Evening star., 1943-01-03

q YANcY mming, they set off down the street be-
III Meath the elms and naples:
Z This is the way 60 to church,
All on Sunday morning"
But she was thinking utterly incredible it strong
to spring cantata with her family Her family Dad and
Mother G in their Sunday best with their complacent asr-
that this the beginning of another pleasant day. and
Brenda blonde and vivid younger edition of Nancy herself
about graduate from college and with youths normal exec
fancy still bright IN her eyes.
To Nancy these very and houses seemed unreal She
herself felt unreal home again after her long absence Yet it
was all credible, too and she joyous part of
Sal mean Lieutenant Grier" Brenda said, you went
off and left yourself singing minute Where you now
Right here Looking We're such nice family"
Nancy said smugly.
The joy Of Homecoming madness running through
her. Or as it merely Joy at Homecoming? She couldn't
really be gay with memories Of living hell scared into her.
and the knowledge that she must back perhaps to worse
one with her courage mashed pulp her body still enact
ated weeks after her evacuation from Bataan.
This rather, hysea, reaction pretending perhaps,
here in little Midwest town. that the wide world was still
like this - calm and lovely.
Nance" Brenda saying Il can't decide whether to
be WAAC Army nurse like YOU.
Nancy started turned the subject Listen What are those
birds. singing?
'rhruses child" her father said Have you forgotten?
That tr,,ses still could sing! Quickly Nancy asked:
Does Axel Grimes still sing basso prodo in the chor?
"And Davy Bamon, tenor, Brenda answered.
"Davy's still here?" Nancy cried But Dad couldn't
'You can't do anything" explained John Grier. MD,
about kneecap like that. Davy lmps Always will He's
eating his heart because he can't get back IN service But
he's farming like good soldier.
They had written her about Davds plane crash early in his
training Not serious" they'd said.
Nancys step sobered But the flowers nodng to her
from gardens they passed. and line flashed through her
mind "And the blows " and woodwinds and
brases strings seemed swelling to a symphony within her.
Here" she said they approached the church. I'll go
ahead like Moses leading the animals into the ark.
'4She means Noah" Dr.. Grief corrected.
And then decorousy they following the usher
old usher - down the aisle.
IT WAS all familiar: hymns, minister
prayer Why should she choke up about it, Lydia Barnes
played the voluntary for the morning offering and Slas
Green and Alfred Holmes still carried the plates marching
hatngy And Sass hand shook just much So much
in fact the plate wggd out of it just he reached the
Crier pew The family gathered coins and replaced them
And then Nancy whispered across Mother to Brenda:
"How much did you get out of it,"
Quarter" Brenda answered promptly
Small change" said Nancy. Il got four bits"
Shocking evity But Nancy got what she had been
angling for: Mothers familiar, somehow soundess 'Gs
Besides it was emotional outlet.
choir director taking her stand and Nancys eyebrows
said to her father my goodness! A direcoH Who?"
New librarian. Pearl Harbor widow"
Lydas organ let out sudden joyous peal which made
Nancy think Of the first high arestng peal of the wedding
march and of herself bridesmaid drifting down the aisle
There had been baskets everywhere filed with garden flowers