My Whole World. Episode 2.
My Whole World is the sixth series in the Dusty Town original historical fiction sequence written by Mary Ann DiLorenzo. Set in rural Kansas just prior to the turn of the century and continuing through the early 1900s, the series follows the Strong family through the challenges and joys of life in Midwest America.
Feeling a Glimmer of Hope. Episode 2.
Betty Lou saw Willie first when he came across the fields to Jacob and Betty Lou’s small farmhouse. Jacob peered out the window beside Betty Lou and thought to himself, something must be wrong, Jake’s not with him. Jake always wanted to come with his father.
When Willie got to their front steps, Betty Lou knew, she just knew. Jacob asked, “What’s wrong, son?”
Willie could only reply, “I got these,” and handed the note from Sue, and then the note from Jake, to Jacob.
Jacob and Betty Lou slowly read them and the two of them felt the terrible hurt Willie was feeling. They hugged Willie and he started to cry. Through his sad, sad tears Willie said, “I don’t understand. She just up and left, with the young’uns too. She says they ain’t comin’ back. What am I gonna do Pa? What am I gonna do?”
Jacob looked at his son Willie, nearly 40 now, and realized his Willie had never yet lost his genuineness, his resilience, his sweet kind way, his loving encouraging nature, that he had shown from his early years. Traits that held fast through every struggle they had ever endured together as father and son and now, that man who would always be his little boy, was looking to him during perhaps the most difficult time in his life. Jacob looked at Betty Lou then and remembered those words she would say to Jacob since they were young’uns. You will know what to do when the time comes.
Hoping he knew what to do now to help Willie, Jacob began. “Willie, son, I’m so sorry. So, so sorry. Quite a few times in my life, I thought my world had come to an end. But then you and Betty Lou were always there to encourage me and I knew I could take that one step forward and then the next one and the next one after that. It’s not easy and it’s filled with sadness many a day, but after many steps it gets easier and the sadness goes away, and you get through it and in the end it will just be what it is. The happy times will turn out being what you’ll remember. You will see sunshine again Willie, count on it. Your best days are still to come.”
Willie began to dry his tears as Betty Lou started. “We are here for you Willie. And for those steps your father talks about, you will know what to do when the time comes. Your father always did.”
And then, a glimmer of hope appeared on Willie’s tear-streaked face. “Betty Lou?” Willie asked. “Yes, dear, what is it?” Betty Lou replied.
“Well,” Willie answered, “I sure have a hankerin’ for one of your pecan pies! Could you make me one, please?”
Betty Lou smiled first, then Jacob, and then Willie. “Now young man, you have to give me a big ole hug first!” And he did.
And as the sun began to set over the rural Kansas fields on that warm summer’s evening, the sky showed off its pretty yellows and oranges and reds and purples against the backdrop of what had been a deep blue high sky day. Willie sat back in his chair on the porch of Jacob and Betty Lou’s little house, the house he built for his father what seemed then like a lifetime ago, taking it all in. Betty Lou and Jacob were both there with him, just like in the days gone by, the days after his ma’s death. Willie found himself thinking about all the years in between and how it had all come back around again.
After a while, Willie announced to Betty Lou, and to Jacob and the fireflies within the sound of his voice, “Best pecan pie I ever did eat, Betty Lou! You outdid yourself today, I reckon.”
And Betty Lou looked at Willie and smiled. Jacob did too. He knew his boy would be alright.
Previous Episodes of My Whole World
And Just Like That, Everything’s Changed. Episode 1.
