“There could be if you would let it happen. I know you like me and I believe you could fall in love with me if you’d let yourself.” Lamont gave a sigh of defeat, “I’m sorry I can’t make you see that there can never be anything serious between us.” Natalie asked, “Can we always be good friends?” He answered, “Of course we will be good friends. I want you to think about our talk.”
When they got back to the house, Natalie went to her room. She wanted to cry. She fell across the bed and thought about everything Lamont had said. She knew he was being honest with her and she was hurt. But he does like her. Maybe if she will just give him time he’ll fall in love with her. She had to hang onto that thread of hope.
The rest of the time they were there Lamont was very careful not to be alone with her. Lamont was glad when she had to go back to college.
The eight months passed slowly for David. When the time came, Lamont re-enlisted. He and David had a night out on the town and said goodbye. David took over his father’s job. Mr. Agar was very happy. Natalie started her second year in school. Once in a while, David would get a postcard from Lamont.
After spending a few months in London, Lamont was promoted to a higher rank. Two years later, he got another promotion. In November, David got another card from Lamont. The first one in eight months. He told Natalie and his parents, “I got a card from Monty today.” Natalie asked, “How is he and where is he?” David answered, “The card was mailed from the canal zone. He’s a big officer now. I’d sure like to see him. You know it’s been nearly three years.” Mr. Agar asked, “Has it been that long?” Natalie said, “Yes, it seems longer to me.”
In June, the Agar family went to the state college to see Natalie graduate. They had been gone about thirty minutes when a tall, blond Navy officer knocked on the door. When Porter opened the door, he surprisingly said, “Monty, how nice. Come on in son.” When Lamont stepped inside Porter yelled, “Della, Della come here. Monty has come to see us.”
Della came into the room holding her arms out to Lamont, “Monty, I’m so glad to see you.” He put his arms around her chubby body and squeezed her hard, “Hello Della, the woman of my life.” Porter laughed, “You haven't changed a bit Monty.” Della said, “He’s just as mean as he ever was.” Then she laughed. Porter said, “We were just fixing to eat. Won’t you joint us?” Della replied, “Sure he will. I never saw Monty when he wasn’t hungry.” Lamont asked as he walked to the kitchen with them, “Where’s Dave?” Della answered, “They left just a few minutes ago to see Natalie graduate.” Lamont looked surprised, “You mean she is graduating already?” Della said, “You’ve been gone three years you know.” Lamont ran his fingers through his hair, “Damn, it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. What time is graduation?” Porter looked at his watch, “In about three hours.” Lamont said, “Maybe I better go see Nat graduate. She’d never forgive me if I didn’t go.” Della agreed, “You’re right Monty.”
Porter told Lamont how to get there then he added, “You can take Dave’s car. It’s in the garage. It will take you a little over two hours to make the drive.” Lamont looked at Della, “I’ll have some of that fried chicken when I get back.”
The graduation exercises had just started when Lamont got there. He didn’t try to find the Agars, there were too many people. He found a seat near the rear. The graduating class was very large. He saw Natalie sitting on the front row. The exercises lasted nearly two hours.
Finally, when it was over the families gathered around congratulating the pupils. Lamont made his way through the crowd. Natalie didn’t see him until a voice asked, “Is there room for an old friend?” Natalie threw her arms around him and he held her to him. This time he
When they got back to the house, Natalie went to her room. She wanted to cry. She fell across the bed and thought about everything Lamont had said. She knew he was being honest with her and she was hurt. But he does like her. Maybe if she will just give him time he’ll fall in love with her. She had to hang onto that thread of hope.
The rest of the time they were there Lamont was very careful not to be alone with her. Lamont was glad when she had to go back to college.
The eight months passed slowly for David. When the time came, Lamont re-enlisted. He and David had a night out on the town and said goodbye. David took over his father’s job. Mr. Agar was very happy. Natalie started her second year in school. Once in a while, David would get a postcard from Lamont.
After spending a few months in London, Lamont was promoted to a higher rank. Two years later, he got another promotion. In November, David got another card from Lamont. The first one in eight months. He told Natalie and his parents, “I got a card from Monty today.” Natalie asked, “How is he and where is he?” David answered, “The card was mailed from the canal zone. He’s a big officer now. I’d sure like to see him. You know it’s been nearly three years.” Mr. Agar asked, “Has it been that long?” Natalie said, “Yes, it seems longer to me.”
In June, the Agar family went to the state college to see Natalie graduate. They had been gone about thirty minutes when a tall, blond Navy officer knocked on the door. When Porter opened the door, he surprisingly said, “Monty, how nice. Come on in son.” When Lamont stepped inside Porter yelled, “Della, Della come here. Monty has come to see us.”
Della came into the room holding her arms out to Lamont, “Monty, I’m so glad to see you.” He put his arms around her chubby body and squeezed her hard, “Hello Della, the woman of my life.” Porter laughed, “You haven't changed a bit Monty.” Della said, “He’s just as mean as he ever was.” Then she laughed. Porter said, “We were just fixing to eat. Won’t you joint us?” Della replied, “Sure he will. I never saw Monty when he wasn’t hungry.” Lamont asked as he walked to the kitchen with them, “Where’s Dave?” Della answered, “They left just a few minutes ago to see Natalie graduate.” Lamont looked surprised, “You mean she is graduating already?” Della said, “You’ve been gone three years you know.” Lamont ran his fingers through his hair, “Damn, it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. What time is graduation?” Porter looked at his watch, “In about three hours.” Lamont said, “Maybe I better go see Nat graduate. She’d never forgive me if I didn’t go.” Della agreed, “You’re right Monty.”
Porter told Lamont how to get there then he added, “You can take Dave’s car. It’s in the garage. It will take you a little over two hours to make the drive.” Lamont looked at Della, “I’ll have some of that fried chicken when I get back.”
The graduation exercises had just started when Lamont got there. He didn’t try to find the Agars, there were too many people. He found a seat near the rear. The graduating class was very large. He saw Natalie sitting on the front row. The exercises lasted nearly two hours.
Finally, when it was over the families gathered around congratulating the pupils. Lamont made his way through the crowd. Natalie didn’t see him until a voice asked, “Is there room for an old friend?” Natalie threw her arms around him and he held her to him. This time he
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