The house had to be perfect, Leta thought as she scrubbed the
insides of the kitchen cupboards. While she had never been a sloppy
housekeeper, she had rarely shown this much devotion to cleanliness, except for
maybe her annual spring cleaning. However, the opportunity presenting itself to
her called for an exceptional action.
A week earlier, her daughter Vivian visited her. In itself,
this was not unusual. She and Vivian spent time together at least twice a week,
and they spoke on the telephone frequently. Leta delighted in her three-year-old
grandson Don. Both of their husbands were working. Leta’s husband Bob held a
foreman position at the Spicer plant and Vivian’s husband Ed worked for an
electronics company.
It was July1942, and ever since the attack by the Japanese on
Pearl Harbor the previous December, U.S. participation in the war against the
Axis powers was growing very quickly. Every day more men were signing up to
serve and more were being shipped out to Europe and the Pacific. The desire to
fight the Germans and Japanese was enveloping everyone they knew. Even Bob at
age 48 was contemplating adding his name to the registration.
Vivian’s husband Edward had been for some time a member of a
team of radio technology specialists that was working on communications devices
for aircraft. Now his skills were being called upon to support the war effort.
The U.S. had just launched its first air missions in Europe, and the plan was
to continue participation in the War with many more. Edward and his team would
spend the next several years in Washington, DC and various locations in Europe,
as they continued to improve the radio technology.
During that time, Vivian and Don would live with Leta and Bob.
The decision to cohabitate was as much an emotional one as a financial one. Since
their marriage in 1936, Vivian and Edward had renting a house near his parents
in Oregon Township. It was a one-bedroom that fit within their budget. While Edward
was gone, Vivian and Don could have remained there, but Vivian didn’t want
that.
When she called her mother, Vivian told her that she and Edward
had a discussion and wondered if Vivian and Don might stay with them until Ed
returned. Leta and Bob had plenty of room. When they married in 1937, she moved
into his large three-bedroom house. Vivian proposed that she and Don would
sleep in the guest room, assist with the housework and cooking, even pay rent.
Everyone was cutting corners, and it seemed foolish to her thrifty daughter and
son-in-law for mother and son to remain in their own rented location for an
indeterminate time. Besides, now that the economy was improving their landlord
had indicated he wanted to sell.
Bob agreed with the plan immediately. He was very fond of his
stepdaughter and her family. Besides, a vivacious little boy around always
picked up everyone’s spirits.
They would move in by the middle of August, and Leta wanted
the house to be perfectly ready for them. Providing a clean and polished house
was the least she could do for her daughter. She even helped Vivian clean the
rental house to leave it in better condition than when she and Edward moved in.
Leta also helped pack up their scant belongings, which would be stored in their
attic until Vivian or Edward needed them.
On August 12, Vivian, Don and Edward moved in, as Edward was
not to leave for Washington, D.C. until September. He had already made one trip
during the summer, but returned temporarily before his complete immersion in
his assignment.
One week after Edward left, Leta understood completely why it
was important for her daughter to stay with her during the separation.
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