In Ortonville Michigan in 2008
By Roy D. Taylor, Jr.
A 10-year-old boy road up on his bike’stopped and said to the old man.
‘Sir, do you live in this town? I have not seen you around here before.?
‘No son,? he replied. ‘I don’t live here now, but many years ago I did live nearby and if you would like to hear my story of why I’m here now, join me and I’ll tell you.?
‘I am here today at this spot to reminisce of a time 64 years ago when I first came to this town.?
Then the old man continued.
‘I was a service man in the Army during World War II. I had just completed training and was granted leave for 10 days to return home. While I was in the service my folks had moved into the Ortonville area, so that was my destination.?
The old man looked across the street and pointed, then continued.
‘Right across there on the corner used to stand the old Ortonville Hotel. It was there that I first alighted from a Greyhound bus after a two day trip by train from my base in Arkansas. It was just a few days in May 1944 before Memorial Day that I first saw this town.?
And the old man turned and pointed toward the township hall.
‘Right here where the hall now exists was an open area town park for picnics and social gatherings. A couple of days before Memorial Day a one ring circus set up operations here for the holiday.?
The old man hesitated and leaned on his cane to adjust his position.
‘The night before Memorial Day I went to the circus with my folks. We took front row seats on the bleachers. Then I went forward to the ring before the show started to talk to a clown. We struck up a conversations about the war and being in the service.?
‘During this time two young girls took seats directly behind my folks. When I returned to my seat I was informed that the girls were talking about me. So I turned around and introduced myself to them. I then joined them and had just met my future wife. One of these girls was named Geraldine and the other was named Verda. They were senior classmates from the old Ortonville High School had and just graduated.?
‘When the show was over I walked them both home as they were staying together in town. The one I kissed goodnight was Geraldine’as it turned she was not to be my future wife.?
‘Remember, through life that things don’t always work out as planned, and he smile.
‘The next day was Memorial Day and a parade was formed up right here on Mill Street. There were two of us service men in town and we were chosen to be the color guards in this parade to the cemetery. Then after the parade I was walking down Mill Street and right in front Hamilton’s store there was Verda parked in her dad’s car. We greeted each other and the rest was history. That was 64 years ago. We were married a couple of months later, then I went off to war in Europe.?
The old man continued his story.
‘About three years ago my wife, Verda, passed away and now resides beside her folks in a grave under the tall spruce tree behind the soldiers? memorial in the Ortonville Cemetery.?
And then with a tear in his eye he again addressed the boy.
‘And yes son you have not seen me around town but I will be around now and then just to be close to her.?
With that the boy got back on his bike and said “Thank you Sir,” and then he road down South Street and disappeared around the curve and the old man’s view followed with a tear running down his wrinkled cheek, thinking of his own youth long ago.
P.S. Yes, I am that old man. RDT