From Beckley to El Paso (and back again)
A collection of my family's stories
by
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Part One: The Train
Boarding the train to El Paso, her heart beat furiously through the white button up blouse she was wearing under her light jacket. A bead of sweat trailed down her back as she gave her ticket to the train conductor. She knew this was what was right and good, but it still felt unbelievably scary. In truth she had no business on this train headed hundreds of miles away. She had never been more than one hundred miles from her small hometown in Beckley, West Virginia. This precious town nestled in the Appalachian mountains, full of pride and poverty, full of coal and dust.
Yet here she was, her mother had arranged this with Cliff's mother. In reality, she would have done anything to make Cliffs mother happy. Mrs. Scarborough had become like a mother to her. She was kind and caring from the moment she had met her when the family had moved to Ball Street, just a few houses down. Still, this sudden attempt to sure up the foundations of her life and of those around her only made her feel like the foundations of her own world were caving in.
"Ma'am, you need a place to sit?" A good looking dark haired man in a uniform looked at her and motioned to the empty seat beside him. She could barely stammer a "Yes, please", before she sat and he began talking to her. The man was traveling home before his next deployment to see his family. He went on and on about his wife and the new baby she had just given birth to, showing a wrinkled picture of a red faced little boy in an auburn haired woman's lap. He talked quickly and intently about his life, he seemed nervous, probably most soldiers felt this way at one time or another. The honest thought of realizing this could be the last time to hold your wife's hand or smell the scent of your newborn child must have weighed heavily on the soul.
The train began to fill more and more quickly as soldiers from several branches boarded. She couldn't help but notice some of the men in uniforms, their broad backs and muscular arms. It made her blush. She tried not to stare at the people boarding but it was all so new to her. She had taken the bus from Beckley, West Virginia to Prince, West Virginia to catch the train. This was almost further already than she had ever traveled in her life.
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About the Book
Knowing where you are from informs the path to where you are headed. This book of short stories compiled from Annalee’s grandmother and family members, serves as a treasure trove of memories. These short stories remind us that our families are dynamic and unique; every single person has a story to share.
At the height of World War II, at the young age of sixteen, Nita Maxine Pittman takes a train trip from Prince, West Virginia to El Paso, Texas where a new chapter of her life begins. Brief short stories follow Nita, her husband, Cliff, and their children as they recount growing a family and growing up in Beckley, West Virginia.
About the Author
Annalee was born in Southern West Virginia. A child of the eighties, she loved Lisa Frank notebooks and smelly stickers. She has lived in four different states and although she tried for years to get rid of her West Virginia accent, she has realized that where you are from is one of the most important things about you. Annalee enjoys writing, reading multiple books at one time, being a mom to two beautiful children and helping her beloved husband find things around the house. She lives in Colorado where she spends as much time as possible on mountains, walking around her neighborhood or pretending she is best friends with her Peloton instructors. In her spare time she teaches English to children and adults. She is active in her local church where she teaches women about Jesus as often as possible. She is inspired to tell stories and help other people tell their own.