Beverly, Right Here

For the VFW’s Christmas in July party, there are lights, a Christmas tree, music, laughter, and a man in a Santa Claus costume. The song “Moon River” (1961) plays, and Iola dances with Elmer.

A veteran sells poppies and raffle tickets for the turkey. Elmer recites a line from “In Flanders Fields” (1915) by the World War I medic John McCrae. The man doesn’t want to hear “that crap.” He’s 92, and he survived World War I. His experiences in the “trenches” taught him life is senseless and anything can happen.

Beverly buys $40 worth of tickets from the man and writes Iola’s name on the back of 80 tickets. Beverly feels happy—though she’s not sure why. She looks at the V in the VFW sign and spots the bird returning to the nest with food. The sight touches her heart.

Beverly’s hand hurts from writing Iola’s name on the raffle tickets. The last time her hand hurt so much was in the third grade when she punched Tinsley Amos in the nose for doing “everything right.” As punishment, Beverly had to write “I regret my actions” 200 times. After she admitted she didn’t regret her actions, she had to write “I am properly sorry” 500 times.