CNJ+ September 2024

A ROCK WALL AND A TALL, TOWERING MAPLE TREE By Richard Mabey Jr.

During the years that my beloved fa ther was with the Seventh Army Air Corps, during World War II, my dear mother wrote to him, about twice a week. At the time, Mom worked in the Bakery Department at the A&P Gro cery Store in Boonton., while attending high school. After the store closed for the night, Mom’s boss would very often give her the cakes and cookies that did not sell that day. Mom would often mail cookies to Dad, to where he was sta tioned at Hickam Air Field in Hawaii. It is a most strange and bewildering thing. Mom grew up in the 600 block on Boonton Avenue, on Sheep Hill. My dad’s brother, Earl, lived across the street with his lovely wife, Eleanor. My father saw my mother just one time, af ter he finished basic training, and was given a week-long leave before being shipped to Hickam Air Field. On the Sunday, before being leaving for Hickam, Dad had lunch with Un cle Earl and Aunt Eleanor. After eating lunch, Dad and Uncle Earl took a walk to the front yard of Uncle Earl’s home. There, sitting on the rock wall, was a beautiful young woman reading a book. It was my Mom. Dad stood beneath the tall, towering maple tree in Uncle Earl’s front yard. Dad asked his brother who was the cute girl, sitting on the rock wall. Uncle Earl simply told Dad that she was the youngest of Mr. Kemmerer’s daughters. I think at that moment in time, Dad fell in love with Mom. They never talked to each other that

Mom, Dad and Grandma Mabey at home, at the house that my Grandpa Mabey built at the end of Mabey Lane. This photo was taken during the time period when Mom and Dad were dating.

ies, while he was stationed at Hickam Air Field. It really is a strange and bewildering thing. Although I never married, I have been blessed to have dated and loved some very wonderful, beautiful, charming women. And for one reason or another, the path never led to the alter. For all the single people out there, never ever give up on the thought of finding that special one. For there are many, many rock walls out there. And many, many tall, towering maple trees. And the grocery store has a full array of ink pens to choose from. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

day. Uncle Earl and Dad did not cross the street, to talk to Mom. Rather, after just a few moments of standing beneath the tall maple tree, the two young men retreated to Uncle Earl’s parlor. Shortly thereafter, Dad headed home, in his father’s car, to his home at the end of Mabey Lane in Lincoln Park. It was my Aunt Eleanor who encouraged Mom to write Dad and to send him cookies. Grandma often told me that Dad was a very shy man. I think that getting the cookies from Mom, while he was far away at Hickam Air Field, meant the moon and the stars to Dad. Fate and Destiny are strange twins. I often wonder where I would be, if Aunt Eleanor had never encouraged Mom to write Dad and send him cook

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