Love will find a way.
The pair had known each other practically all their lives. They lived in the country near each other; they attended the same church and were in the same class at the local high school. He was her bus driver. They seemed more like close relatives but actually were only neighbors but over the years they became more than just friends. They were as was said back then, an “item” with a together future. Except for two things, her Papa and the Draft Board.
They grew up when the world was in turmoil. The time was World War II when both were in their late teens and 11th grade seniors in high school. The war news came mostly from radio and newspaper reports of places and events worlds away but for him, the time was rapidly approaching when he would be eligible to be drafted into the army, not the service he preferred. If he simply waited for his letter from the Draft Board, he would have no choice so to avoid that eventuality, he took matters into his own hands; he volunteered for the United States Navy. Although that service had its dangers; still he preferred being on a ship than hiding in a foxhole.
In order to volunteer for the Navy, he had to do it before being called up by Uncle Sam which meant he had to leave high school early. And that caused even more problems.
He dreaded to leave his school, his family and especially that special person with whom he had become emotionally involved; he was in love and it was a mutual feeling since she felt the same way. The problems standing in the way of getting married before he left for the armed forces were staggering.
He was a teenager with little job skills other than those learned on the farm; she was the only daughter in a large farm family and her father was very jealous of his “little” girl and to him marriage was out of the question or if it did happen, it would be years down the road.
The young couple had other ideas.
Fortunately they could see each other every school day so they secretly began to make plans for the “great escape,” despite the obstacles. By this time, she had gotten her a Saturday job in town when jobs for girls were rare. She began working part time at the local “dime” store as a clerk making by today’s standard an embarrassingly small salary. But she was frugal and had saved a few dollars which would add to his equally meager salary for driving the school bus. They had little resources but … they were in love and love conquers all or so goes the saying.
He had visited in her home many times but only as a neighbor, never as a suitor. In fact she had reminded him that if her Papa learned of his marriage intentions, he might commit a violent act. He had to handle this relationship with utmost care.
He had received his order to report for Navy basic training so ready or not, the time had come for vows to be heard. She was willing and an opportunity presented itself to make the exchange possible, secretly.
The plan was simple. She worked in the “dime” store on Saturday and the marriage official was just down the street from the business. Both were of consenting age. The timing was a problem easily overcome. When she was off work for her lunch break, the two hurried to become Mr. and Mrs. The ceremony took less than 30 minutes so before the lunch hour was over, she had lunch and gotten married within the matter of a few minutes and immediately went back to her job. Her parents were still in the dark.
He was soon to leave for training yet they had not had time be alone as a couple. The day before he was to leave, she secretly moved her few personal items from her home to a nearby tenant house and for the first time later spent their honeymoon night together in her understanding grandmother’s home before her new husband departed for the Navy.
Ultimately the secret was known and her parents graciously accepted their new son in law as a member of the family.
Today, 68 years and 3 children and many grandchildren later, the two are still an “item” loved by all those who are fortunate enough to be called family and friends.
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Bill Lee, PO Box 128, Hamer, SC 29547
