Returned to me

Chapter Three

June 1951,

Joanna stares at a little wooden rocking horse in the window shop downtown. It would be perfect for Amelia. The hair was made of yarn, and it had real leather straps used for the reins and saddle. She had a wooden rocking horse when she was little made by her Papaw. She forces herself to turn away from the window as she was limited on time. She had to find herself a part-time job that would help keep her afloat as she no longer was dependent on her husband. She thought about going back to nursing. As it was something she was passionate about. But with her daughter being so young, she felt that it would not be a good match for her.

She heads into one of the dress shops on Main Street. Being in a small town, this dress shop was up-to-date with fashion. There were colorful printed dresses that are fitted to the waist. She also spots beautiful button skirts. She ran her still chipped nails along with the beautiful shoes. "Hello, Ma'am." She hears from behind her. She turns around to find a young woman about her age. Her hair was pinned up nicely and her style was fashionable. She would take that this was the owner of the shop. "May I help you?" She had a softness to her voice that was welcoming. Joanna noted that she did not have a twang, which means she most likely was not from around here. She almost had a transatlantic accent.

"Hello." She smiles at the shopkeeper. "A couple of days ago I saw a hiring sign out. I was wondering if that position is still available?" Her white gloves clutched her pocketbook nervously. She hasn't had a job in the last seven years. Not since the war ended, and she married Jim.

The woman smiled warmly and with a let-out breath of relieved air. "I took the sign down thinking no one was going to come for the job. I had given up hope until now." She hurriedly walks behind the counter pulling out a sheet of paper. Joanna follows tensely as she was still very nervous. The lady looked up with a beaming smile. "I prayed someone would walk through those doors today to fill that position. I believe you're an answer to prayer!"

Joanna would not tell her, but she had prayed that the position was still available. It looked like they were an answer to each other's prayers. "Do I need to fill out anything?" She asks brushing away a loose strain of hair. The woman laughs as she sets down her pen.

"I don't know why I even took this out!" She nearly giggled. "I just have one question, do you know how to work a cash register, and how to process checks?"

"I do." Joanna was telling the truth. She worked at the grocery store in town when she was a teenager up until she left to join the Army. The woman nearly leaped with joy.

"When can you start?" She was smiling way too big.

"Tomorrow." Joanna returns the smile just as widely.

"We open at Nine and close at four. Is that okay?"

"I can only work half of the day. I have a two-year-old daughter. My mother agreed to watch her during the hours I'm working." She says calmly but hoped this was not a deterrent. The woman nodded happily.

"I understand, and that will work just fine. Come in tomorrow when we open, and we can work out the details." She and Joanna shake hands making the arrangement of employment official business. "Oh, my name is Mary. I almost forgot to tell you my name."

"Joanna."

Joanna walked down the quiet downtown being reminded of a time when she was a girl. She stopped at the end of Main and the beginning of 1st Avenue. It had changed in some ways. It was now a paved road instead of the dirt one she remembered. In a moment, she was transported back in time with memories. She could feel her eyes brim with tears as she stared out that way. It was as if she was seeing ghosts. She could remember her brothers vividly as if they were there now. Their voices and laughter etched into her mind. Joey used to walk home on this road from working with their father. Instinctively, she braced and anticipated Joey to come from behind and pick her up in his arms. She readied herself to hear Jonathan's warm voice float to them telling him to put her down. She looks away when none of that happens. A fleeting moment of happiness is replaced with a hollow shell of grief. She loved her brothers more than life, and she had not thought about them like this in a long time.