Our Valley Santa Clarita July/August 2016 | Page 30

Latino Love Stories Made in America

Chapter Four:
In Love and In War
Summer of 1942, New York, NY
America was at war. On July 20th, Willie
turned 18 years old. That morning he went
to his military draft board and registered.
Registering was a formality. Every able
bodied man who registered got drafted.
That evening, knowing his freedom was
about to end, he took a bold step.
He and Linda walked leisurely, hand in hand,
along the beautiful Riverside Park, between
135th and 145th streets. They enjoyed the
cooling summer breeze of the Hudson River
and the views it offered. Though no words
were spoken, they had the same thoughts:
what happens to their relationship now that
Willie is going off to war?
Linda spoke first. “How was the draft board
today?”
Willie stopped and looked directly into
Linda’s eyes and said, “I love you, Linda.”
By the look on his face, she knew he was
tormented by his thoughts. She thought to
herself, this beautiful young man, perfect
in so many ways, was about to get drafted
and go off to war. Now, he agonized about
how to break up with her. Her heart ached,
her stomach turned and her eyes filled with
tears. This was it. This was how it would end:
he being tormented and she a heartbroken
wreck. She could hardly hear her own voice
as she responded faintly, “I love you too.”
Willie fought back his own tears and said, “I
want to marry you. I want to marry you the
sooner the better, tonight if possible. I know
we have obstacles to overcome, your family
and mine, but I don’t care about those. I only
care that I love you and that you love me too.
That’s all that matters.”
Linda, relieved at not being dumped
and excited with the marriage proposal,

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jumped into his arms and
whispered strongly into his
ear … yes! They hugged
each other tightly and then
kissed passionately. Willie
was ecstatic. The walk
back was brisk and full of
“kissing stops” along the
way. However, in the back
of his mind, Willie feared
what his mother’s reaction
to the news would be.
*****
“You want to do WHAT?”
Willie’s mother was beside
herself at the news of her
youngest of six children
wanting to marry. “Linda
is a fine lady, but she is
EIGHT years your senior,
she is DIVORCED and she
has TWO kids! I am totally
against this!”
Two months later, on September 19th,
Willie and Linda were married in a lovely
ceremony and reception … at the home of
Willie’s mother.
*****
March of 1