Albany Park Read Online Free Page A

were so malnourished. They smelled and a lot of us got sick from the odor. Some died before we could save them. Please, I can’t talk about it.” He stopped abruptly, making another twitch of his shoulder, which they all noticed.
    Looking from Frank to the rest of them as they sat silently, Pa spoke up. “C’mon, son, let’s have drink.”
    Pa poured some bourbon over ice for Frank and made himself a highball, proposing a toast, as he raised his glass. “Our family, may we always be together and celebrate only happy occasions, L’Chaim.”
    “What are all the ribbons and medals for?” Vic wanted to know.
    Frank smiled, and shrugged. “One is a Bronze Star, which all the original guys in our company were awarded, plus a Victory Ribbon. Three others are for major battles we were in and the blue one with the wreath is the Combat Infantry Man’s Badge. It’s the same as the one I wear on my wrist,” he said holding up his right arm.
    “A few everybody got, like a Marksman Medal and the Good Conduct one. The whole Division also got one from the French Government.”
    They sat around the table for two hours, talking without eating much; Sally still holding onto Frank. Ma and the girls cleared the table and served tea. Pa continued with questions about the war, but Frank seemed to be getting tired of them as his answers got shorter and the shoulder twitch, accompanied by a soft cough, got more pronounced.
    When the talk turned to the Pacific, Frank said, “I’m not sure. All I know is that I have to report to Fort Sheridan on Augustseventeenth. From there, I probably will be sent for more training in the states or possibly in Australia.”
    His comment was greeted with silence.
    “It’s late,” said Pa finally. “How about I take you and Sally down to the Palmer House and rent you the honeymoon suite? We can catch up with the two of you tomorrow. You’ll be home for a month.”
    Pa pulled Ma by the arm. “C’mon Ma, come with me, while the girls clean up.”
    “Sure Ma,” Flo smiled, “we can handle it; keep Pa company.”
    “Let me just call my parents,” said Sally.
    Lilly and Faith started to clear the table. Flo, who had put on a skirt and blouse, had taken out the curlers and brushed her hair, was already at the kitchen sink giving orders to Vic to help the girls. Glancing over his shoulder, Vic smiled, thinking how much she resembled Ma with her quick smile and black hair, thinking how Ma must have looked like as a teenager.
    Amidst the sound of dishes being cleared, scraped and washed plus chairs being moved, Frank got up and went to the phone to say a few words to Sally’s folks. Finishing the call the happy couple said their goodbyes. Once outside, they climbed in the backseat of the old Dodge. Ma and Pa took their places in front. The four kids were at the window watching as they pulled away.
    Vic and the girls were still up when the folks returned an hour and a half later.
    Gathered in the living room, they talked and talked about Frank and how exciting it was to have him home. Faith fell asleep on the floor next to Flo and Lilly nodded off on the couch with her head in Ma’s lap.
    Eventually, the conversation stopped. Flo, looking up from her seat on the floor next to the couch, said to no one in particular, “I can’t believe how grown up he is and he’s more handsome than ever. I hope he’s through with war and doesn’t have to ship out again.”
    Ma agreed and said, “C’mon, it’s one thirty in the morning, let’s go to sleep. We’ll see him tomorrow. He’ll be home for four weeks.”
    The phone rang about three a.m. Ma, in her nightgown and barefoot, shuffled to the telephone cabinet in the small entry hall. She answered on the fifth ring.
    “Hello,” she whispered, hoping not to disturb Pa and the kids.
    The loud ring in the middle of night had in fact awakened all of them. Vic was standing in the hallway leading from the dining room, wondering who could be calling in the