Maxine's Story Chapter Three

Early 1940's in Keokuk, Iowa (a small city on the Mississippi River)

Characters:
Maxine:  a twenty something working as a bank teller in Keokuk, Iowa.   (She is also my mother.)
Nana:  Maxine's mother (my grandmother) who has raised four children through the Great Depression and now has two sons overseas fighting in WWII.
Frank:  One of Nan's sons, in the navy, the ship's  (The USS Kwajalein an escort carrier) photographer, in the Pacific during WWII
Wilbur:  Maxine's fiance about to be deployed somewhere in Europe
Mrs. K:  Wilbur's mother
John:  Wilbur's cousin
Jane:  John's wife

Maxine, every hair in place,

In the last chapter, Maxine was promoted to Head Teller at the State Central Bank, Wilbur enlisted in the Army and Wilbur asked Maxine if she would marry him when he returned.

Wilbur was stationed at Fort Dix and would soon be deployed to Europe.  There was time for a family visit if the family could travel to Ft. Dix.  Maxine was planning this trip when Mrs. K. decided to join her. She also stated that the two of them could stay at her cousin's who lived near NYC. This was not quite the send off that Maxine and Wilbur had planned, but Wilbur's mother was determined to see her only son before he left for war.  Maxine was glad to have a traveling companion because this would be her first time to take a train to NYC.  She had traveled to Chicago and St. Louis by train, but never to NYC.

The trip to NYC was uneventful.  Maxine was having second thoughts about her travel companion.  Mrs. K. was a bit (no, a lot) overbearing.  One of her uncles had told her to beware of men wearing hats.  These men were con artists and trick people out of their money.  So, when Maxine and Mrs. K boarded the train in Burlington, Iowa that was all Maxine heard.  Don't talk to men wearing hats!

Chicago, Union Station

When they arrived to Chicago, they had a few hours before they boarded the next train that would go directly to NYC.  Maxine thought it would be fun to walk outside the station and have lunch at a cafe.  Much to her dismay and embarrassment, Mrs. K had packed a picnic with table cloth and eating utensils, and was setting out her banquet right in the middle of Union Station.  "This way we don't have to leave the station and risk being accosted by men wearing hats," she told Maxine.  Did Maxine dare say, "But, Mrs. K., almost all the men are wearing hats!"  No, instead she accepted the chicken sandwich and hoped they did not look too ridiculous as busy people sidestepped their little picnic island.

Chicago Union Station in the 1940's.  Notice, most men are wearing hats.

When they arrived to Grand Central Station, NYC, a man (wearing a hat) approached them and offered to take their suitcases.  Mrs. K. was so startled that she failed to realize that this man was her cousin, John.  He was there to take them to his home.  Maxine stifled a chuckle watching the flustered Mrs. K. try to explain why she was so shocked to see her cousin.

While at John's house, Maxine noticed a sketch of a sailor that was displayed on the piano.  It looked familiar, but how could that be?  She did not know these people.  Jane picked up the picture and brought it to Maxine.  "This is our son who is in the Navy.  He told us that the ship's photographer would sketch pictures of the guys if they would do certain chores, like clean his bunk, shine his shoes or other such things."  Maxine checked the picture a little closer, and saw the known signature of  F.C. that her brother, Frank, used on his works of art.

"That photographer is my brother," she said.  "That is why this picture looks so familiar.  Frank has a certain style in his drawings.  At least he did not draw a caricature like he usually does."  (If you have not read about Frank's caricatures, check this post. Frankly My Dear ).  (I always wonder how many other pictures by Frank were sent home while he was sailing in the Pacific.)

The only other event Maxine talked about during this trip was her only time with Wilbur alone.  There were only a few days to visit and Mrs. K. wanted her time with him.   The last night was saved for just Wilbur and Maxine.  But at the last minute Wilbur found out that the Army had a movie that they required all of the soldiers to watch.  He told Maxine, and she begged him to let her go with him.  She didn't care if it was some boring Army movie, but she wanted to spend this last evening with her fiance.

Maxine used her pretty smile and charisma to get into the rented theater full of soldiers.  She and Wilbur found a place to sit right in the middle.  Soldiers to the left and soldiers to the right.

 'Ah, this is nice,' she thought. 'I have Wilbur to myself for a nice evening at the movies.  I'd like some popcorn, but don't see anyone eating any, so I guess I will wait until after the movie when we can go to a nice restaurant for a romantic dinner.'

The movie was beginning!  The music was foreboding!  A man's voice was spouting out curt sentences.  He sounded like a Drill Sargent shouting out commands.  Maxine was not paying attention, instead checking out how handsome her Wilbur was.   She realized that this movie was like an educational movie explaining what NOT to do while on deployment.  There were dangers of all kinds.  Don't go to houses of ill repute.  If so, this will happen.  Oh, my, the pictures where quite graphic.  Maxine did not even know what venereal diseases were, but she soon received a scary education about it.  She tried to turn her head, but her eyes were frozen, and the sights were disturbing.

So, what would you do after such a surprising evening?  Maxine excused herself to the powder room,  checked her lipstick and hair, and met Wilbur outside the theater.  "I am ready for a nice dinner, now!"  She did not say a word to Wilbur and he did not say a word to her about the movie.  Were they in shock, or was any discussion unnecessary?


All I can say now  is that to hear Maxine tell this story she would start giggling, tears would run down her face, and she would only be able to giggle out her words.   How did they not know what this movie would be about?  Were they just so anxious to be together that they blocked out the topic of the movie?  She never talked about the nice dinner, or the name of the restaurant when she told this story.  That was all forgotten.  But the memory of that movie was imprinted in her brain forever.

That evening, Maxine and Mrs. K. rented a room at a hotel that overlooked the street where Wilbur would be marching with hundreds of other soldiers.  Wilbur told them that they would have a better view from the hotel than if they were on the street.  He said that they would not be able to pick him out of all the soldiers and watching from the balcony at the hotel would give them a better view.  He was right, Maxine was amazed at the sight of the streets with lines of marching soldiers.  As she watched, she was sure that she saw Wilbur, and Mrs. K.  shouted out, "There's my son, I see you, Wilbur!"

I will stop here, this was kind of long and I don't have pictures.   The next chapters will develop how certain events will change the future of so many people.  I will introduce a new character.

Maxine's Story, continued...

A Maxine's Story, continued... 

Maxine and Wilber

Early 1940's in Keokuk, Iowa (a small city on the Mississippi River)

Characters:
Maxine: a twenty something working as a bank teller in Keokuk, Iowa. (She is also my mother)
Nana: Maxine's mother (my grandmother) who has raised four children through the Great Depression and now has two sons overseas fighting in WWII.
Frank:  One of Nana's sons, in the Navy, the ship's photographer, in the Pacific during WWII
Wilbur: Maxine's fiance about to be deployed somewhere in Europe
Mrs. K:  Wilbur's mother

In the last post, Maxine was working at the F.W. Woolworth's Company.  She was in her early twenties, and if you remember, everyone loved the banana splits she created when she subbed at the soda fountain.  Maxine had, what many call a magnetic personality.  Her smile, charisma and genuine interest in people caught the attention of many a young man.  But her standards were high.  No drinking, no smoking and no gambling!  She would have none of that.

  Her quick mind and business skills caught the attention of the local banker.  He stopped by the store often and was amazed at how she handled difficult customers, how she attracted customers to her stationery department and how she multi-tasked with ease.  On one of his visits to buy yet another fountain pen, he asked Maxine if she would like to work at the bank as a teller.

These kinds of decisions were always difficult for Maxine.  How could she leave her friends at the store?  Where was her loyalty?  And of course, how could she leave those yummy hot fudge sundaes and banana splits!  It took the president of the bank to talk to the store manager and convince Maxine that it would be okay, and that she could still come back  for a sundae. 

So, at the young age of 22, Maxine became a bank teller at the State Central Bank.  She loved it.  Proving out each night was a challenge that she excelled in, rarely over or short on her end of day balance.   If so, it was only a matter of a few cents.  People were attracted to her window, always cheery and efficient.  Maxine remembered the lives of her customers, births, deaths, graduations, and other events.  She genuinely cared about people and made each customer feel welcome and important.

This is the State Central Bank Building as looks today.

The young men began lining up at her window to get some of that attention, but all in vain.  Maxine liked them, but none met her high standards.  Until, one day Wilbur K. caught her eye.  Soon they were dating.  Life was going as planned, at least for Maxine.  Wilbur was an upstanding young man and his mother adored Maxine.

One day when Maxine walked into the bank there was an official stern faced man there to greet her.  Somehow her bank window cash box was missing a lot of money.  How could that be?  Were they accusing Maxine?   Too many emotions were surging through her as she was escorted to the upstairs main office.  Each step she took brought disgrace and embarrassment.  When the door closed, the stern man said, "We know you did not do this, Maxine.   We have had missing money from other windows and suspected someone.   We set a trap using your window knowing that you were not a thief.  We now have proof to arrest the  head teller who exchanged your cash box during closing hours.  The police are now escorting him out.  So now, we need a new Head Teller (which was usually a man).  Would you be interested?"

Things were looking great for Maxine!  She had a boyfriend and now she was the Head Teller at the Central State Bank!   What more could she want!  And then, poof, Wilbur enlisted in the Army.  I don't know if he was drafted or if he enlisted, but he would soon be in the Army and the future was now uncertain.  It was not a surprise, because it seemed all of the young men were leaving to serve their country.

Wilbur's draft card.  I blocked out part of the name.

And just like many young women and their beaus.  Wilbur asked Maxine to marry him when he returned.  I am not sure how sure Maxine was in accepting.  How could she say no to him when he was going to risk his life?  She thought she loved him.  He met her standards.  His mother adored her.  He loved her.  Of course, she loved him.  He had just caught her by surprise.  Maxine accepted and wore her ring proudly.  Yes, things were going great for Maxine, as long as Wilbur returned.

Wilber

Sump Enchanted Evening

I promised myself that the next post would be a continuation of the Maxine Story, but sometimes things happen that change plans.

This all began when I was going to be on a Zoom meeting with other instructors for the Cuyamungue  Institute.  Cuyamungue Institute  I had never used Zoom and was in the process of installing it.  I must have clicked on something that has nothing to do with Zoom and after a few more clicks felt like I was in a wormhole.  Usually, when I do this, Ray is my tech support and solves my mistake.  He says I get too click happy.  When he says that, I always wonder where click unhappy would take me.   He sometimes uses the term PEBKAC.  Of course, he says that with a smile since I know it means, "Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair."  Anyway, back to me trying to get on Zoom.

I thought I had begun this installation early enough to have plenty of time before the meeting to check it out.  Instead, I was berating myself for waiting, and now as time was cruelly moving along, I was just moving through sites discussing Skype, Alexa and Google Chat.  Time to call Ray, I thought.  But at that time there was crashing and banging and grumbling reverberating below my feet.  (Better not call Ray because he was 'breaking bad' in the basement.)

I ventured down the steps to the basement and was greeted with sudsy water coming out of the laundry room.  Ray was holding a hose and staring into the sump pump.  Oops, maybe I better go back upstairs and figure out the Zoom problem myself. 

Ray sees me before my escape.  "The (bad word, very bad word) keeps overflowing."

"Maybe we should get a new sump pump and have someone install it," was my suggestion.  Ray informed me that he had installed sump pumps and would not need someone else to do it.  Plus, this one is not that broken.  It is just the hose.  A little duct tape will solve this problem.  Looking down at the sump pump I wondered how the hose caused it to lean against the wall of the hole.  It's sad face looked at me telling me it was tired and needed to retire.

Here is the duct tape solution.

 Ray told me that he just had to readjust it and it would be fine.  But, maybe he should do the wash from now on, or if I did decide to do the laundry, let him know.  Some how this all did not sound good, but I happily retreated to my office and was able to get on Zoom with no problems. (too late for my meeting though)

We usually share laundry duty, but I did not complain that Ray wanted to take over for now.  A couple of days later, there was more grumbling and crashing and some very bad words coming from the basement.  Hmmm.....I bet the duct tape failed.   I did not go down this time because my suggestion would be the same.  I knew Ray was not going to give up.

"The #%#! thing is fixed now!" he stated. "But I still want to do the laundry, just to be sure.  I had to stop the sump pump from dancing when the washer was draining into it.  So I put my a crate on top of the screen and then s tool box on top of the crate. (The screen has been over the hole to keep the cats from falling in.) 

Final Solution, Tool Box on Crate on Screen.

So that is the story of our sump pump.  Ray is still doing the laundry.  There seems to be no more overflow, and no more bad words coming from the basement.  Strange, I have written other Rae stories where that Rae often said a few choice words.  Is it the name, or am I just one lucky lady?