Vanover’s shy years

I walked the four miles roundtrip to Burdine School from Cane Branch where there was this very pretty girl I was nuts about for the years I went there. I was very good in all sports during my school years.

We lived on a 100-acre farm and I had to get home after school, and go into the field to work until it got dark.

During high school in Jenkins, I was playing all sports and this same girl was watching us. I still was very shy and could not talk to her to ask her to go out with me.

When World War II heated up, I left school early with other young boys and joined the U.S. Air Force after taking my GED test and passing it. I was training to become an enlisted pilot in the Air Force Air Sea Rescue Service at Langley Field, Virginia.

After I received my wings, I went home for three days. I was talking with some of the high school boys when this pretty girl walked up. These folks were telling me how nice I looked in my uniform with my pilot wings.

Before I asked her anything, she tells me she has a boyfriend.

I don’t recall seeing her again.

I knew her for over 20 years.

I’m told she is no longer with us.

(Contributing writer Everett Vanover lives in California.)