Bud
Copyright© 2015 by Bill Offutt
Chapter 11
Bud and Jeanne went steady as both juniors and seniors in high school. The class prophecy suggested Jeanne would have a dozen children by the class's tenth reunion. The truth was they had known each other since they were in elementary school and that their fathers had met through the Rotary Club before they were born.
Jeanne dated their love from a fraternity dance in Rock Creek Park at the end of their sophomore year. Bud just shook his head and looked puzzled by the question. He felt as if he had always loved her.
Both families had expressed some reservations about them getting married right out of high school, but since Bud seemed to have a steady job at the bodyshop, and Jeanne showed no interest in either a career or further education, they acquiesced and hoped for the best.
When Bud and his bride went to his folks' house for Sunday supper as they did about once a month, his mother Polly almost always enjoyed chatting with the young woman while Bud and his storekeeper father talked baseball, cars and trucks.
"I don't know," Polly admitted after one such visit that fall, "Jeanne seems dissatisfied, ill-at-ease about something but I can't get her to talk about it."
"Your imagination, old woman," Sammy said, "they look happy as can be, both of them."
"Now that the war's over, at least they don't have that worry," Polly said.
"And I sure am glad to see the end of rationing," said Sammy.
"How much is he making? Should we give them some help?"
"Not unless they ask. But I think her father gave them a bit of money for a wedding present."
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