This is a short, stand-alone story, spanning five decades in the life of a multi-generational Vermont farm family and how their lives revolved around a 1947 red pickup truck. It is mostly dialogue between four people. Sex is alluded to rather than explicit. If either extensive dialog or the lack of explicit sex doesn’t appeal to you, it’s probably best to look elsewhere for something compatible with your expectations. Otherwise, enjoy.

Everything portrayed in this story is a product of my imagination. It was conceived, written and edited by real live humans. No AI involved.

My gratitude and thanks to both my anonymous friend and Pepere for their editing skills and perceptive suggestions. Any and all errors are mine and mine alone.

Christina and I were the last to leave after Grandpa’s interment ceremony. He was laid to rest next to Grandma in the family cemetery on the hill overlooking the family farm.

As we walked back down the hill and approached the farmhouse, she said, “This must be difficult for you, Craig.”

We had just finished eating and were sitting around the dinner table when I asked, “Tell me about my daddy again, Grandpa.”

“Well, Craig, your daddy was born right here on this farm. He grew up to be a big, strong man, just like you will be when you get a little older. He met your mom in first grade, fell in love with her in high school, and married her right after they graduated. They were both happy farming here, but then that war in Vietnam started and he got drafted.”

“What’s drafted mean?”

“It means he had to join the Army instead of farming. The Army sent him way over to the other side of the world, to Vietnam, where there was a big fight and he got killed. You were born just three months later.”

“Why did mommy leave?”

Grandma replied, “Craig, your momma was so in love with your daddy that she

was very sad when your daddy died. Do you remember how you were sad when Buster died?”

“Yes. I loved that ole dog.”

“Well, your mommy loved your daddy like that, and really missed him. She eventually asked Grandpa and me if we could take care of you for a little while. She needed to get away from all the things here that reminded her of your daddy. We said yes, of course. She eventually wrote to us and said she thought it would be best for you if you could just stay here. Everything here reminded her of your daddy. Adults sometimes do things that even other adults can’t understand. Your momma loved you and did what she thought was best for you. So, that’s why we were so lucky to have you stay with us. Do you understand?”

“I think so.”

“Have you decided which college you’re going to, Craig?”

“UVM, Grandpa. It’s the most affordable. I think I’ve got at least the first two years covered between in-state tuition, some scholarship money, what you’ve given me, what I’ve saved from working at the Grand Union, plus what I can pick up from summer jobs and work-study.”

“I’m sorry we can’t spare any more, but you know that farming isn’t exactly a get rich quick scheme.”

“You and Grandma have already done so much for me, Grandpa. You took me in as an infant and raised me as your own. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Besides, growing up here has been a far richer experience than most guys my age have lived through. You and Grandma have set a high standard of loving that I’d like to emulate when I meet the right girl.”

“How did you two meet anyway?”

“It was my red truck.”

“This I’ve got to hear.”

“Well, you know that I was an infantryman in WW II? I had somehow survived the Normandy invasion and all the fighting that followed. I returned to the family farm after my discharge. My dad was still farming with horses, partly because that was what he had always done, partly because much of the US’s manufacturing was prioritized for the war effort. New equipment was scarce to non-existent.”

“I managed to save most of my pay during the war. I was also a pretty good poker player, or maybe my friends weren’t. Anyway, I had a nice little nest egg saved. I had enough to modernize the operation and make a large downpayment on some farm equipment. I went over to the local International Harvester dealer and purchased a tractor, several other pieces of equipment, and a bright red 1947 IH three-quarter ton pickup.”

“I went to the Farmer’s Coop to get a load of grain a couple of days later. Betty was working there, saw my shiny new red pickup, and swooned over it.”

“Robert Baker! I did not swoon!”

“Okay, okay. Maybe she was just smitten.”

“Pay him no mind, Craig. He’s getting a bit delusional in his old age.”

Grandpa winked at me and said, “Then, why did you agree to go to the drive-in on Saturday when I returned the following week?”

“I wanted to see Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in ‘Road to Rio’. Besides, you were a handsome young man and I didn’t have a car.”

“See, Craig. She only went with me as a means to get into my truck.”

“You only invited me into your truck so you could get into my panties.”

I nearly choked as I spit out the Coke I was drinking when Grandma said that. Grandpa looked like he was going to say something when Grandma cut him off.

“Young folk always think they invented sex. They forget they wouldn’t be here if their parents or grandparents didn’t have sex. Drive-ins were the prime make-out places for young folks in 1947. Besides, that floor mounted gearshift lever made a somewhat effective, if primitive, birth control device.”

“I did not try to get into your panties on our first date. It was on our fourth date, and I wasn’t successful until the seventh.”

“Bob!”

“Don’t ‘Bob’ me. You started this, and Craig now knows why we try to go to the drive-in in Brattleboro once a summer, and take that old truck.”

We were all laughing hysterically by now. I said, “You two are incorrigible. I’m going to go get ready for milking,” when I finally stopped laughing.

I heard Grandma say, “I wonder if he knows that we still make love,” as the screen door closed behind me.

“Of course he does. You have never been very quiet when you come. Still aren’t.”

The last thing I heard was, “Bob!” as they both burst out laughing again.

“Craig called earlier. He’s bringing a girl home for Thanksgiving.”

“Details, Betty.”

“That’s all I know. He’ll be here sometime Wednesday.”

“Grandma, Grandpa, this is Christina.”

“Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Baker. Thank you for letting me join your family for Thanksgiving.

“Welcome, Christina. There’s always room for one more. I’m Betty and this is Bob. Let me show you to your room.”

Grandpa asked, “Tell me about Christina,” after they left to go upstairs.

“Not much to say. Just met her this semester. We’re in the same computer science class. Don’t know her very well. Nice girl, from Ohio. Her parents farm there. It was too far for her to go home to Ohio just for the weekend, so she had planned to stay in the dorm. Thanksgiving in the dorm has to be awful, so I offered her a real Thanksgiving meal and she accepted.”

“Well done, Craig.”

Christina said, “Thanks so much for inviting me. All of your family was so nice to me,” when we were on the bus ride back to Burlington.

She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. That was totally unexpected. “You were an instant hit with Grandpa when you changed into work clothes and came out to the barn to help with chores.”

“It’s the least I could do. While my parents raised corn and soybeans, we always had a Jersey for house milk. I learned to milk by hand at an early age, since it was impractical to have a milking machine for just one cow. I also cleaned the gutter, hayed, and grained her. I figured there was probably something I could do to help with the chores.”

“Grandma also was impressed that you helped her and Aunt Caroline with dinner, especially with the cleanup. Thanks. She told me you were a keeper and I should ‘pursue’ you. I think she assumed we were in a relationship.”

Christina laughed, “Kind of early for that, since we haven’t even been on a date yet.”

I thought about that for a minute, wondered why we hadn’t, and asked, “Would you be interested in that? Dating, I mean.”

“I think I would enjoy that. But first, you should know that all my friends call me Chris,” she said as she leaned her head on my shoulder and squeezed my hand.

“Chris it is then.” We ended up talking the rest of the way to UVM. More of a ‘getting to know you’ conversation than the small talk we had on the way down. It was the best bus ride, to or from UVM, that I ever had.

“Craig called while you were milking. He wanted to know if Christina, now known as Chris, could stay with us for the summer. It seems they both have lined up a job in Brattleboro doing some kind of computer stuff. I said yes, of course.”

“Do you think they are...”

“I’d be surprised if they weren’t. They’ll both be seniors this fall. Craig is 21 and I assume Chris is or will be soon. They certainly are both old enough and mature enough. I thought we should replace the twin bed in Craig’s room with a double. There’s enough room in there for a bigger bed. Sears has a set on sale this week.”

“Betty...”

“Don’t ‘Betty’ me. This is 1990. Things are different than when we were their age. They’re college students. Craig was born the year that Woodstock thing happened. At his age, a college student, and growing up in this era, I’m pretty sure he knows about sex, especially having grown up on a farm.” Betty paused for a minute, then continued, “Do you remember when we saw the Woodstock movie at the drive-in in our old red truck? We sure steamed up the windows that night. You were fifty years old and couldn’t keep your hands off of me.”

“Still can’t. You’re as desirable today as the day we met.”

“You’re just a horny old man and I still love you. The point is that if they’re not already doing it, they will be while living under the same roof. I think we should just let nature take its course and not make it difficult or awkward for them.”

“Go ahead and order it. I’m going to go take my shower.”

“Dinner won’t be ready for an hour or so. Take your shower, then come to bed for an appetizer before dinner.”

“Thank you for letting me stay here this summer.”

“Chris, we’re just happy to have you two young folks staying with us.”

“We need to discuss my paying my fair share.”

“Pffft. Nonsense, my dear. That’s not necessary. We’re happy to have you here.”

“Thank you, Betty. I can at least help out with the chores.”

“There is less to do now that Bob is semi-retired. He’s only helping out with the afternoon milking. Do you remember meeting Craig’s Aunt Caroline, Uncle Carl, and their two boys at Thanksgiving? They’re running the daily operations of the farm now. Less for Bob to do. Let’s go up and get you settled in.”

We had several bags to take upstairs since we had to clear everything out of the dorm. I helped Chris get her things to her room first. I started to carry my things up to my room while she was unpacking. I noticed my childhood twin bed was replaced by a double bed upon entering my room. I went back downstairs and found Grandma alone in the kitchen.