My Whole World. Episode 4.

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.

“Don’t Forget Me Dad.” Episode 4.

Each day became easier for Willie as he adjusted to his new life without his family. Jacob, past 70 now, yet still healthy and strong as a horse, worked the farm with Willie, and the Johnson boys who held the adjoining farm helped them out as needed. The Johnsons were also blindsided by their sister Sue’s departure and, like Willie, had yet to hear anything from her. Most times they all just shook their heads, as if it were a bad dream that simply had to be gotten out of those heads.

Then one day, as autumn was coming on, a letter came addressed to Willie with a Georgia return address. The postman stopped into the restaurant when Betty Lou was fixing the lunch menu and handed it to her.

She called out to Miss Morgan doing some preparation in the kitchen area, “Lula Belle, I’ll be just a minute. Reckon I’ll run this letter over to Willie as quick as I can.”

The screen door slammed behind her as she half walked and half ran the dusty distance to the Strong family farm. Willie was fixing the fencing near the barn when she got there. He quietly took the letter from her and as he started to open it she asked, “Do you want me to stay?”

“Appreciate it Betty Lou. I think I’ll be alright.” And he began to read.

“Of course you will. You can always stop by this evening if you want to talk about it with your father and me, or before even if you need to. Well, best I get back to the restaurant now.” Willie hardly noticed her leaving as he had already absorbed himself in the letter.

Dear Dad,

I miss you.

When I ask Mom about your coming to see us, she twists up her face something awful, and says how this is the city and a farmer doesn’t belong here. Maybe when I’m grown up I can go visit you if I still want to, she says. I don’t quite understand it all, how you can love somebody and then don’t anymore, and what’s more, not even like them anymore. I don’t think I could be that way, but I’m not grown. Grown-ups seem to make things more complicated than they are to us young’uns.

They don’t ride horses here and that makes me sad. Uncle gave me a ride in a fancy automobile the other day and it was scary. It was like us riding horses side by side and almost riding into each other. And the trails are smooth, made of something called blacktop so the wheels on the automobiles don’t break. I don’t know, I sure like horses better.

Mom says she’s not gonna write you because she doesn’t love you anymore but I can write you. She doesn’t want you writing me because she doesn’t want to remember you and her old life she says.

I guess I’m not like her because I love you and I want my old life back. I miss Grampa and the farm and my horse. How is my horse? Please take good care of him so I can ride him again one day.

Don’t forget me Dad. I hope you still love me. You’re still my whole world even though you’re so far away.

Jake

Previous Episodes of My Whole World
And Just Like That, Everything’s Changed. Episode 1.
Feeling a Glimmer of Hope. Episode 2.
Uncertain About Everything. Episode 3.