Branch of Hopes

'Branch of Hopes'

"OHH Fu-- Forget them. Forget Kickball. Dodgeball. Or whatever they're playing They could've picked you." Joey looks downward, after also not being picked.

"Hungry?" Joey asks, pulling at his lunch box sitting on the gym floor against the wall.

"Thank you. What's your name?" The awkward pig-tailed girl asks warmly after accepting half a sandwich.

"Mmm. J-just Joey.." The shy almost mute boy says, looking away from the tall girl. Both sitting against the gymnasium wall.

"I'm Candace, Joey... And I'm over here silly." She pulls his face rightward to hers. Giggling.

He, even though brownskin is visibly blushing as he now must forcibly look at the girl eye to eye.

For a split second, He's a lost puppy in a wonderous land staring into the almost caramel irises of her eyes. He's temporarily distracted from Wonder Land, by the funny looking glasses resting on her nose.

"S-sorry. Hi Candace. Do you have to wear glasses... For like... Um reading?" The kid asks. His way of wondering what she looks like without them.

"Oui oui... For reading yes." She says without shame.

"Wee-wee?? What's that?" Joey asks snickering nervously. Smacking his food while eating his half of his ham sandwich.

"It's French. I'm 13 but I'm getting tutored for a new language at home. I love Josephine Baker, I'd like to see paris someday. I wanna be a translator for the U.N. when i grow up." Young Candace proudly makes known to hopefully a new friend. Neither kid is very popular amongst their peers.

"Wow... French. Oh French right! Oui means Yes! I heard that on 'Hey Arnold' once." The kid says wide-eyed. She laughs both *at and *With him as they enjoy the delicious sandwich.

"I like Arnold. And Doug Funny. And I'm currently trying to catch up on Pokèmon. 'Whatareyou' a grade under me? What do you wanna be? Or major in a few years?"

"Mmmm.... Well. I haven't quite figured it out yet. I like basketball more but I'm too short. My whole family likes basketball. My brother likes this new player on the Lakers. He has an afro and his name is like, 'Something Bryant' My dad named me after Michael Jordan. And my mom has a crush on some old player Terry Bird. Weird old people stuff" - Joey rambles

"Hehe*snort*hehe" she laughs and snorts covering her mouth and nose.

"It's Larry Bird. Not Terry. I think it's awesome you're named after Jordan. Maybe he was trying to put greatness inside you when your daddy named you? My Parents did the same for me. My family calls me Candy. But Mommy said 'Candace' translates to 'Queen Mother' in the bible. A lot of legendary and confident African queens were named Candace. I'm the eldest of my siblings so it fits i guess. It'll do."

Joey looks down at his watch with a brown leather band. There's 20 minutes left in gym period. "A queen huh? Hey you wanna take a walk? Down to the tennis courts outside?"

"Okay!" She agrees loudly out of nervous excitement. Candace is very outdoorsy. She often feels solace in taking walks through the woods near her suburban neighborhood. A month ago she was obsessed with colors pink and especially yellow. But her parents have started to see a new phase in her. Almost tomboy-like, and curious.

They can hear they yells and joyful screams and cheers of their classmates fade as they walk far out into the sporting fields of the school. Tennis courts and baseball fields. Beautiful acres of grass for a new soccer field.

"Joey? You okay your eyes are like pink or red?".

"Springtime. *sniffles* I'll be fine after some of this *sniffles* spring Medicine mom has in the cabinet at home." J

Candace, about 2 inches taller than Joey leads the way through a few trees and to a nice shaded spot almost off of school property. They rests on some old tree stumps.

The wind blows a pleasing breeze. A woodpecker is heard in the distsnce. And possibly a fox rustling through the brush off in the distance. Birds sing a song of joy.

They're quiet. They just listen. Enjoying natures organic and loving ballad. Due to their awkward silences, they Both are trying to hide their smiles. Until after a few glances, they just both bursts out in laughter. "What!?" They both ask each other simultaneously. "Jinx! Knock on wood!" They also both say exactly at the same time whilst knocking on their respective tree stumps. More Chuckles. Candace covers her mouth filled with adorable braces. Joey wipes a tear from his eyes from the giggles and not the allergies this time.

"I love being in tune with mother nature...... Hey! Cool shoes Joe. They match your watch." She says of his brown loafers which look very comfy.

"Oh, thank you. They make fun of me in the boys locker room cause i don't have jordans or nikes. But since it's thursday, i go to bible study in the evening. So im breaking in these new shoes for church. They're a little tight.. I.. I enjoy church . I got baptised last summer." Joe

"Really?? What was that like?" Candace, ever so curious.

"My adrenalin was just.... Like on fire at first. But once i came up from the water, there's been a calmness that washed over me that's never left since..... Though right after i also felt.... I dunno... Like..."

"Regretful? Like you weren't ready?"

"Yeah! Exactly. Me and my brother have been stealing candy and toys and video games since we were like 6 and 8. For personal pleasures. To re-sell our goods. Etc. After we were baptized we looked at each other like 'Shit man. We can never do that stuff ever ever again! Shit! Ahahaha!"

"Aha! Who would've thought? A quiet boy like you with the nice shoes and honor roll awards I've seen you accept in the auditorium for English and spelling... That your secretly Al Capone." She snorts and snickers briefly. They chuckle the minutes away.

Joey squints and bites his lip shyly. He rubs his shins up & downward. Still avoiding eye contact when possible. He loves her dorky laugh and weirdly cute pigtails. Everything he ever thought nerdy in other people was suddenly attractive. The cute lanky 'Queen' Who speaks french at 13 and loves nature.

They are too far off to hear the gym teacher's whistle to pack up for the next and last hour of the day.

Over Candace's head is a branch stemming from a Peach tree. Joey squints and stands up. There's something carved in it. Fading words it appears. "What? What's that?" She asks curious.

The tree says something. Candace hops up and looks deeply at it with her new buddy. She pushes her glasses up on her nose. "Bran....- Branch of.... " - C

"Hopes." - J

"Branch of Hopes" they both read it aloud. They 'Awwe' under there breaths. There's a hole in the tree where birds make nests that's right under the carved phrase.

"Looks like something is there. In the tree." Candace more excited to Joey's curiosity, she without blinking digs her thin yet athletic forearm inside. Feeling fuzzy moss growth, she digs deeper and pulls out something yellowish-white.

It's a molded piece of paper. She outstretches the stiff and dirty paper.

"Check it out!"

"What's that?"

"It's a note, look."

Joey's eyes grow wide, as a English buff.

"Gosh look! Marked '1943' "- Candace

"I'll read it, lemme see!"

"Sure!"

"Umm

' June 11th, 1943

Dear Teddy,

I've just graduated from high school last month. Finally huh? Golly, i wish you were here. I wish you were able to walk across that stage with me and that we could've thrown our caps up in the air together like promised. Curtis, Stephanie, Gareth and the rest of the gang are all missing you. Curtis is officially off to college and Gareth still has a bad ankle from you guy's historic basketball season. Leading our school to the perfect record of 35-0. A record I'm sure will never be beaten. Though Gary and Curt both feel a pang of guilt, that you got drafted to go over there and fight those awful Nazi's and Japs without them. We all miss you. I, especially. My parents Still hate that i got pregnant and we had to marry on a jaunt before you shipped out. But, I am..... - Candace what is this word?- joey stops reading to ask.

"But, i am.... EXHILARATED to be the wife of a Hero Ted.." Candace interjects, handing it back to Joey to continue.

.... "EXHILARATED to be the wife of a hero.. Ted. I've no doubt in my mind under the leadership of our president Roosevelt and your commander General Douglas MacArthur, that you boys will come out victorious. Liberating France. Italy. And Great Britain. That Mr. Churchill sure talks a big game on the radio. He's inspiring as FDR, if not moreover, but i question how confident he really was before great American soldiers like my husband Teddy showed up with his 7th regiment battalion. I even read in the library about how the negro soldiers in, in Harlem really kicked some butt over there in the first war over 20 years ago. They are a tough, talented group of people, the Negroes even though our country would be last to admit it. Could you imagine jazz tunes without their influence?

I couldn't. I'm sitting at our old spot in the woods behind the school. When i get home, I'll turn on my ella Fitzgerald records. She cheers me up. Such a light in her voice. Oddly enough, as depressing as Holiday sounds while singing torch songs, i enjoy her more. I guess her melancholy feeling in her songs resonates with me even more now that you're gone. You know, Billie holiday was sexually abused constantly as a young girl and even forced to work in houses of ill repute for a stretch. Look at her now. Won Best Jazz Vocalist for the last 2 years.

I can no longer listen to Dean Martin. It reminds of great times long gone. Going to see Dean downtown at the palladium. Swooning with the girls in the crowd as we watched him perform 'Sway'. They were actually throwing panties at that poor Italian man! Can you believe it? Talk about mass hysteria. But every time i hear him sing our song 'Which way did my heart go' .... My heart becomes 100 pounds in my chest and i cry, and cry until i cry myself to a hush, falling into a deep sleep.

And in my dreams i still see us at the Top of the Statue of Liberty exactly like we were on our senior class field trip. I wake up thinking you'll be next to me. Hogging the sheets as you always seem to. But next to me regardless. Your curly blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes. Your skin is like a beautiful sun baked Italian Prince's. Your slightly crooked teeth. Your sense of duty but also sense of humor. I love every bit about you. I miss every inch of you. I know we're only 18 but i want to spend our lives together Teddy Bear... -Haha. Her teddy bear-

*shhhh, shut up keep reading* Candace whispers as they sit, now sharing the same tree trunk.

*Right. Hmmhmm sorry* -J

"I remember our teacher Mr. Simmons said we would do time capsule letters.... Yet that was before he attracted polio and retired. I hear he is gravely ill and i must go to visit him very soon. I'm making a copy of this letter but I'm leaving the original right here. Under our branch of Hopes. Hopefully for some other young girl to find it in the future when we're long gone. And it can put them in a time machine back to this very day by reading it. Reading is very important. I am still going through with becoming a teacher's assistant this fall for the special needs children at the elementary school. I'm so passionate about those beautiful young children. As meemaw always said down in Alabama 'The Lord looks after Babies and Fools'... I tend to agree. But these children are not fools. They are babies. But when i see one; whether white, native, or negro, boy or girl...i see only angels. Angels who need a little extra care and attention. If this doesn't work out for me, i promised myself to train to be a redcross nurse and hopefully i can be sent right where you are. Anything for my country. Anything for you my dear.

Please. Wear your helmet always. Keep your rifle polished and always be a leader of your fellow men. Even at a mere 18 years you have this capacity. Also, if you ever become injured and need a medic. They will inject you with a substance called Morphine. I'm sure you know this. But remember.. It's pleasures are temporary and it's not something for you. I've seen what it's done to discharged soldiers. They're hooked and are becoming like zombies.

Signing off now, Your CeeCee.

My Love is the only Morphine you'll ever truly need. I'm enclosing an updated picture of me. I know you love my curls. I taped a lock of hair to the back of the photo.

Forever Yours, C."

Joey finishes the story. Silence envelopes the two digesting it all. That at 18 back then one can be a wife. A soldier fighting in the greatest, deadliest war in all of history. A forward thinking special needs teacher. A redcross nurse. An athlete who played a perfect record of basketball. At 18 in the modern time period of Joey and Candace, men are lucky to become fast food workers. No credit. No glory. Nothing much to fight for or look forward to. But the inspiration and sheer wonder they just got from this time capsule of a gift is Massive. The tall intelligent yet awkward girl and the very shy, honor roll pre-teen boy instantly feel older and more matured. More wise. All from this letter. And an automatic sense of camaraderie.

"Woww..." - Candace

"Yeah..... Hey do you wanna keep this?" - J

"No you saw it first you -

Holy S**T WHAT TIME IS IT!?" Candace snaps!

"F**k! gym ended 25 minutes ago we're gonna get detention! I can't Make it tonight!" - J

"And I'm supposed to be in history we're watching an important film on Malcolm X." - C

"Hey look. Candace. Take this to your history teacher. Before he writes you up show him this letter! It's perfect for history bell. They'll forget all about how late you are!" Joey suggests urgently.

"That's brilliant. I know Mr. Martin, he'll go crazy for this thing. But what about you Joey!?"

"I'll be fine... Don't worry about me.. I really... I umm. Had fun today. With.... You."

"Ohh Me too" she wraps a friendly arm around him as they walk back towards the school grounds.

Joey's palms are sweaty and Candace breathing is heavy. And yes Joey thinks that is cute too.

"Well... What's your final bell?" She asks as they walk in the halls.

"Stupid Miss Goodman. Math. Those... God awful fractions.... *sighs*. How can a teacher so attractive teach something so crappy."

"She is attractive. 'Sharon Stone- from-Casino-attractive' ...Huhhh! Miss Goodman! Shhhh it's a school secret but Mr. Martin is head over heels for her. He finds any little excuse to go in her class. Once Mr. Martin see's this. He'll let me off and I'll tell em your my buddy you found it with me and he's headed to Miss Sharon, oooh, i mean Miss Goodman's class. He'll wanna walk you down to get you off the hook and see his crush! We should be fine!"

1 hour later the school bell rings and students pile out of classrooms loud and bustling to get home to smoke pot or play ball or watch B.E.T.

Joey walks into detention anyway giving the I.S.S. teacher his detention slip.

Candace with her Burberry bookbag walks past the detention room ready to go home like everybody else. She glances to the right and sees in the detention room Joey handing over his slip.

"*she gasps* JOEEYY! What happened i thought you got let off!?" - Candace

"Keep it moving young lady" -says the bull dog-faced overweight white detention teacher.

"I did get off. And then the guys asked me what the heck i was doing in the woods with that weird looking geek girl. So i got up and smacked 2 of em hard as i could."

Candace jaw is on the floor. If looks could talk, "For Me?" Her face is saying.

"Joe detention is just an hour, I'll wait for you out front okay!?" - C

"YOUNG.LADY!" the white man raises his voice. Joey eyes him with a look. That even as a 12 year old is a look icy enough to thwart the man's temper. Whatever he saw behind this young man's eyes made him compromise. An italian former football coach, now a security guard/detention class overseer is made to calm down by a smooth adolescent face which seems to hide a mask of fury behind it.

"Look young lady, if u wanna spend da next hour in here in the back with ya boyfriend or whoeva? Ya more den welcome. As long as youse pull out ya study materials and keep ya voices down, capische?" - He says.

She giggles at the boyfriend comment. "Si, Il Ducè... Nice and quiet. Hehe." Candace rushes in to sit with Joey in the back.

"Hoo! What you call me? Il who?"

"Oh it wasn't an insult sir. Il ducè. That's what they called Mussolini. We learned about him last month."

."Hey. Mussolini was a great man. A great Italian...!"

"Oh i know. Even though he was on the Axis powers against us in the war!"

"Dat don't mean Nuttin'.....! Listen Heare..."

So much for silence. The teacher and Candace have a friendly yet fiery debate back in forth over the next 35 minutes. Before he feels jovial enough to let the kids break out 25 minutes early.

Joey just can't wait for tomorrow as he thinks in bed at night. Candace 10 miles away in a different neighborhood has the same thoughts in the shower.

They both think of one other. Plus a split ham sandwich. A cool breeze out in the woods. A peach tree, a great woman, nurse and teacher name CeeCee. And a soldier with a sense of duty named Teddy. From June 11th. 1943.

- Joey M. Jordan