Paul Kimpton is a former band director with more than 30 years of experience. Ann Kaczkowski Kimpton is a former musician, a teacher, and a high school administrator. They are the authors of Dog Tags and Starting Early. They live in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Summer of Firsts

World War II is Ending, But the Music Adventures are Just Beginning

By Paul Kimpton, Ann Kaczkowski Kimpton

GIA Publications, Inc.

Copyright © 2013 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-57999-972-8

Contents

Summer of Firsts,
Chapter 1 First Morning,
Chapter 2 Scout's First Service,
Chapter 3 First Meeting,
Chapter 4 Ground Rules,
Chapter 5 Busy Day,
Chapter 6 News from the War,
Chapter 7 Easter April 1, 1945,
Chapter 8 A Day to Remember, April 12, 1945,
Chapter 9 Unexpected First,
Chapter 10 Tommy,
Chapter 11 Chrissy,
Chapter 12 Tension Builds,
Chapter 13 The Audition,
Chapter 14 One Down, One to Go,
Chapter 15 Dixieland Jazz,
Chapter 16 Surprise,
Chapter 17 Firsts and Lasts,
Chapter 18 Memorial Day,
Chapter 19 Sandra,
Chapter 20 July 4th,
Chapter 21 Plan the Plan,
Chapter 22 Etiquette,
Chapter 23 News,
Chapter 24 Change in Plans,
Chapter 25 Selling the Plan,
Chapter 26 Execute the Plan,
Chapter 27 Ravinia,
Chapter 28 Unexpected First,
Chapter 29 Endings - Beginnings,

CHAPTER 1

First Morning

Dale lay wide awake as the first rays of sunlight began to filter through his open window. He had hardly slept after all the excitement with his dad's surprise return from the war and Scout's unexpected homecoming. Scout, Dale's beloved Border collie, was sleeping soundly at the foot of his bed, softly panting, his paws moving as if he were running in his dreams. Dale hummed the Dogs for Defense anthem as he stroked Scout's fur:

From the kennels of the country,
From the homes and firesides too,
We have joined the canine army,
Our nation's work to do;
We serve with men in battle,
And scout through jungles dense;
We are proud to be enlisted
In the cause of the Dogs for Defense.

Dale smiled as he thought about yesterday. Grandma Rodine, who never did anything spontaneously, organized a backyard party for neighbors, relatives, and even Dale's friends. Within two hours, word had spread throughout Libertyville, and the yard was full of tables, chairs, food, and people celebrating the return of Dale's dad, Jake, and the family's faithful dog, Scout.

The guests wanted to hear why Jake was home from the war in the Pacific. Leaning back in his chair, surrounded by friends and family, Jake explained that the U.S. was slowly winning the war against Japan island by island. He returned home to train other Rangers for a possible invasion of Japan. Dale sat proudly at his father's feet as Jake relayed stories of his four years in battle that would allow other soldiers to learn first-hand what to expect. He was relieved to know his father would be stationed a few hours away, allowing Dad more time to be home before possibly being called for a future invasion.

While Jake continued his war stories, Dale's friends gathered around Scout. P.J.'s dog Smokey ran up eagerly and licked Scout on the nose. Chrissy and Bridget baked a special dog biscuit that Scout gobbled up. Victor, P.J., Karl, Dave, and Tommy wanted to hear about Scout's journey on the train after his escape from the Dogs for Defense training facility in Nebraska. Dale proudly showed his friends the letter from Private Artie Klimza, Scout's handler, that the train conductor had given Jake. On leave, Artie told of finding Scout herding sheep near his Montana home. All wanted to see Scout's ear tattoo, which helped Artie identify Scout. Artie decided the right thing to do would be to return Scout back home via train. Ironically, the train would be the same one Dale's father returned on!

Dale sat up in bed and reached down to pat Scout. He heard a soft knock followed by his father poking his head into the room.

"It looks like you couldn't sleep either," Jake said. "Why don't you and I get some PT before church?"

Dale swung his legs to the edge of the bed. "What's PT?"

"PT is what the military calls physical training. We do it early each morning. After the long train ride and party last night, I need some fresh air and exercise." Jake tossed a green Army Ranger t-shirt to Dale. "Put this on and some gym shoes and meet me downstairs in five minutes."

"Wow," Dale thought as he jumped out of bed, "A real Army Ranger t-shirt!" In two minutes, Dale was dressed and bounding down the stairs into the kitchen. Dad smiled. "You've learned that to be on time is to be late and to be early is to be on time. Let's get going."

For an hour, father and son ran, did push-ups, sit-ups, and used the beams in the garage as a chin up bar. Dad explained that the military has two types of chin-ups. "The first one is when your palms are facing you. This type is easier and works your biceps more," Dad said as he demonstrated several chin ups.

"We do those in Mr. Cabutti's gym class."

"You mean Mr. Cabutti is still teaching? I had him when I went to school, and I thought he was old back then!" Dad dropped back to the floor of the garage. "The second kind of chin up is called a pull up and it's done with the palms facing away from you. It uses less bicep muscles and more back muscles. It's harder and will take time to master." Effortlessly, Jake jumped up, grabbed the garage beam and pulled himself up and down several times, "I want you to do both kinds each day. Don't worry about how many you do, just do them to exhaustion. Over time, you'll develop stamina."

"What's stamina?" Dale said as he finished doing six chin-ups.

"Stamina means you can keep doing something that takes a lot of effort. It's similar to the word endurance. In the military, we don't lift weights. We run, lift our body weight, and carry our equipment to get in shape. When I'm gone, do these exercises every other day. You're twelve and ready to begin building your body."

Jake rubbed Dale's head, "I've missed being with you and your mom a lot." They walked out of the garage and across the lawn, Jake with his arm around his son's shoulder. Dale could feel the hard muscles of his father's arm. "Come on I smell coffee," Dad said.

Dale's mother was standing at the kitchen sink. Dad quickly walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms. Dale enjoyed seeing his mom and dad together again. Just then, Dale's stomach made a loud, rumbling noise. "Hey, you two lovebirds, after all that exercise, I need to eat."

Mother blushed and said, "OK, let me get my two favorite men some coffee before we have breakfast."

Dad winked at Dale and said, "A full cup?" to which Dale nodded enthusiastically.

CHAPTER 2

Scout's First Service

Grandma bustled into the kitchen where the family was having breakfast, urging Grandpa to move more quickly so they wouldn't be late for Sunday service. Dale took a bite of a rusk and said, "Is Scout still upstairs in my room?"

"I looked in and Scout was sound asleep in your bed." Grandma frowned; she didn't believe animals should sleep in human's beds. "I heard that dog snoring!" Grandpa stood up so Grandma could adjust his tie. "I think that dog is mighty exhausted from his train ride and last night's party." Grandma cut grandpa off, pointing at the clock saying, "Why don't you all run upstairs and get dressed for church." She winked at dad and said, "I want to leave by 0900 sharp."

Dale ran upstairs to find Scout snuggled under the covers at the end of his bed. Scout lifted his head as Dale rummaged through his closet to find his Sunday clothes. The...