Go Back to the Fanfiction Library!
by Adina Bernstein
All the characters in this story except Betty Roberts belong to that channel and Rupert Holmes. This is a fanfic and no infringements is intended.
Italics denotes thought
October 1938
Betty Roberts was having a delicious dream about her favorite literary characters, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, when she awoke to find her 10 year old brother, Jamie, standing over her with a plastic frog. “Ma says that you should come down to breakfast before it gets cold."
“Fine, fine. Tell Ma I'll be down in 5 minutes." Betty groaned. "Why is that I am always wakened in the middle of a dream?" She out of bed and pulled her clothes out of the closet. A few minutes later, she headed downstairs to breakfast with her books and jacket.
“Morning," Betty said. She kissed her mother, father and brother.
“We should be getting another letter from your brother either today or tomorrow," Mae Roberts, Betty’s mother, told her. Betty’s older brother Matt worked as a reporter for a small newspaper in Indianapolis.
“Betty, are going to work today?” John Roberts, Betty's father, asked.
“Yes," Betty replied. Betty hadn't worked much in the last few weeks because of midterms. John hurt himself in an accident last year, so Betty worked at the local newspaper, the Elkhart Daily Bugle, with her uncle and some other locals. The newspaper office had a telegraph machine and a telephone for the locals who didn’t have any. It was also to add some more income into the paper. “Pa, Ma, can I go to the paper after school and help Betty and Uncle Carl?” Betty’s 15 year old brother Chris asked.
“If you finish all your homework, its O.K. with me, but better ask your sister if she and Uncle Carl needs help," Mae said.
“Betty can I help you and Uncle Carl today?” Chris asked.
“Just let me check with Ma and Pa."
“They said its O.K.” Chris explained.
“Be at the paper at 3 sharp and I'll see what you can do," Betty said.
“Yes, ma’am” Chris said.
“I have to go or I'll miss the bus," Betty explained. She waved goodbye and headed toward the bus stop.
When Betty go to her literature class she saw her friend Helen Riffman waving to her. “Do you think that well get our midterm’s back today?” Helen asked.
“I hope we do," Betty replied. The professor walked into the classroom. Class went fast. On their way out from class Betty and Helen saw Tom Dalton, a boy in their class. Betty and Tom were in high school together, but never spent time with each other.
“Hi, girls!" Tom greeted.
“Hi, Tom. Betty, I've got to go. See you tomorrow!" Helen said, and walked away.
“So, Betty, how did you do on the midterm?" Tom asked.
“I got a B+. You?"
“I got a B. Not too bad,” Tom replied.
"I have to get going. I have my geography class, then I have to get to work."
“You work at the Elkhart Daily Bugle, right? Tom asked.
“Yup, bye” Betty said and walked away.
“O.K, bye” Tom replied.
Betty was got the Elkhart Daily Bugle office at 2:55. Chris was standing outside waiting for her. They walked in together. “There is my favorite niece," Carl Roberts said proudly.
“Uncle Carl, you've been saying that since I was little. I happen to be your only niece!".
“I know that. Chris, what are you doing here?" Carl asked.
“Chris wants to help us out today," Betty explained. “We can always need another set of hands."
"Come in the back, young man, and we'll see what needs doing."
*******************
Betty, next week's issue is almost done. Make sure you call the paper boys."
“Yes, Uncle Carl” Betty said. She heard the front door open and went to the counter to assist the customesr. After the firstscustomer walked out, another walked in. At 5:30, Betty closed the shop. Betty was gathering her things when Chris walked out with his things.
“Can I give you kids a ride back home?” Carl asked.
“Sure,” Chris replied.
They piled into Carl’s 1935 Dodge and drove towards the Roberts house. Betty and Chris thanked Carl and headed into the house.
The next week, after Betty’s literature class, she and Helen were chatting when Tom walked over. “Hi, Betty, Helen."
“Hi, Tom” they said.
“Betty, can I ask you something?” Tom asked.
“Sure,” she replied.
“Betty, I have to get to math. Call me about going to see the new Cary Grant movie,” Helen said.
“O.K, bye” Betty said.
“Betty, would like to get together sometime?” Tom asked.
“Sure, I’d like that," Betty said.
“Do you have time now?” Tom asked.
“Actually, I do. My class was canceled," Betty explained.
They walked to the cafeteria and they got their food. “How's work?” Tom asked.
“It's fine. We're doing well,” Betty replied.
“Is it a family business?" Tom asked.
"Yup. My grandfather started it. It was passed down to my father and uncle. Someday I will get it, or one of my brothers,” Betty said.
"How many brothers do you have?” Tom asked.
“I have three. Matt is 22, Chris is 15 and Jamie is 10," Betty explained.
"Wow. Does Matt live at home?”
“No. He lives in Indianapolis. He works at a small newspaper there."
“So, working on a newspaper is in the blood?"
“Yes. Well, anyway, I have to get to work. Thanks for lunch."
“No problem. Betty, can I call you sometime?” Tom asked.
“Sure,” Betty replied. She pulled a piece of paper out of her notebook, wrote down her phone number, and walked away.
The next night Betty was helping Jamie with his homework when she heard her mother telling her that she had a phone call. It was Tom asking her if she would like to go out on Saturday and see a movie. She said yes. They agreed that he would pick her up at her house at 7:00.
“Who was that, Betty?” John asked.
“It was Tom, a boy I know at school. We're going to see a movie Saturday night."
Tom arrived exactly at 7:00 on Saturday. “Hi, Tom,” Betty said.
“Hi, Betty,” Tom replied.
“Want to come in and meet my parents?"
"Sure," Tom replied, and they walked into the house.
“Ma, Pa, this is Tom Walton” Betty said.
“Nice to meet you, Tom” John said.
“What movie are you seeing” Mae asked.
“Probably the new Bob Hope movie."
“Have a good time kids," Mae said.
“Where are your brothers?” Tom asked.
“They're probably with their friends.” Betty said. As they were walking to Tom’s car, Betty heard giggling. “Jamie are you out there? James Paul Roberts, if I go in and tell Ma and Pa that you are out here spying on me, you will be in big trouble!"
“Aw geez Betty, you don’t have to go tell Ma and Pa," Jamie whined as he and his friend Jack walked out of the barn.
“Tom this is my brother Jamie and his friend, Jack Walters” Betty said. They said hello. Betty and Tom then got into the car and drove off.
After the movie, Tom dropped Betty off at her house. “Betty, wait, I have to tell you something,” Tom said. Betty turned around and Tom kissed her. She kissed him back.
“Good night, Tom. I had a good time," Betty said.
“Thanks, Betty. So did I,” Tom replied. He let her out of the car and drove off. After that first date, they began to see a lot of each other. A few weeks after their first date, they decided to go steady.
In late February 1939, one of Betty’s professor put up a notice that a small radio station is Pittsburgh called WENN was looking for an intern. Betty decided to send in an entry. A few days later, Betty was sitting in the cafeteria writing her entry for the contest when she felt a kiss on her cheek.
“Hey, beautiful," Tom said.
“Hey," Betty replied.
“What's this?” Tom asked.
“It's my essay for the internship in Pittsburgh,” Betty replied.
“Why would you want to leave Indiana?” Tom asked with a slight teasing in his voice.
“You know I love it here, but I want to see more of the world."
“Why would you want to see more of the world?"
“You wouldn’t understand," Betty replied and walked away.
Betty and Tom didn’t talk for a week. On Thursday night Tom decided to drive over to Betty’s house to talk to her. Tom parked his car, walked over to the house and rung the bell. Mae answered the door. “Hi, Mrs. Roberts, is Betty in?”
"She's in the back," Mae said.
"Thanks," Tom said. Mae let him in through the house. When he got the back he heard singing. Tom always liked Betty’s singing voice. “Hello, Betty,” Tom said.
“Hi, Tom,” Betty replied.
“Can we talk?” Tom asked.
“Sure. Actually, I have something to tell you. I got the internship. I'm leaving a week after graduation” Betty replied.
"Wow, Betty, congratulations," Tom said half-heartedly.
“Thanks. You know what this means, don’t you?” Betty asked.
“If your thinking what I think your thinking, it doesn’t have to be that way. We can make it work.”
"Tom, it won't work. We'll be doing different things after graduation. You have a job in town and I'll be in Pittsburgh. You want to marry and have kids. I want to get married and have kids, but not now. You understand, don’t you?"
“I do. I was going to ask you something, but I already know your answer. This is the end isn’t it?"
"I'm afraid it is."
Tom and Betty saw each occainsinally during the next few months. Betty didn’t see Tom at graduation. A week after graduation, Betty boarded the train to Pittsburgh with all of her most precious possessions. Through her internship at WENN, she got an apartment at Barbican hotel for women. 10 days after Betty left Indiana, she got up, got dressed and headed for her first day of work at WENN. When she got to the station and saw the logo she thought Well, here's goes nothing! and walked in.
The End
