Read Online On Wings of the Morning by Dan Verner - Free Book Online
Authors: Dan Verner
Tags: Historical fiction
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tradition among pilots. When you solo, they cut off the bottom of your shirt and then everyone signs it. See?” He held up the autographed shirttail for her to see.
“Yes, I see, but I think it a very strange custom to cut up a perfectly good shirt that I worked for hours to sew for you.”
“I’m sorry, Mama. I didn’t mean to spoil the shirt.”
Maria sighed. “Well, I suppose you didn’t do it. But the next time you solo, wear an old shirt.”
Otto thought of explaining that this only happened the first time you soloed but decided not to say any more and went to his room. There he laid the shirttail out on his bed and admired it. He could fly by himself now. He could hardly wait for Saturday to come when it would be time for him to fly again. Life was good.
Chapter 9
The End of High School—May, 1938
Otto knocked nervously on the door of the biggest house in town. It belonged to Betty’s family, and he was here to practice dancing with her. He and Mata had practiced at home to the radio, but dancing with a pretty girl, even if she was your best friend, was different from dancing with your sister.
Mata was a very good dancer. Otto didn’t know how she had learned—it just seemed to be something that girls knew how to do. He hadn’t paid much attention to what she was doing in her room, but gathered that she had taught herself how to dance. In fact, she seemed pleased when he asked her to teach him. “Of course, Otto! I’ll be glad to,” she had exclaimed. That was a month ago, and they had practiced almost every night. Their mother looked on smiling while Papa hid himself behind his German-language newspaper.
So they practiced, although Mata had allowed that Otto would never be very good, but at least he wouldn’t cripple his partner by stepping all over her toes. He and Betty were going to the school prom at the end of May, and they had agreed to meet several times to practice dancing so they would be used to each other when the time came.
A uniformed maid answered the door. “Yes?” she queried.
“Hi, ‘mam, I’m Otto Kerchner, and I‘m here to see Betty.” He hadn’t expected a maid to open the door. This was really uptown.
“Please come in, sir. Miss Ross is expecting you.” The maid turned and walked away in such a way that Otto knew he was expected to follow.
Otto followed her past a large staircase, down a long hall and into a large room with floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall. The maid indicated with a gesture that he should sit on a sofa covered in a rich floral fabric. He took his seat as she glided silently out of the room.
After a minute or so, Betty came into the room. She was wearing a yellow dress Otto had never seen before. Otto stood up, and she took both his hands in hers. “Otto! Thank you so much for coming! This is going to be fun!” She let go of his hands and twirled around once. “How do you like my dress? It’s for the prom! I’m so glad we’re going together!”
Otto couldn’t speak for a few seconds. Finally he said, “It’s lovely, Betty. I’m glad we can practice before. That way we’ll dance better at the prom.”
Betty smiled. “Well, let’s get going, then, shall we?” She took him by the hand and led him to an open area. She went over to a small record player and started a record. The strains of a big band orchestra filled the room. Otto recognized the song, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.”
Otto put his right hand on Betty’s waist and held her right hand in his left. They stood for a moment to sense the beat and then Otto pushed lightly on Betty’s waist. They moved around the room, a bit awkwardly at first, but then more smoothly as they became accustomed to each other. Betty pulled him closer. “It’s easier when you hold me close,” she said. Otto felt faint for a moment as they continued to glide around the room. The music continued,
They said someday you'll find
All who love are blind
Oh, when your heart's on
“Yes, I see, but I think it a very strange custom to cut up a perfectly good shirt that I worked for hours to sew for you.”
“I’m sorry, Mama. I didn’t mean to spoil the shirt.”
Maria sighed. “Well, I suppose you didn’t do it. But the next time you solo, wear an old shirt.”
Otto thought of explaining that this only happened the first time you soloed but decided not to say any more and went to his room. There he laid the shirttail out on his bed and admired it. He could fly by himself now. He could hardly wait for Saturday to come when it would be time for him to fly again. Life was good.
Chapter 9
The End of High School—May, 1938
Otto knocked nervously on the door of the biggest house in town. It belonged to Betty’s family, and he was here to practice dancing with her. He and Mata had practiced at home to the radio, but dancing with a pretty girl, even if she was your best friend, was different from dancing with your sister.
Mata was a very good dancer. Otto didn’t know how she had learned—it just seemed to be something that girls knew how to do. He hadn’t paid much attention to what she was doing in her room, but gathered that she had taught herself how to dance. In fact, she seemed pleased when he asked her to teach him. “Of course, Otto! I’ll be glad to,” she had exclaimed. That was a month ago, and they had practiced almost every night. Their mother looked on smiling while Papa hid himself behind his German-language newspaper.
So they practiced, although Mata had allowed that Otto would never be very good, but at least he wouldn’t cripple his partner by stepping all over her toes. He and Betty were going to the school prom at the end of May, and they had agreed to meet several times to practice dancing so they would be used to each other when the time came.
A uniformed maid answered the door. “Yes?” she queried.
“Hi, ‘mam, I’m Otto Kerchner, and I‘m here to see Betty.” He hadn’t expected a maid to open the door. This was really uptown.
“Please come in, sir. Miss Ross is expecting you.” The maid turned and walked away in such a way that Otto knew he was expected to follow.
Otto followed her past a large staircase, down a long hall and into a large room with floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall. The maid indicated with a gesture that he should sit on a sofa covered in a rich floral fabric. He took his seat as she glided silently out of the room.
After a minute or so, Betty came into the room. She was wearing a yellow dress Otto had never seen before. Otto stood up, and she took both his hands in hers. “Otto! Thank you so much for coming! This is going to be fun!” She let go of his hands and twirled around once. “How do you like my dress? It’s for the prom! I’m so glad we’re going together!”
Otto couldn’t speak for a few seconds. Finally he said, “It’s lovely, Betty. I’m glad we can practice before. That way we’ll dance better at the prom.”
Betty smiled. “Well, let’s get going, then, shall we?” She took him by the hand and led him to an open area. She went over to a small record player and started a record. The strains of a big band orchestra filled the room. Otto recognized the song, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.”
Otto put his right hand on Betty’s waist and held her right hand in his left. They stood for a moment to sense the beat and then Otto pushed lightly on Betty’s waist. They moved around the room, a bit awkwardly at first, but then more smoothly as they became accustomed to each other. Betty pulled him closer. “It’s easier when you hold me close,” she said. Otto felt faint for a moment as they continued to glide around the room. The music continued,
They said someday you'll find
All who love are blind
Oh, when your heart's on
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