From The Beginning: The Saga of the Next Generation

By Wayne E. Held

From the Beginning: The Saga of the Next Generation is a continuation of the Newman Springs publication of From the Beginning: A Cautionary Tale of an Everyday Family and based on the actual events of Wayne E. Held growing up in a family that faced abuse and financial hardships. It’s the continuing story of Nathan Anderson and his siblings growing into adulthood after the death of their mother, Rachael Anderson. It’s a tale of how they experienced their own trials and tribulations into their adult years. Their experiences are no different from others in finding their direction in life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781684981625

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From The Beginning

The Saga of the Next Generation

Wayne E. Held

Copyright © 2022 Wayne E. Held

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-68498-161-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68498-162-5 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Author's Note

Central Avenue

Boot Camp, Great Lakes

Permanent Change of Station

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Windward

Leave Period

The Countdown

Patrol Squadron 11

Rota Deployment

The Azores

Return to Brunswick

Submarine Base, New London

The Patriarch

The Wedding

The Legal Affair

Milestone et al.

Death of a Patriarch

The Move

The Visit

The Deal

Death, Trials, and Tribulations

Greed and the Pursuit of Happiness

About the Author

To all those survivors who grew up with abuses—whether physical, mental, or sexual—and found the strength to overcome those abuses in making themselves a better person.

Author's Note

This story is considered a historical fiction and tells the saga of Rachael Anderson's children growing into their adult years through the eyes of Nathan Anderson. It's a continuation of the story of From the Beginning, A Cautionary Tale of an Everyday Family. The names, characters, and incidences are based on the actual life of the author and are the products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance of actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Central Avenue

Saturday crept over the treetops, carrying the November chill. Nathan Anderson woke lying on the foldaway bed, staring at the bedroom ceiling. He felt a little light-headed from the previous night's beer fest. Nathan debated on getting up or just turning over for another hour of sleep. The sun was rising, brightening the room through the side window. He sat on the edge of the bed, searching for the towel. He looked around, noticing the liquor box design sitting on the worktable. His dungarees lay on the floor, with the slightly stained T-shirt lying close by. He spotted the towel resting on the storage chest. Nathan grabbed it and headed for the bathroom.

The hot shower refreshed Nathan's soul. He felt his blood getting energized while piling his dirty clothes atop his sheets. He grabbed the corners and hauled the load into his car for the three-block drive to the laundry center. Nathan read the morning paper, catching up on the news while waiting for his clothes to dry. He wrapped the sheet around the folded clothes before returning to the apartment. Nathan found his roommates sitting sluggishly around the living room, drinking coffee and watching morning cartoons. Nathan gave a slight smirk, saying his good mornings to the motley crew. He carried the bundle into his room, knowing he wasn't the only one waking up with matted hair and red-veined eyeballs. Nathan piled the clothes into the bin before joining the group with a cup of inspiration.

Nathan thought it was time to tell them this was his last semester at Paier. He had given the decision a great deal of thought and needed to move on after the Christmas holiday. The words caught the roommates off guard. They stared at Nathan with bewilderment, trying to coordinate their brain cells.

What do you mean this will be your last semester? asked one member.

You're not serious, replied another.

I was going to tell you last night, but it wasn't right. I've been thinking about it for the past couple of weeks. I just won't be able to make it through another semester, replied Nathan.

What about the draft? You'll lose your deferment, responded the first.

I thought about that a lot. It's one of the main reasons I need to move on. Besides, come January, I'll have completed the three-year advertising course. Trust me, I've given this a lot of thought. Even if I stayed, I'll still have to serve the military or get drafted. Nathan shrugged.

The three roommates sat dumbfounded, nodding to themselves at the realization that they needed to look at their options. Nathan sat sipping his hot coffee while staring at the TV. He reminisced about what he'd gone through the past summer dealing with his grandparents' affairs. His dealings with his grandmother's illness and her funeral had depleted most of his savings.

Nathan needed some fresh air and left his empty cup in the sink. He took a walk around the corner to the park that always gave him some peace and solitude. Nathan's thoughts were on the upcoming months while his roommates talked about what to do next. He paced himself, walking through the archway with thoughts of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays at his doorstep. Nathan decided to stay and spend them in Connecticut instead of driving north. He wanted these last holidays spent with his father at his Hamden apartment. Clarence Anderson was a quadriplegic veteran who lived under the care of his elderly mother, Hannah.

Nathan realized he could easily drive up to the North Country and spend the holidays with his siblings. They would always be there, but the opportunity to spend time with his father was limited. Nathan walked around the park for a while before returning to his room. He sat at his worktable finishing the three-dimensional liquor box design. He looked up and stared out the window, knowing he had a little over a month left living in his room on West Haven's Central Avenue. Nathan always spent weekdays having lunch at his father's. It gave Clarence a chance to catch up on Nathan's school projects. Come Monday, he would break the news to his father.

Clarence Anderson sat in his wheelchair talking to his nurse, Clair Padowski, in the living room. He heard his son enter the back door as Hannah was setting the kitchen table for lunch. The four gathered around eating what some would consider an evening meal. Nathan started the conversation.

Finished my liquor box design last night. Glad I got it done instead of waiting till the last minute, said Nathan.

Why, when is it due? asked Clarence.

Thursday morning, replied Nathan. I'm going to work on my watercolor painting for Wednesday's class.

Looks like you're keeping busy. What did you do this weekend? injected Clair.

Nothing much. Did a wash and cleaned out my room, replied Nathan.

Nathan paused, placing his fork on the plate. School is ending for Christmas in another month. I'll be finishing my advertising courses. I was thinking about what to do afterwards, Nathan said, lowering his head.

What did you have in mind? asked his father.

I was thinking of heading north for a short while, getting my head together, Nathan responded.

Why? asked Clair.

I've gone through so much this year, and I just need to get away for a while. I need to decide on what to do with myself. I need to think about going in the job market and risking the possibility of getting drafted or going in serving my time and maybe using my GI bill to go back to school. I haven't decided right now. It doesn't look like Vietnam is going away anytime soon, even with the Paris peace talks, replied Nathan, keeping himself together.

Well, don't do anything stupid or foolish, said Clair. What about your roommates? What are they doing?

They're staying for another semester. I've already told them I'm moving on after Christmas, responded Nathan.

Why don't you do the same? asked Clair.

Sooner or later, I'm still going to be in the same predicament. If I stay, I'll only prolong the inevitable, continued Nathan.

Well, we're here if you need to talk some more about this, ended Clair.

Same here. Will you be taking everything? asked Clarence.

No, is it all right if I left my things in the basement storage cage? asked Nathan, looking somewhat pathetic.

You can leave whatever you want, responded his father.

Having his son's belongings gave Clarence some assurance that Nathan wasn't leaving forever. Hannah said nothing and continued eating while listening to the conversation. Nathan thanked his father for listening and left for his afternoon classes. By evening, his roommates had given some thoughts about their next move. Before looking for a replacement, they had a few weeks to look for a cheaper apartment.

Nathan arrived at his father's place around midmorning on Thanksgiving. He went in, taking a seat in his father's bedroom. Clarence was watching the Thanksgiving Day parade and was glad to have his son for company. Hannah had finished getting the dinner prepared when she popped her head in, asking if Clarence wanted to get up. Nathan could help with the lift to get his father into the wheelchair. Clarence had no objections. Hannah took a few moments getting her son cleaned and ready. Nathan operated the lift, placing his father into the wheelchair.

Clarence wheeled himself into the living room while Hannah finished preparing the celebratory dinner. She planned a noontime meal, leaving the remainder of the afternoon to rest up. Nathan took his place at the table, with his father sitting to his left. Hannah filled each plate from the serving bowls. Nathan asked his grandmother about her friend Stephanie Cole. Hannah had invited Stephanie, but she had refused, wanting to spend it with her own family in New York.

The season brought out the Christmas shoppers. Every light pole in the Hamden Plaza was decorated with wreaths and flowing red bows while Christmas carols blared from conspicuously hidden speakers. They played over and over into the evening until ten o'clock, when the music was silenced. Houses reflected the same spirit, with window candles and decorated doorways. Hannah wasn't one for a lot of decorations, just a few holiday knickknacks to show the Christmas spirit. Nathan had decorated his father's artificial tree in the past, and this year wasn't any different. He used his artistic eye, placing the ornaments about the limbs, even though he might not be around in taking them down.

Nathan started the cleanout of his room. His roommates found a cheaper apartment close to New Haven's center. The move would be done during the Christmas vacation. Nathan felt the urge to take another walk. The air was calm, with light snowflakes falling sparingly to the ground. The winter snows came early, giving some credence to the community decorations. The city lights reflecting from the overcast clouds and the sound of crunching footsteps in the snow added to the holiday spirit during evening walks in the nearby park.

The winter semester at Paier had ended. Nathan finished his advertising curriculum. He passed through the park's archway, taking one last stroll through his favorite place of solitude. He sauntered along the curved pathway that was lit with nineteenth-century-styled poles. The brook that flowed alongside gave solace to those wishing to erase the clutter from their minds. Nathan thought about how much he had changed from the country bumpkin who had arrived three years earlier. He thought of the people he met, the interactions he'd had with fellow peers, and the development of attitudes and ambitions that contributed to his outlook on life. They filled Nathan's spirit with renewed perspective.

On his last night in his room, Nathan knocked on the upstairs apartment. He wanted to see if the girls wanted to make one last Dunkin' Donuts run, just like they did during the dead of night many times before. They were reluctant, but knowing it was their last, they agreed and listened to Nathan's plans for the future. After hearing of Nathan's impending departure, Pam told him she wanted to keep in touch.

Despite it all, Nathan was ready to return to where simple minds ruled the neighborhood. Nathan's knowledge of life went beyond those that resided in the small hamlet. His return to them would be temporary and for a short time. He just needed to relax his head from the past year's events. He recalled the summer months taking care of his grandparents' affairs, the many trips to the hospital, seeing his grandmother's health fail with each passing visit. The cancer that took a breast years earlier had returned to her body like wildfire. Her illness had become terminal.

He remembered receiving the first call for help. It had been a letter from his grandfather's sister, Ethel Sampson, asking him to intervene. He remembered the promise to drive out after the spring semester had ended. Nathan had driven to Plymouth, Massachusetts, finding out how dire the situation was.

For the next month, Nathan had made daily visits to his grandmother and found a nursing home for his grandfather. The Plymouth Nursing Home had an opening, and Nathan did the grudging job of closing their apartment. It had been Milton and Sarah Manter's home for over ten years, taking part of many trials and tribulations. The couple had spent sixty years of life together before cancer ended the chapter of their married lives.

It was the second week in July, Sarah Manter passed, with Nathan arranging the funeral and coordinating with his sister, Beth, in collecting their grandparents' furnishing. She later drove a few family members down to pay their respects. Nathan had returned to New Durham after the funeral for a week before heading back to the shared apartment on Central Avenue.

Nathan was ready to get on with his life. He spent his last night on Central Avenue packing the foldaway bed into his car with his belongings and drove to his father's place. Nathan placed the bed back into his father's room, where it had stood waiting for him three years earlier. He spent that last night with his father before taking a few items and saying his goodbyes. Clarence wished his son luck and hoped to see him before too long. Hannah said her goodbyes to Nathan with a look of contentment.

Nathan climbed into his Dodge, taking the interstate into New Hampshire. He arrived in New Durham, bunking at the Greyson farmhouse for a few weeks. The 1972 snow glistened throughout the North Country horizon. Nathan dressed for the frigid cold before starting out, visiting his siblings at their foster homes. He wanted to ensure they were happy and see how they were surviving. Gretchen was content living with Mable Greyson's older son's family. She was the typical teenage girl, helping where she could around the house, babysitting when the opportunity arose, and keeping up with her studies at school. Gretchen was at the age where she was learning how to drive while developing an interest in boys.

Rebecca was happy enjoying her own bedroom with the Olson family atop the ridge. Her attitude was likened to Gretchen's. She was ambitious, and hard work wasn't foreign to her. Rebecca was always thinking a couple of steps ahead of herself.

Tom was making do, living at the Greyson farmhouse while Kenneth kept to himself living with friends in Farmington.

It was a drive to see Abigail at the Tibbitts' home. It seemed she was doing all right. She wasn't too talkative nor revealing of what was going on with her life.

Somewhat a mystery was his sister Laura. Nathan looked at her as being headstrong and difficult while living under the farmhouse roof. Laura felt more connected with her brother Kenneth. She hoped to find some solitude under his protection. Kenneth could only warn her of the complications she would encounter if she continued acting the way she did. On weekends, Laura hitchhiked to Farmington, telling the Greyson household she was walking down to Beth's place. She met up with her brother, venting her troubles about the Greysons. After listening to his sister, Kenneth knew where her intentions were leading. He knew the hard times and all the uncertainties Laura would be facing. Kenneth tried talking sense to his sister, reminding her of their life at the Richard's Block. He made her realize she was underage and was heading down a troubled road. Laura took a break from her brother, walking along Main Street contemplating Kenneth's words of wisdom.

She walked past Richard's Block, pausing at the front door. Laura reminisced of the time when the family owned the Block. She remembered the sexual encounters with Tracy Booker and her part-time lovers around the back of the building. There were a host of other abuses that crossed her mind as she stared up and down the building. Richard's Block had changed hands since those days, and the sign above the doorway read Christie's Bar and Grill. Laura continued walking, passing a few familiar faces. One was Shawn Johnson. She remembered him from her school days in Farmington. Shawn had returned home from Vietnam while serving two years in the army. He had a taste of the outside world and was filled with dreams of a better life, dreams that would take him far from his growing-up years in his hometown. Shawn loved his family and for the present, didn't mind staying in town. He'd been released from his active reserve obligations and was staying with his family just long enough to get his head together.

Laura got a ride back to the Greysons' toward evening. She met with Mable's anger, calling her out for lying of her whereabouts. It didn't faze Laura. She continued going to school with an attitude on her shoulders. She sat in class slumped behind her desk, being unresponsive. Laura continued her weekend getaways to Farmington no matter what restrictions were imposed on her. With each visit, she saw more of Shawn. He became more attracted to her girlish figure and her blonde hair that hung beyond her rugged shoulders. Each time Laura returned to the Greyson household, the more heated the tempers became.

Mable tried her best to control her and asked Beth to intervene. Beth had already made up her mind that she didn't want any part of it, even though she was the legal guardian. She remembered all the trouble Laura caused their mother while living at the Block. It wasn't long before Laura's instincts took over. She decided to make a move to Farmington. Kenneth got her a room with one of his