The Secrets of My Survival: The First 81 Years

By James Dykes

As I sat down to record my memoirs, old emotions came to the surfaceboth good and bad. I shared some of the bad with an acquaintance. He said, Thats tragic! I thought about that later. Im like a man who was born visually challenged. Although Im not experiencing the same challenge, my experiences are the only ones I know. Thats the only life I have known. It doesnt seem tragic to me. In fact, those tragic experiences have instilled in me perseverance and determination to win and a bond with others. Join me as you read the good and the bad. Do you see yourself in the story?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781503517028

James Dykes

James Dykes is the author of three books: 5 Minute Mysteries with a Twist (short stories with surprise endings), The Secrets of My Survival: The First 81 Years (a memoir), and Hitler’s Journal: A New Look into the Mind of the Leader (historical fiction based on actual facts we know about Hitler’s life). James Dykes has a BA in English from Baylor University and a master’s in education from Western Washington University. He served as an instructor for twenty-five years and has published for a periodical. He has won a writer’s contest sponsored by a major league baseball franchise and served in the Admissions Department of Mt. San Antonio Community College. He has experience as a commercial actor and has served as a mentor of students at Azusa Pacific University.

Book preview

Chapter 1

LIFE’S FLIGHT TRAINING BEGINS

How I Came Into Being

Or

How My Mother and Father Met

Thelma was a sixteen-year-old beauty queen living in the small town of Alvarado, Texas. People paid attention to her, and she felt important for a while. She dreamed about a wonderful house with hot and cold running water and a picket fence, not to mention a handsome husband who would take care of her and take her away to the big city. But her Father told her that she was too young to be seeing men.

Thelma found out that the ladies in the next town, Cleburn, gossiped about her. They said that she only wore home-made clothes, talked like a farm girl, and always ate beans and potatoes. She heard them say that outdoor toilets were not for ladies. They said that girls like her only had one pair of everyday shoes, except a pair for Sundays, and if a heel came off, the poor soul had to hammer it back on.

When she turned seventeen, she worked at the cotton mill in Cleburn. She had heard about it all her life, because all the daughters of farmers ended up there.

During her first 6:00am day at the mill she was terrified. Not by the noise, or lint, or cotton dust, or even by rumors of brown lung disease, but by the thought that when the Iron Gate shut, she would be trapped the rest of her life.

She would work twelve hour days on the second floor in sweaty heat during the summer and icicle cold in winter. If she stayed on, she would be lucky to earn twenty-five cents a day loading empty spools before they were threaded. She had to do several thousand a day to meet her quota. Any less and she would be fired.

Thelma’s boss was a big unkempt man who smelled like he hadn’t wiped clean. He wore a soiled, white shirt, that was never tucked in properly, and he shouted at her to pay attention and reminded her that she was not moving fast enough.

On the fourth day she asked to be moved next to Wilma who had more experience. Wilma taught her how to move faster.

The boss grew pleased with her work, but made several attempts to touch her body, but she brushed his hands away. He just laughed and moved to another girl.

Wilma said to her, Next time he does that, move your chair leg on his foot. He’ll be hobbling around for a few days and you’ll get some peace.

The second week was a little better. The girls talked about all the men in Cleburn: who were the best looking, who to stay away from, and what they were after.

They joked a lot, and Wilma, who always knew more about men than the others, asked, Why do you think God created a man first? It was so he could show the woman what a mistake looked like.

Everyone laughed, and Thelma found she could enjoy a thimble full of happiness with the other miserable souls, even when things closed in on her.

She had only a few minutes for lunch. She could see out the dirty window when the mill’s clock tower showed it was noon. But everyone had to wait for the boss to blow his whistle before they could leave their work stations.

She felt uncertain about her life. She preferred to get away from the others and be alone. During those times, she felt like crying.

On one of those days she sat in the shade of the building eating beans, and vegetables, and potatoes which she mixed together in her lunch bucket.

She watched the gravel trucks as they kicked up dust when they passed, and she wondered where they came from and where they were going. She believed that it must be wonderful to go places and see new things, have more than a work dress and a Sunday dress, and more than two pairs of shoes.

One driver always waved out his window each time she sat there. Thelma liked that and waved back. She didn’t get a good look at him because of the truck’s speed and the dust cloud, but did watch him until he was out of sight. She wondered what he looked like and why he always waved at her.

One day he slowed down and came to a stop beside the road. He waved from the cab of his truck. This was a real surprise and she felt important because he stopped just for her.

He called from his truck, How’s your lunch going, little lady?

No one in Cleburn had called Thelma a lady before. Everyone called her ‘that country girl.’

Thelma squinted, trying to see him better.

She replied, I’m fine. How are you doing today?

She wondered if she had said the right thing. She hadn’t talked to any man who wasn’t from Alvarado.

She remembered her manners and said to him, Would you like some beans and potatoes?

He said, Sure, if the pretty lady doesn’t mind. I love potatoes.

She felt just as pretty as the time she had won the beauty contest. She walked to his truck window and handed the tin up to him.

She said, But I only have one spoon.

That’s fine. I come from a big family. We always shared the spoons.

He gently took the tin, and looked at her, and said Thank you, lovely lady. Would you like to sit up here with me?

Thelma looked back at the clock tower and said, I can’t. My lunch time is almost up.

Then I’ll eat real fast.

Thelma watched him devour the potatoes. She thought, He has a big appetite.

He handed the tin and spoon back to her, That was very nice. Could I come by at your lunch time tomorrow, and talk with you again?

She looked down at the road and replied, Well, I suppose so.

She smiled, I could save some potatoes if you like.

That would be good of you. I’ll see you tomorrow then.

He turned on the engine as she stepped back across the road.

He revved the engine loudly, and had to shout, I’m Alton. Give me your name.

My name is Thelma.

Ok, Miss Thelma. I’ll see you tomorrow, and he waved again and slowly drove away. Thelma protected her wavy hair from the wind as she waved goodbye.

During work, she thought about his offer, and how gentlemanly he had been. No grown man had ever gone out of his way to pay so much attention to her, at least not in a gentlemanly way. She couldn’t help but think what it would be like to have a gentleman friend.

She thought that he seemed to be a good man, but he looked older, and had such big ears, and his face was so thin. She wondered if he was that skinny all over. He did have a nice smile though, and he seemed to like her.

Thelma’s last thought before she went to sleep was about Alton. She thought about him when she woke up early the next morning. Later as she helped prepare breakfast, the thoughts of Alton lingered on. Her mother commented that she seemed so cheerful. Her mother watched her the rest of the day.

Thelma wondered, Do people call him ‘Al’? I hardly know him. I’ll just call him Alton.

The next day after she arrived at work, Wilma sat next to her machines and spoke to her. Wilma always gave advice about men.

I saw you with that truck driver yesterday. Well, all I can say is you better be careful with them drivers. They’re as shifty as their gears. They’ve got at least one girl for every mile they travel.

Thelma didn’t say anything.

Sometimes Wilma could be a busybody. Thelma didn’t think Wilma understood. The man was kind to her. When he called her a lady that had to mean something. She hadn’t seen any man she liked. But Alton was different.

During her shift, her mind ran to Alton, and she missed several spools. Wilma looked to see if the boss had caught her mistakes. He hadn’t.

Listen, girl. You better get your mind off that truck driver or you’re going to get fired.

Wilma grabbed a handful of spools and loaded them herself.

I can’t do two jobs. Pay attention!

Thelma said, Thanks. I’ll try to be more careful.

You better, or I’ll have a new neighbor tomorrow for sure.

Thelma felt that the hours before lunch seemed to move as slow as waiting for potatoes to grow. She kept glancing back at the clock tower. When the boss blew his whistle, she was the first one out the door.

Carrying the bucket with extra beans and potatoes, she headed straight for the road. She saw one truck in the distance and felt like jumping up and down. As it got closer, she covered the tin with her work apron and held it tightly against her breast, and then she waved at the oncoming truck. It came closer and closer but didn’t slow down. As it passed, an unfamiliar driver whistled and honked but kept going.

Thelma waited a long time by the roadside. Finally the clock tower showed time was almost up. She poured out the beans and potatoes beside the road. That night she cried herself to sleep.

Three days passed and she never sat in the shade of the building. At the end of day four, she passed through the Iron Gates and heard someone call her name. Thelma looked to see who it was.

Alton was standing by his truck, holding a bouquet of flowers. He waved at her and walked toward her. She felt a tingle of excitement as he came closer.

Miss Thelma, I couldn’t wait to see you again. They sent me to a job in Ft. Worth. I couldn’t get back.

Suddenly all disappointment she had felt melted away. She felt giddy.

Alton, handed her the bouquet of roses.

These are for you. I hope you like them.

Oh, my, she said.

Alton said, My landlady has a dozen rose bushes. I asked her if I could have one for a special lady. She gave me this whole bunch.

Thelma liked the words ‘special lady.’

Would you like to sit a while in my truck? We could talk more.

I would like that, but you may have to help me up in the cab.

Sure. I’ll lift you.

He did just that and his hands felt strong. She had never had a man touch her.

They talked about their families. Alton said his family was from south Texas near the Mexican border, and he had two younger sisters.

"I came to northern Texas because I heard they needed drivers.

How about you?

Oh, I’m just the daughter of a farmer. I have one brother, Howard, who is older.

Farming is honest work. I would be a farmer myself, but I’m too interested in trucks and engines.

They talked a lot about other things, until Thelma finally said, My goodness. I’ve lost track of the time. I have to start home. I have to help Mother prepare supper.

Why don’t I drive you there and we can talk some more?

She said, I guess so.

When they reached the dirt road leading up to Thelma’s home, she had him stop the truck.

I better get out here. Thank you for the ride and especially the roses.

Could I see you again?

I think maybe so.

How about Sunday?

We go to church on Sundays.

Oh. I see. Maybe it would be best to see you at the mill?

She couldn’t tell him that her family thought truck drivers were not good men.

She looked up the road to her house.

I think maybe the mill would be better.

All right. See you Monday.

As she walked up the road, her Father was waiting on the porch, Why did you come home in a truck, and what are those flowers for?

She looked down at the porch floor, A gentleman I met at the mill gave them to me. He offered to give me a ride home.

Look, girl. There’s something you need to understand. I’ve warned you before about being with those kinds of men. I don’t want you ever riding with one of them. You are too young. Understand?

She looked down, Yes, father.

Good. Throw the flowers away, and get in there and help your Mother with supper.

Thelma walked inside and threw the flowers in the wood burning stove. She tore off one bud and tucked it in her dress between her breasts. That night she hid it under her pillow.

The next day Alton was waiting for her at final whistle time.

When he asked to walk her to his truck and sit a while, she said, My parents don’t want me riding in a truck. I promised my Father I wouldn’t.

That’s fine. You won’t be riding; we’ll just be sitting and talking. Ok?

I suppose it’s OK if you put it that way.

They laughed and talked a lot about little things.

When it came time for Thelma to walk home, he leaned over to her and kissed her on her cheek. Thelma blushed.

See you tomorrow?

She hesitated and said, All right.

That night Thelma thought about the tender touch of his lips and how warm his lips felt. She wanted to be with him not just at the end of the work day, but all day. She fell asleep clutching the rose bud.

The next few days the girls teased her about being a ‘truck driver’s wifer,’ but Wilma was strangely silent.

While they were working, Wilma leaned over and said, Look. I know you’re getting serious about this man. I’ve been down that road myself. Just be careful.

The next few weeks Thelma sat with Alton every day. She wondered each time if he would give a real kiss instead of a kiss on her cheek.

One day, after a few minutes talking about their jobs, he asked how she felt about working at the mill.

Thelma hadn’t expected a question about her feelings.

She said, I don’t like it. I feel like I’m in a storm cellar.

He reached for her hand. His hand felt strong.

Promise me you will think about something?

She looked at him

Promise me you will think about leaving here and living in a new place. A place where you can start a new life.

She continued looking at him, I promise.

That’s when he gave the real kiss. This was different from anything she had ever known. She felt like a grown woman.

Thelma didn’t sleep well that night either, and wondered why Alton had asked that question. She felt he had read her