The Winds of Change

Happy Monday everyone.  Hope you had a good weekend.  How's that Christmas shopping coming along?  It's almost time for me to retreat from shopping until after the holidays.  I hate crowds.  Good thing I'm practically done.


Today, I'm taking a step back.  I started to post the continuation of The Challenge story and then saw the date.  I'm a history nut, and December 7th is one of those dates. I'm quite sure there weren't many of us bloggers (including me) around in 1941 but FDR said it was a day of infamy and it was - much like 9/11 is now.  So, instead of The Challenge that will return next week, today I'm posting a story I penned a couple of years ago.  It's a little long, you might need a break.  Hope you enjoy The Winds of Change.


December 7, 1941, the day of infamy was a life changing moment for Betty Jo Kress and Jed Vincent.  High school sweethearts, they were crowned King and Queen of Middleton High School Senior Prom the night before; and were riding high and looking forward to the rest of their senior year.   After listening to President Roosevelt’s radio speech about the tragedy of Pearl Harbor things changed. Jed made up his mind to enlist.  Since he was under age, he needed his parent’s permission.  They refused to tell him to finish high school first.  Six months seemed like an eternity to him, but he respected their wishes.  He would be eighteen by then and wouldn’t need permission.  Betty Jo was grateful.  She didn’t want to think about Jed leaving Middleton much less going off to fight in a war. She knew she would have him for at least six more months.  There was no doubt he would enlist the minute he was able but until then they could be together.

During those six months, Betty Jo tried to convince Jed not to enlist.  Her brother had joined as well as most of the eligible young men in town.  They were now off fighting in places she couldn’t even pronounce, and one of them was severely wounded.  She didn’t want that for Jed, but no amount of coaxing was getting through to him.  As a matter of fact, he told her he would take her over his knee if she mentioned it one more time.  She knew that was no idle threat.  He had spanked her before when she hadn’t obeyed.

After that, Betty Jo accepted his decision.   She also talked to Jed about getting married before he enlisted.  Jed loved Betty Jo and wanted her to be his wife just not under these circumstances.  He tried talking her out of it, but she was as adamant about this as he was about enlisting.

“Am I going to have to spank you?”  he asked after she brought it up again.

She just smiled sweetly and went about making the necessary plans.  Neither of their parents was thrilled with the idea of them getting married, but they would both be of age and didn’t need anyone’s consent.

They graduated high school on June 16^th and married on June 17^th.  After a weekend honeymoon, Jed enlisted in the Navy the following Monday.  He had made that concession to his new wife. She felt better knowing he would be on a ship most of the time, or at least that’s what she thought at the time. She would continue living with her parents until basic training was over and then, depending on his assignment, would find a place of their own until he was shipped out.

On June 26th, he reported for basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.  She promised to write every day and made him promise to write as often as he could.  He asked her not to come to the train station to see him off knowing it would be hard for her.  She didn’t listen and in addition to a long goodbye kiss she received a sharp swat to her backside for not listening. She giggled - at least it had lightened the mood some.

                                            --------------------------------------------------------

After basic training, he received a three-day pass before returning to his assignment at the Naval Shipyard at Long Beach, CA.  They had a joyful reunion until Betty Jo told him she would be coming to California to be with him.

“Absolutely, positively not”.  I won’t be available and could be shipped out at any time.  I want you here and not in a strange city with no family around.”

 She begged and begged until he finally took her over his knee and spanked her silly telling her that was the end and he didn’t want to hear any more.  Betty Jo never said another word but planned on going to Long Beach on her own once he had reported for duty.

Betty Jo didn’t tell anyone her plans, not her parents nor her closest friends.  She didn’t want anyone trying to talk her out of them.  She wanted to be with Jed or at least as close to him as she could until he was shipped out.  Once he was permanently assigned there was no telling how long it would be before they saw each other again. 

After the spanking, Jed was a little surprised Betty Jo hadn’t mentioned coming to Long Beach again. That was not like her – she was as stubborn as a mule.  So he was happy that when the day came for him to leave she just sweetly kissed him goodbye and promised to write every day.  He should have known better because she didn't have the usual histrionics. 

One week later the local bus took her to the city where she boarded the train to Long Beach. Before boarding the train, she mailed a letter to Jed telling him of her plans.  It was a long trip, and she hoped the letter would reach Jed about the same time she did. She was a little nervous but hoped Jed would understand.

On the trip, she met the wife of another sailor, and they became fast friends.  Vera Watkins had rented a small cottage close to the shipyards, and she asked Betty Jo if she wanted to share the rent.  Betty Jo was thrilled.  She not only made a friend but had a place to stay and because she had her own room she and Jed would have some privacy if he ever had free time. Vera also told her the local airline factory was looking for workers because all the men had gone into the service and they were desperate for help.

When Jed wasn’t at the train station when she arrived she was a little panicked.  Vera reminded her that mail was slow, and maybe he hadn’t received her letter yet.  She pointed out that her husband was not there either.  Before leaving the station, Betty Jo sent a telegram to her parents stating where she was and that she was alright.

Vera’s husband was at the cottage when they arrived.  Billy was so happy to see his wife.  Betty Jo hoped Jed would be that happy too.  Vera introduced Billy and told him that Jed was also a sailor and stationed at the shipyard.  Billy didn’t think he knew him but told him there were so many guys working all different shifts that it wasn’t unusual but that he would ask around when he got back to the yard.  Then Vera and Billy went into their bedroom, and she didn’t see them again until the commotion started.

Around 8:30 that night there was a loud knock at the door.  Betty Jo wasn’t sure she should answer but then heard

“Betty Jo Kress Vincent if you are in there you better open this door.”

 knocking got louder, and Betty Jo just stood there.  She couldn’t find her voice or move her feet.

Just then Billy came storming out of the bedroom in his boxer shorts with his hair all askew.  He walked right passed Betty Jo and grabbed open the door.   Jed saw Billy and never even blinked.  His left hand grabbed Billy’s shoulder while his right hand jerked out and punched Billy square in the nose. Billy and Jed continued to exchange punches.  Finally, Betty Jo yelled:

“Stop it, stop it now, both of you stop it.”

 Someone must have called the police because they heard sirens wailing and then the police car stopped right in front of the house.  Two cops came out carrying their billy clubs.

“What’s going on here?” the one demanded while the other broke Jed and Billy apart.

“I opened the door, and he punched me,” Billy said.

“You’re damn right I did.  You’re screwing my wife” Jed said.

“I am not.   My wife is inside, and we were peacefully sleeping until you started all that noise” Billy responded.

“Who are you?" the one cop demanded of Betty Jo.

She sheepishly answered, “I am his wife” coming to stand next to Jed.

“Again, what is going on here?” the cop asked.

Betty Jo started to explain when Jed stepped in and said this was all a terrible misunderstanding.  He said he overreacted when a strange man answered the door in his underwear since this was the address he had for his wife.  He extended his hand to Billy and apologized for the fight.  Billy shook back.

Vera had come out during the fracas.  She put her arm around Betty Jo and took her inside.  She came back out and asked the cops if she could  take her husband in to fix the cut on his lip.  The cop said that if Billy didn't press charges it was over as far as they were concerned.  She thanked them and took Billy inside, closing the door and leaving Jed standing there.  The cops turned and walked back to their cruiser. 

Jed stood there not knowing what to do.  He knew he didn’t want to knock on the door again, so he just stood there.  Betty Jo opened the door and stepped out onto the porch.  She looked at Jed with tears streaming down her face. He pulled her to him and hugged her so tightly she couldn’t breathe.  They stood in each other’s embrace for quite a while. When he finally broke away, he told her he had been frantic.  Her parents had contacted his commanding officer to get in touch with him when Betty Jo went missing.  He was so frightened that something awful had happened to her.  She told him she sent him a letter from Davenport when she boarded the train for California.  She explained that she didn’t tell anyone because she didn’t want anyone to stop her from making the trip.

“Well, you certainly caused a lot of troubles, Betty Jo”.  “We were all worried sick until you sent that telegram.  That’s how I found you.  They called my commanding officer again to tell me you were here in Long Beach.  Why didn’t you listen to me and stay back in Middleton?”

She said she was so sorry she had made everyone worry. 

“Not nearly as sorry as you are going to be missy”.

She was trembling now.  She knew she was in big trouble.

“Do you want to come inside”? she quietly asked

“Not unless you want your friends to hear you getting the spanking of your life,” he said.

 He asked her to walk with him. She explained her reasoning in coming to California, told him what Vera had said about working at the airplane factory.  She said they could build up a nice nest egg for when the war was over.   They walked hand in hand for what seemed like hours and when she finally couldn’t walk another minute she asked him if he had forgiven her. 

“I’ve already forgiven you, Betty Jo. What you say makes so much sense but I would be much less worried if you were with your family, especially once I am shipped out. Don’t think I am not happy to see you and know you are alright, I am.  That doesn’t mean you are not getting the spanking I promised earlier.  Let’s get something to eat and then I will walk you back to the cottage.  I’m due back at the base at midnight.”

“But Jed, can’t we even spend the night together,” she asked.

“No Betty Jo, I told you I wouldn’t have much free time here.  That’s why this was such a mistake. You spent all that money for nothing.”

“Not for nothing,” she said.  “Seeing you is worth every penny” and snuggled in closer.

When they returned to the house, there was a note from Vera stating that she and Billy had gone out for the rest of the evening.  Betty Jo knew it was to give her and Jed some privacy.  When Jed saw that note, he immediately told Betty Jo to go into the bedroom and wait for him.  He used the facilities and then calmly walked into the bedroom.  Betty Jo was sitting on the bed, clothing removed from the waist down.  His heart weakened for a moment and then he remembered how frantic he was and how much trouble she caused. Seeing her hairbrush on the dresser he grabbed it and although this was going to be hard, it had to be done.  What he really wanted to do was take her in his arms and make passionate love.  He sat on the bed and  motioned for her to lay across his lap.  She was already crying, and the first slap of his hand made her yelp.

“Honey, this is just a warm up.  You are in for a long hard spanking”.

He gave her a few more hard slaps with his hand.  He stopped for a moment and lectured her about her misdeeds and then began applying the hairbrush to her already pink bottom.  Betty Jo was sobbing wildly by now, and he could see the circular imprints of the brush on her tush creating a purplish hue.  He didn’t want to bruise her so he put the brush down and finished up with his hand. When Jed finally stopped spanking, Betty Jo was crying so hard she was almost incoherent.  He held her in his lap and comforted her.

“I am so sorry I had to do that, sweetie.  I hope it will be a reminder the next time you pull a stunt like that.  You have to learn to listen to me when I tell you something. It will always be for your sake.”

They sat there like that for a while when he said he had to go.  He told her he wasn’t sure when he would be able to see her again.  She told him she would be here.  She didn’t plan on going anywhere except to work if she got that job.

He kissed her goodnight.  He got shipped out two days later.   He got word to her through Billy he was sent to the Kaneohe Naval Air Station in Hawaii.

                                                     ========================

Her letters finally caught up to him two weeks later.  The letter telling him she was on her way to him in Long Beach among them.  How he wished she had stayed in Middleton.  But she hadn’t, and at least Vera and Billy had proved to be good friends.  He was glad they had her back. 

She awaited Jed’s letters with trepidation.  She knew that at anytime he might get assigned to an aircraft carrier and then would be part of the fray.  So far he had been lucky.  The Navy had assigned him to an air station, and it wasn’t long before his mechanical aptitude had him working on aircraft.  He had been at Kaneohe for a little over a year when she finally received the letter telling her his ship assignment and was probably already at sea.

Betty Jo had taken the job at the aviation factory.  She was one of the hundreds of ladies joining the workforce during World War II. The job made her feel that she was contributing to the war effort, in addition to saving a nice little nest egg for their future.  The longer she lived here, the more she thought why go back to Iowa.  California had so much more to offer.  The climate was wonderful, and Jed could still farm if that were what he still wanted to do. They could buy a piece of property in the valley and build a little cottage for them and add on as the children came. The lifestyle was different too.  People didn’t seem as interested in everybody else’s business.  They just seemed to enjoy life more, everything was much more casual, like being able to wear overalls and pants rather than dresses, skirts and stocking and heels.  She couldn’t imagine what Jed would think if he saw her in her work clothes.

Betty Jo made quite a few friends in addition to Vera.  Many of the ladies were spouses of servicemen too while others were just moms trying to make a little extra money. A lot of them volunteered at the local USO hoping that maybe they might catch some news of their loved ones or ease the pain of a soldier away from home and his family.  They would often meet after work to go to a movie or the local juke joint that was close to the factory.  Once in a while Betty Jo would join them but most nights she would just go home and write a letter to Jed. 

She was home the night the telegram came.  She had just finished writing a letter to Jed and was getting ready to hit the sack when the doorbell rang.  At first, she wasn’t going to answer it but the boy called out “Western Union", I have a telegram for Mrs. Jed Vincent”.  She felt as if her heart stopped beating.  She went to the door on trembling legs.  When she signed for the telegram, she saw it was from her parents.  A telegram had to be bad news.  She opened it and read:

            Mom had accident    STOP

            Needed at home   STOP

            Come ASAP  STOP

            Dad

She was relieved and angry at the same time. What kind of accident? Was Mom hurt badly?  Why was she needed at home, was it just to cook dinner and do the washing?  All of these things went through her mind and she took a moment and realized she needed more information.  Her parents didn’t have a phone but she knew she could call the exchange, and they would get a message to her Dad.  She rushed down to the corner store to use the pay phone.  She would leave a message at the exchange and arrange a time to call back when her dad was there.  It would be days before she could get home so a couple more hours wouldn’t matter.

When she got through to the exchange, Dorothy Miller answered.  She and her sisters operated the local exchange.  The four sisters were all spinsters and lived in their ancestral home that housed the telephone exchange. 

“Miss Miller, this is Betty Jo Vincent.  I am calling...

“Oh honey” I’m so sorry”.

 Dorothy broke in before she could even finish her sentence.

“What happened, Miss Miller?  I received a telegram from my Dad telling me Mom had an accident and that he needed me at home”.

“I am sorry to tell you this, but your Mom was in a truck accident and is hurt pretty badly.  She is in the hospital in Davenport.”

“Thank you, Miss Miller.  Can you get a message to my dad that I received the telegram and will be there as soon as I can.  Can you also get me the telephone number for the hospital?

“Of course, Honey, just hold on, and I will connect you direct.”

When the Davenport General Hospital answered, she explained who she was and what she wanted.  She learned that her Mom was in serious but stable condition.  She asked the operator to get a message to her Mom that she would be there soon.

                                                 ======================================

When she got back to the cottage, it was very late.  Vera wasn’t home yet.  She had the mid day shift at work and wouldn’t be home for another hour. Knowing she couldn’t sleep,  she spent the time packing and getting ready to leave in the morning.  Seeing Betty Jo in tears when she walked in the door, and the telegram on the table, Vera thought something had happened to Jed.  Betty Jo explained it was her mother and that she was going to leave in the morning.  Vera told her not to worry about anything she would take care of whatever was needed regarding work, etc. 

Betty Jo bought a ticket the next morning and was on her way to Davenport by the afternoon.  She would be home by the end of the week. Home, my home is in California, not Middleton anymore.  She hoped her Mom would have a quick recovery so she could get back to her new life.  On the long uneventful ride to Iowa, Betty Jo wrote a long letter to Jed telling him about her mom and how she realized she didn’t want to live in Iowa anymore.  She hoped he would feel the same, and if he didn’t, she would just have to convince him.  This time, the train ride was dull and boring.  There was none of the camaraderies she had experienced on her first trip. Of course, this time was different.  She knew what awaited her.

In Davenport, Betty Jo took a taxi straight to the hospital.  Vera had wired her dad the arrival information.  She had phoned and left a message with Clara Miller that she planned on going straight to the hospital and to please pass on the information to her dad.

The hospital receptionist gave her the room number.  On the elevator, a couple of ladies were whispering to each other.  She couldn’t hear anything, but they were both looking at her and shaking their heads. She didn’t think anything of it until she walked into her mother’s hospital room.  Her mother was sitting up in bed, and her dad was by her side.  He took one look at Betty Jo and pulled her over his knee and started spanking her.

“How dare you disrespect your mother and me by dressing like that.  We raised you better than that.  If you think you are too old for a spanking, you’re wrong. You will always be my daughter, and I expect you to behave and dress like a lady, not some Hollywood movie actress. You should be ashamed of yourself”. 

When her father was finally finished spanking her, he stood her up.  She didn’t say a word.  She tried to keep as much dignity about her as she could as she went over to her mother and gave her a big kiss and inquired as to her injuries.  Her mother was doing a lot better and expected release in a couple of days.  Her concussion was what had worried them most, and the worst was over.  The rest of her injuries were scrapes and bruises and all healing well.  

When she thought she could finally address her dad in a respectful manner, she turned to toward him.

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, but this is how I dress now.  It is accepted where I live and lots of young people dress this way. I don’t think it is inappropriate to be wearing slacks."

“Well, you’re not in California now, and I expect you to dress decently while you’re here.  What does your husband think of this new wardrobe?”

“While I am here, out of respect for you, I will not wear pants out in public.  As to my husband, he has bigger things on his mind than my wardrobe”.

They drove home in silence and true to her word Betty Jo continued to wear the skirts and dresses she had left behind when she went to California.  She helped out doing the cooking and cleaning and taking care of her dad and mom when she came home.  Once her mom was well enough to take over, Betty Jo made arrangements to return to California.  Jed’s parents, as well as her own, tried to talk her out of it to no avail. Before her departure, this time around she made the rounds of saying goodbye to everyone.

When she arrived at the cottage, she saw the note. Billy wa wounded and was being sent to the naval hospital in San Francisco, and she was on her way to him.  The next day she received a long letter from Vera telling her she wouldn’t be coming back.  Billy would need a lot of rehabilitation and transferred to the hospital in Richmond VA.  When he had recovered enough, they would be going home to Ohio.

Betty Jo went back to work as before and mourned the loss of her best friend.  She was able to find a new roommate to share expenses, and she lived that way for the next two years.  Her letters from Jed would come sporadically, and she might get ten or twelve at a time. He had never responded to her about her desire to stay in California.  It had been four years since the last time she and Jed had been together.  She received a letter from him shortly after she returned to California.  Enclosed was a letter her dad had sent to him telling him he better plan on taking her in hand when he got home because his wife was turning into a hussy.  Jed asked for an explanation, but she had never written him about it.  She was angry with her dad.  He had no business interfering in her married life, and she sent him a letter telling him just how she felt. The war in Europe was over.  Soldiers were returning home and going back to the jobs they had before the war.  This meant that more and more of the ladies were let go or just went back to being housewives.  By this time, Betty Jo had been made a supervisor and was one of the last of the ladies on the line.  She was sad to see that part of her life end but so happy that Jed would soon be coming home.  His ship had docked in Hawaii two weeks ago, but she hadn’t heard anything since and was getting anxious.

She was returning from the grocery store when she saw him.  She nearly dropped the bag of groceries and went running toward him.  When he saw her, he too came running.  They held each other for what seemed like hours before they let go of each other.  He picked her up and carried her inside. 

He hadn’t been mustered out yet – that would take about another two weeks, but he had a pass until he had to report for the final muster. They spent a good portion of that time making love and the rest getting reacquainted.  They were practically children when they married and after four years apart there was a lot to talk about. During that time, they had both grown up and matured.  She was no longer the naive small town girl he had married and he was no longer the gangly teenager she had married. With their whole lives ahead of them and they had plenty of time to make decisions about their future in the days and weeks to come.

On the third day he was home she asked if he would like to go out. She told him she would pack a picnic lunch and they could hop in the car and take a drive.  He suggested the beach.  When they got to the car, she got in the driver’s side. 

“I’ll drive, he said.

“No, honey.  I’ll drive, you just sit back and enjoy the scenery”.

“I said I will drive, now give me the keys” he growled.

“Fine” have it your way, as she hurled the keys in his direction.

She slid across the seat and he got in the driver’s side.  She was miffed. He took off and when he asked the quickest way to get to the beach she told him he was the driver and he could figure it out.

“If that’s the way it’s going to be I will figure it out”

Eventually, he did find the beach and then the fun really began.  When Betty Jo emerged from the changing room, she was clad in a two-piece bathing suit.  Jed went apoplectic.  How dare she parade around in something that skimpy.

“It’s not skimpy.  Look around, there are lots of people wearing them” she said.

“Well, that may be, but they are not my wife.  Now go back in and cover yourself,” he demanded.

“I won’t,” she said.

“Either you go back in and get decent or I will up end you right here on the beach.  Is that what you want?”

She turned around and stomped back to the changing room.  She put her sundress back on and came back out.

He started lecturing her on how she was a married woman and had an obligation as his wife to do as he said.  She told him that may have been true back in Middleton, but it was not how she intended to live.  She had been making a life for herself while he was off at war and she didn’t need to be told what to do and how to act.  She had done just fine on her own. 

“Well when we go back to Middleton I expect you to obey me and make me proud,” he said.

“I don’t want to go back to Middleton.  I want to stay here”.  She went into her spiel about how lovely it was and how they could have a fresh start, how many opportunities there were and on and on. 

“Our home and families are in Middleton.  You are my wife and you will do as I say and I say we are going back to Middleton”.

She picked herself up, grabbed her purse and ran back to the car.  She got in and drove away leaving him standing there.  She knew she would get her butt blistered when he made his way back to the cottage, but she didn’t care.

He hitched a ride and got home about an hour after her.  When he walked in the door, she was standing in the kitchen drinking a glass of water.  He grabbed her arm, hauled her over his shoulder and carried her to the bedroom.  He deposited her on the bed and told her to roll over on her tummy.  She heard him unbuckling his belt.  It was moments later she heard the whoosh of air before the first crack of the belt hit her backside.  She winced but didn’t even have time to absorb the pain before the second lash landed. There were no words spoken. No breaks. On and on it went but she refused to give in. She grabbed a handful of the blanket and just bore it.  She hadn’t even realized when he stopped.  She heard the front door close and that’s when she began to cry.  Great tears rolled down her cheeks and her body trembled with her sobs.   Her butt was on fire.  He had never spanked her so hard before and had never used the belt.  And always, after being punished he would hold her and comfort her.  Leaving her as he did hurt almost as much as the spanking.  She was bereft. She lay there on the bed and must have fallen asleep because when she awoke it was dark.

She went into the bathroom, turned on the light and saw her backside.  It was still crisscrossed with faint pink stripes and some areas were starting to turn black and blue. She rubbed in some lotion, washed her face, put on her robe and went into the dark living room.  When she lit the lamp, she was surprised to see Jed sitting in the chair.  She saw he had been crying. Walking on through to the kitchen, the glass she used yesterday was still on the counter.  She picked it up, filled it and was about to sit down when Jed came in.  He told her they needed to talk.  She agreed and winced as she sat down on the hard kitchen chair.  She noticed a look of concern and regret.

“First off, I want to apologize for spanking you while I was so angry.  I think I took four years worth of frustration out on you and there was no excuse for that.  I hope you can forgive me. I noticed you winced when you sat, are you alright?”

“Which question do you want to be answered first,” she replied.

Betty Jo, please, let’s not play games.”

“Okay. Yes, I can forgive you but I’m not sure I’ll be forgetting anytime soon.  My tush is bruised but not nearly as injured as my heart.  I know I shouldn’t have run off like that, but I was angry at you too.  You just dismissed me like yesterday’s news.  It hurt.

“I know.  I just love you so much and I am so scared.  You have no idea how many of my shipmates received “Dear John” letters.  Being separated for so long is not normal.  The wives and girlfriends are left behind.  Except for missing their loved ones, their world hasn’t changed.  For the guys, on the other hand, everything has changed.  They’re not only without their loved ones, but they are also living in a strange place, with people they didn’t know yesterday and who might be killed tomorrow.  In letters home, you’re trying to pretend things aren’t as bad as they really are while, in reality, it’s hell.  You’re attempting to be brave and keep up a strong front when you are scared to death every minute - not only of dying but of living because tomorrow is the unknown in a world turned upside down.

Knowing you were waiting for me is what kept me going. Then I come home and you are not the girl I married.   I don’t mean it derogatorily, it’s just that I married a sweet 18-year-old naïve country girl and I come home to a savvy, beautiful 23-year-old city woman.  A woman who has been on her own in a big city, away from family and friends, and has built a life for herself.  I am scared to death that you may not want me to be part of that life.  That’s why I want to get you back to Middleton.  It’s safe, I know what to do there, where to go, how things should be. Do you understand what I am trying to say”?

“Jed, I do understand and no I am not the same girl you married.  But my love for you hasn’t changed.  I have been living in a world I didn’t know existed and I find I like it.  I don’t want to go back to being a small town girl again, I am not sure I can.  I am not trying to threaten or anything like that, I am just honest.  Life here can be so much better if you will just give it a chance.  Will you at least give it a try?”

Jed listened to every word she said.  After being involved in such turmoil for the last four years the smallness and safety of his hometown seemed very appealing.  On the other hand, Betty Jo was right – there was so much more opportunity here in California. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to farm anymore.  He was a damn good airline mechanic.  The Navy had seen to that. Finding a job wouldn’t be a problem because many of the nation’s aircraft companies were located, if not in this immediate area, here on the West Coast.  With the GI bill, he could even go on to college and get an engineering degree. He was young enough.

When Jed stood up and came toward Betty Jo, she flinched.

“Oh, that hurts Betty Jo.  I would never really hurt you. I promise I will never spank you in anger again.   I just want to hold you in my arms.  Tell you how much I love you and ask for time.  I can’t give you a decision right now, but I promise I will give it serious thought.  I just need to hear that you love me too and that you won’t leave me.

“I love you too Jed, but you did hurt me.  I am not just talking about the spanking.  That hurt, yes, but you never said a word to me before or during the spanking.  Then when it was over, you just left me and that hurt more. 

“I’m so sorry.  I was so mad at myself for taking my frustrations out on you.  When I realized what I was doing all I could think of was to get out of there.  I was embarrassed by my actions.

“I’m sorry too for both of us.  I don’t want to go back to Middleton, but if that is your decision, I promise I will try. I can’t guarantee that I will like it or that I won’t end up resenting you for it, but I will try.  It’s just that after living here it seems so stifling to me, maybe it will be different when we are together but I couldn’t wait to leave when I was there during my mother’s recuperation. Let’s enjoy our time here now and once you are discharged and we go back to see everyone maybe you will feel the same way.”

“That sounds like a plan, Honey.  We’ll do just that. We won’t make any decisions until then.  Now let’s see if I can erase your memory of that last trip to the bedroom”, he said with a wink and a smile. 


See  you later for more Aimless Ramblings.