up beside the barn. He waved, and Otto just nodded at him, and winked at Gretchen.
"Liebchen, help this young lady to her car please, and then you can call it a day." Gretchen said to Andy with a smile and a wink back at Otto. Yes, they were matchmaking again. They knew that Andy was a lonely young man, and they felt that the best cure for that was love. Every pretty girl they saw became a potential wife for young Andy.
Emma Rose smiled at him, and he was about to melt right there in the dirt. He grabbed her basket of strawberries, and a bag of fresh produce from the stand. He waited for her to lead the way and then followed quickly to her parent's 1941 Chrysler Town and Country Woodie Wagon. He had often admired this unique vehicle and was not the least bit surprised that the Watkins family had bought this new vehicle. He wasn't able to help himself and he started babbling about the car and how he would love to drive one some day. Emma Rose, chuckled, opened the back of the wagon and waited politely while Andy loaded the produce and rambled.
Suddenly Andy realized he was making a complete fool of himself, and abruptly shut his mouth. This only caused more tinkling laughter to escape Emma's mouth.
"Hop in, I'll take you for a spin," she said, and winked.
The summer was nothing but sweet happiness after that. Whenever Andy wasn't working, he spent his time with Emma. They took in matinees, had picnics in the park, and helped in every possible way with the war effort. They also shared their hopes and dreams with each other, something Andy had never before done with a girl, or anyone for that matter. It seemed nothing could spoil the sweet euphoria that was life with Emma Rose. He knew her heart was taken, that she had agreed to marry, Stan Edwards, who was currently located in Great Britain, he was an Army man. She faithfully shared the letters that Stan sent, only sharing the war stories and curiosities, that filled the pages. He knew that no matter how he felt, that she was another man's lady. His father hadn't taught him much, but he had taught him to respect women, and respect your fellow man.
His heart was soaring one day, as he drove his truck up to the Five and Dime, he had great news to share with Emma, who was meeting him for a snack and a movie. He could not wait to see her reaction. When he entered the store, he noticed that it was really quiet, that the usual noise had been sucked out of the room, and that silence prevailed. Emma sat in the back booth, surrounded by friends, and tears stained her blushing cheeks. Andy's heart sank and he rushed forward, his only goal to comfort Emma, and learn what tragedy had caused the hurt in her emerald eyes. It was late September 1942. The news from Europe had been limited at best, but there was only one thing that could bring a person to their knees and that was the knowledge that they had lost someone to the war. Emma had brothers, uncles, and her fiancé engaged in the fighting overseas, who could be hurt, was all that Andy could think about.
He pushed his way through the throng of ladies and sat down next to Emma, who crumpled into his arms and sobbed. He held her gently, and waited for the sobs to pass, and knew that he only wanted to make her happy again. His eyes spied the ladies around them giving each other those looks, and he thought that the busy-bodies needed to mind their own business. It seemed like Emma sobbed till there wasn't an ounce of moisture left for her to expel, and time stood still when she raised her eyes to his. What words would she say? What heartbreak had befallen his precious friend, the girl who had his heart, even if she didn't know it?
"He's gone, gone, and he's never coming back," she whispered before she fell against him, fresh tears soaking into his blue shirt.
The bell above the door jingled rather loudly and faster than a bolt of lightning, Mr. Watkins was there pulling Emma from Andy's arms. He scooped her up into his beefy arms and carried out the door of the Five and Dime, and Andy's life. Andy's heart was flying out of his chest, and away with the redheaded girl with the emerald eyes. Betty Lou was all to thrilled to be the one to spread the news that Emma's brother Thomas had died in an air attack over Europe, he had been presumed missing in action, as his plane had been shot down on August 17th, during the first all American air attack in the European Theater.
The Watkins family went into mourning, and one day they packed up and moved away, before anybody even had a chance to ask where they were going. Andy tried to keep track of Emma, but he figured she must have married as he lost track of her in late 1945.
***
The waitress walked up to old Andy's table as quietly as she could, not wanting to disturb his thoughts, he seemed so peaceful and happy. He was a nice man, a helpful man, but she felt he was also a very lonely man, even though everybody in town seemed to know him. He shifted, and his gaze fell on her and he smiled. She refilled his coffee mug, placed his usual apple pie with a slice of cheddar on the table, and walked away, leaving Andy to his musings. Andy smiled, and chuckled as the pretty waitress with the red hair and very familiar emerald eyes walked away. Sadie Ann Watkins had just moved to Pine Junction, and she looked just like her grandmother, that pretty little girl in the strawberry fields.
That night, Andy went to the Junction Hill Cemetery and placed a single white rose on the grave of his beloved, she had never married, and returned to him, if only in spirit. Emma Rose Watkins had died, June 10, 2012. She had one daughter, named after her father, Andrea Samuels Watkins. Andy sent a kiss flying to the heavens for his true love, closed his eyes, and a tear escaped them. He drove home to his farmhouse in his Dodge Commercial Express, parked it next to his Chrysler Town and Country Woodie, and said goodnight to his girl in the strawberry fields.
Andy was the local handyman, and he was a popular fellow with a heart of gold. Anything that was broken, Andy could fix it, like magic. He'd been born, raised, and would most certainly end his days in the wee burg of Pine Junction, and he was fine with that. He had lived a full life, and his ninety years had been good to him. He had only two regrets, and yet, his heart wondered if they were regrets, or just mislaid dreams, easily forgotten. Andy sat down to his dinner at the local cafe, and saw the many happy couples and his mind drifted back in time, to a pretty girl, standing in the strawberry fields...
It was the summer of 1942, most of the men in the community had volunteered for military duty after the attack on Pearl Harbor, so the Little Farmer was short handed for the annual harvest of the strawberries. Andy had tried to join every branch of the service, but severe asthma and poor vision prevented him from being able to serve. He was very disappointed as he had dreamed of being a pilot since he was first aware of the wonder of flight. Something about the idea of flying free, above the clouds was a wonderment he thought would be the bees knees. The war was heating up in Europe and Andy worried about his friends, and family as more and more left the safe haven of home, and marched into destiny. He was proud to do what he could on the home front, and did his part as a proud American in every possible way.
He was working for the Hüffman family, who though residents of Pine Junction since the eighteen hundreds were being ostracized for their German heritage. Many people were refusing to come to the fields for the Pick-Your-Own-Berries option, that was generally a family tradition. Andy would never understand how fickle the human race could be. The low business had caused the need for a harvest crew to come in and help get the strawberries to markets. Andy could always use a few more dollars in his pocket and he loved being in the outdoors, so the four weeks of work were well worth it to him. He expected to make enough to get the bed of his 1937 Dodge Commercial Express refitted to be more useful at this time. He was starting to make a name for himself as the man to go to when you needed things fixed. He hoped to make his truck a portable tool shop, so he could go to the customers, or they could come to him. He had inherited his grandfather's farm on the edge of town. A converted barn was now his workshop, where he could often be found tinkering.
The day ahead was going to be a long, hot one and Andy had stopped to grab a drink of water after three hours of picking berries and loading the bushels onto the bed of the truck, Otto had brought into the fields. He was sitting down, the hard earth a delightful cool sensation on his weary body, when he started looking around the fields. A few yards ahead were the ones still designated for the Pick-Your-Own crowds, and his heart stopped when he noticed a pretty redhead stand up and stretch her back. Emma Rose Watkins was probably the prettiest girl in town and there wasn't one man who hadn't set his cap on her. Last Andy knew she had been dating Walt Archer, the mayor's son. Walt had recently shipped out for overseas, a Navy boy.
Emma Rose stood alone in the field, picking fresh strawberries and placing them gently into a hand-woven basket. The sun brought a brilliance to her red hair, sending a glimmer of color everywhere. She was dressed in a simple, but sweet sundress and wore a pinafore over it, most likely to protect her pretty dress from the green leaves and ruby red berries. Andy found himself fixated on her, following her with his eyes, wishing she would look his way. He was noticed, Otto smucked him upside the head with his hat and in his thick German accent said, "Eyes front boy, and hands a working." Though a knowing smile was planted firmly on Otto's face.
Andy took another swig of cool water, swiped the sweat from his brow, and stood up. He hefted the next 15 bushels onto the truck, and headed to his picking area. The hot sun baked down and soon Andy needed to do something about it. He stripped his white t-shirt off and tucked it into his jeans pocket. He was engrossed in working hard, and thinking hard about a project at home, when he heard a sweet voice speaking.
"Hello, could you possibly help me?"
Emma Rose's voice sent chills down his spine, good ones, not bad, definitely not bad. He stood up, brushed the dirt from his hands with his soiled bandanna and looked at her, trying to calm his nerves. He offered his assistance and soon had her at the checkout stand, chatting with Gretchen, Otto's beloved wife. He was about to head back to the fields, when he saw Otto pull up beside the barn. He waved, and Otto just nodded at him, and winked at Gretchen.
"Liebchen, help this young lady to her car please, and then you can call it a day." Gretchen said to Andy with a smile and a wink back at Otto. Yes, they were matchmaking again. They knew that Andy was a lonely young man, and they felt that the best cure for that was love. Every pretty girl they saw became a potential wife for young Andy.
Emma Rose smiled at him, and he was about to melt right there in the dirt. He grabbed her basket of strawberries, and a bag of fresh produce from the stand. He waited for her to lead the way and then followed quickly to her parent's 1941 Chrysler Town and Country Woodie Wagon. He had often admired this unique vehicle and was not the least bit surprised that the Watkins family had bought this new vehicle. He wasn't able to help himself and he started babbling about the car and how he would love to drive one some day. Emma Rose, chuckled, opened the back of the wagon and waited politely while Andy loaded the produce and rambled.
Suddenly Andy realized he was making a complete fool of himself, and abruptly shut his mouth. This only caused more tinkling laughter to escape Emma's mouth.
"Hop in, I'll take you for a spin," she said, and winked.
The summer was nothing but sweet happiness after that. Whenever Andy wasn't working, he spent his time with Emma. They took in matinees, had picnics in the park, and helped in every possible way with the war effort. They also shared their hopes and dreams with each other, something Andy had never before done with a girl, or anyone for that matter. It seemed nothing could spoil the sweet euphoria that was life with Emma Rose. He knew her heart was taken, that she had agreed to marry, Stan Edwards, who was currently located in Great Britain, he was an Army man. She faithfully shared the letters that Stan sent, only sharing the war stories and curiosities, that filled the pages. He knew that no matter how he felt, that she was another man's lady. His father hadn't taught him much, but he had taught him to respect women, and respect your fellow man.
His heart was soaring one day, as he drove his truck up to the Five and Dime, he had great news to share with Emma, who was meeting him for a snack and a movie. He could not wait to see her reaction. When he entered the store, he noticed that it was really quiet, that the usual noise had been sucked out of the room, and that silence prevailed. Emma sat in the back booth, surrounded by friends, and tears stained her blushing cheeks. Andy's heart sank and he rushed forward, his only goal to comfort Emma, and learn what tragedy had caused the hurt in her emerald eyes. It was late September 1942. The news from Europe had been limited at best, but there was only one thing that could bring a person to their knees and that was the knowledge that they had lost someone to the war. Emma had brothers, uncles, and her fiancé engaged in the fighting overseas, who could be hurt, was all that Andy could think about.
He pushed his way through the throng of ladies and sat down next to Emma, who crumpled into his arms and sobbed. He held her gently, and waited for the sobs to pass, and knew that he only wanted to make her happy again. His eyes spied the ladies around them giving each other those looks, and he thought that the busy-bodies needed to mind their own business. It seemed like Emma sobbed till there wasn't an ounce of moisture left for her to expel, and time stood still when she raised her eyes to his. What words would she say? What heartbreak had befallen his precious friend, the girl who had his heart, even if she didn't know it?
"He's gone, gone, and he's never coming back," she whispered before she fell against him, fresh tears soaking into his blue shirt.
The bell above the door jingled rather loudly and faster than a bolt of lightning, Mr. Watkins was there pulling Emma from Andy's arms. He scooped her up into his beefy arms and carried out the door of the Five and Dime, and Andy's life. Andy's heart was flying out of his chest, and away with the redheaded girl with the emerald eyes. Betty Lou was all to thrilled to be the one to spread the news that Emma's brother Thomas had died in an air attack over Europe, he had been presumed missing in action, as his plane had been shot down on August 17th, during the first all American air attack in the European Theater.
The Watkins family went into mourning, and one day they packed up and moved away, before anybody even had a chance to ask where they were going. Andy tried to keep track of Emma, but he figured she must have married as he lost track of her in late 1945.
***
The waitress walked up to old Andy's table as quietly as she could, not wanting to disturb his thoughts, he seemed so peaceful and happy. He was a nice man, a helpful man, but she felt he was also a very lonely man, even though everybody in town seemed to know him. He shifted, and his gaze fell on her and he smiled. She refilled his coffee mug, placed his usual apple pie with a slice of cheddar on the table, and walked away, leaving Andy to his musings. Andy smiled, and chuckled as the pretty waitress with the red hair and very familiar emerald eyes walked away. Sadie Ann Watkins had just moved to Pine Junction, and she looked just like her grandmother, that pretty little girl in the strawberry fields.
That night, Andy went to the Junction Hill Cemetery and placed a single white rose on the grave of his beloved, she had never married, and returned to him, if only in spirit. Emma Rose Watkins had died, June 10, 2012. She had one daughter, named after her father, Andrea Samuels Watkins. Andy sent a kiss flying to the heavens for his true love, closed his eyes, and a tear escaped them. He drove home to his farmhouse in his Dodge Commercial Express, parked it next to his Chrysler Town and Country Woodie, and said goodnight to his girl in the strawberry fields.