Jim Hanson a Returned Missionary

By H. Ralph Mattingly

Jim Hanson is a kind-hearted young man whose family is taken from him in an automobile accident shortly after he returns from an LDS mission. He goes through the grieving process, makes friends, and seeks an eternal companion. He encounters miracles along his way amidst heart-break, casualties, and his commitment to Gospel principles.
He is searching to find a girl to replace his first love, Lois, after he learns that she’s interested in someone else. His illusive vision of a wife never matches his preconceived image of Lois so he continues to search for someone to fill his dream.
What he learns along the way is that the Lord is in charge of his life and has a greater vision for his future than he could’ve ever imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387906253

Book preview

Jim Hanson a Returned Missionary

JIM HANSON

A RETURNED MISSIONARY

H. Ralph Mattingly

A fictional story of what one Man did with his life to influence those around him.

Copyright © 2010 by H. Ralph Mattingly

All rights reserved.  This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without permission of the author.

ISBN e-book: 978-1-387-90625-3

Cast of Characters

Jim Hanson:  22 year old just back from a mission

Susan, Julia and Rick:  Siblings of Jim Hanson

Lilly and Francis Hanson:  Jim Hanson’s parents

Kelly Reeve:  A neighbor friend

Lois Reeve:  sister of Kelly

Stanley and Betty Reeve:  Parents of Kelly and Lois

John Baker:  friend of Jim’s

Charlie Morris:  Owner of wrecking yard

Mr. Chambers:  resident of the Law Firm

Russell Sellers:  Accountant

Barry Sumore:  Mortician

Jeff Farley:  President of Utah Bank

Kathy Kramer:  Waitress

Samuel Gooding:  Pilot

Jena Gooding:  Samuel Gooding’s wife

Kara Allen:  Jena Gooding’s best friend

Carl and Mary Whetherby:  Ranch owners

Ann Whetherby:  Carl and Mary Whetherby’s daughter

Jeremy Lyn Hanson:  Child of Jim and Lois Hanson

Sherri Fae Baker:  Child of John and Ann Baker

Mrs. Jarvis:

Chapter 1

A week after his twenty-first birthday, and only two weeks home from his mission, Jim Hanson figured he’d had enough relaxation time and now it was time to hit the pavement and look for a job. 

He’d always been interested in fixing cars.  It didn’t matter what kind of car it was; he could always find a manual with instructions on how to assemble any part needing to be replaced.  He’d been tinkering under the hood of cars ever since he could remember and usually enjoyed every minute of it.

As his mom puttered around their cheery white and yellow kitchen, making one of Jim’s favorite breakfasts, he sat at the oak dining table nearby, looking through the Deseret News classifieds.  As he scanned the job listings, an ad for someone with mechanical abilities to work in a wrecking yard caught his eye.  He thought the job might be just right for him, so after rushing through his scrambled eggs and pancakes, he jumped up to grab his jacket.  He didn’t want to waste a minute getting his application in for this job. 

Luckily, he remembered in the nick of time, to turn and give his mom a big hug, a resounding smack on the cheek and a hurried, albeit sincere, Thanks for the great breakfast, Mom!

She grinned and flipped his rump with the kitchen towel as she shook her head and softly chuckled.

Jim grabbed the keys to his old blue Chevy truck, which his dad had kept up and running during Jim’s two years away in South Carolina.  Although not the best looking vehicle on the road, Jim was grateful to have the old beast to get him around. 

His lean five-foot ten-inch frame slid easily over the worn leather seat.  The key turned and Blue’s motor putt-putted to life.  He popped her into gear and took off down Elm Street, headed for the wrecking yard just on the other side of town.  Part of him wanted to break the speed limit to get there, but several things kept that from happening.  First and foremost, he knew better…and he couldn’t afford a ticket right now. 

Jim grinned to himself realizing it would be laughable if Blue actually could break the speed limit.  And lastly, he was enjoying the perfect fall weather sunshine and a crisp breeze blowing through the windows.  The radio didn’t work, but Jim hummed a favorite tune for a bit and then began anticipating possible questions and answers for his interview.

Blue’s tires slowly crunched over the gravel as Jim came to a stop by the chain link fence of the wrecking yard.  He warily opened the gate to go inside, noticing the sign overhead warning of a guard dog on duty. 

He’d had enough bad experiences with overprotective dogs on his mission to make him cautious as he moved toward the nearby office door.  He grabbed the handle and quickly went inside, pulling it carefully to make sure the door handle latched tightly.

As he turned back to look into the dim and musty room, his eyes met the owner of Charlie's Wrecking Yard sitting at an ancient metal desk on a squeaky-wheeled black office chair. 

Charlie was short and to the point as Jim introduced himself.  He fired a few basic questions at Jim and scribbled a few things on scraps of paper littering his desk, then finally looked up. 

Be here at 7 a.m. sharp on Monday morning.  That work for you?

Jim was surprised that he’d gotten the job so easily.  Charlie hadn’t even asked him to name any parts on a car or how much experience he’d had.  Still, he’d gotten the job and he was excited to get home and give his mother the good news.

It was football season, and this weekend was the BYU/Utah rival game and Jim really wanted to go see the game.  However, he didn’t want to drive old blue down and have to drive back the same night.  He was thinking about it when the phone, next to his nicely-made bed rang. 

Jim answered and asked Who’s calling?

The voice on the other end said, I’ll give you two guesses.

Jim did not recognize the voice and asked for a clue.

Well, I guess I could do that for my old buddy.  You haven’t seen me for a long time.

Kelly, is that you?

You got it! Jim, I’m living in Provo now and I feel awful not calling you sooner.  You’ve been on my mind.

Kelly was about Jim's age, he was five foot five with dark brown hair and brown eyes.  His family had lived next door to the Hanson family most of his life.  Kelly's parents moved back to Virginia two years before Jim was called on his mission.  It had been about four years since Jim had heard from Kelly. 

It's good to hear from you, Kelly.  How have you been and where are you working?

Jim, I’m fine and I'm working in the BYU cafeteria.  I'm a cook and bottle washer.

How long have you been back from Virginia?

It's been about three months now.  You’ve been on my mind even before dad decided to come back to Provo to work.  I called to see if you would like to come to Provo for the weekend and see the big game Saturday?

Kelly told Jim he could stay overnight after the game and attend church with him the next day. 

Jim was beaming at the thought and said he would check with his parents knowing that they would not object to him going.  Even though Jim was of age to do as he pleased he had respect for his parents.  He told Kelly to hold on a minute and he would ask. 

Jim called to his mother and said, The Reeves are back and living in Provo.  Kelly is on the phone and wants to know if I would like to come see the game tomorrow.  I thought I'd ask you if it would be okay.

That's great to hear they’re back.  You know you can go, but when would you be getting back, Jim?

I'd like to stay ‘till Sunday and go to church with Kelly.

You can go, but be sure to go to church.

Kelly, Mom said it was okay and wondered what time I’d be getting back Sunday.  I told her it would be sometime that night because I wanted to visit with you and talk about the old times we had.

That’s great, Jim, and don’t worry about meals.  I talked to mom earlier and she said it would be great to see you again she said she’d be happy to put on an extra plate.

Kelly's mother was a petit women looking young at age forty-two and only five-foot five-inches in height.

Jim wondered what it would be like to see them again.  He remembered Kelly's sister Lois.  He thought she was quite cute and wondered what she was doing these days. 

Lois was about five-foot two-inches tall and had long dark brown hair the last time he saw her.  He remembered her light green eyes and how bright her face was when she smiled. He remembered her during his school days and thought if he ever met a girl as pretty as she was, he would get serious about dating.

The ride to Provo was not long but the thoughts in Jim’s mind were traveling much faster than his truck.  What would the family think about me after all this time? I wonder if they have room enough for me to stay overnight.  Will I be a burden staying an extra day? I’ll find the answers in a matter of minutes. 

Jim looked for the address Kelly had given him.  He pulled up in front of what looked like a mansion compared to his parent’s house.  The house was large with a beautiful landscaped yard.  It had flagstone siding with a two-car garage with separate entries. The place was surrounded by a three-foot-high white picket fence.  He begin to wonder what they did to afford such a plush-looking home.  He recalled their modest home in Salt Lake when they had lived next door. 

He went to the door and knocked.  The door swung open and Kelly pulled him in.  The whole family greeted him.  Jim smiled and shook everyone’s hand and tried to say the right things to each one. 

Kelly’s sister, Lois, seemed to shake his hand with more vigor and he felt a tingle as she let go.  She was more beautiful than before.  She was dressed in a skirt and with a blouse that let you know she was a well-developed woman. 

He followed Kelly to the room assigned to him for the night.  It was a larger room than the one he had at home.  It was a light green and decorated with a modern taste.  He told Kelly, Your family hasn’t changed.  Everyone seems so friendly.

Kelly said, We’re a happy family and enjoy living here in Provo.

Jim asked if Lois was attending BYU or if she was dating or …?

Hold it there.  You didn’t come out here for that!  Remember …the game?

Jim started laughing and said, I remember, I was just kidding.  Although I really did come to see her as well.

They left for the game early.  As they watched the people coming in, they chatted about the good old days and the fun times they’d had together. 

Kelly asked lots of questions about some people he knew in Salt Lake City.  They talked about some of his old girl friends and he asked if they had married.

They enjoyed getting reacquainted but had to postpone more conversation because the game was about to start.  The shouting and noise became too loud to hear themselves talk so they sat back and enjoyed the game. 

After the game they met with a few friends and all went out for Pizza and talked about how the game might have been.  If only BYU had won, there would have been more smiles.  It was near midnight before they broke up and headed home.

Chapter 2

Sunday morning they were up and ready for church.  The family piled into the white Ford family van and off they went. 

Kelly's father, Stanley Reeve, the driver and his mother, Betty, were up front.  Kelly and Jim were on the seat behind his parents.  Lois sat on the third seat behind them.  Jim had a hard time trying not to turn around to look at her. 

When they arrived at the church, Jim helped Lois out of the van.  She smiled and held his hand and took her time getting out.  After they entered the foyer, Kelly introduced Jim to his Bishop and some of his close friends. Jim could see that Kelly was still active as he was in Salt Lake. 

After church, they went back to Kelly’s and had a big dinner.  The table really looked fit for a king.  There was a large turkey surrounded by stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, French bread, and more. 

Jim wondered if they ate like this every day or was this for a special occasion.

After the meal, they all sat in the living room and chatted about lots of things. 

Jim glanced at Lois many times and found her eyes focused on him.  Time passed by quickly.  It was getting late and he knew he needed to get back home.

Everyone expressed how glad they were to see Jim again and suggested the families get together for an outing. 

On the way home, his mind kept rehearsing all the things that were said from the time he arrived until the time he left.

Chapter 3

The weather was warm and the sun was just peering over the mountain.  There was hardly a cloud in the sky.  Suddenly the alarm went off.  The sound startled Jim.  It was Monday and he realized the weekend was over and he had to go to work.  Jim was thinking of all the fun he had over the weekend.  His thoughts turned to the BYU/Utah football game. 

Jim, Kelly, and his friends were disappointed that BYU lost the game.  They did have a great time in Provo and he really enjoyed the pizza he and his friends had.  He knew he had to go back to see Kelly soon for two reasons, first …he liked Kelly.  He was still a close friend.  And second …after seeing Lois, he fell head-over heels for her and wanted to date her.  His mind would be on her a lot in the days to come.

Even though he had little sleep, Jim knew he had better get up and start the day. 

Lilly called to him to come down to breakfast.  It was just a few minutes and he was sitting at the table telling his mom all about the game and the fun he’d had over the weekend.  His mother let him know that he had little time to finish his meal and get off to work.

Francis, Jim's father, offered prayer for the meal.  Jim and his father continued to talk about the weekend activities until they finish breakfast. 

Jim was the first to leave the table.  He rushed upstairs to brush his teeth, then down again to give his mother a quick hug, and thanked her again for the breakfast on his way out the front door. 

He opened the door to his blue Chevy truck and started the engine and took off for his first day on the new job.

The first day at work, Jim was shown around the wrecking yard so he would know how to find where the different parts to the various vehicles could be found.

As Charlie was showing Jim the cars, Jim mentioned the model and many of the parts that looked like they were in good shape.  Charlie asked Jim how he knew so much about cars and their parts.  It was at this point he asked Jim if he’d ever used a welding outfit. 

Jim told him that he could weld and use a cutting torch.  He told Charlie that he had been fixing cars from his early teens. 

Charlie seemed impressed and asked Jim if he had any sales experience.  Jim told Charlie that his two years serving a mission has taught him a great deal of how to organize his time and to talk to people. 

Charlie couldn't believe he hired such a nice employee since he had been desperate and hired the first person to apply for the job.

The first customer came in and Charlie asked Jim to follow him and the customer out to the yard and he would show him what to expect. 

Charlie asked the man his name.  The man told him his name was Doug.  Charlie used his name whenever he spoke to him.  Jim noticed this and remembered that it was what he had done on his mission. 

Doug, what are you looking for maybe we can see if we have it here on the lot?

Doug told Charlie what kind of car he had and wanted to look to see if there was anything he could salvage for his car. 

Charlie took him to look at a model that was the same as Doug had described. 

As he was looking, Jim asked him if he were having any troubles with his car. 

Doug said he was having some loud clicking noise under the car in the back. 

Jim asked him if he felt the car jerking when he was driving. 

Yes, do you know what is causing that?

Jim suggested it might be his differential. 

Could you show me what that is?

Sure. I noticed one here that has the plate off.  I’ll show you what to look for.

Charlie took a back seat to see what Jim would do on his own. 

Doug, you see how these gears mesh with those on the axle?  When one of the teeth is broken on the gear it has a tendency to make a clicking sound as well as jerking while driving in gear.

I think that is my trouble. I think I can install one now that you have shown me what it looks like.  Does this model have a good one in it?

Charlie told him it was a good one and they could have it off and ready for him by noon. 

Doug said I'll take it.  And I think I can use that front seat.  It looks better that the one I have.  I'll come back around noon to pick them up in my truck.  Will a ten dollar deposit be okay until I pick them up?

Charlie wrote out a receipt for Doug and told him, We'll get right on it.

Jim asked Charlie where the tools were and told him he would get the parts ready.  Charlie asked him if he needed help. 

No, I can handle this.

The cutting torch is in the little shed on the lot and you’ll find a set of tools near the bench.  You sure you can use a cutting torch?

Yes.  I will bring the parts in here as soon as I have them off the car.

Charlie wanted to see if Jim could really handle this without help.  About an hour and a half later, Jim used a wheel cart and had them in the front of the shop ready to pick up. 

Charlie looked them over and they were in tip-top shape.  He was pleased with Jim and the way he handled things on his first day.  The rest of the day was slow and Charlie had Jim come in out of the yard to sit and talk with him. 

They both learned more about each other and about their families.  At closing time Charlie said, We'll see you in the morning.

The next day while Jim was busy at work, there were lots of people who came to fix their cars or trucks.  Jim was able to make many sales that day.  When he had a spare moment he would call a friend of his and let them know he was working in the wrecking lot.  He told them if they needed any parts for their car, they knew where they could come. 

Charlie's business started to grow after he hired Jim.  It seemed much easier for Charlie to come to work.  He would open the place up and almost sit back and let Jim handle the customers.  He and Jim became close over time.

One day when Jim arrived at work he noticed Charlie was not in a good mood so after he punched in on the time clock he went straight to work.  Jim didn’t mind working in the wrecking yard, he liked working around cars and he knew that he was good at what he was doing.  He knew most of the parts for any car or truck and was helpful in letting customers know which part would be best for them in their vehicle.  He had a good relationship with most everyone that came to the lot.  People could tell he knew what they wanted and they trusted him. 

Charlie always let