Published: 12 Dec 2016

The 4th of July fell in the middle of the week that year. Bob Manson had promised his young farmhands the rest of the day off after the morning chores were finished. He said his neighbor Earl had volunteered to help Christine and him do the evening milking and that young Jason would work too. It seemed that he was eager to show he could do his part like his older brother.

The boys hadn’t argued with Bob, but had thanked him repeatedly for his thoughtfulness.

Dane and Colt did get the use of Greta’s SUV for the trip to Cosgrove. They started by picking up Brent and Mike and then headed for the farm to get Dave, Dustin, and Jared. On the way, the younger boys thanked them for not telling anyone about the sexual things they’d done on the tournament trip and the older guys simply grinned.

“I suppose you’ve been comfortable around Dustin and Dave,” Colt ventured.

“Yeah, we’ve come a long way since last summer,” Mike agreed.

“You might say we’ve CUM a lot since last summer,” Brent giggled.

The younger teens had brought along clothes and food to leave at the trailer because Bob was hiring them for another week to help on the farm. They were both grateful for the job opportunity and for the time they could spend sleeping together. It was a win/win situation!

The celebration at Cosgrove this year had been beefed up and was certainly larger and better than the one in Bentonville the year before. There was a sizeable midway set up on the grounds of the community college with a decent sized Ferris wheel and lots of other rides. In addition, there was a wall for rappelling and plenty of places to buy junk food of various kinds.

The first stop for the guys was the wall. Each was sure he could scale the most difficult course on first try. However, it proved to be more of a challenge than any had imagined.

Perhaps it was because of his lighter weight or maybe because of living on the farm, but Jared was the only one to complete the hardest part on his first attempt. He got lots of applause from his buddies and some from others who were standing by. It didn’t hurt his self-image one bit!

The others moved back a level for the second try and managed to make it to the top. They decided to wait until later to try the hardest course again. No one had anticipated how much energy the wall could drain from them.

In the course of circulating around the grounds, they met a number of other kids from Bentonville. Word had spread about the scale of this event. The guys wondered if it would bring an end to their local celebration and felt a little guilty about not supporting it, but Dane still felt his reason for suggesting they come to Cosgrove was still justified.

They all ate at the various stands which had food available. There was everything from corn dogs to cotton candy and kettle corn to hamburgers. No one went hungry.

In the evening, there was a concert by a military band. Greta had urged her grandsons to be there to see the color guard because of who would be in it. It gave the boys goose bumps when the men marched forward bearing the flag. Among the participants were DJ Johnson and Gary Fagan. Neither man had made any big deal to his family over the honor, but all of the nearby relatives were there. All stood at attention as they sang “The National Anthem”. In the audience, the Fagan’s and the Johnson’s had a difficult time singing because of the lumps in their throats.

Both men were called up to the podium prior to the next musical number in order to be honored for their service. From the looks on their faces, they hadn’t expected that to happen. Both seemed shy about receiving the recognition.

After hearing a short recital of their duty to their country and a reminder of DJ’s Medal of Honor, the crowd rose to their feet and applauded for several minutes. Then the leader dedicated the playing of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” to them.

Once the men were seated with their wives, the concert continued with a few Sousa marches and numbers from “Music Man” since it’s a perennial Iowa favorite.

The band played the “1812 Overture” as its finale while a vast array of fireworks filled the sky. It was a fitting end to a great day of food and fun.

Of course, the guys who were there with their boyfriends went home to make their own special kind of fireworks. They might have to get up early the next morning, but they were young enough to get by on an hour’s less sleep if it meant having quality time together.

One of the events that took place the following week was Gavin’s trial for beating up Dave. It had been postponed numerous times by the defense hoping to let the publicity over Gavin’s misdeeds die down. However, the judge eventually refused to give them another continuance.

From the smirk on Gavin’s face, it was evident he had, as yet, no remorse for what he had done. He swaggered into the court room as if he were king of the hill.

The judge was not amused by Gavin’s apparent lack of contrition. He ended up sentencing Gavin to three years in prison, but then reduced it to probation and 100 hours of community service. If Gavin failed to live up to his end of the bargain, he would go to a minimum security prison for a period of not less than 30 months. He would still be subjected to strict rules of behavior and be tested for drugs on a monthly basis.

Gavin left the court a more chastened young man than he had been when he entered.

Dave and Dustin both attended the hearing because Dustin felt it would give them closure. Dave agreed that he needed to face the bigger kid to let it be known that he wouldn’t live in fear of anyone who tried to hurt him.

If anything touched Gavin’s cold heart, it was probably Dave’s victim impact statement. In it, he said that he wanted to despise Gavin, but he forgave him because he didn’t want to live with hate in his heart for anyone. He said that he truly hoped Gavin would be able to get past this and live a productive life.

Another major event that happened in July was John’s gradation from the paramedic program. He had nearly been denied his license because of his brush with the law, but Darrin and Lori (Evans) Albers had convinced the powers that be that John was a changed person and one who could be trusted. It didn’t hurt that Sheriff Larkin was in his corner as well.

One of the paramedics from the county squad had resigned in June and Darrin’s supervisor had kept the position open until John was ready to be interviewed.

Of the few who had applied, none had qualifications equal to John’s, so he was hired as soon as the paperwork could be completed. Good candidates for county positions were difficult to come by.

It gave both Darrin and him a good feeling to know that the supervisor did not hold their orientation against them.

Miss Charlotte and Emma both flew in for the graduation ceremony. John had undisguised tears in his eyes as he hugged the women in turn. It was like having his grandmothers there to support him.

Darrin hosted an open-house party and invited anyone in town who knew John to come by. A surprising number did attend. The younger crowd consisted mostly of kids who had known John after his turn-around at school. Jerry brought Carrie with him and arrived early to hug his one-time tormentor and to wish him well. Dane, Colt, Dave, and Dustin arrived together as did Trent and Sara. Of course Cory was there to help Dan and Darrin with the hosting. Even some of the teachers and administrators from the school showed up. It was a very emotional time for John.

The entire Albers’ family was there as was Joel and his grandparents. The older guests, who didn’t know John well, were there mainly to see Miss Charlotte.

Among the adults were the sheriff and the others who had been instrumental in John’s rehabilitation, including Judge Gerick and Pastor Swenson. It was quite an assemblage of Bentonville’s elite.

Darrin had called Jane Masterson to inquire about a caterer and had been quite pleased with her suggestion. He knew that it wouldn’t be inexpensive, but he didn’t care. This was a special occasion.

It was a special occasion for Lottie as well as for John. Most of her friends who were still alive and able, had shown up to see her. She was older than many of them, but they had had a lot in common. Practically everyone from the lady’s aid society from her church had come. It was like a homecoming.

As the party was winding down, Charlotte and Jerry went up to her favorite “tower room” where she had been sitting when the accident occurred. It had also been the site of their chats about the gift of prescience they shared.

“I’m very glad that I got to see you again,” Jerry said as he hugged the old lady. “I was afraid I might not, given the miles that separate us.”

“Jerry, I’m as pleased as you are. I wasn’t sure I’d last this long either – though you are too polite to say that! But even when I pass to the other side, I suspect you and I will not be very far apart. I’ll always watch over you if God grants me the privilege.”

The two visited about more mundane things for a few minutes. Charlotte was eager to hear about his girlfriend. When Carrie’s name came up, Jerry said he should get back to his sweetheart before she got jealous. Charlotte laughed heartily at the idea that any young girl would consider her a rival.

“Nonsense!” she chortled.

Jerry smiled at her trademark response.

After Jerry left, Charlotte told Darrin that she would like to rest a bit. He showed her to her old room. She seemed surprised that he had left it virtually untouched other than having it cleaned.

“You must make this into a pleasant place for your young man and you! You can’t keep it like a shrine to the past,” she scolded him with a smile.

“It will always be here as it is for as long as you come to visit us,” Darrin responded. “We have a whole bunch of bedrooms as you well know.”

Emma opted to take a nap in one of those other bedrooms where she would be sleeping during their visit. It seemed like old times being in the house again. She could tell that Charlotte felt like she was home.

Around 7:00, Darrin went to check on his elderly guests to see if they wanted something to eat or at least a cup of tea. Emma was sitting in a rocker working a crossword puzzle. She thought that a cup of tea was a splendid idea. The two of them walked over to Charlotte’s room to see if she would join them.

At first, they thought that she was still asleep. But Darrin’s instincts told him that that was not the case. He felt her hand. It was cold to his touch and he could find no pulse. It was obvious that there was nothing he, John, or anyone could do to revive her. He called for the ambulance knowing it was a futile, but expected, gesture. Lottie had come home to join her ancestors in eternal rest.

In Charlotte’s Bible, Emma found a detailed list of what her dear friend wanted for her memorial service. In the suitcase, she found the dress Charlotte had chosen to be “laid out” in. There was no doubt that the lady had foreseen her last days in some way or other.

Her family agreed to the arrangements Darrin offered to make in keeping with their matriarch’s wishes. They would make plane reservations to come as quickly as possible.

At 10:00 p.m., Emma was still wide awake. Her nap had taken the edge off of her fatigue and she was not yet adjusted to central daylight time. So, she sat up with her young hosts to watch the late news.

“It’s going to be lonely in that condo without her,” Emma ventured. “I’ve made a lot of friends out there, but it won’t be the same”

“Stay here,” John suggested. “Darrin and I talked it over and we would like you to move in and be our grandmother.”

“Oh, boys, that’s so sweet of you, but I’m afraid I’d be a fifth wheel and besides, these old bones are getting too brittle to face Midwestern winters. But I do appreciate the offer. I must admit I thought Charlotte was a bit hasty giving you boys this house, especially knowing about your past, John. I’m sorry! As always she knew your heart like she did everyone’s. You have not let her down.”

“If you won’t stay all year round, at least stay for the rest of the summer,” John said. “I’ll bet her daughter would bring the clothes you’d need. And I’ll bet you know exactly where to tell her to find them in your closet.”

Emma laughed.

“Yes, I am an obsessive old lady. I think I’ll call her daughter tomorrow. She has a key.”

In accordance with her wishes, there was an evening visitation at the funeral parlor the day her family arrived. Her body was then cremated and a memorial service was held the following day at the church.

In the space between Pastor Swenson’s reading of Charlotte’s obituary and his giving a short homily, there was a time for friends and family to celebrate her life with anecdotal remarks. Several people spoke for a few minutes, but the words that would be remembered came from John and Jerry.

John told about how Miss Charlotte had been like a loving family member to him when he was at his lowest. He even mentioned that he had accidently referred to her as “Grandma” and that she had been pleased at his Freudian slip.

Jerry recalled how she had been his angel in saving his life and John’s future in the same heroic act. He held up pretty well for a teenager who had lost a kindred spirit.

“I have a feeling that Miss Charlotte will always be nearby,” he said in conclusion. “It’s like she is here among us.”

At that point, his voice broke because he could swear that, though his tears, he could see her smiling face. There were no dry eyes in the church.

Later, with only Carrie, Emma, Darrin, John, Dan, Cory, and Charlotte’s descendants present, Jerry placed the urn that she had made in its final resting place alongside her husband’s grave.

Some of her grandchildren wondered why this young man, who was not related by blood, had been chosen for the honor. But they couldn’t feel jealous because they knew she always had a reason for everything she did. They could only be happy that she had lived a full life and maintained her faculties and her health to the end. They could only hope that their fate would be as excellent.

If you are enjoying this story, let David know: david.lee@castleroland.net