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MAY 18, 1952
"Now, Ms. Jane Margareta Clark, you best be on your best behavior. I don' wanna 'ear anythin' bad about you. Ya hear?" Jane smiled at the African American woman that stood in front of her with her hands on her hips. Jane buckled her shoes and adjusted her socks before meeting the older woman's chocolate eyes.
"Yvonne it's a Sunday morning. I would never be caught dead misbehaving at service," Jane grabs a quarter from the tray of loose change and kissed Yvonne on the cheek. She elder woman smiled softly.
"I know," she said, "I'm just makin' sure." Yvonne had been hired by Jane's grandfather to help watch over her during the war when her father was gone and her mother went to work. They had tried to get rid of Yvonne but it took only an hour when Jane would scream and cry about missing her. Yvonne is family, she would say and it wasn't long until the others agreed. Yvonne grew up with Jane's Grandpa Edward and his twin brother Earnest which is exactly why Ed knew she would be a wonderful fit for the Clark family.
"You runnin' off to the shop after?" Jane stopped herself and nodded looking back at Yvonne.
"That was the plan. I promised Ed we'd do a puzzle after and he'd let me help out." Jane went to leave again but stopped herself noticing Yvonne's stern expression. She cocked her head to the side in confusion. Yvonne continued to stare deeply into the young girl's soul.
"What?" Jane said.
"You comin' back to changer 'fore you do?" Jane froze with wide eyes but straightened herself out before Yvonne could notice. She did though, she always did.
"...Yes. Of course! I wouldn't go to the auto shop in Sunday clothes," Jane looked away with a sheepish smile, "welp, I outta burn some rubber if I'm gonna make it in time." As Jane rushed around grabbing a cardigan she grabbed Yvonne's hand and gave it three squeezes and rushed out the door. Yvonne's laughter followed her out the door and to the buzzing streets of downtown New York. Three squeezes was a tradition among the Clark family members, each squeeze represented a word. I love you.
APOCALYPSE YEAR 42
"Do you remember that, uh, the little mansion just outside the city limits? Where we," Five chuckled out. Jane nods letting out a small laugh, thinking about that night. The couple, in what was still standing of the mansion, had danced. They danced to no music, not even the sound of the wind was present. All they needed was each other, which was a good thing too, all things considered. They had first realized their feelings for one another on a night very similar to this one, if Jane could remember correctly it had been almost exactly thirty-seven years ago. They were young then, but tonight felt just the same as the first time they had danced together.
