10 MAY 1940

HAPS GARAGE

JERICHO, KANSAS

All they ever really did was watch him do all the work. It was not like he could complain that much about it either. The main reason he had taken this job was that it afforded him time to do other things. The work was also rather easy, and plentiful. The engines were, at best, rudimentary to what he was used too. That was actually kind of refreshing but, it could also get rather monotonous and, for that reason, he was glad he really did not have to make a living doing it.

The two old men, sitting in their rockers in front of the garage, cackled away like old hens. They did so as Mitchell worked on getting a carburetor off of a rather new looking engine. Mitchell had never seen an engine like this look anything but rusty. It took some getting used too.

As Mitchell walked from one side of the open hood to the other he said as much to the station’s owner, Hap. Of course, Hap never could help himself. He always had to make the occasional jab, “I done gone and figured out how my boy over there can afford to take all those blasted trips.”

Mitchell was not sure that he ever knew the name of the other old fart. Mitchell had just taken to calling him Gramps. No one corrected Mitchell so the name stuck.

“How might that be,” Gramps replied.

“Well,” Hap went on, “I was listening to that Edward Murrow fellow, on the box earlier. Seems like our boy Mitch, over there, has done gone and called another one, right on the money.”

Mitchell stopped just before going back at the engine and looked over his shoulder at the two old men. He laughed it off, “I was just lucky Hap. Sides it makes since don’t it? Doesn’t do me as much good as figuring out what’s wrong with this engine.”

Now it was Hap’s turn to laugh, “don’t do you no good boy? You done gone and took me for another five dollars and that is quite a handsome bet, I might add.”

Mitchell blew it off, “if you want to keep your money Hap, keep your opinions to yourself.”

Gramps was very curious now. He poked Hap with his cane and said, “what did you bet on this time?”

Hap grumbled in response, “oh he went and told me last month that the Boche was going to go and invade France in the first two weeks of May. Then I turn on the box this morning and what is it I hear?”

Gramps sat back in his rocker and became smug, “well now I wouldn’t go and just give up your money yet Hap. The Boche may be moving but, they ain’t rightly in France just yet, now are they? They got to go through all them trenches and wire first. You can’t tell me the Frenchy’s and Tommy’s ain’t ready for them this time around.”

Today, a young kid named EJ had joined them. He listened to the two old men play armchair general. Mitchell figured that the kid just ate all that war talk up. He would drop by, every now and then, to do just that while drinking a soda. This time, after getting his deposit back for the soda bottle, he actually wandered into the garage and began helping with the car. Mitchell could see that he really wanted something else. It was written all over his eager looking face. Mitchell could not help him with that but, the boy proved to be competent help so Mitchell let him stay.

Finally, the boy did get around to asking, “were you in the army too? I mean you seem to be pretty smart when it comes to that kind of stuff.”

Mitchell took the wrench he had asked for and replied, “opinions are like ass holes kid. I just ventured mine is all.” That obviously did not divert the kid’s attention so Mitchell added, “I did my time, quite literally.”

Before the conversation could get any deeper, a car pulled into the station. Hap was going to get up and go work the pumps but, it turned out not to be a customer. The guy who got out of the car had on a funny looking gray uniform and carried some papers in his hand. Mitchell had dealt with him many times. He was the Western Union guy. Mitchell took his telegram and the guy waited for his tip. This time, Mitchell’s pockets were empty so he yelled out for Hap to give up a nickel. The old man grumbled, “you tip nickels? That’s my damn money you are tossing away boy. I’m taking it out of your pay.”

Mitchell grumbled, “and here I was feeling guilty about a nickel.” He then raised his voice and with some agitation he told the old man, “just do it will you!” Mitchell then got to reading his message and he had to tell EJ not to be to nosey, “do you mind?”

EJ backed off but he had already read the simple one line on the familiar looking Western Union form. All it said was, “Confirmed, They Have Him. What Next?” EJ did not bother asking what that meant since he judged it unlikely he would get an answer. He did get more than he thought when Mitchell summoned the courier over and told him, “you got the reply form right?” After the courier nodded, Mitchell told him, “you ready? It’s really complicated so take this down carefully.” The courier got his pen out and nodded as he was ready. Mitchell then told him, “Nuts, nothing follows.”

Now the Western Union boy became confused and asked, “that’s it?”

Mitchell replied, “it’s not enough?”

The courier still had that strange look on his face. Mitchell waived him off and as he got back to work on the car he said, “short of a descent way to send emails it’s just going to have to do.”

EJ Green’s face wrinkled in confusion, “what does that mean?”

Mitchell was quite easy as he replied, “just keep going kid. You’ll find out.”