For the Duration: The War Years (2 page)

(A caisson is a wagon that carries ammunition.) “Very good,” Mr. Conklin said. “Now we'll try the second song in the medley, which is ʹAnchors Aweigh,‘ the U.S. Navy anthem.”

We sang:

“Now, Miss Mulligan will play the alto parts for both songs,” Mr. Conklin told us.

The altos practiced, then the tenors and basses, who were all the older boys whose voices had changed—or who could at least sing lower.

We went on to practice “The Marines' Hymn.”

“We will now practice the last song in the medley, learn the parts, and try to put them all together,” Mr. Conklin said. “It is the Army Air Corps anthem.”

Miss Mulligan began and we sang:

I started to feel funny. I started to think of my cousin Blackie, whose plane was shot down. I couldn't help it. I started imagining the enemy planes shooting at Blackie's bomber.

All of a sudden the words went: “We live in fame or go down in flame.”

Blackie went down in flames,
I thought,
down in flames.

Tears welled up in my eyes and my throat began to choke and it was hard to breathe. I jumped up. I couldn't help it. I ran out of the music room, down the hall, to the second floor boys' room. I fell against the wall and started to sob and sob and sob.

Suddenly, Mr. Conklin came in.

“Tommy,” he said, “whatever is the matter?”

I could hardly talk, I was crying so hard. Mr. Conklin lifted me up and took me out into the hallway. Miss Mulligan took me by the shoulders into the teachers' room. The doors to the classrooms were open and kids looked out at me.

When we got inside the teachers' room, Miss Mulligan asked me very quietly, “Can you tell me what's wrong, Tommy?”

“My cousin Blackie was killed when his plane was shot down. The Air Corps song made me think about it and I couldn't stop,” I sobbed.

“Here,” Miss Mulligan said, handing me some tissues. “Wipe your nose and try to dry your eyes. I'm going to take you down to the nurse's office, where you can lie down.”

We went down the stairs to Miss Luby's office. I lay down on the little cot that was against the wall. Miss Mulligan gave me a paper cup of water and pulled down the window shade so the room wasn't bright anymore.

“You rest and I'll be back in a minute,” said Miss Mulligan. She went out the door and closed it.

As much as I tried, I just couldn't stop my tears from coming. My stomach hurt. I couldn't catch my breath. I just wanted to go home.

The door to the room opened and there were Miss Mulligan, Miss Burke, the principal, Miss Gardner, my teacher, and my brother, Buddy. Miss Gardner had my jacket.

“Tommy,” Miss Burke said, “Joseph will take you home. We called your mother and she's waiting for you. Now, put on your jacket and we'll see you on Monday.”

Buddy and I left even though school wasn't over yet.

Buddy looked mad. “Hurry up!” he yelled. He walked fast and ahead of me.

I had to run to keep up.

“Thanks a lot,” Buddy said. “My friends are going to laugh at me because of you.”

I didn't say anything. I didn't know what was wrong.

When we got home, Mom was waiting at the door. She hugged me.

“You go right upstairs to the bathroom, Tomie, and wash your face with a cold cloth.”

While I was in the bathroom, I heard Buddy talking to Mom. “I'm so glad that I go to Lincoln Junior High School next year and won't
ever
have to be in the same school as him as long as I live!”

“Buddy, watch your tone,” Mom scolded.

“I don't care. All my friends are going to laugh at me. It's all over the school: Tomie dePaola ran out of the music room, crying like a BABY!”

“Just you be careful, young man,” I heard Mom say. “Tomie got very upset about the Air Corps song. He couldn't help it. You know how much he loved Blackie.”

“He always does stuff so everyone pays attention to him,” Buddy answered. “It embarrasses me! He's a big sissy. Everyone thinks so.”

“That's enough, Buddy,” Mom said. “I think you'd better go up to your room and cool off.”

Mom came to the stairs. “Tomie,” she called, “come down.”

Buddy stormed up the stairs.

I was just coming out of the bathroom. As Buddy passed me, he punched me—hard—in the arm.

“I'll get even with you!” he growled.

I ran down the stairs. That night I slept on the daybed in my baby sister Maureen's room. Mom said Buddy needed to “simmer down.”

Chapter Two