SOPHIE HAD READ THE LETTER SHE RECEIVED FROM FRITZI, BUT EACH day, as she sat in the kitchen with her father listening to the war news, she felt more and more that she had to do something. She knew she was a good enough pilot to at least try to join up at Sweet.w.a.ter.

Besides, working at the filling station with Fritzi, she had heard bad language and had guys make pa.s.ses at her. She a.s.sured her mother that nothing could change her mind about her religious vocation. "But, Momma, I really believe they need me. I can fly as well as Gertrude, and she went. And if I can free up just one man to fight overseas, it could make a difference."

Momma sighed. "Well, if you think so, then I guess you should go. It means that now I'll be lighting four candles, instead of three. Oh, dear Jesus in heaven, I hate this war. It's taking all my children. Thank G.o.d, your sister Tula doesn't fly or I'd be losing her, too."

FIVE DAYS LATER, WHEN Sophie Marie arrived in Sweet.w.a.ter, Gertrude was waiting for her as she got off the bus. Gertrude was so happy to see Sophie, even though it meant she would have to start getting up early on Sunday mornings again. Since Gertrude had been away from home, she had been slacking off on going to ma.s.s every week, but she had promised Momma to take good care of Sophie. Now that Fritzi had left, she was the oldest sister, so she was going to be on her best behavior, but oh she had loved sleeping in on Sundays.

LENORE'S AT IT AGAIN

POINT CLEAR, ALABAMA.

AFTER SHE HAD REPEATEDLY BEEN ASKED NOT TO, LENORE STARTED watching the local late-night television news again. "It only upsets you, Mother," said Sookie. And sure enough, a few mornings later, Lenore called Netta and woke her up out of a sound sleep.

"h.e.l.lo," said a groggy Netta.

"It's Lenore. Listen, dear, I want to run something by you before I call the newspaper."

Netta looked at the clock. It was 6:18 A.M. "All right, go ahead, Lenore."

"This country is a mess, and it's not getting any better."

"I agree with you there, hon, but what can you do?"

"That's just it. I know exactly what we can do and where we went wrong."

"Well, good for you, Lenore," said Netta, as she slowly got up out of bed and put Lenore on speakerphone and headed to the bathroom.

"Looking back now, it is clear that our first big mistake was ever doing away with the monarchy. This democracy thing is just not working. And we've certainly given it a fair chance for how many years now?"

"Two hundred and something, at least," called out Netta from the other room.

"More than a fair chance, wouldn't you agree?"

"Oh, yes, more than fair."

"It sounded like a good idea at the time, and I hate to say it, but the majority of people in this country are simply just not capable of governing themselves. My Lord, look who they just reelected mayor. That man doesn't have enough sense to tell time, much less run an entire town."

"You're right about that," said Netta as she flushed the toilet.

"I know I am! And something has to be done before he runs us all into the ground. n.o.body wants to spend all that money for those stupid bicycle paths."

Netta came back to her bedside table and took Lenore off speakerphone. "I agree, hon, but what do you propose?"

"People just have to step aside, and let someone who knows what's best for them take over."

"Sounds good, but who?"

"Well, this is where I need your feedback, Netta. Not to toot my own horn, but you know I have excellent organizational skills."

"You wouldn't be president of all those clubs if you didn't, Lenore."

"Right. So I'm thinking about just stepping in, bypa.s.sing the entire election thing, declaring myself mayor, and just be done with it."

"Well, I don't know why not, Lenore. You sure couldn't do any worse."

"That's right. I say throw the b.u.ms out. Start small, on a local level, and then we can decide where to go from there. I don't see where we have any other choice except absolute rule. Do you?"

A FEW SECONDS LATER, at 6:21, Sookie picked up her phone. "Hey, Sookie, it's Netta. I'm sorry to call so early, but your mother's at it again."

"Oh, no. What's she done now?"

Netta chuckled. "Nothing yet, but she says she wants to declare absolute rule, appoint herself mayor, and overthrow the city government."

"Oh, G.o.d... is she serious?"

"I don't know. It could be just one of her whims, but just in case, you'd better get over there and stop her, before she calls the newspaper."

"Thanks, Netta. I'm so sorry she bothered you again."

"Oh, that's all right, I'm used to it by now. But you know, Sookie, as crazy as it sounds, she just might have a point."

SOOKIE DRESSED AND HEADED straight over to her mother's house. She found Lenore in the kitchen.

"Good gracious, what brings you over so early in the morning?"

"Mother, I am here because you cannot be calling up the newspaper and causing any more trouble."

"Trouble? What are you talking about?"

"Netta just called me."

"Oh, well. You know I'm right."

"Mother, you may be right, but let me remind you one more time. Earle has to practice in this town, and I cannot have you stirring up another hornet's nest. We haven't finished paying for the last lawsuit."

"But somebody has to do something. The man is going to ruin us all."

"Fine, Mother. Just let someone else do it. Please-let's just try and get through Thanksgiving without some big drama. Promise?" Lenore looked pained. "Please, Mother? For the family's sake?"

Lenore sighed. "Well, all right. I promise. But you know I could whip that city council into shape in twenty-four hours."

"I'm sure you could, but just let it be."

"All right, Sookie. If you insist on interfering with my freedom of speech, then I have no choice but to be muted. But I must say you have certainly become very demanding of late. Are you sure that doctor didn't give you pills?"

"No, Mother, he didn't give me pills. I wish to G.o.d he had."

LATER, SOOKIE STOOD IN the kitchen, thinking about what all she had to do to get ready for Thanksgiving. She had never been a particularly good cook, and yet, for the past twenty-something years, she had somehow managed to prepare three meals a day plus meals for all the dogs, cats, hamsters, and-for a short while-the alligator. She had always tried her best to provide good nutrition and balanced meals, but there were times when she had given in and let them all eat pizza. After all, when some boy with a lit "Pizza" sign on top of his car would deliver it right to the door, who was she to object? Her girls were not very good cooks, either. Her only hope was that Carter would marry a girl who cooked. Not only cooked, but who would just love to do Thanksgiving for the entire family.

Thanksgiving was always stressful. This year, Buck's wife, Bunny, had invited the family to come up to their house in North Carolina for Thanksgiving, but Lenore had refused to go. She said, "Sookie, I don't even like to have to write the word 'North' on a letter. Why would I go there?"

"Mother, please tell me you're kidding."

Lenore laughed and said, "Oh, I suppose I am ... but I'm not sure." Nevertheless, they didn't go to North Carolina.

So, once again, Sookie was cooking. And, as usual, Lenore would arrive shortly before the meal, looking fresh and beautiful in some lovely outfit and sit and hold court all through the meal. It was so irritating. But one thing Sookie vowed she was not going to do this year was make the stuffing for the turkey from scratch. It took too much time, and it never turned out right. This year, she was going to order it from Bates House of Turkey, and she didn't care who knew it. And if Lenore said one word about it, she would say, "Well, Mother, if you don't like the stuffing, then next year, you can bring your own."

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

Dear Billy,

Hit Newark late Monday night, rain, sleet, zero visibility, and had to land at alternative airstrip in Tenafly. Landed in mud up to our you-know-whats. We had some damage, but at least we landed. The guys in the two planes before us flipped over, and one hit a fence. Whew. Anyhow, we were stuck here for a few days, and Pinks found out and called her dad and managed to get us tickets to a Broadway show called Oklahoma, and boy, was w.i.l.l.y happy about that. She sat up all night polishing her boots.

It was our first Broadway show, and what a show! Being from Oklahoma, w.i.l.l.y got pretty excited about the whole thing, and every time anybody on stage said, "Oklahoma," w.i.l.l.y stood up and yelled, "Hee-haw!" It was pretty funny. I'm just glad she didn't shoot off her gun. We went backstage afterward and met the cast, and Alfred Drake, the leading man, took one look at long tall w.i.l.l.y and asked her out, and I got to go along for the ride.

He is one snappy dresser. Offstage, he is strictly Fifth Avenue. He took us to Sardi's, where all the big shots go, and we got a table right up front. And pretty soon, in walks George Raft with six feet of blond bombsh.e.l.l in gold lame hanging on his arm. Then on to the Rainbow Room and the Copacabana. What a night. And the next day, we went ice-skating at Rockefeller Center. I skated. w.i.l.l.y watched. They don't ice-skate in Wapanucka, Oklahoma. Rode on a bus and a subway and had drinks at the Plaza Hotel. Oh, brother. How are you gonna keep w.i.l.l.y down on the ranch after she's seen New York? She took to that town like hot cakes, and it took to her. Cabbies almost wrecked their cabs, waving and honking their horns at her.

Miss you, Fritzi

AVENGER FIELD.

SWEEt.w.a.tER, TEXAS.

Dear Wink-a-d.i.n.k,

On a trip across, w.i.l.l.y and I stopped in at Avenger Field, and just so you know, after all my warnings, it seems our little sister Sophie showed up here a few weeks ago and is now in training. I was not happy about it, but Pinks said not to worry about her and that Gertrude and Sophie were both doing great. And I guess she is right. My mechanic, Elroy, said he overheard another mechanic say that "those Jurdabralinski girls sure know their motors. They can tell you what's wrong, even before we check it out." Our grease monkeying days are sure paying off here. I heard all the instructors are pretty impressed with them as well. One told me Sophie was a natural fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants pilot. I wanted to tell him I taught her everything she knows, but for once, Miss Show-Off didn't. Momma would be surprised.

I am sending you an article that was in the newspaper telling how our family now has four pilots flying for the good ol' USA. Momma says Poppa is so proud, he is about to bust. Me, too!

I have no idea what you are up to, so the next time you write, tell the censor boys to lay off for just a line or two, will ya? Get this war over with and come home soon. I need to see your ugly face.

Fritzi P.S. Gertrude brought her accordion and is pretty popular around the barracks. My pal w.i.l.l.y from Oklahoma said she had never even heard a polka in her life and is teaching Gertrude some country western tunes. Ever heard "Back in the Saddle Again?" Ouch. Pretty corny, but I didn't tell w.i.l.l.y this.

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

Dear Billy!

Now the tale can be told. It seems that the new big B-29 was having a lot of problems with engine fires, and a lot of the boys were afraid and refusing to fly the thing. It seems like Lieutenant Colonel Paul Tibbets must be anxious to get it up and going, because he secretly trained a few WASPs to fly it. He then painted "Lady Bird" on the side along with the WASP symbol, and they toured it all around the country to air bases. When they landed and the boys gathered around the plane and saw two females step out of the c.o.c.kpit, it shamed them into flying it. No more refusals. I am proud as punch to tell you that those two little gals were bay mates of mine. Don't know what Tibbets has in mind with the B-29, but it must be something pretty darned important.

Love, Fritzi

THANKSGIVING DAY.