Small Flyers

It’s Tuesday, January 1, 1946...and the United States has lots to celebrate after triumphing in the most destructive armed conflict ever waged.

The Liberty Cafe in Albuquerque, New Mexico is one of the nation’s many party spots in this hope-filled new year. That’s where ROMAN EVANS, his wife TRUDY, and their daughters SHIRLEY and FRANNY revel with friends and neighbors.

When it comes time to drink toasts and make wishes, rambunctious, gung-ho 10-year-old Franny decides: “I’d like to fly a plane...just like Daddy did.” Sweet, gentle, kindhearted 11-year-old Shirley adds: “Me, too.”

The preteens’ pledge is a major shock to the otherwise quiet-and-humble Roman...who, after flying forty combat missions over Europe in the Army Air Corps the previous three-and-a-half years, is back driving a forklift truck for Albuquerque’s Superior Lumber Company.

Still, Roman advises Shirley and Franny to learn everything the twosome can about airplanes...and, for that matter, about cars. The two youngest Evanses take their father’s advice to heart...whether it’s figuring out how to make paper airplanes, reading Al Avery’s books for inspiration, or, in Shirley’s case, developing her own sense of that old aviation staple of tunnel vision to help her become a better pianist.

But the former pilot can use some of that advice himself: As a forklift operator, Roman struggles to get his prewar chops back...a concern to coworker CLIFF RHINER, the philosophical mechanic who got his job back from perky Trudy once the Allies and Axis Powers laid their weapons down.

At Eugene Field School, Franny and Shirley find two strong faculty allies in clever, innovative KATHRYN PSALTIS, a music teacher who prefers playing guitar to tickling the ivories; and jovial ROY PLASMAN, a science teacher who left his native Louisiana because he got tired of playing the racism game. Trudy’s and Roman’s progeny also encounter a nemesis: Skeptical JEANNINE EARLE, who teaches English...and teaches that flying a plane isn’t a worthy ambition for little girls.

Never mind about Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, or all those Women’s Army Service Pilots.

Shirley and Franny work to get smarter about cars and planes at a time when Trudy shocks Roman by repairing the family’s kitchen radio herself...and, in celebration, the Evanses take a Groundhog Day ride in their 1935 Ford sedan. Shirley’s first time behind the wheel is slightly successful...but Franny’s debut as a driver results in a collision involving a rival clan: Dad BUDDY, mom HAPPY, and 12-year-old SONNY KREITLING.

Nobody dies or suffers physical injuries...but Franny finds her pride wounded.

Trudy, Shirley, and Roman work to console the youngest Evans, even to where the foursome fix the Ford...but nothing takes hold better than Shirley encouraging her sis to play the drums. Eventually, the talk turns to the two little girls deciding to form a band, one “kinda like the Benny Goodman Quartet.”

While Shirley talks best friend and classmate RACHEL PETERS into bringing her trombone skills into the act, Franny invites classmate VIRGINIA BRECHLER to become the group’s bass player. And when driven Rachel and otherwise-bashful Virginia team up with Franny and Shirley and call themselves the Albuquerque Four, they land a gig at the Eugene Field School PTA meeting that May.

It’s all set...until, at the meeting itself, and at the last possible moment, PTA chief MARY ELLEN MARGENTHALER won’t let the band perform due to the presence of a Black member in Rachel: “Some of the parents have a problem with a mixed-race band.”

Kathryn saves the night by inviting those PTA participants who want to see the jazz band play to “a place where they can perform without people getting upset about the band being integrated.”

The place: The cocktail lounge section of the Liberty Cafe...the last spot you’d expect to find children.

But Franny, Rachel, Shirley, and Virginia earn a standing ovation for their jazz playing...and Shirley and Franny lose their first flight instructor, prickly EDDIE PITLOCK, the former Army Air Corps pilot credited with about three-and-a-half times as many bombing missions as Roman.

Eddie’s got a problem with mixed-race get-togethers. Period.

The Evanses find a replacement in fun-loving ERNIE MENDOZA, who encourages Franny’s and Shirley’s two-ply career path...and who enables the youngsters to get further along in their flight training than Eddie did.

Things begin to look up for the family: The daughters’ paper airplanes improve greatly...Trudy becomes a part-time auto mechanic...Roman gets his lumber-yard groove back...and Mary Ellen not only apologizes for cheating the Albuquerque Four out of that PTA opportunity, but gets to hear the band play.

A phoned-in death threat against Roman puts a crimp in things...yet doesn’t prevent him, Trudy, Shirley, and Franny from seeking to make every minute count, thanks to a Mary Ellen-masterminded outing at the famous Alvarado Hotel, with the Albuquerque Four providing the music.

Plus: Not even the death threat can derail Shirley’s and Franny’s big day of June 29, where each girl takes a turn in control of the West Mesa Airport’s training plane, a 1946 Stinson 108 four-seater. On this date, Ernie, Roman, and Trudy are strictly passengers.

Shirley takes the plane around Albuquerque and lands it...despite a wing starting to loosen. In Franny’s turn, smoke emerges from the engine...and forces the young drummer to make an emergency landing; she and her passengers make it to safety just before the plane explodes.

At the Liberty Cafe on July 4, the mood is festive again...with an assist from Jeannine, who salutes the two youngest Evanses and apologizes to them for doubting their grit and determination.

And she comes to realize that children should be anything they want, regardless of gender.