Aunt Peggy
Molly shared her bedroom with her mother’s sister, Margaret, or as Molly affectionately called her, Aunt Peggy. It was pretty common for extended families to live together during tough times and unmarried siblings, especially, stayed at home until they got married. Aunt Peggy was no exception. However, Aunt Peggy was like no other aunt you could imagine.
Aunt Peggy had a round face, pink cheeks, a turned up nose, big loose curls and sparkling blue eyes. She was petite and always wore beautiful dresses and suits. The renegade of the family, Aunt Peggy was an independent woman with a job as a secretary by day and an actress by night. The theater was her passion and she was always involved in one production or another that kept her very busy with rehearsals and memorizing her dialog.
Aunt Peggy was also a girlie girl and doted on Molly, taking her out shopping and buying her pretty dresses and dolls. And Molly loved living with her aunt and listening to the stories she would tell about dashing young men, wonderful restaurants and the latest fashion. Aunt Peggy often entertained her theater friends at home and Molly would sneak down to the bottom of the stairs and sit on the last step listening to their conversations. They were so worldly and sophisticated Molly thought.
One day, Molly and Aunt Peggy were talking about a young man Aunt Peggy had met. His name was John. Molly knew John was different by the way Aunt Peggy was talking about him. He was an Army officer specializing in logistics. He planned the movement of troops and supplies. He was dashing and smitten with Aunt Peggy and it was clear Aunt Peggy felt the same way about him.
Uncle John, as Molly would eventually call him, had to ship off to London after America entered the war. He had to help plan the American invasion of France, what would later be called D-Day. Aunt Peggy was nervous and sad. She was afraid for his safety and would miss him terribly. Sure enough, letters were soon rapidly exchanged across the Atlantic ocean. Uncle John also sent postcards, and Molly especially looked forward to seeing those in the mail, examining the colorful stamps and imagining the far away places Uncle John was visiting.
It was a long time before John Fitzpatrick came home, but when he did, Aunt Peggy and Uncle John got married. Aunt Peggy wore a beautiful white gown with cascading ruffles, a pretty long veil and beautiful flowers. Uncle John looked handsome in his military uniform. Aunt Peggy was so happy but Molly was a little sad. She knew she would be losing her roommate but she also wanted Aunt Peggy to have a home of her own and begin her new life with Uncle John.
