Ben Meecham stares at the sky, waiting for the first glimpse of his father's plane, returning from a year on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean. Ben's mother, Lillian, fusses with her hair and orders her children to stand up straight. She leads the four Meecham children in their fifth Hail Mary of the day, praying for Bull's safe return. The children are restless and nervous. Mary Anne, the eldest daughter, makes disparaging remarks about the Marines, and how they like to hit their families. Lillian tells her to hush, but to her consternation, the youngest children, Matthew and Karen, complain about having to leave Atlanta. Mary Anne worsens the situation by teasing them until Ben, the oldest and the peacemaker in the family, suggests she accompany him down the runway to wait.....
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