Blossoms of Love (41 page)

The room was very quiet. All the men in the room with Lamont were in poor condition. You could hear the sound of breathing and the smell of a hospital. He slowly walked over to Lamont’s bed. There were tubes in his nose and his side. It broke David’s heart when he looked down at him. His blond hair was freshly cut and his face freshly shaven but he was so skinny. His cheek bones looked larger and his jaws sunk far inward. His eyes were closed. He did look restful. There was no indication of pain. As David stood looking at Lamont, a young man in the bed next to Lamont asked David, “You his brother?” David walked over to his bed, “No, I’m a good friend.” It was then that David noticed one of his arms was gone. The young man said, “I was in the same camp with the captain. If he hadn’t been so tough, me or Sergeant Bower wouldn’t be here. There were over seventy of us but we were the only ones sent here with him. I guess we were considered critical.” Tears came in his eyes, “I’m glad you came. He needs someone. He’s been through a lot of hell.” David said, “He has four brothers, a mother, and a girl he is engaged to. When I let them know he is here, they’ll all be here. We all though he was dead.” The young man said, “The captain kept us going. He was determined to get back to the US Now, since he’s here he has lost his will to live. He really wants to die.” David said, “We won’t let him. When I can talk to him, I’ll put the fight back in him. I’ve got to get the news to his mother. Take care, I’ll be seeing you.” David looked over at Lamont. He was still asleep. David decided to stay near Lamont until someone else came. He got him a motel room, rented a car, then called Carolyn. When Carolyn answered she asked, “Is it Monty?” David said, “Yes honey. It’s Monty.” Carolyn said, “That’s just wonderful!” David said, “I started to call Mom Ellman first but now I don’t know. Monty is in bad condition. Should I let Mom Ellman know or should I wait a few days?” Carolyn said, “Dave, Mom should know.” David sighed, “Let me talk to the doctor again.” David asked about the children and her then he said, “Meet me at the airport tonight. I’ll be home. I need to tell Mom myself. Then I can go back and be with Monty.” Carolyn asked, “What time?” “I’ve already checked. There’s a plane that gets there at nine fifteen.” Carolyn said, “I’ll be there darling.”

David talked to the doctor again and the doctor thought it was wise to go back.

As Carolyn and David rode home David said, “Dr. Lennon said Monty was slowly getting better. Monty doesn’t even know I’ve been there.” Carolyn asked, “Didn’t you get to talk to him?” David said, “They have him knocked out. The doctor wants him to get all the rest he can. Carolyn-“ She saw tears in her husband’s eyes, “Carolyn you wouldn’t believe what they did to him. Those damn Japs aren’t people—they’re animals. When I saw him, I couldn’t believe it was Monty. You know what he weighs? One hundred and ten pounds.” Carolyn put her hand to her mouth, “With Monty’s big framed body, he must look awful.” David said, “Honey that’s just a minor thing. His fingers and toes have been broken. Oh God—Carolyn, they partially castrated him.” David cried like a little boy. Carolyn stopped the car and parked. She let David cry and she breathed, "Oh Lord, have mercy.” David said, “From what the doctor said, they butchered him pretty bad.” Tears came to Carolyn’s eyes, “Poor Monty. How has he lived?” David said, “He was shot in the leg. That was when Tom Woods saw him. I don’t know how he lived either unless it was pure stubbornness and love for the other prisoners.” Carolyn said quietly, “Yes and God’s will and blessings.” David said, “Yes of course, there is no doubt God touched him but he had to have the ill to go on too. Remember what Barbara said the day Mom got the news he was missing? She said Monty promised he would come back.” Carolyn said, “Yes, I very well remember that scream from Barbara.” David said, “We’ve got to find Barbara. She could help Monty more than any of us. You see, he wanted to get back to the states before he died. Now, since he is here, he really wants to die.”

The next morning David had all the Ellmans meet him at Mom Ellman’s house. Since it was Sunday, no one had to work. They all went to church and then to Mom Ellman’s for dinner. David let them enjoy their dinner then he said, after the children went to play, “I have got news for all of you. It’s good and bad.” They all looked at him. David said, “As you know, I went on a trip for a few days. I went to a hospital in California. I got a letter from a Dr. Lennon there. First, I want you all to know why I didn’t tell you before now. I had to identify someone and I wanted to be sure before any of you had hopes.” Johnny asked, “Monty’s not dead?” David answered, “That’s right. He is in the hospital. He has been there since July.” Everyone began to cry with joy. David said, “Let me tell you the rest before you get too happy over the news. First of all, Monty had to be operated on. They had to take a bullet from his leg. Monty is in very poor condition. He weighs only one hundred and ten pounds.” They looked at each other. David continued, “The doctor seems to think he will pull through but it’s gonna take a long time. Monty was tortured. All of his fingers and some of his toes were broken.” Leon cursed and Johnny hit his fist against his hand, while Berry walked up and down. Allen said, “It’s God’s will he came back.” David’s face looked pale, “There’s more.” Mrs. Ellman said, “I don’t see how there can be more.” David said, “This is the sickening part.” They all looked at him. The look on his face let them know it was very bad. David swallowed hard and with tears in his eyes said, “There’s no easy way to tell you. The Japs tried to find Monty’s breaking point but he didn’t break. Down.” David’s voice broke and he began to cry. Carolyn put her arm around him. Johnny asked, “What in the hell did they do Dave?” It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. David cleared his throat, “They cut him. They partially castrated him, like a hog or a horse.”

Everything was silent. It seemed they couldn’t believe what they just heard. Then Mrs. Ellman said, “Oh God in heaven, why—why?” Berry said, “We must go to him.” David said, “I agree.” Mrs. Ellman said, “I’m going to my son. He needs me now more than he ever has.” David said, “Not yet Mom. The doctor said he didn’t want Monty having visitors for a while. There are nine other men in his room. A woman couldn’t stay with him, besides Mom, he didn’t know I was ever there. What some of us need to do is find Barbara.” Alice asked, “Where do you start?” Allen said, “We can hire a detective. That’s about the only way I know.” Leon said, “Sure, that’s the only way. We’ll all put in together and pay him.” Johnny said, “Now what we should do is take turns staying with Monty. No point in all of us going at the same time. There are five of us men. Two at a time can go. One will have to double each time.” Berry said, “That’s using your brain Johnny.” Leon said, “Yea, that will leave one man here with the women since Cindy and Alice are pregnant.” David said, “I’m going back tonight. Who wants to go with me? I’ve got a motel room rented and a car rented. It’s at the airport.” Berry said, “I’ll go with you.”

They had to call Dr. Morris to give Mom Ellman a shot. Johnny cornered David, “I got to know Dave, how bad did they cut him?” David answered, “I don’t know. The doctor just said he was butchered.” Johnny broke down and cried. He said, “I remember when we were about grown, Monty use to brag because he was bigger than me. He use to laugh and say he was the only Ellman who had the tools to satisfy a woman. Damn it! Why didn’t they go ahead and kill him?” David said, “You don’t mean that.” Berry said, “I’ve been thinking the same thing. What has Monty got to live for? What about his sex life?” David said, “Dr. Lennon said he would have sex and enjoy it but there could never be any children. That’s why we must find Barbara. She can be a crutch for Monty. She can give him the love and affection he needs.”

There was very little change in Monty when Berry and David went to see him. Berry said, “Monty—it’s Berry—Dave is here too.” Lamont just lay lifeless. If he heard Berry, he didn’t show any motion or open his eyes.

As the weeks passed, the detective the Ellmans hired had no luck. He found where she lived but she had moved away and didn’t leave her new address.

Thanksgiving came and David and Johnny spent the day at the hospital. They went in to see Lamont. The tubes were gone from his side but were still in his nose. David said, “Hello buddy.” Lamont opened his eyes, “How did you find me?” David answered, “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when you’re more up to it.” Lamont closed his eyes. With the tube in his nose, it wasn’t easy to talk. He turned his head away from David. David said, “Dr. Lennon tells me you’ve stopped fighting. I don’t believe that. You’ve never been one to give up.” Lamont opened his eyes again, “I never gave up. I’m here ain’t I? I didn’t want to die on that damn island.” David said, “You can’t stop fighting because you’re here. Dr. Lennon said if you will help him, you will be alright. You will walk out of the hospital and live a normal life.” Lamont closed his eyes, “I’ll never be alright. I can never be the same.” David had never seen Lamont defeated before. David cleared his throat and said, “Listen to me Monty. I’m not gonna let you give up. I’m going now so Johnny can come in to see you.”

In minutes Johnny said, “Hello brother.” Lamont asked sarcastically, “Is the whole damn family here?” Johnny answered, “No, just me and Dave. Berry and Allen were here last week. Leon and Dave will be here next week.” Lamont said, “Go home Johnny. All of you go home. I don’t want any of you here.” John said, “We’re staying whether you like it or not. So the sooner you get well, the quicker we all go home to stay.” Lamont asked, “Does Mom and Barbara know?” Johnny said, “No, just us.” Johnny lied because suddenly he knew this answer was very important to Lamont. Lamont said, “Johnny, I don’t want Mom and Barbara to know. I don’t want them to see me like this.” Johnny said, “Okay, I’ll keep them away as long as you are fighting to get well.”

By Christmas, Lamont had the tube out of his nose and was sitting up in bed. He had gained twenty pounds. He still looked back but Dr. Lennon was well pleased. For a Christmas present, Lamont called his mother. She asked when she could come to see him. He told her he didn’t want her to come that he would see her one of these days. When he learned Barbara wasn’t there, he gave a long sigh of relief, “I’m glad she isn’t Mom. There is no future for us now.”

In January, a man went to a small town in Idaho. He went to a cafe and asked a waitress, “Are you Barbara Edmonds?” Without thinking she said, “Yes I am.” He showed her his badge, “I was hired by the Ellmans to find you and bring you back.” Barbara put the coffee down in front of him that he had ordered, “I can’t go back. I’ve got a job and I can’t leave.” The detective said, “Then call them and explain why you can’t come or I’ll have to force you to go with me.” Barbara got angry, “On what reason? Listen, I’m a grown woman. I’ve done nothing wrong. Don’t give me that bullshit.” The detective said, “Okay, then I’ll call them.” He looked around for a phone. Barbara asked, “Is anything wrong with Mom Ellman?” He looked at her, “Look Miss Edmonds, all I know is that they hired me to find you. They didn’t tell me why.”

He saw a phone booth, got up, and walked towards it. Barbara said, “Wait. I’ll call them.” He followed her and stood by the booth to be sure she did call them. Barbara dialed the Ellman number. The phone rang three times before Ellen answered, “Hello.” Barbara asked, “Ellen?” Ellen asked, “Barbara! Is it really you?” Barbara answered, “Yes it’s me. There is a detective here with me. He said I’m suppose to come back with him. Is Mom Ellman sick?” Ellen said, “No, no. She is fine.” Barbara said, “I can’t come then. I’ve got this job and.. . .” Ellen said, “Will you shut up a minute. I think you’ll want to come. Barbara, we found out that Monty is not dead.” Barbara turned so pale the detective asked, “Are you alright?” Barbara nodded her head. Ellen asked, “Barbara! Barbara! Are you alright?” Barbara said, “We have a bad connection. It sounded like you said Monty wasn’t dead.” Ellen repeated, “Monty isn’t dead! I did say that. He is in a hospital in California. Now will you please come home?” Barbara cried, “I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it, after all this time.” Ellen said, “Here is Dave. Maybe he can convince you.” David said, “Hey Barb. Get yourself here. What Ellen told you is true.” Barbara cried, “Monty is alive?” David’s voice softened, “Yes honey, Monty is alive. When you get here I’ll tell you all about it.” Barbara said, “Dave—you better sit down—what I’m about to tell you will be a shock.” David asked, “You didn’t go and get married, did you?” Barbara said, “No, I would never marry anyone but Monty. When I get there, I won’t be alone. Dave—I have a son. He’s a year old. I had a baby by Monty.” David was surprised. He took a long, deep, breath and said, “Come on home honey. We all want to see you and Monty’s son.” Barbara beamed, “I’ll be there just as soon as I can get everything together. I still can’t believe it. Monty is alive. Oh Dave! Suddenly, I’m alive too.”

When Barbara hung up she turned to the detective and said, “Monty is alive. He’s in a hospital in California.” The detective said, “My dear, I don’t know who Monty is but I’m glad he is alive. It’s certainly made you come alive.”

The detective helped Barbara get her things together. It was his job to deliver her to the Ellman ranch. David turned to the others when he put the receive back on the hook. He said, “I know why Barbara left and wouldn’t come back. Brace yourselves—Barbara was pregnant with Monty’s child when she left. She has a little boy a year old.” Mrs. Ellman said, “Those three days she was with Monty in California. Of course, why didn’t I see that? She was sick before she left. The poor child. She should have known we would have helped her.” Alice said, “Well at that time, she was like all of us, thinking Monty was dead.” Ann said, “I understand why she didn’t want to tell us. She didn’t want to cause any more heartache to Mom Ellman.” Cindy said, “Can’t you imagine how lonely she was.” Ellen said, “Yes, in a strange place and pregnant.” Johnny smiled, “Hey! Everything is gonna be okay. Monty is getting better and he has a son. His own flesh and blood.” Leon agreed, “Yea, it seems like all this is God’s will.” Ellen said, “Well, I wouldn’t say that. I don’t think God would have it happen the way it has. They aren’t married but I will say God has watched over them and protected them.” Allen said, “You are right Ellen.” Carolyn said, “It’s gonna be hard to keep Barbara away from the hospital. I know she will want to be with him.” Berry said, “Barbara is reasonable. She’ll do what is best for Monty.”