Locomotive to the Past by George Schultz (iphone ebook reader .TXT) 📕

“Well… uh… no. But…”

“I guess you’ve also taken her to a movie or two! How generous of you!”

“Well, I…”

“Jason? Jason, I love you! Love you… to smithereens! That’s why both Eric and I went out, of our way . . . did everything we could . . . to help you along, when you’d first got here. But, you’ve been here… a good while now! Eric and I are… both of us… both thrilled! You have your own apartment, now! And a car! We… both of us… think that you might devote a little more attention! A little more devotion . . . to finding yourself a different job! Both of us are worried . . . that the physical toll, that this one’s taking on you, might be a little too much! Maybe a lot too much!”

“I know, Susie,” he responded—glumly. “Everything you’ve said . . . well, it’s true! And I am! I’m so grateful! Grateful . . . to the both of you! I could never have made it! Not this far! Not without either one of you! Without both of you! And… please, believe me, I’m so very grateful!”

“Well,” replied Susan, “we know that! Down deep, we’ve never doubted it! But, we’re both afraid! Eric and I! Both of us! We’re a, little-bit, scared that you just might be becoming a little bit… well, a little bit… self-centered. It… this life… it can’t be all about you! Not all the time, anyway!”

“Susie! I had no idea that…”

“For one thing,” she interrupted, “there’s Valerie! Women… most all of them… we do like to do romantic stuff! Women may actually enjoy hockey games. But… not at the expense of, you know, everything else! Why don’t you take her… for instance… to a live musical event? The Detroit Civic Light Opera’s season is gonna be ending soon! Those operettas… they’re wonderful! Eric and I… we went to see, The Student Prince. Back in November, or December! They’re schmaltzy, as they can be! But, they’re also as romantic… as they can be.”

“I… I’d never really thought of that!”

“Be a little more considerate, Jason… about thinking, what it is, that she might want to do! Obviously, she loves you! And, listen to me! You need to bring her by… for dinner, or something. Bring her around… here! We need to meet her! Meet this wonderful lady!”

Having delivered her “Sermon From The Mount”, Susan appeared exhausted! And she would not utter another word—about the, obviously-sensitive, subject. The trio settled in—and luxuriated, in the bountiful “banquet”.

Well, Jason did settle in! But, not that much! Susan, he knew, had his best interests at heart. As always! And she had offered him a number of insights! But, he’d had to admit, these were all things—that he should’ve thought of! It was most troubling, to him—that he had not! He’d not had a clue!

The Wings completed their two-game playoffs series sweep—Knocking out the Bruins, by a score of 3-1! They would move on! On—to their ill-fated Stanley Cup Finals! Against the “Miracle” Toronto Maple Leafs!

This would, he knew, be the “tense time”—for one Jason Rutkowski! As mentioned previously, the troubled young man was, spectacularly, aware—of the fact, that the Red Wings would win the first three games, of the upcoming series! They would, then, be—on the cusp of a series sweep! About to become Stanley Cup Champions!

The entire city was poised! Ready—to celebrate! That, of course, would be, till the Leafs would—also spectacularly—knock the Wings off! In four straight contests! The hated team, from Ontario, would win the series—and “The Cup”!

Jason’s “get-rich-quick” scheme, had—obviously—depended upon the fact, that he’d had the right year! That 1942 would go down—as the year! The year—of the Detroit team’s horrendous collapse! It was, obviously, critical—that he would’ve “remembered” the disastrous season! “Recalled” it—correctly! Still, the more that he’d thought about it, the more sure, of those facts, he’d become! His grandfather had been so vehement—so often, and for so long—that, Our Hero had become absolutely positive, that the year had been 1942!

Still, he found himself wishing—mightily—that he’d had a chance to actually “research” the series, before his incredible journey, into the past. On the other hand, how could he have, possibly, known? Known that—when he’d stepped aboard that stupid train—that this would be where he’d wind up? Had he been aware of this, most-surely, “impossible” trek, he could’ve “researched” a helluva lot of things! In so many different areas! A multiple number of fields! When all had been said and done, though, the only thing—about which he could be “positive”—was the ’42 Stanley Cup!

The 1942 Finals would begin, on April 4th—the following Saturday! Saturday night was Hockey Night In Canada, after all! Fast becoming a legend—in the, still-very-young, annals of radio! Foster Hewitt would, of course, do the play-by-play—from legendary Maple Leaf Gardens! Mr. Hewitt would continue to do the Hockey Night broadcasts! Every Saturday night! For almost 40 years! (After which, he would be replaced by his son, Bill—who, according to Grandpa Piepczyk, “sounded exactly like his father”.)

Hurley Stackhouse had appeared only too anxious to accept another $10.00 wager! In the growing tradition—in the glorious history—of such negotiations!

On April 4th, it may well have been Hockey Night In Canada! But, for Jason Rutkowski and Valerie Krenwinkle, it was Theater Night In Detroit!

Following the pronounced admonition/“advice” of Susan, her former roomer had secured two prime ducats—to one of the last live events, of the closing Detroit Civic Light Opera’s season.

In 1942, this popular program had presented a series of eight operettas—the glorious products, of such geniuses as Romberg, Friml, Lehar, et al. All magnificently performed, on the “massive” (for the times) stage, of The Masonic Temple, close by downtown.

The season-ending production was Rudolf Friml’s remarkable Rose Marie. Jason had been more than familiar, with the ever-popular, duet-rich, Indian Love Call—one of Grandma Piepczyk’s lifetime favorites!

But, the undoubted highlight, for the couple, had come rather early! Gloria Sanders, a beautiful thirty-something soprano—with an even—“beautifuller” voice—who’d played the title