She nodded. “I understand. I mean, my mind understands. But this silly old heart doesn’t understand one little bit.”
Ralph drew her to him and kissed her. “That silly old heart you’re wearing these days is mine, you know. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t understand. I wouldn’t want it to.”
9. Polio Claims a Victim
Ralph stayed for the rest of the week and life for Jean was one grand whirl. Then Jeannie drove him to town and put him aboard the Boston train. As she turned the car around and headed slowly for home, her heart grew heavy. She tried to blink back the tears as she told herself that they would be apart for only a few months this time. But by the time she reached home, she was openly crying.
Doris was standing on the front porch when she drove up. Jean turned her head away, but Doris, who had already seen the tears, put her arm around her sister’s shoulder. Jean reached up and squeezed Doris’s hand. Without saying anything, the two sisters shared a moment of complete sympathy.
Finally Doris said, “Jean, this is terrible, but the hospital called and wanted you to come right over. It’s mean to make you go right out when you feel this way....”
Jean grinned at her sister. “Work is the best cure for what ails me, you know. What’s up?”
Doris shook her head. “They have a polio victim,” she said flatly.
Jean gasped. “Polio!” she cried. “But this is only May! The polio season shouldn’t start for another month, at least!”