The Little River Bridge

The Little River Bridge

Have you ever crossed an old backwoods bridge and wondered who had crossed it, or what it has seen? This story will chronicle, 3 short stories of people who have either drove across, the old bridge, or around it. I hope you enjoy.

Caleb and Debra: Part 1

Caleb James Harvey and Debra Irene Clarke were 15, and 14, in 1945. They had grown up walking back and forth to school together. They got along very well. They each liked one another very much, but their families were feuding. Danny Clarke told, Kale Harvey if he didn’t stop farming his two-acre’s on the back of his property, he would regret it. Kale told him that if he’d try something, then he wouldn’t live to see the sunrise.

It had all started, many years ago, when a land surveyor, made a mistake, and took two acres from, the Clarke’s, and gave it to the Harvey’s, when they bought the land.

Caleb and Debra had heard this all their lives. At first, they had tried to stay away from each other, but being in the same school, some of the same classes, and walking home everyday together. They naturally began to talk. They both found, that the other was nice, polite, and very caring. They also thought if, their fathers could talk, they could settle the feud. So the kids, tried to approach the subject with their fathers, but both were rebuffed. They said if the other had come to him on his hands and knees, it wouldn’t change anything. Caleb knew that there was no hope, but Debra held on. She had always been Daddy’s little girl. She’s truly a sweet girl, he thought. Debra began to notice Caleb, also. He was growing into a very nice looking young man, as they would walk to and from school each day.

One day as Caleb, and Debra were walking home, holding hands. Her father was driving home from town and saw them in the distance. He drove up to the two, and said in an angry voice, get in the truck girl. He then told Caleb, if I ever see you around my Daughter, you’d never live to do it again. Caleb was so mad he picked up a rock and hit the mirror on Mr. Clarke’s truck. He stepped on his brakes, and got out, and Caleb came to meet him. They stood toe to toe. Debra, tried to get in between the two, and Mr. Clarke pushed her down on her butt. This infuriated Caleb even more, and he hit Mr. Clarke with all he had, and the older man fell to his knees. Caleb walked over to Debra, and helped her up. He walked back over to Mr. Clarke and offered his hand, but he didn’t accept. Caleb told him that he didn’t want any trouble and that the feud was between him and his father, it doesn’t have anything to do with us. He offered his hand again and Mr. Clarke accepted. Caleb helped him up. Mr. Clarke said “you have Quiet a punch their son”. He then tried to hit Caleb, but missed as Caleb ducked out of the way, and punched the older man in the Gut. He doubled over in pain. It seemed that Caleb was a natural fighter. Mr. Clarke stood, and got in his truck, and told Debra if she wanted to come home, she had better get in the truck or find some where else to live. She told Caleb by, and got in the truck. They drove off, and Caleb stood there, worried that Debra had to go home with that monster.

He slowly began to walk home, but all he could think about was Debra and her father, he knew that they wouldn’t be able to stay. He knew that there would never be peace between their families as long as the two older men lived. He slowly made his way home, and fumbled threw his chores. He just couldn’t keep his mind from wondering what was going on at her house.

Caleb’s greatest fears were realized, when the next morning Debra never met him at the little river bridge, and she didn’t come to school for a week. Caleb was beside himself with worry, so on Saturday Caleb snuck over to her house to try and find out what was going on. He finally found her in the garden. He looked around to make sure that no one else was around, and whispered to her. She said, “You shouldn’t be here”. All he could see was her back. “Turn around and talk to me”, he pleaded. “No, you don’t need to see me, you should go”, said Debra. Caleb looked around again and walked up to her, he turned her to him, and saw Debra’s bruised and battered face. The furry emanated from his eyes, and his enraged voice scared Debra. She knew that she had to somehow, get Caleb to go home. She told him that she planned to leave and was going to tell him as soon as she was able to go back to school. This calmed Caleb, and he told her that they would both leave. He asked her when she thought that she could sneak out, and she told him to give her time to heal, and he agreed. He lightly kissed her on her forehead, and said, “I do love you Debra”. “Caleb, I love you to, now please go home. I’ll see you soon. Met me at the little river bridge tomorrow night around ten, and we’ll talk over our plans”, said Debra. “Ok”, said Caleb. He lightly touched her soft cheek, and ran off.

The next night Caleb was waiting on Debra, when he saw her. He could see that she was crying. He ran to her and saw that she was holding a suitcase. She told him through her sobs that her father came home drunk and took it out on her. He couldn’t really tell, how her face looked, it was just too dark. He led her by the hand under the covered bridge to the light in the middle. When they were under the light, Caleb saw her lip, and forehead, he made-up his mind then an there that they would leave and never come back. He told her that he had about two hundred dollars tucked away, and all they had to do was go and get it, and get him some clothes. She told him that all she wanted to do was sleep, and he told her that they could go to the little shack, in the woods by the creek, “its got a cot that you can sleep on, and I’ll make a palate on the floor”. She told him that would be fine, as long as she didn’t have to see her father again. Caleb told her that she would never see that monster again. She gingerly smiled through her bruises. He walked her to the old shed, about a hundred yards from the shed he felt her go limp, and caught her before she hit the ground. He picked her up in his arms and carried her rest of the way to the shed. He found the cot in the dark and laid her down. She was out, and he found an old lantern and lit it.

He thought that he could run to his house and get a few things and be back before she woke up.

Caleb hurried to the house and up to his room and got his suitcase, and filled it with only what he needed for a few days. He quietly made his way down to the kitchen and got a few things for them to eat, and found his mothers bandages and some rose bud salve for her cuts. Caleb then walked out onto the porch, and over the edge of one of the columns was a loose board. He pulled at it and reached inside. He pulled out an old cigar case and put it in his paper bag along with the other supplies. Caleb placed everything back where it was and ran back to the shed.

As he walked in he noticed that Debra had woken up. She asked where he had gone. He put everything down except the paper bag, and walked over to her and kneeled down. He opened the bag and got the bandages and the salve, and began to dress her wounds. Debra just lies there and watched as Caleb cared for her. As he leaned to her she put her arms around him and cried. Caleb held her and said that everything would be all right, and that tomorrow would be the last time they would ever have to see this place or these people ever again, after Caleb had seen to her wounds. Caleb gave Debra something to eat and a glass of milk. She ate what she could and fell asleep. Caleb silently made his palate on the floor next to Debra and turned down the lantern and went to sleep.

The next morning Caleb and Debra walked through the woods, as to not be seen by their parents. They walked until they came to the small clearing just before The Little River Bridge. As they walked into the clearing, a young man and his Japanese wife pulled up and asked if they needed a ride.

The young man and his wife’s names are Charlie and Akina. Their story will be told in part 2 of the 3 part series of the Little River Bridge.

Charlie and Akina: Part 2

Charlie Oliver, arrived in Japan, just a few days after the second A-Bomb, had dropped. He was a new lieutenant, fresh out of a crash course, of foreign relations.

Charlie could have easily, went home over a year ago, but didn’t care to. Since Charlie had served his time on the line, the Colonel he befriended, while the two had been recovering from wounds sustained in the crossing of the Rein River, he was able to get Charlie into the foreign relations, where he could be trained for when Japan fell.

Charlie and his men were the first wave of soldiers to see the destruction first hand.

As Charlie saw nothing but devastation, he began to see faint glimpses of the survivors. Some were badly scared, while others were just struck by the enormity of what happened.

Charlie was comforting the people, giving them food and water, and telling them the war was over, in their own tongue.

He began to hear a young woman crying out for help. He could tell that the voice was weak. He yelled for help, as he saw the young woman was buried under a fallen wall.

Charlie and his soldiers got the young lady out of the debris, and the medic treated her injuries, as best he could. Charlie arranged for her to be taken back to the landing area, to the established medical tent. He rode back, comforting her, telling her his name and asked hers. “Akina”, she said. “Ok Akina, I will make sure that you are well taken care of. You have nothing to worry about”. She began to cry, and say, “I don’t know were my family is”? Charlie asked for their names, and said that he would do his best, to find them. Akina smiled, and said “thank you”. Charlie hadn’t realized, just how breathtaking she was, until he saw her smile.

They arrived at the medical tent that was setup to take care of the casualties, of the bombing. Charlie and the driver carried Akina to the doctor on a stretcher. He checked her out, and said she would be alright in a few days. Charlie told her, and she smiled. This melted his heart again. He told her that he had to go back. Akina asked him if he could stay, she didn’t think she could be comfortable here by herself. Charlie smiled, and said, “If you want me to find your family, you have to let me go. I’ll be back tonight, or tomorrow at the latest”, said Charlie. “You come to see me please”, said Akira behind a saddened smile. “Yes I will”, said Charlie. “You sleep, and I’ll be back before you know it”.

Charlie left, and went back to find Akina’s family, but was saddened by what he found. All her family had died. He verified that this was her family, through personal papers and family records. It seems that the wall that had fallen on Akina had actually saved her life. Charlie struggled with how he would tell her, but telling someone that a loved one has died, there just isn’t any good way to tell someone, much less telling her about the entire family.

The next day Charlie went back to see Akina, She saw him and smiled, but then the look on his face told her what she didn’t want to know. Charlie saw her begin to cry. He walked over to her, and began to comfort her. Akina asked, “I have nobody”? “I’m sorry”, said Charlie. “I found them all together it looked like they had been having dinner”. “Yes my father sent me for more food”, said Akina, through her tears. Charlie, before he realized what he was doing, pulled her close to him. Akina, said, “you all I have Cha-lie”, in her broken English. Charlie pulled her closer, and said, “I’m so sorry. I hoped I could bring you back good news, but I knew you would want the truth”. “What will I do now”, asked Akina? Charlie had an idea. “Akina, could you help me find other peoples families, and help me talk to them when I can’t understand”? Akina looked up from her tear-stained eyes, and asked, “You want me for to help you Cha-lie”? “If that would be ok with you, it would really speed up our search for survivors”, said Charlie. “Ok Cha-lie, I help you. Please help me bury my family”, said Akina. “They have already been buried, I can take you there”, said Charlie. “Ok, tomorrow, the Dr. told me I ok to leave. Cha-lie, you stay with me”. With her head in his lap, they both fell asleep.

Charlie woke up with Akina looking up at him. “Cha-lie, you have bad dream”? “Yes, I’m sorry, I saw one of my best friends die, and I dream about him often”, said Charlie.

For the next 3 months, Charlie and Akina worked together, trying to return lost members of families back home. Sometimes Akina would break down, and Charlie would help her threw it. Charlie’s orders came through, and he asked Akina if she would come back to America with him. She happily accepted, and they were married the next day. Luckily Charlie’s friend the Colonel was able to get Akina papers to return with Charlie to the states.

One month later, Charlie decides it’s time to take Akina home to meet his family. Charlie and Akina took the train from San Francisco to Nashville. Charlie had an account at one of the local banks, that he had been sending part of his pay every payday. He had built up quiet a nest egg. He was happy that he and Akina wouldn’t have to worry about money for sometime.

Charlie and Akina checked in, despite the manager’s initial reluctance. Charlie was confused, but shook it off. He left Akina at the hotel to freshen up, when he went to buy them a car. The dealer made him a deal because he was paying cash and he was a veteran, so the dealer lowered the price even further. Charlie felt a little guilty, but was proud that people respected the soldiers enough to do that for him.

The next day Charlie and Akina headed to his parents house. They arrived about an hour later. Charlie pulled up to his parent’s manor house. His family wasn’t rich, but had restored an old rundown house, they had purchased for very little during the depression. Charlie told Akina to stay in the truck until he told his parents about her.

Charlie got out of their truck and walked up to his parent’s door, but before he could knock, his little sister Betty saw him, and screamed. This brought everyone to her. It had been five years since Charlie had been home. They all saw Charlie, and ran to him. He saw his mother and father, and ran to hug them. They told him that they didn’t know if he was dead or not. Charlie had stopped writing when he witnessed his friend’s death. Charlie told them that he had gotten married. His mother asked, “Where is she”? Charlie went to get Akina.

They came back hand-in hand, and he introduced her. Betty loved her right off but he noticed his parent’s false pleasantries. Akina politely bowed, and thanked them. Charlie’s parents invited them for dinner, but he knew that they didn’t want her in their house. It wasn’t till now that he truly realized that Akina wasn’t White. He had first, noticed a girl in trouble, then a grieving girl, then when he fell in love with her, a coworker. It had never occurred to him that she was different. But the differences he saw in her just made him love her all the more. Charlie asked Betty and Akina if they could walk to the truck. As soon as the 2 girls walked out of the door, Charlie told them what he thought of their prejudices. “Listen to me”, said Charlie angrily, “that is the woman I love, with all my heart. I can tell that because she is Japanese, you will never accept her. That’s ok, because we will be leaving. We will go where ever we have to, but I want you to know this, we will have children, and they will be half Japanese, and they will be as much your grandchildren, as any of the rest of your grandchildren are”. His father tried to say something about the Japanese being savages. Charlie stopped him and said, “if you had saw what was done to Akina’s family and home along with the rest of Nagasaki, they wouldn’t be the one’s that you would be calling savages”. “I just can’t see what you could see in a girl like that”, said his mother. “Oh, I see many things I like about her, she respects me more than you could ever respect daddy”, said Charlie. “If I ever see you two again, it will be to soon”. He stormed out the door, and got in his truck. He looked sadly into Akina’s eyes, and leaned down to her, and kissed her passionately. He told his sister that he would send her a letter when they got settled. Charlie and Akina drove off. Akina knew that Charlie was upset.

“Cha-lie, momma and daddy no like me Japanese”, said Akina. “It doesn’t matter what they, or anyone else thinks, as long as you love me, and I love you, that’s all that matters to me”, said Charlie.

As Charlie crossed the still familiar, little River Bridge, he saw two kids walking hand-in-hand, carrying suitcases. He pulled over, and said, “you two need a ride”, asked Charlie? “We would be grateful, where you are going”, asked Caleb. “Don’t know”, said Charlie. “Great”, said Caleb, “that’s were we are headed”. As the two got in the truck Akina noticed the bruises on Debra’s face and said, “you hurt, Akina know how to help”. She opened her purse and got out a small bag out and a paste. She rubbed the paste on Debra’s cuts and said, “you be Ok now”.

Charlie and Akina never asked, why Caleb and Debra had been running away, but knew that it had to be something serious. Seeing Debra and Caleb’s obvious young age, and her wounds, they mutually decided to help the young couple as much as possible.

The two couples settled just outside of Tulsa Oklahoma. Charlie and Akina had a boy and a girl, and Debra and Caleb had a daughter. They lived happily for many years, in the house that Charlie had bought. After a few years of working and putting back money, Charlie and Caleb started a very profitable restaurant. After only a couple of years they didn’t have to work quiet as often. Both couples lived in harmony for many years. Until????

Part 3: The Journey Home

Three years after the two previous stories had taken place. Caleb and Debra were ready to marry. In three years since, Charlie and Akina had become somewhat, not parental figures, but older brother and sister type figures. All had become very close and Caleb had asked Charlie to be his best man and Debra had asked Akina to be her maid of honor. Caleb and Debra were married in a small ceremony. As a wedding gift Charlie and Akina sent the two away to a small bed and breakfast for a few days. Akina was pregnant and was due in about a month.

A small Asian community had formed after the war and Charlie and Caleb had decided to open a small restaurant. Akina helped in the kitchen, while Debra waited the tables. Years went by and the two couples had become quiet successful.

This story begins as Walter Kin Oliver 17, his younger sister Madeline Kameko Oliver 15, and their very good friend and Wally’s girlfriend Shina Marie Harvey 15, are sitting around talking about their parents and how they came to live in Tulsa. Walter “Wally” and Madeline “Maddy” knew of course that their parents had met just after World War II. And Shina knew that her parents had grown up together. But no one had been told why he or she had come to live in Tulsa.

Maddy and Wally knew that their father had been writing back and forth to his sister since they had come to live in Tulsa. So they decided to find the address and write her and ask what had happened. All three had approached the subject with their parents, but were told very little. It took about three months for their Aunt’s letter to return. Luckily their Aunt Betty had been missing her brother greatly and wanted to find a way to get him and his family back home for a visit, So as they began to formulate a plan by mail. Wally and Shina had fallen in love and wanted to get married in a few years when she was old enough.

Wally graduated High school and immediately wanted to get more involved in the family business. His parents wanted him to take a few courses at the local College. They worked out a compromise that he would go to College as long as he could become more involved in the Restaurant. After a few years of trying to come up with a plan for their parents return to the place they had grown up. Wally and Shina decide to tell their parents that they would get married a week after her and Maddy’s high school graduation. But the thing was that they were going to get married back in Tennessee, on their Aunt Betty’s husband’s property nearby the little River Bridge. Wally and Shina stood firm as both sets of parents complained and forbade them. The two said that this is where they would marry and if their parents wanted to see it then they would have to get prepared to go to Tennessee. Akina spoke up and said, “I’m going to see my son marry Shina if I have to go all the way back to Japan”. The rest finally relented and agreed to go also.

As the day neared, Charlie and Caleb began to talk about what could possibly go wrong. Caleb was extremely worried about how his and Debra’s fathers would try to ruin the wedding and what he would do to retaliate. But what they didn’t know was that a few years back the property dispute had been settled mutually. The two families had begun to farm the property and reaped the profits together. Caleb’s younger brother Sam and Debra’s younger brother Max had convinced the two older men, that their feud was only hurting the two families.

Sam and Max had become friends while playing football in high school. Both their fathers couldn’t understand why their children either ran off together or became best friends. Sam and Max even threatened to join the Marines and leave their fathers alone to try and farm their large farms alone.

Kale Harvey and Danny Clarke reluctantly but finally sat down to discuss their issues with each other. At times it got heated but their sons reined in the older men’s tempers. Eventually the two had reached a compromise. They would never become friends, but could be around each other without a potential war. Money has a way of mellowing man’s furor.

Charlie was hurt, deeply hurt that his sister would go behind his back and make plans with his children and Shina, who he felt like an uncle to since her birth. Charlie decided that he would go to the wedding for his son and Shina, but if his family gave him, his wife or children any trouble at all, he would wait until after the wedding, but they would never get away with it.

The day finally came for the two families to make the trip. Both fathers had shared their worries, with their wives. Each said that they would just have to take things as they came. What the parents didn’t know was that Charlie’s parents had regretted their reaction to Akina and had longed for another chance to make things right.

Everyone couldn’t fit in one vehicle so the parents went in one, while their children followed. They finally arrived and crossed the now reminiscent Little River Bridge. All parents took a deep breath as they went across. They finally pulled into Betty’s driveway and got out of the car. Betty came running along with Sam and Max. They all hugged and got acquainted again or got to know one another.

Each set of siblings paired up to talk about their families. Caleb and Debra couldn’t believe that their fathers had actually been cooperating with each other. Betty told Charlie that his parents had regretted the way they had acted toward Akina. Charlie said, “well they should”. Betty tried to get Charlie to go to their parents, but he refused. He had become bitter. She knew that she had to find a way to get them together soon. They would only be there for a few days. After Betty and Charlie’s talk she went to talk to the kids. She told them that they had to somehow get them together. “It’s the pride that won’t let them do it on their own”, she said. Wally and Maddy had made up their mind to see them anyway.

So they left out to go see their grandparents for the first time in their lives.

Betty drove strait to the old manor house. They all got out of the car. Wally took Maddy’s hand and they followed Betty to the door. She knocked and an old woman came to the door. The old woman started to talk to Betty but looked behind her and saw her own grandkids for the first time. She knew who they were right away. They both favored their father a lot. The frail old woman began to cry. She opened the door slowly and said, “I am so sorry”.

They sat and talked for a while and Wally told them that their father was at Betty’s. The old woman asked, “Why did he not come”? Betty told her that he is still hurt and would not make the first move. Then they heard the door open and in walked an old man that reminded Wally and Maddy of their father. Wally stood up and started to tell him who he was, when the old man hugged him. Maddy began to cry and stood up and the old man hugged her too. He wasn’t very vocal at all. His generation just wasn’t brought up that way, but his actions left no doubt to his feelings. They told their grandfather that his son was at Betty’s, but he was still hurt and would never make the first move. The old man finally spoke in a low raspy voice weathered by the years, “he shouldn’t have to. We are the one’s that have done wrong to him and your mother”.

Betty and Maddy got back in the car, but this time Wally, driving his grandparents, to this father and mother, followed them.

They pulled back into Betty’s driveway. Wally helped his grandparents out of the truck and they sat down in some chairs under a large Oak tree, while Betty went to find Charlie and Akina. She found them in the back room putting away their clothes. Betty told them that Wally and Maddy had something for them outside. Charlie and Akina walked outside. Charlie saw them and turned to walk back into the house when his father said, “I’m sorry son, we were wrong, seeing these two wonderful kids today showed us what kind of fools we were”. Charlie knew how proud his father was and knew that it took a lot for him to say that. Charlie’s mother got up with Maddy’s help and walked to Akina, she said, “I was wrong too my dear, please forgive me”, as she began to cry. Akina looked over at Charlie, as her own tears streamed down her face. Charlie walked over to his father and said, “You missed seeing two great kids”, said Charlie with tears in his eyes. His father stuck out his hand and Charlie accepted it. The two men began to talk, as well as Akina and the old woman. The hurt was still felt deeply, but they were able to get along.

Caleb and Debra saw this and wondered if their own parents felt the same way, but they wouldn’t get their hopes up.

The day of the wedding came and Shina was preparing for her wedding with Maddy and Debra when there was a knock on the door. Maddy went to the door and opened it. An older man and women asked if it was ok to come in. Maddy said, “Everyone’s decent”. The old couple walked into the door. Debra looked up and saw her parents. She backed up and said, “If you try anything I’ll holler for the boys”. Her father looked at her and Shina and said, “I’m not the man I was. I’m sorry for all that I’ve done wrong to you. I know words can’t remove the hurt that I caused you, but I am sorry”. Debra couldn’t hold back her tears. She didn’t move, but her father walked over to her. He asked, “Can I huge you daughter”? Debra put her arm around her father and he took her in his. Finally daddies little girl was back in his arms. Shina walked over to her grandmother and they hugged.

Caleb really didn’t have a problem with his family other than the feud and it seemed that it was long over. So when they arrived there were only emotions of being reacquainted and of the wedding.

The wedding was beautiful. All the families attended and got reacquainted and began to heal some long opened wounds.

The trip was extended and many more were made. After a long while the hurt and the long absence slowly faded from their minds. Now only the good memories remain.

Not all Bridges that have been burnt can be repaired, but you only need one to get to the other side.

Fin’

J.D. Bell