| Biographical Non-Fiction posted June 9, 2024 | Chapters: |
...21 22 -23- 24... 
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A mixture of things during 1942 and 1943
A chapter in the book At Home in Mississippi
War Years and Other Happenings
by BethShelby
As time went on, and the initial shock of our country being involved in a world war sank in, everyone started taking it all in stride, so long as they, or members of their family, weren’t personally involved. As we had a lot of relatives in Newton, many of the young men were drafted, but fortunately none of them were killed. Newton county did lose around fifty men over the course of the war.
Other than Dad talking about those he knew being drafted or of him repeating horror stories of those returning from service, the war wasn’t a main concern for us. Still, there was the constant worry over having enough ration stamps for the things we needed. Mom insisted on listening to President Roosevelt’s fireside talks on the radio, and we continued to have an occasional air raid drill. I hated the drills, because the sirens made me wonder if we were about to be bombed. There was an air force base in Meridian, which was only twenty miles away, so Military planes flew over our house quite regularly.
One of the ones we knew of who served was Grandma Lay’s nephew, Haskel Davis. I didn’t even realize he existed until someone mentioned he had returned. It was the summer of 1942. Summer was a time I loved because it meant homemade ice cream, watermelons, fresh peaches and strawberries. Most of all, it meant I could play outside all day. Occasionally, we would have relatives visiting from Texas.
Mom’s brother, Newman’s wife, came with her two children. Newman and Aline were starting to have some marital problem, and she suspected him of seeing other women. I paid no attention to what was going on with them. What interested me was her son, Dave, who was just a little younger that I was. He and I would spend hours playing together. Aunt Aline’s daughter, Jeanine, was a teenager and was starting to get interested in boys. She always came with stationery to write home to boys she knew from her school.
Haskel, who was about twenty, had returned from Hawaii after doing his two years as a drafted soldier. Mom invited him over for lunch while Aunt Aline and her kids were visiting. Haskel came wearing his uniform and Jeanine was awe-struck by him. At nearly five, even I was impressed. He was a real heartbreaker. I’d never seen such a handsome man. Seeing Jeanine and Haskel together, obviously attracted to each other, caused Dave and I to decide to spy on them.
We hid behind trees and sneaked around until we finally saw them kiss. Jeanine threatened to tell her mother we were spying and Dave countered with, “You tell, and I’ll tell Mom, Beth and I saw you kissing him.”
Haskel was so smitten with this pretty young girl that he made sure he found a way to see her every day until they returned to Texas. By that time, he’d made arrangements to go back with them, saying he would be able to find a job at the oil refinery easier than he would find work in Newton. Haskel was Jeanine’s first cousin once removed, but since they had never met before, they didn’t think of each other as cousins. He did find work in Port Arthur and after Jeanine finished high school, the two of them got married.
Grandma Lay had lived with us full time since Aunt Christine and Uncle Harry had moved to Detroit to get jobs. Aunt Chris had worked in a factory producing military equipment, and Uncle Harry had gotten a job at the Henry Ford estate, as a night watchman. Word came that Aunt Christine had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had had one of her breasts removed. They had decided to return home while she convalesced. Now that they were returning home, my grandmother would be living with Christine again part of the time.
Several years had passed, and I barely remembered my aunt and uncle. Uncle Harry drove back in one of two trucks he had bought in Detroit. He had a friend drive the other. In the forties, Detroit was the auto capital of the world, and by driving the vehicle from there you’d save the shipping charges. He’d gotten the second truck in order to sell it once he was back in Mississippi.
Mother had continued to teach a Sunday School class at the big Baptist church in Newton. She seemed concerned because the pastor found reasons to come talk to her from time to time. Mom had very high moral standards, and any indication someone might be interested in her, any way other than spiritually, caused her to be extremely nervous. My dad was even more concerned about the pastor’s visits. I have no idea if the pastor may have had a crush on her, but I know there were times, she’d see a car drive up and she'd tell me to be quiet. She would lock the door and we would hide until the person had decided no one was home and would drive away.
Mom and Grandma Weir had started listening to a preacher on the radio at her house. He caused both of them to question some things they believed. My grandpa, whose family had always been Presbyterian since they arrived in South Carolina in the 1700s from Ireland, loved to read the Bible and find things to argue with Mom about in a good-natured way. Mom was very serious about her relationship with God, and could talk about scripture with anyone who would listen all day long.
Since I was so young I don’t know how it all came about but Mom started taking Bible studies by mail. She dropped her Sunday school class and no longer attended the big church. I think Dad was relieved about that since he didn’t care for the preacher, but he wasn’t happy about the Bible study course she was taking either. Dad continued to take me to Sunday school and pick me up later. I felt very grown up finding my way around without Mom holding my hand.
1943 was the year, I would finally get to attend school. All summer, it was all I could think about. School would start in the middle of August. I would be only five, but my sixth birthday would be in September. In July, Mom had got out the Sears-Robuck catalogue and had ordered school dresses, socks, panties, boots and rainwear. Grandma had made dresses for me as well. Shoes were the only thing we’d buy locally.
I can remember getting dressed and being so excited I could hardly wait. I thought it would surely be the best day ever. Mom would be coming with me but only to help find my room and get a list of supplies I would need.
School would be like a new page in my life that would bring many changes. In some ways it would involve things I’d not expected, which would take some getting used to. For once in my life, I would no longer be the center of attention.
Characters:
Lucille Lay Weir: My mother a stay home wife and mom.
Glover Weir: My father who manages a grocery store.
Elizabeth Weir; 'Beth' Me at five years old.
Annie Jane Lay: my Grandma Lay and Mom's mother who lives with us during this time.
Alma Wier: Grandma Weir and Dad's mom who lives nest door.
Ebb Weir: Grandpa Weir and Dad's father.
The Lay Family: Newman, Mom's brother, Aline his wife Jeanine, teenage daughter Dave, son and boy near my age.
Christine Williams Mom's sister
HarryWillimas Christine's husband.
Haskel Davis Grandma Lay's nephew just our of service.
 Recognized |
This will be chapter 22 in book about my life in Mississippi.
The photo is of Haskel Davis My Cousin and WWII vet.
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and 2 member cents. The photo is of Haskel Davis My Cousin and WWII vet.
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