George and Mary

By J.B. VanOrman

George Petrauskas, son of Lithuanian immigrants, grew up hating his abusive father, but craving his approval just the same. He hated school and quit early, embarking on a long series of bad choices. George goes through life running from his problems, never taking a stand on anything. 

Mary Visser was born to a loving Christian family in Muskegon, Michigan. Highly intelligent, strong-willed, and compassionate, she was destined for wonderful things. The Great Depression and a series of family tragedies gradually alter her future and her faith. 

Fate brings these two vastly different individuals together, forcing their lives onto different trajectories and changing them both for good.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.B. VanOrman
• Release date: Dec 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223154105

J.B. VanOrman

J.B. VanOrman was born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan and attended Calvin University and Western Michigan University. In his past lives he was an educator, farmer, wildlife photographer, and pizza maker. He currently lives in Byron Center, Michigan.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

GEORGE

BELLWORT, MICHIGAN 1923

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George woke with a start and listened. His little sister cried out again from the next room. George got out of bed and walked to the small bedroom. It was not much bigger than a closet. He peered into the dark room, but his puffy right eye did not focus. It was a reminder that he had not moved quick enough to do his chores the previous evening. Both Lina and Janina appeared to be sleeping soundly. Maybe another nightmare, thought George. He remembered the cries from his mother when she had given birth to Janina in that very room. Only his father and two older sisters had been allowed to go upstairs that day. His brothers told him Lina had been born there too but he had been too young to remember. George went into his room and climbed back into bed. Muffled noises floated up the stairs from the room below. He covered his head with his pillow. It was old and stained and had never been washed as far as he could remember. He tried to slide into a comforting dream he often used to trick his mind into sleep. In this dream, he was walking barefoot along a wooded lake with the sun at his back and a fishing pole over his shoulder. He had no worries and an entire day to do whatever he wanted.

When dawn finally came, George dressed and walked down the stairs. His family owned the town’s pool hall. George hated the drinking, shouting, loud laughter, and frequent fights that broke out most nights. At least the mornings were quiet and peaceful. When he opened the door he saw that Joseph, his oldest brother, had made fried eggs and toast. Audra, his oldest sister, was spooning oatmeal into Janina’s hungry mouth. George noticed that several empty bottles of Canadian Old Log Cabin Whisky left from last night were still in the middle of the table. The children were expected to take care of themselves in the morning while their parents slept. Owning a pool hall meant late hours for the grownups.

Audra finished feeding Janina and then rushed upstairs to change her. She would place Janina back in her crib knowing that Ma would probably wake up when she started fussing. Three-year-old Lina would be on her own. Lina usually played contentedly by herself if given a few toys. George watched Lina for a few seconds wondering how he would have felt if left alone at that age. He looked up when he heard a commotion outside. He knew it was the neighbor who gave Joseph and Audra a ride to their work at a farm west of town. The same neighbor would drop them back home in the afternoon.

As Joseph ran for the door, he yelled to George, Don’t forget to hide those bottles before you go to school, or Pa will be upset. George knew that selling alcohol was illegal, but Pa always had some for pool hall patrons. Leaving the evidence in plain sight would be asking for trouble from the authorities. He quickly took the bottles outside and lifted a tarp which covered a trash can where his father hid the empties. He wondered what the authorities would do if they saw the alcohol still sitting next to the trash can. His father had purchased the still soon after their arrival in Bellwort, and he now manufactured large amounts of homebrew which was sold alongside the Canadian whisky.

Matthew, Regina, and George trudged off to school.

Regina quickly took the lead but when both boys dawdled, she turned around and yelled at them. Hurry up! The bell is going to ring, and we will be late. We will all get in trouble again.

I don’t care, said George.

Maybe they will kick us out of school, laughed Matthew.

Maybe you should try a little harder. Then maybe you would like school better, retorted Regina.

If I tried harder, I might take your place as the teacher’s pet. Won’t that be wonderful? mocked Matthew.

George started giggling, Matthew as the teacher’s pet. Now that I would love to see.

The group approached the one-room structure at the end of Main Street just as the bell started ringing. The school looked as if the next big winter storm would take it away. Its absence would not have disturbed George in the least. George entered the school room and walked over to his seat. Ten minutes later George looked over and saw that Regina’s arm was raised again. He looked out the window and daydreamed until the teacher approached and he pretended he was studiously working on his sums.

After school, George ran home and entered the Petrauskas Pool Hall. Three patrons were sitting around the table closest to the bar and they greeted him by name. George smiled at them and grabbed a broom and mop from the supply room next to the counter. He swept the floors and then followed up with a mop just as his father had taught him. He knew he was never to disturb customers when he cleaned so he skipped the table where the men were playing and then finished by wiping down the bar counter. Just as he finished, his father, Matis Petrauskas, came out of the back room carrying a box of bottles.

I finished my chores. Can I go fishing? asked George. His father simply grunted, which George translated as a yes.

George grabbed his fishing pole and dug up some worms from the compost pile. He headed for a small lake fifteen minutes from town. The timber around the lake had been harvested earlier and now some deciduous trees had begun to grow along the edges. The lake and surrounding trees had become a refuge from his six siblings, two sometimes apathetic parents, and a teacher who kept him in at recess when he didn’t hand in his work. Only here did he feel relaxed. He listened to the buzzing of insects in the trees and watched a robin building a nest just over the narrow trail which wound around the lake. A mourning cloak butterfly floated in the air aimlessly ahead of him. He remembered seeing the showy maroon and yellow butterfly just after the snow had left in the spring and wondered if it could be the same one.

George took a side path which led to his favorite spot on the lake. He baited his hook and tied a twig for a bobber. Within minutes he had caught his first bluegill, and by the time he finished, another dozen had been added to his stringer. Even better, he felt renewed and ready to face whatever the home front offered.

***

When he arrived back home, he proudly showed his mother the string of bluegills.

His mother smiled and said, I think we will fry those up for supper.  You are becoming a regular family provider. It would be perfect, however, if I didn’t have to clean your catch each time.

Aw Ma, you know I would get sick if I had to cut into those fish. Can’t I just be good at catching them and somebody else be good at cleaning?

For now, I guess that's how it's going to be, laughed Ma, But you can’t go through life without ever getting your hands dirty. I will clean your fish if you keep Lina and Janina out from underfoot while I finish preparing dinner.

George held Janina on his lap and made funny faces at Lina. A contest of who could make the funniest face ended with Lina rolling on the floor giggling. George looked across the room to make sure his father was still at the bar in the pool room. George knew his father was busy filling used whisky bottles to sell that night.

When Pa returned, he walked over to the stove to check on the evening meal. George hoped he would comment on the fish being fried but was disappointed when nothing was said.

Matis Petrauskas pulled out his chair at the head of the table and said, I decided we are not returning to Lithuania. It would be too expensive.

That is fine with me, said Ruta. That was always your dream anyway. I was not treated well there. You know there is nothing over there for me.

George listened intently as he sat with his back to the wall and bounced Janina on his lap. Lina had stopped giggling the minute her father had walked into the room.

I have a plan, Ruta. I am going to buy a farm and rent out our living quarters here. We would still own the pool hall and continue to sell alcohol.  I finally would have a piece of land to call my own. If I can’t have one in Lithuania, I am going to have one here.

This was news to George. He hated the pool hall, but he also hated changes that he might not be prepared for. Does Pa know anything about farming? he wondered. What would I have to do on a farm? Would I still have to go to school?

How are you going to live on a farm and manage your pool hall all at the same time? How are the kids going to get to school? asked Ruta.

I have thought of that, said Matis proudly. We will have to buy one of those machines with motors.

Suddenly George didn’t feel too good. He had seen those machines drive up and down their street. They were noisy, smelled bad, and sometimes scared the horses. They also scared him. What in the world was Pa thinking?

***

The next week a Model T with a for sale sign parked alongside the pool hall. George thought he had seen it before but not with the sign on it. Matis noticed it immediately. It belonged to one of his regulars.

Are you selling that machine? asked Matis.

I sure am. Are you interested? asked the ruddy complected rotund farmer.

Why are you selling it? asked Matis.

I am getting a new model, answered the farmer.

How much?

Seeing that I know you, I could let you have it for $300. I paid $395 when it was new a couple of years ago. Are you interested? the farmer asked again.

Probably not. Too dangerous. I think I would rather drive a team of crazed Lithuanian heavy draft horses through town than one of those smoke-belching noisy things, declared Matis.

Horses are on their way out, Matis. These machines are a lot simpler to drive than a horse, and you can forget about grain and hay bills and having to clean up after it. It will go all day and night and never get tired. Heck, some fellas have even used them to plow fields.

Matis was still wary of the car but finally agreed to buy it. The auto was delivered on a Saturday afternoon. George stood in the shade of the pool hall along with the entire Petrauskas family. George had seen these machines pass by noisily on the streets and had watched Joseph and Audra get rides to work and back, but he was much younger and the thought of entering and riding in one was both terrifying and intriguing. He stepped back as the Model T passed him, kicking up clouds of dust. George noticed that his father had also stepped back and now looked as if he was regretting his purchase. The former owner cajoled Matis to climb into the driver’s seat. George thought he detected fear in his father’s face. Fear was something George had never seen from his father. Anger and rage but never fear. Matis slowly climbed into the car as if he expected the machine to buck him off. When Matis was safely seated behind the steering wheel the entire family slowly edged toward the car. The farmer began giving instructions to Matis while Joseph and Matthew listened intently. George could not picture himself ever driving the car nor did he want to. He half listened as he inspected the spoked wheels, headlights, back seat, and wind screen.

George turned his attention to his father as the farmer droned on. Look down by your feet, Matis. See those three petals? The right one has a B on it. That is the brake. You want to step on that one when you want to slow down or stop. Matis nodded, but George could tell his father was becoming agitated. The farmer continued, That middle pedal will make you go backward. The R stands for reverse. Now pay attention carefully, the farmer warned. The left pedal is more complicated.

Is that why it has the letter C on it? asked Matis.

No, laughed the farmer. That C stands for clutch. It works with this lever by your left hand. You should always pull that lever way back when you park. It will hold your car in place. When you want to go forward, push that lever forward and press all the way down on the clutch pedal and you will go forward in low gear.

What do you mean by low gear? asked Matis. George continued to read his father’s face. He could tell his father was now confused.

You have a high gear and a low gear, explained his patient instructor. You only start out in low gear. High gear is for everything else.

Eventually, the farmer decided it would be best if he sat next to Matis and let Matis drive. He invited Joseph, Matthew, and George into the back seat. Joseph and Matthew quickly jumped in the back with excited smiles on their faces. George, however, had seen fear on his father’s face and that fear was now growing in him. He had always been able to read people’s emotions better than his brothers, and now images of runaway machines with twisted metal and mangled bodies quickly flashed through his mind. He stayed rooted in place until Matis angrily ordered him to jump in. Fear of his father’s wrath had always risen to the top of his many fears, and so he reluctantly climbed in between his brothers.

Pa slowly went up and down Main Street practicing under the tutelage of their now much-admired teacher. After an hour of driving, Matis was satisfied he had mastered a new skill. He could operate the hand crank to start the car, adjust the spark, choke, and throttle. He returned to the pool hall with a smug smile on his face.

You boys jump down while I take Ma and your sisters for a ride. Lina was a little hesitant, but, in the end, joined her sisters for a sunset ride north of town. As he returned and parked the car next to the pool hall, he turned to Ruta and said, This is going to open a whole new world for us. Tomorrow we are going to find a farm to buy.

A month later Matis moved his family to their new home. The property had been deserted by the former owner and was owned by the bank. It contained a barn, farmhouse, and a few outbuildings. The structures had been neglected and needed a lot of repairs, while the fields had not been worked for five years and were beginning to go wild. Matis, however, was blind to its shortcomings. George was overjoyed. He hated living at the pool hall. Here he would have room to explore. The best discovery was the presence on the property of two small ponds which contained fish. George was elated. Even though he had a two-mile hike to school he loved the peace and quiet the countryside offered. On top of all that his father’s temperament had seemed to take a turn for the better. Matis was almost giddy about finally reaching his dream–ownership of a farm.

***

The entire family noticed the change in Matis. He was more mellow and that in turn caused the entire family to relax. George found himself enjoying the evening meals. Ruta, Audra, Regina, and Lina were not as jumpy. Joseph and Matthew demonstrated a sense of humor that George had never detected before. They told jokes and laughed hysterically. Matis and Ruta would talk about growing up in Lithuania.

One evening Joseph asked Matis why he had left Lithuania. Matis’s face grew sad as he began speaking. I had two good friends growing up–Jonas and Benas. We grew up together in the same village and were all in the same grade in school. Our families were poor, and all worked for a rich landowner. After we were old enough to work in the fields, three Russian soldiers arrived, and began talking to the landowner. Jonas’s Dad realized what was going on and told us to hide in the woods, because they were looking for young men to fight in the Russian army. They wanted the older men to keep working the fields, but the younger ones would have to serve for twelve years. They captured Jonas that day and I never saw him again. Benas and I hid in the woods until dark when my father came looking for us. One of the soldiers had struck my father with a rifle butt and his head had a huge gash. They had wanted to know where we were, but he would not give us up. He had dug up the family’s money buried in the backyard, and told us to leave immediately with it and find our way to America.

After a long sigh, Matis continued. I never got to say goodbye to my mother or sisters. I never saw any of them again.

Silence fell like a dark cloud around the table. George looked at his father with new respect. None of the family had heard this story before. Suddenly Audra burst out, What happened to Benas?

Matis hesitated but then began again. Benas and I arrived in America together, but we found a very hard life awaiting us. We traveled to Chicago where we were told many of our countrymen worked. The only job we could find was in a meat packing factory. We worked long hours for little pay. All the workers would drink or gamble the little money they had to get their minds off the blood, carcasses, and knives they faced every morning. After two years, Benas left and went back home. I haven’t heard from him since and don’t even know if he is still alive. I was planning to follow him back home, but then a miracle happened.

A miracle–what miracle happened? Tell us. shouted the children excitedly.

The most beautiful Lithuanian girl arrived in our neighborhood. Her name was Ruta, and I instantly fell in love with her.

The children all cheered. George looked at his mother and saw a small smile start to appear. He thought she might blush just like his sister Regina did so often at school.

Then what happened? asked Audra.

We got married and you all happened, smiled Matis as he reached over and tousled baby Janina’s hair making her giggle.

George stared at his father confused. That smile and affectionate motion was something he had never seen directed toward himself or any of his siblings. Matis’s smiles had always been reserved for patrons at the pool hall–never his children. George studied his father’s face but could not read anything. There was a hunger inside of him to be on the receiving end of his father’s approval. He hoped in time he would be.

***

Six months after purchasing the farm, Matis began to realize that being a landowner was not as easy as he had envisioned. Things seemed to constantly break, and he had no skill with mechanical things. He could butcher any animal placed in front of him, but anything with metal, springs, or gears was a mystery. His prized alcohol still was as close to anything mechanical that he could fix. He started to brood and drink heavily. He had an arrangement with the tenants living above the pool hall that they would manage things when he didn’t show up, and Matis had been showing up less and less. His wife and children noticed his bad mood and tried to stay out of his way.

One afternoon, on the way home from school, George decided to run ahead of his siblings hoping to get some fishing in. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his father’s Model T was not parked in front of the house. As he approached the house, he heard the baby crying. Why wasn’t his mother comforting Janina? He slowed down, worrying. He carefully opened the front door and saw his mother lying on the kitchen floor. Her face was covered with blood and her arm was bent backwards at a strange angle.

Not knowing what to do he stayed in the doorway and yelled, Hurry, Ma is hurt bad.

He could feel his heart pound and felt the fear rising in him. He couldn’t decide whether to run back into the yard or enter the house. He then heard a soft whimpering coming from the kitchen. The sound was coming from under the kitchen table. Lina was sitting under the table with her head between her knees and sobbing quietly. George climbed under the table and put his arms around Lina. Between sobs she stammered, Pa...Pa got mad at Ma. He threw her on the ground and kicked her...and hit her again and again. The four-year-old then burst into loud gasping cries and sobbed uncontrollably.

At that point the four older children burst through the front door. Joseph knelt by Ma and shook her shoulder gently. Ma, can you hear me?  Ma was unresponsive. Joseph told Matthew to run to the Chinnery’s and get help. The Chinnery’s lived a half mile to the north, and it would take time to summon them, but Joseph didn’t know what else to do. Take the short cut across the fields, he yelled to Matthew.

While they waited, George moved to the corner with Lina. He stared at the blood on the floor and knew he was going to be sick. He hated blood. When Pa had butchered a deer earlier, Joseph and Matthew watched intently, but George felt ill and left the barn.

George decided he had to get away from the blood. He helped Lina up and walked outside with her. Sitting on the porch he wondered if Ma was alive. Audra had picked up Janina and was comforting her, while Joseph continued trying to wake Ma. Eventually George heard a car engine in the distance and stood up as it drove into the driveway. Matthew was in the back seat and jumped out quickly. George had only met the Chinnery’s once, but they had seemed nice enough. They were older than Ma and Pa with no children. Mrs. Chinnery was tall and thin with quick motions and a take-charge stern look. She jumped out of the car and quickly entered the kitchen without any hesitation. Mr. Chinnery got out of the car more slowly and looked sadly at George and Lina. He was stout and the top of his head hardly reached his wife’s shoulders. He was dressed in faded bib overalls and appeared to have been summoned in the middle of his chores. His face was kind and his eyes reminded George of the eyes of the contented cows he had seen in the farmer’s barn. The farmer’s eyes seemed to take in every aspect of the scene, understanding it all while not making judgements. He hesitated just before he reached the steps. George thought he was going to say something, but he seemed to have thought better of it and followed his wife into the kitchen.

His wife spent less than a minute examining Ma before she turned to her husband. Help me move her to the bed and then fetch Dr. Blanchette...and the sheriff.

Dr. Blanchette arrived first. Ma had regained consciousness and could answer his questions. After his examination, he comforted the family, saying Your mother should be ok. I have given her something to make her sleep. She has a broken arm and probably several ribs. Her head injuries, although severe, should not cause permanent damage. He cleaned and bandaged Ma's head wound and set her broken arm. The older Petrauskas children watched as if in a trance. The kindly neighbor and his wife sat on the porch with Regina, George, Lina, and Janina.

Dr. Blanchette asked Joseph if they had any friends or relatives that could stay with them. Joseph quietly shook his head.  Everybody followed Dr. Blanchette to the porch. Mrs. Chinery stood up and said, These children cannot stay here by themselves. My husband and I will stay with them overnight. We are their closest neighbors. Dr. Blanchette seemed relieved and asked the children if they were comfortable with Mr. and Mrs. Chinnery staying overnight. Joseph and Audra looked at each other and nodded.

They all looked up at the sound of another car arriving. It was the sheriff. He nodded at the group on the porch. I am Sheriff Wilson. Where is the victim?

She is in the bedroom, but I have sedated her. answered Dr. Blanchette.

I won’t wake her, but I do need to see the injuries, Doc.

Sheriff Wilson started his investigation by looking at Ma’s injuries. He then questioned the Chinnery’s and the children. The only person who had witnessed everything was four-year old Lina, and she had stopped talking. It didn’t matter to Sheriff Wilson. He had seen and heard enough. Do you know where your father might be?

Maybe the pool hall, answered Joseph.

I will check there first, but don’t worry. We will find him. He turned on his heels and left as quickly as he had arrived.

Dr. Blanchette had been packing his bag. He turned to Joseph, Audra, and the Chinnery’s. Head injuries can be tricky. Everything may seem normal and suddenly things turn bad. Watch her carefully tonight and if anything seems abnormal come and get me.

Mr. and Mrs. Chinnery promised the doctor they would. Mr. Chinnery and Joseph cleaned up the kitchen and mopped the floor where Ma had lain. George couldn’t force himself to help. Night descended, and Mrs. Chinnery made some sandwiches. Everybody acted like they were sleepwalking. Mrs. Chinnery and Audra watched Ma through the night, while Mr. Chinnery slept in the living room.

In the morning, George peeked into Ma’s room. Ma looked awful but she was sitting up in bed. Her face had a large bruise, her left eye was swollen shut, and her lip was split, but she still tried to smile. The smile must have hurt, and it appeared a little scary to George, but he smiled back. Are you ok, Ma?

Don’t worry George, I just need a couple of days to get back on my feet, she quietly answered.

Why did Pa do it? George asked. Why did he hurt you so bad?

"You know how Pa gets.