The Rusty Purple Barn

Patty closed the book. She sobbed uncontrollably. She woke John up. He put his arms around her tightly.

"Sweet heart what happened? What's wrong with you," he asked passionately?

Patty wiped the tears from her eyes, she said, "John, this journal I’ve been reading has my emotions all over the place."

Patty tossed and turned all through the night. Early the next morning, she went back to the barn to search for some clues, some closure. She needed answers. Did David ever make it back alive?

John and Patty Fairbanks moved into their newly purchased farmland in Pentwater, Michigan the week before Christmas of 2009. Their only son Johnny was nine, the twin girls, Jamie and Jana were six years old. Pentwater was an old fashion, nice, small, cozy little town with a population of only 900 thousand. The previous owner's family operated a successful dairy farm for over seventy years. The farmland had been vacant for many years.

The children's main chore was to help get the old rusty purple barn cleaned out. The Fairbanks planned to turn the barn into a horse stable. Horses will be the only animals on the farm besides their cats and dogs. The entire family was fascinated by the color of the barn, as their realtor said they would be. But Jana seemed to be more inquisitive than the rest. She pleaded with her parents to keep the barn purple, her favorite color. John had to break the padlock off the barn door.

On the first day of cleaning, Jana found an old dusty cardboard box in the back-right corner with the fading words written on top My Treasure. Under the dingy hay was a small grey damp mildew smelly blanket. Inside that dusty blanket was a journal notebook. In the back of the notebook was a returned postcard and an un-mailed letter. The sound of cows mooing and being milked had cease. How was this box left in the barn, Patty thought?

After dinner, Patty was curious about the journal. She opened the worn-out book. This what she read:

June 12, 1939.

My Love,

The first time I laid eyes on you, I knew I was in love. Just your presence alone captivated me. Your black curly hair reminds me of the midnight waves. Your gorgeous green dreamy eyes captured my heart and soul. Your smooth and tough tan skin I long touch. The sound of your voice has put a spell on me. I desire to stay bound. I wonder if you wonder about me too. I am sitting here on a pile of hay in my half painted purple barn, day dreaming about you again.

My favorite cow Millie is staring at me. I am sure she's thinking when will I get off my butt, and milk her. Millie and I have an understanding not like the other cows or chickens. Ok, enough about Millie. Back to you my love. You have been here seven days now and haven't spoken one word to me. Do you see me? Am I invisible? Daddy doesn't want me talking to the hired hand. But I just might have to break that rule. I desperately need your strong arms around me right now. I am a seventeen-year old love-stricken teen. I hear my mother calling me. I must go now my love but I will write again soon.

June 16, 1939

My Love,

It happened!

Yes, finally you spoke to me.

At first, I thought I was invisible.

When you stared at me, dizziness came over me. I begin to faint. I didn't realize you knew my name. You've been working on the farm for a week now. Today you called me, "Martha," I thought I was dreaming. I love writing in my journal in the almost finished purple barn, this is where I first laid eyes on you. I know you must think that I am a shy quiet young lady. I am just speechless when you're standing so close to me. I have so many questions for you. First, what is your name? How old are you? Where did you come from? I will ask you these questions and more the next time we meet.

Patty couldn’t stop reading.

June 19, 1939

My Love,

I am still in AWE my love since you KISSED me yesterday. Before I could finish asking more questions, your lips were eternally connected to mine. I lost all sense of space and time. I couldn't go to sleep last night. I laid in the bed staring at the ceiling and replaying that very moment over and over again in my mind. I refused to wash my face this morning knowing that I would wipe your warm moist silky kiss away. I am actually standing in the exact same place where my life changed. This is our spot forever. As you can tell by now, I am a daddy's girl. His only girl. He delights in granting all my wishes. Since my brother Mark moved away and got married. I get all his attention.

If you ever read my journal, you will fully understand exactly what you mean to me. I am certain that my mother will be calling me soon for super. She thinks it's strange that I've stayed in my barn longer than usual this week. My love for you David is the reason. I can stand the cow manure as if it's a fresh breeze of air. It's called young love. I've become numb to the barn life and smell. This is my haven. I can't wait to see your ravishing face bright and early.

Patty was anxious, and animated to read the rest of the journal, as if she was six years old. After dinner, she found a quiet place to read.

June 30, 1939

My Love,

David, where shall I begin. Oh, how I immensely enjoyed our day at the beach. Your strong wet body next to mine. I can never get enough of your kisses, especially the ones you put all over my body. It was the most electrifying and exhilarating day of my entire seventeen years being on this earth. The day I gave up my virginity to you my love. It was more than I ever imagined. It was perfect even in the pain. Then, as the stars came out, you got down on your knee and asked me to marry you. I thought my heart was going to stop beating at that very moment. That was the most amazing ring-less proposal I've ever witnessed, the only one AHAHAHA!! You went from making me the happiest young lady in the world to the saddest all in one moment.

Patty wiped her tears and continued to read:

I know you asked my daddy could you marry me. The only reason he said yes was because I'll be older when you get back from the war. David, you know I will worry about you every day that you're in the war. I am not good at praying, but I will be by the time you come back. As I write this journal in our favorite spot, you should be back in Ohio by now getting ready to go to another part of the world. I will wait for you my love. No matter how long it takes we will meet again in my purple barn where you promised to put a ring on my finger. I can't wait to become Mrs. Martha Adamson.

June 29, 1940

My Love,

One year ago, today was the last time I heard your magnetic voice. Today is our one-year beach proposal anniversary. Honey, what happened to you? You never did write me like you promised. I wrote a letter for you today, but I couldn't mail it. I did mail a postcard to you, it came back. I check the mailbox everyday expecting to receive a letter from you. My heart is broken into a thousand pieces. My mother told me to forget about you and move on. How can I move on without you? How can I breathe? How can I live without you?

I am still writing you in my purple barn. I graduated from high school two weeks ago. I am not even sure how I made it through my senior year. After my only experience with sex, you impregnated me. I carried our baby for six weeks before I had a miscarriage. I still cry about that loss as if it was yesterday. Our child would have been born around the end of March. I could only imagine what he or she would have looked like. With my bright red hair and light hazel eyes, and your curly black hair, and green eyes; our creation would have been the most beautiful baby in the world. My heart aches because I grieve for our child and for you. It's too much for me to bare.

June 29, 1944

My Love,

So much has taken place in the last four years. Where should I begin? Even though I NEVER heard from you. I am keeping the faith. I do believe you're still alive and trying to make your way back in my arms. I read in the papers that there are thousands of prisoners of war. I believe that you're in that number. My brother Mark moved back home with his family to help me with our parents and the farm work. My mother passed of Polio disease. My father hasn’t been the same. He misses his wife, my mother so desperately. So, do I.

My mother's last words to me was to let you go and move on with my life. She wants me to get married and have children. Several men approached me in college showing interest. I let them know right off the bat that I was engaged! I graduated from college last week with a degree in Education. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a teacher. I wish you were with me. You would have been so proud. Once again, I am not even sure how I made it through college. Signing off now from our favorite spot. I will always love you my David, my reason for being, my soon to be husband.

June 29, 1945

My Love,

I am certain this will be my last journal entry. I asked Mark to bring me to the barn so I could attempt to write you.

I've been so weak. The chills, fever, and night sweats are truly unbearable.

My throat is extremely sore from my endless coughing.

Honey, I hate to tell you that I am dying of Tuberculosis disease.

The doctors have given me a few weeks to live.

The greatest thing that ever happened in my twenty-three years was you. The memories of us in June 1939 has kept me alive.

My dream came to pass. I was able to teach third graders for six months. I could no longer hide or deny my sickness. The teachers and parents noticed how fragile, and feeble I became. I didn't have the strength to continue teaching. My family thinks I am crazy to still believe you will come back to me.

I heard that the WAR will be over soon!

I know in the depths of my heart you will make your way back to me before I take my last breath.

Patty went back to the exact spot where the cardboard box was found. She frantically searched for a missing piece of the notebook or a letter, something!

There it was, surrounded by the old hay. A black and white photo with wrinkles as if it was real faces. On the back were these words:

David Adamson married Martha Richards

July 26, 1945

Three days before she died