"Summer of '59"-- Chapter 5

[tdr]

I am posting the final 2 chapters of the fanfic, "Summer of '59," in this forum. The first 4 chapters are in the FanFiction forum, but I never got any feedback there, so I conclude that only LITB fans here might be interested.

Chapter 5


Wally and Beaver were sitting in the living room silently. They had turned off the television from the movie they were watching because they thought it might be so scary it would make them too jumpy to proceed with their midnight dare.

“Okay, Beav,” said Wally, “Mom and Dad have been in their bedroom for thirty or forty minutes now. Let’s go ahead with the plan. You go out the back door, but be real quiet, and I’ll walk up the stairs just loud enough for ‘em to hear me in case they’re not asleep yet, then I’ll climb down and we’ll go.”

“Wally, how long will it take us to walk to the new house and look at the backyard and then walk back here?”

“I don’t know for sure—maybe close to an hour, I guess.”

Beaver opened the back door and stopped in his tracks for a few seconds. He knew there had to be something not right—that is, more than disobedience of his parents—about sneaking out of house when it was getting close to midnight. But it was the 4th of July, and he felt that a midsummer adventure was something to which he was entitled, since they had so far missed the adventure of moving, even though he still felt bad for the house he would be leaving behind. And besides, he really did want to become further convinced the backyard of the new house is really cursed, or to finally start thinking it wasn’t.

The boys met at the base of the tree Wally so nimbly scampered down, even in the darkness. He was getting to be quite a vigorous, well-coordinated athlete, was Wally. So with a few whispers they set out toward what they still hoped would be their new home. An occasional car went by, one of which was weaving quite noticeably down the street, and a few more firecrackers were heard and a couple of times a faraway sparkle of a rocket of some type. Once sirens were heard also, as if from the other side of town. “Wally,” excitedly said Beaver, “do you think that may be Gus in engine Number 5? He said he was gonna be on duty today.”

“Nah,” replied Wally, “he was talking about during the day. Anyway, we’d have to be hearin’ sirens all over if it got to where Gus had to go out to a fire. He’s just there if they have a whole bunch of fires in one day.”

There was not much other conversation as they walked along. Mayfield, as a rule, does not have a lot of late-night activity, even on a summer holiday. But the sounds they did hear were enough to remind them that it is not their normal time to be about. Besides firecrackers and sirens, there was a hotrod peeling out, a few dogs barking, and once a car came by with its radio blaring, and the boys hid behind a shrub because they didn’t know what such a midnight driver might be thinking if he saw them.

Finally they saw their new hoped-for house and it was the darkest house they had seen in their 20-minute walk. “Wally, something about the house looks kind ‘a spooky from here,” nervously confessed Beaver.

“Well,” answered Wally, “I think that’s just because there’s no streetlights close to it, and no other lights anywhere around. Maybe if we do get to buy the house, Dad can yell at the city until they put a streetlight there.”

“Yeah, maybe he can then. But I don’t know about tonight, walking to the backyard when it’s so dark we can’t see where we’re goin’.”

“Beaver—we wouldn’t even be here if you hadn’t said you wanted to come.”

“I know I said that, but it was your idea in the first place.”

“Okay—okay! I came up with the idea, but it was you who wanted to do it. But it doesn’t matter now. So if you don’t want to go the backyard, suppose you stay here while I go around one corner of the house to the other. Then, if nothing happens will you say it’s not cursed?”

“No,” timidly replied Beaver. “Maybe I’m scared, but I don’t want to have walked all the way here in the dark for nuthin. Besides, I don’t want to stay here by myself either—so I’ll go with you, Wally.”

“Okay—let’s go then. We’ll just go around the house and come back, then go back home.”

They walked rapidly until they approached the first corner into the backyard, and then they saw it would be even darker as they went around by the rear of the house. Beaver gripped Wally’s arm. Under normal circumstances Wally would have pushed Beaver away; but not this time. Wally’s knee struck something hard. “Owwww!” he said. “Wally!—what’s the matter?” cried Beaver.

“Oww—“ said Wally again, “and shhhhh! Don’t yell! I can feel it with my hand now—it’s that bunch of bricks around the patio that I hit my knee on. It smarts. But come on—let’s get this over with.”

Wally tried to feel his way around the patio, with Beaver still hold of his arm, as both boys lost their footing and fell over to their side. “Ahh!—what happened!?” cried Beaver.

“Quiet, Beaver! It was just kind of a hill; we couldn’t tell there was a slope in the ground.”

A light went went on the opposite side of the garage, which caught their attention. They could see each others’ faces in this dim light; Beaver’s expression was one of fright, and Wally’s was one of worry. “Come on, Beaver,” said the worried one, “we better hurry up and get out of here.”

As they rose to their feet, another light—this one a strong beam—really got their attention. “Hey! Whose out here?” a course voice called.

Beaver gave a little screech as they started to run. Then the beam of light pointed straight at them. “Alright, you boys—stop!” With the bright light in their eyes, they could not see the man who was yelling at them. They looked at each other and Beaver exclaimed, “Wall-y-y-y!” They turned away from the light and started to run again, but he voice repeated, “I said stop! Right now!”

Wally, almost as scared as Beaver, came to a halt and Beaver almost ran past him. But Beaver was afraid to run if Wally was not with him. The man with the high-powered flashlight spanned the area with his florescent beam. Seeing no one else besides the 2 trembling boys, he approached them cautiously. “Alright—what are you boys doing here at this time of night?”

“Well, um—“ Wally stammered.

“We’re looking for night crawlers!” blurted out Beaver.

“Why here?” asked the man they still couldn’t really see.

“Uh—I think because there might be more of ‘em here because it’s so dark--” said Beaver, “Sir,” he added, almost crying.

“You—the older one—“ continued the man, “tell me what you’re doing here.”

“Well sir,” began Wally, “I brought my little brother here so he wouldn’t think there’s a curse on this backyard any more.”

“What?!” said the man.

“Yeah, that’s really what he brung me here for,” said Beaver, nervously and rapidly. “Only now I believe it more than ever! Wally hit his knee on the bricks, then we both fell over on the ground that ain’t flat, and now we don’t know what you’re gonna do to us! Do you think this place is cursed now, Wally!?”

Wally didn’t answer, but the man, seeing that they were 2 scared boys, not delinquents or vandals, turned his flashlight toward the ground. “Boys, I don’t intend to do anything to you. I was in that house on the other side this garage, and I heard something out here, so I just thought I’d better see what’s going on. But I’ve still got to ask—why are you here? It’s after midnight and obviously you boys don’t live on this property. Where do you live?”

“Well sir,” said Wally, getting back at ease, “we live a few blocks from here, and 4 or 5 weeks ago we thought we would be living here by now, but something’s holding up all the papers and junk that make it official that we can move here.”

“Yeah,” said Beaver, “I thunk it was ‘cause of the curse on this backyard that we can’t move.”

“Boys, would you tell me your names?” asked the man.

“I’m Wally Cleaver.” “And I’m Theodore ‘Beaver’ Cleaver.”

“I thought so,” replied the man. “I had heard the Cleavers have 2 boys. But where did you get the idea there’s some kind of curse here? What is that all about?”

“From my friend, Eddie Haskell,” answered Wally. “He likes to give guys the business—you know, I mean he likes to make up crazy stuff little kids might really believe.”

“Oh, I see. He’s what we of the older generation might call a ‘windbag.’”

“Is it okay if we go now, Mister?” said Beaver. “I think we’ve done what we came here for.”

“No, I’m not sure you have,” responded the man with the face too much in darkness to be seen.. “At least not you, little one—uh, Beaver. If you came to see that there’s no curse on this property, but you still think so after tonight’s ambling, what would it take now to convince you there’s no curse?”

“I don’t know,” said Beaver. “I guess just for all the stuff to stop—I mean the stuff that happens every time we come here, and that we still can’t get moved.”

“Well, let me tell you what-- I’ll shine this light so you can see to get back to the front of the house so you won’t run into anything else, and then you wait and see what happens in the next day or two. Is that fair enough?”

“Yes, sir,” said both brothers.

“Would you like for me to drive you back to your house?” inquired the man.

Beaver started to speak, but Wally cut in, “No, that’s alright; we can make it back okay.”

Beaver held onto Wally’s arm as tightly as before until they came within the familiar confines of their own immediate neighborhood. They went around to the side of the house and Wally started to open the kitchen door. “Wally, I twisted the lock on my way out,” said Beaver. Wally tried the door anyway, and it was unlocked after all. He looked at Beaver, who looked away at first, but then was the first to step inside. He was glad to be back into the familiar night-time safety of the only house he had ever lived in.

As they started up the stairs they thought they heard a sound from upstairs, perhaps meaning that one or both of their parents were awake. But being in no frame of mind at all to go back outside and climb up to their room, they hurriedly tiptoed up the steps and did not breathe until they had closed the door behind them. Although they wanted to talk about what had happened, they knew their voices might be heard, and that would give away that they were ‘up to something’ during the night. So they lay in bed with restless eyes until sleep finally overtook them.

[tdr]

Chapter 6 {Conclusion}

As Beaver awoke he looked at the clock and saw it was almost 10 a.m. They were really glad it was summer and they could get away with sleeping that late. Wally was already getting dressed. “Oh hey, Beav—you feel better this morning?”

“Yeah, I guess so. At least it’s not dark any more. But I’ll still be afraid of going to the new house even when it’s light.”

Wally just took that remark in silence and went downstairs. June was dusting in the living room. “Good morning, Wally. This is about as late as you boys have slept yet since school’s been out for the summer. You can have a late breakfast or an early lunch—which do you want?”

“Gee Mom, if I have breakfast now, it will be a whole 2 hours til lunch, so why can’t I have both?”

“Well, Wally, why don’t you and your brother just have a small bowl of cereal. That will hold you for an hour and a half, and then your father’s coming home for lunch at 11:30 today. He called not long ago and told me.”

“I thought he usually goes to lunch with Mr. Rutherford or some of those men he calls ‘clients.’ How come he’s coming home today?”

“Well I really don’t know, Wally, but don’t you think it’s very nice to have your father come home for lunch once in a while?”

June had sandwiches and cups of soup prepared as the rest of the family was waiting for Ward. As he opened the front door Wally said, “Okay, Beaver, he’s here, so we can eat!”

“Boys, slow down,” said Ward. “Yes, we can eat, and while we’re doing that I have some good news.

After they all sat down at he kitchen table, Ward said, “Well, I finally have the good news we’ve been waiting for. The property dispute has been settled and your mother and I will be on our way to the bank for a one o’clock meeting to sign the closing papers. So we’ll be moving for sure in just a week or two.”

“Ward, that’s wonderful!” said June. “What in the world caused the builder and Mrs. Jenson to settle the dispute?”

“To be honest, I don’t know,” replied Ward. The builder just called me this morning and said Mrs. Jenson agreed to a reasonable settlement, where she had been pushing a hard line before. I don’t know what caused her to change her mind.”

Wally looked at Beaver with raised eyebrows. “Maybe it was MR. Jenson that changed his mind—he didn’t want people to think there was anything wrong with that garage or house or anything.”

Ward replied, “Beaver there is no MR. Jenson; Mrs. Jenson has been a widow for many years. She lives all alone in that house where the property adjoins what will be our backyard.”

Beaver said, “Well gee, Dad, then who was—“ Wally cupped his hand over Beaver’s mouth, then he took it away and grimaced as he felt the soup on his palm. “Wally, why did you do that?” asked June.

But as Wally hesitated Ward said, “Boys, do these questions of Beaver’s have anything to do with why you left the house last night?”

“Uh,” stammered Wally. “Left the house last night!” said June. “Well?” added Ward.

“Yes, we left the house last night,” admitted Wally. “We walked over to the new house because I wanted to prove to Beaver there’s no curse on the backyard there, like Eddie told him that day."

“Oh, boys, do you realize how dangerous it can be to be out walking the streets at that hour?“ scolded June.

“And what happened at the new house?” asked Ward.

“Well,” said Beaver, “Wally hit hit his knee on the bricks, and then we fell over on the ground that ain’t—that’s not—flat, and a man in that other house heard us and he shined a real bright light on us. And I told him we were over there because I wanted to see if there was still a curse, and he said there wasn’t any curse and to wait and see what happens today and tomorrow.”

“Beaver, that’s quite mouthful of a speech,” said Ward. “Did this man say who he was?”

“No, he didn’t tell us, Dad,” replied Wally. “But we thought he was the owner of that house.”

“I suppose it doesn’t matter who he is,” concluded Ward. “But he must have known something about Mrs. Jenson softening her stance—or maybe he was in position to cause it.”

“Well I’m glad it’s finally all worked out, dear,” said June. “So now, boys, it look like we’re going to have the hard part in the coming days.”

“I’ve got another surprise for everyone, too,” said Ward, smiling. “You know we haven’t had a vacation this summer because I didn’t schedule one, since I didn’t know when I was going to need the days. Well, there are still two weeks open the second and third weeks of August. So if you boys promise me you will cooperate and help as much as you can, I’ll schedule those two weeks for vacation, and hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time up at a lake cabin before the summer’s over. It will be nice to have that getaway after all we’ll have been through by then.”

“Gee! that’s swell, Dad!” said Wally.

So the Cleavers got all the papers signed and all the formalities done, and after another week they packed up books, papers, keepsakes, tools and other things from the garage. Then the next week June supervised sorting out the clothes the family was going to keep and the rest they were going to give away, or throw away if they were not fit for anyone to wear. Then the drapes, sheets, blankets, dishes, and knickknacks were boxed up and most were taken to the new house, where they began storing items away. Finally moving day came on Saturday, July 25, 1959. Beaver and Wally watched eagerly as the moving men carried their furniture, piece by piece, to the van. By the early afternoon all was loaded, and the Cleavers got into their car and backed out from the driveway for the final time. Ward hesitated before driving ahead, as they all gazed upon what was now their former home. Beaver rubbed his eyes and June gently placed her hand upon Ward’s arm. Even Wally’s eyes got a little red. But as they traversed the streets of Mayfield their looks began to brighten, and they were all smiles as they pulled into the driveway of what was no longer a dream. The newly built house at 211 Pine Avenue was now their home.

And later that evening, who should be the first visitor to ring the doorbell? Naturally, Eddie Haskell. Beaver, who was just on his way down the stairs at the time, answered the door. “Hey squirt!” said Eddie. “You decided to move here in spite of that cursed backyard, huh? eh-eh-eh-eh-eh.”

Beaver, who was sweating from helping Wally setting up their desk and bookshelves, came a little too close for Eddie’s comfort as he said, “There ain’t no curse there, Eddie. Wally and me came over here at midnight on the Forth of July and proved it!”

“Hey, watch it, kid!” said Eddie. “Don’t touch me with those sweaty paws. As soon as I see Wally I’m going over to Mary Ellen Rogers’ house.”

As Beaver stepped out the door he saw a bee light on the brick wall behind which Eddie was backing up. So Beaver said, “You know Eddie, there might really be a curse on this house after all.”

“Yeah, how do you know?”

Beaver held out his “paws” in a threatening way and Eddie backed all the way to the wall, then yelled “Yowwww!!” as the bee stung him on the buttocks. “That’s how I know,” laughed Beaver.

June heard the yell and came running up to the door. “Beaver, what’s the matter?”

“Oh, Eddie got stung by a bee, Mom.” Eddie smirked and looked embarassed. “Hey, Mom,” continued Beaver, “I’ve got stung by a bee before, and you put soda on the sting to make it better. So maybe—“

“Oh, dry up, squirt!” cut in Eddie, as he turned and marched off. But he turned around and said, “I hope you really enjoy your new home, Mrs. Cleaver.”

June answered, “I’m sure we will after we really get settled. It’s always a relief to get an ordeal behind you.”

As Eddie turned his head around one more time, Beaver was laughing uncontrollably.

[sami dg]

Very good! I could just see spitting out his explanations. I especialy liked your ending with Eddie getting his! I look forward to reading more fan-fics in the future from you.