“What’s the counselor man going to do to Randy? Give him an injection of something to calm him down?”

Grace drew a deep breath. “No, he’s not going to inject anything into Randy. He would talk to him privately and let Randy talk about whatever happened to him.”

“But won’t talking about it make it worse?”

“That’s not what will happen. You and I and his family and friends haven’t been to war or know what Randy’s been through and is still going through. But the counselor has heard it all. He can encourage and help Randy pick up the pieces of his life.” It bothered Grace, as she talked, that there were no groups for Randy, not enough men home from this awful war for him to speak with, men who shared his experience.

“I hadn’t thought about it like that, but you’re sure right, Mrs. Grace.” Myrtle shook her head. “None of us knows what my boy’s goin’ through.” Her face brightened, and she looked deep into Grace’s eyes. “And they can fix him back like he was?”

“Life changes us. You know that as well as I do. Maybe Randy will never be exactly like he was, but maybe he’ll stop having horrific dreams or thinking of suicide. Hopefully, Randy can take his life back, find work he enjoys, meet someone, and fall in love one day and get married.”

“I want my boy back like he was before he gone to war.” Myrtle rocked, holding her shoulders with her hands.

“I know you do. And it can be much better than it is. What is ever the same, Myrtle? Are you the same woman you were when you married your husband? After he died were you the same woman, or today compared to when you first started your job? Haven’t you changed?”

She nodded agreement. “I surely have. Had to. You’re right, Mrs. Grace. I used to hie me away from people. Now I joke and carry on with the best of ’em. Tell me what I gotta do to help my boy, and I’ll do it.”

Grace looked at Myrtle in her homemade magenta-and-white-striped shirtwaist dress. The color was wrong for the woman, with her graying hair, thin, pale face, and large, dark eyes dulled by poverty and loss. Grace’s heart went out to Myrtle.

“Talk to Randy and urge him to get some help. I’ll talk to him also, if you think it will help. I’d be happy to set up the appointment and to drive him there, whatever it takes. Deep inside, I believe that he knows he needs help, so let’s see that he gets it.”

“I’ll do whatever you say for me to do.”

Grace picked up her menu and handed one to Myrtle. “I’m hungry. You must be also. Let’s have something to eat.”