He Is Our Strength

PROLOGUE

Beth put the last fork in place on the dinner table. Emily, her sister was filling the glasses with water. Neither girl spoke but each glanced from time to time at their mother who was transferring the meal to serving bowls and to the table. Tension was thick and both girls knew things would get worse.

Fred Irving, their father, was late getting home from his factory job. In fact he was very late. He finished his shift at three and it was almost six. Their mother was furious.

Come and eat, she called tersely to her son Allen and youngest daughter Polly as she sat the last of the food on the table. I’m not waiting any longer. Your Dad knows what time supper is ready. If he’s fool enough to miss it, it’s his fault.

The four children sixteen year old Allen, twelve year old Elizabeth, who went by the name of Beth, eleven year old Emily, and nine year old Polly, were tense as they sat down at the table. They had a strong family resemblance. All had blonde hair of various shades. Their mother, a pretty woman even in her late thirties, also had dark blonde hair. All except Polly also had their mother’s blue eyes. She had hazel eyes like her dad.

They all took their usual places at the table and ate quickly with their heads down. They knew what was going to happen that evening. With their mother angry, none of them wanted to anger her further.

Their father occasionally stopped after work with his friends for a beer or two. Their mother did not approve of him doing so. She expected him to come directly home from work and became very angry when he didn’t.

Emily, can’t you be more careful, Leona Irving said sharply as her daughter spilled some of the beans on the table. You are so sloppy. I can’t believe someone your age could spill so much.

I’m sorry, Emily replied getting up and reaching for a paper towel to clean it.

Don’t waste a paper towel on that, her mother replied sighing. Use the dish rag.

Emily cleaned her spill and sat down. They all ate in silence not looking up from their plates.

Finally Allen broke the silence. Is it OK for me to go over to Max’s?

Is your homework done? his mother asked.

We’re going to do it together, he explained.

I guess, you can go but don’t be late and take out the garbage before you go. She answered.

Beth and Emily began to clear the table and Polly got up from her chair.

Just a minute, young lady, her mother called. Sit down and finish your fish. You know you are to finish everything. If you didn’t want it you shouldn’t have taken it on your plate.

But, Mommy, Polly whined close to tears. I don’t feel like eating.

I don’t care what you feel like. We do not waste food, so finish your supper, Leona said as she got up from the table and started to the living room. Calling back to the other two girls she said, Be sure and get those dishes clean. I get tired of having to rewash them.

Beth sighed as they finished clearing the table. Polly sat crying trying to eat her fish.

Go ahead, Polly, Emily whispered. I’ll get rid of the fish but don’t tell Mom. The happy little girl smiled and went off to her room.

Allen’s lucky, Emily said softly. He escaped tonight. I’d hate to be Dad.

I hate to be us having to listen to it, Beth said. It’s your turn to wash.

When Mom is in her mood nothing will be done right, regardless of how careful we are, Emily said.

The three girls were sitting at the kitchen table doing their homework when they heard their dad’s car drive in the garage. They looked at each other knowing what was next.

That’s what I like to see, he said coming in the room and kissing each on the forehead. My girls hard at work on their homework.

Hi, Daddy, they said. They knew there wouldn’t be any more homework for tonight.

Their mother came in from the living room. It’s about time, she said. You know you missed your supper. I hope you ate at your bar because you’ll not be getting anything here.

I’m really sorry, Leona, Fred Irving said hanging up his coat. I lost track of time.

I bet you did, she almost shouted. You take no responsibility at all. I have to work all day, and then come home, fix supper, and deal with the kids while you are out having fun. You are worthless. If it wasn’t for me we’d be living in a shack somewhere.

The three girls quickly gathered their books and headed for their bedrooms. Beth and Emily shared a room the farthest from the kitchen. The older girls took Polly to their room and closed the door. They would then only hear parts of the argument from there.

Beth got out some paper dolls that she still played with occasionally and they began to play while trying to tune out what was happening in the rest of the house. They didn’t seem to ever get used to it.

I wish they would stop, Polly said. Why do they have to be so mad at each other?

If that was us arguing Mom would be all over us, Emily replied. But it’s alright for them.

Beth knew her mother wanted everything her way and was quick to tell them when they failed which, was often. But why did her dad persist in disobeying her. They all had learned to obey at an early age. They still were yelled at a lot but the more they conformed to their mother in everything the easier it was. She never told them she loved them or that she was proud of them. She just complained.

Beth was getting old enough to understand a little of it. It was probably hard for a grown man to do exactly what his wife said all the time. His friends probably thought he was hen-pecked and he had to prove to them he wasn’t. That was why he was willing to go out with them and afterwards endure these arguments and abuse. He needed to gain their respect. But what about his children? Doesn’t he realize how hard it was on them?

Allen spent more and more time with his friends to avoid his mother. Emily was the only one to challenge her mother but she paid a high price with days of being berated for every little thing she did. Beth learned to just do as she was told. It was bad enough to be yelled at when she was trying to do the right thing.

At last the argument reached a lull, just long enough for her mother to yell at the girls to get ready for bed. Beth hadn’t finished her homework but decided it was easier to go to school without it than to tell her mother.

After the girls were in bed, they heard their mother continue her verbal assault on their dad. Soon, however, they heard the door slam to their parent’s room. Their dad had earned a bed on the couch for the night.

CHAPTER 1

Beth was awake very early but lay in bed afraid to disturb her sister or her parents. Today was to be the biggest day of her life. She was getting married to Nathan Elliott. Her parents knew nothing about it. They had forbidden her to even date him. But she had been seeing him anyway. They said he was too old for her. He was only twenty-nine and she was nineteen. He was so cute and nice and she was really in love with him and he was in love with her. Also he had a good job at the factory where her dad worked and he made good money. He had an apartment of his own with furniture and a car and everything.

What if something went wrong? she wondered to herself. What if her mother or even her dad found out ahead of time about her eloping? Then she would be in big trouble.

Last night she had taken a suitcase of a few of her things to her friend Ruth’s house. She would pretend to go to school but instead Nathan would pick her up there and they were going to get married.

Beth thought the real reason her mother was against him was that she wanted her to go to college to meet a nice boy, someone that her mother picked out and approved of.

Most of her life she had done what her mother told her to do but not this time. She was going to marry Nathan and then her mother could have no control over her life. She would be plenty angry about it and would do whatever she could to make then miserable but Beth would be free at last.

First she heard her dad get up and get ready for work. She heard her mother complaining to him about something before he left. She knew she would be coming to their room to get them up soon so she woke Emily and went into the bathroom to get ready. She told herself to try and act as natural as she could.

Her mother was so busy getting everyone to hurry, no one even noticed her. She really hated to leave and not tell Emily and Polly goodbye. They were really close as sisters and she wasn’t sure when she would see them again. However, of the four, Emily being the one most likely to defy their mother, would probably find a way.

Emily’s bus came first and then her mother left for her job. Polly’s bus didn’t come until later. Since Ruth had her own car, Beth usually walked to her house to ride to the local college.

She felt like crying as she left home. She would escape her domineering mother just as Allen had but her sisters would now get all the criticism.

Allen had enlisted in the army and left a week after he graduated from high school. He had married Abby while he was stationed in Georgia and continued to live there after his discharge. He now had a son, Freddy, who was a little over a year old. They had been here for a short visit at Christmas.

Ruth was the only one home when Beth arrived. Nathan came in a few minutes and the friends hugged. They promised to not tell of Ruth’s part in the plan.

Hello, future Mrs. Elliott, Nathan said. She put her suitcase in the backseat and got into the car. He leaned over and kissed her.

Hello, yourself, she replied.

Are you ready? he asked.

Yeah, and I feel better now, she answered. I was so afraid someone would find out but no one suspected and after we’re married they can’t stop us.

They never could, Nathan replied. I hope you get over being so terrified of your mother. She doesn’t have the power to run your life unless you let her.

The trip across the state line took about four hours. Here they could get a license and married the same day.

The first thing they did was get their marriage license. They then ate some lunch and went to change into dressier clothes for the ceremony. It didn’t take very long to become Mrs. Nathan Elliott.

They planned to spend the rest of the weekend sightseeing. First, she needed to call her parents. She called early enough that no one would be home and left a message on the answering machine. Hi, she said. Nathan and I got married today and we are very happy.

She could only imagine how her mom would react. For once in her life, she wouldn’t be in control. Her dad would be hurt but he would understand. There was nothing they could do about it now. She was a married woman.

CHAPTER 2

W ell, Mrs. Elliott, Nate said opening the door to the apartment. Welcome home.

He took the suitcases in the bedroom while Beth took off her coat and looked around. It was small but it was home and she was now free to do what she wanted to do and how she wanted to do it.

I know it’s not much, he said returning and kissing her. But you can fix it up however you want and we can start looking for a new place.

I think it’s wonderful, she replied. I am so glad to be married to you.

They went into the bedroom to begin unpacking the suitcases. I guess we’ll have to play car tag tomorrow, Nathan said laughing. I have to be at work at seven. When is your first class?

At eight and they end at 2:30, she replied.

That works, he said. I quit at three so you can take me to work and pick me up. Then you will have the car for the day.

You do know that tomorrow is my evening to work at Pack and Save at four? she asked.

Can’t you call in sick or something? he asked. I want to spend our first evening at home together.

I really can’t, she answered. I took off Saturday and I’m afraid I’ll lose my job if I miss too much.

Look I make good money at the factory. I also get some overtime. he said. Why don’t you just quit your job and concentrate on college and keeping house?

I’d love to quit, she said. But I really need to go tomorrow so I can give them my notice.

OK, but I hope it’s your last day, he replied kissing her again.

Monday evening when he picked her at eight he told her he missed her, had ordered a pizza for dinner and her mother had called.

What did she have to say? Beth asked.

Well, he said let’s just say she wasn’t very polite and had a few choice words for me. She says I will never be welcome at her house. She also wants you to call her to probably tell you the same thing.

She decided to get it over with and call her mother. Emily answered. Hey is Mom ever mad at you, she said. She has been murder to live with since Friday. Polly and I just try and stay out of her way. Here she comes. Good luck and we love you.

Is that Beth? she heard her mother ask.

Yeah, Emily said giving her the phone.

Her mother then proceeded to read her the riot act, telling her how ungrateful and selfish she was after they had