A Well Lived Life 2 Book 3 JessicaChapter 27 About Katy
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January 3, 1991, Londonderry, Vermont
“Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home,” Katy said as she let me into the room she’d rented above a small hardware store.
The upper floor of the store was configured as a studio apartment, but had quite a bit of space. I saw a bed, partially hidden by a partition, a couch with a small television on a table near it, a dinette table with two chairs, two large wardrobes and a couple of bookshelves. A door led to what I assumed was the bathroom. Rugs, tables, and plants created a sense of separation between the areas.
“You’ve made it look very cozy,” I said truthfully.
“The couch is a sleeper. That’s where I’d assumed you would sleep. It’s up to you.”
“No, Katy,” I said gently. “It’s up to you. As I said, I talked with Jess and Kara about this. You aren’t involved with anyone, so if you want, we can sleep in the same bed. What we do is up to you.”
“Let’s take a walk around town, have some coffee, get dinner in the next town over, then come back here.”
“As you wish,” I grinned.
We followed Katy’s plan, and wound up back in her rented room just after 7:00pm. She opened a bottle of wine and put on a kettle for tea, and popped some popcorn. Before she sat down, she turned on her stereo and tuned to a soft rock station.
“This is very different from Chicago, that’s for sure!” I observed. “It’s even smaller than Milford, and much further from a big city than Milford.”
“It is bucolic. I love how quiet it is, and the fact that I can see the stars at night. I could do without the cold and snow, but that adds its own charm, in a way.”
“It is a very different lifestyle than Chicago. I’m not sure I could handle the lack of things to do!”
“You’re one of the most active, busiest people I know. And you seem to thrive on it. I don’t. The city was wearing on me, and not just because my marriage was failing. I had the same kind of feeling in Boston growing up. Too many people; too much going on; the pace was just too fast. My only regret in moving was leaving you and your family.”
“That was hardly sufficient reason to stay in Chicago if you were unhappy otherwise,” I said. “You told me long ago what your dream was, and now you’re living it!”
“Alone,” she sighed.
“That’s not a permanent state by any stretch of the imagination! Once you move closer to the state capital, you’ll have more chances to meet someone. Speaking of that, how do you plan to take time off?”
“You’ll see it in my business plan, but I’ll have someone work part-time, a few hours a day, doing cleaning and laundry, which will give me a chance to get out. And I’ll have someone come in one Friday or Saturday evening every other week so I have a chance to go out.”
“It sounds as if you have it all worked out!”
“It’s just a matter of getting the word out through the travel agencies.”
“Do you mind if I call Chicago?” I asked.
“Not at all! The phone is on the wall there in the kitchen.”
I went over to the wall phone and lifted the handset. I clicked on the switch hook a couple of times then, in a loud voice, “Operator? I want to place a long distance call to Chicago ... the number? LIncoln 5-6733!”
I narrowly missed the pillow thrown at me, having been warned by Katy’s shriek.
“JERK!” she exclaimed, “I’ll get you for that!”
I dialed the house in Hyde Park, and talked to Jessica and Kara, telling them I loved them and that I’d call again on Friday evening. When I hung up, I went back to sit with Katy.
“That was low, even for you!” she grinned.
We talked, ate popcorn, drank, and listened to music until bedtime.
“Where are you sleeping?” she asked.
“You tell me.”
“Come to bed with me.”
I nodded. We undressed and climbed into her bed. She snuggled close, but didn’t kiss me, so I just held her and we fell asleep.
January 4, 1991, Londonderry and Montpelier, Vermont
“I’d say this plan looks very good,” I said, as we sat at the dinette table drinking coffee.
“Thanks. We need to leave in about ten minutes to get to the property. We’ll have lunch in Montpelier, if that’s OK.”
“Sure.”
We finished our coffee and went out to Katy’s car. There was a decent amount of snow on the ground, and the temperature was around 25°F, which was warm compared to what we’d had in Chicago since Christmas.
“About last night,” she said.
“You have nothing to explain,” I said. “You know my position on that.”
“But...” she protested.
“But nothing! I’m your friend, and I didn’t come here with any expectations other than seeing my friend and the property she wants to buy.”
“But you said you talked to Jessica and Kara about it.”
“Yes, of course. I have to follow the simple rules that my wives and I have agreed on. But it was purely speculative. In fact, I predicted to Kara that you would most likely just want me to hold you the way I did last night. And even that was a question because you and I hadn’t talked all that much since you left.”
“You are still a VERY frustrating man,” Katy sighed.
“Why, thank you!” I said with a grin.
Just under two hours later we turned into a snow-covered drive that appeared to be gravel under the packed snow. We drove about half-a-mile through the apple orchard before the farmhouse came into view. One look told me this was a perfect place, one where I’d personally be very happy to stay, and where I’d bring my wives.
“It’s fantastic,” I said.
“Wait until you see the interior!”
She parked her silver Ford Taurus next to a black Lincoln Town Car, and we got out. We walked up to the front door and went inside, where the agent, a middle-aged woman, was waiting for us in the foyer. Katy introduced us and we began the tour.
Katy was right; the inside was a sight to behold. The floors were oak strip, and there was intricate woodwork for the baseboards and molding. A huge brick fireplace dominated one wall, and several large picture windows looked out over the expanse of the orchard. The kitchen had all new stainless steel appliances, including a large six-burner stove, and a chest freezer to go along with the refrigerator.
After touring the first floor, we walked up a wide, sweeping oak staircase to the second floor which was appointed similar to the first. A small door opened to a steep staircase that led to the finished attic where Katy would live. While not as nicely appointed as the ‘public’ floors were, it was certainly very nice. A quick trip to the basement confirmed what Katy had told me about it.
“Mr. Adams, what do you think?” the agent asked.
I smiled, “I think I need to talk to Katy privately.”
“Of course,” she said.
Katy and I walked to the kitchen and stood by a picture window with a gorgeous view.
“I’d say it’s perfect,” I said. “I’ll co-sign the note and put up the amount we discussed. I wasn’t surprised when they accepted your contingent counter-offer.”
“The agent wasn’t either. They’ve been trying to sell for over a year. I could never afford something like this in Massachusetts or Illinois. Prices here are still rational.”
“You should see California,” I said. “My former boss at Nuvatec could only buy a house there with help from the company he works for. And he makes very good money.”
“Your house wasn’t cheap by any stretch!”
“No, it wasn’t, but thanks to my dad doing the deal with me, and my renters, I could afford it when it was available. Did you arrange the financing?”
“We need to go to the bank this afternoon so you can fill out your part of the application. I assume you have all the necessary paperwork?”
“In my leather bag in the car. When the time comes, the bank will need to send me the documents by Federal Express to sign and have notarized in Illinois and I’ll send them back. Then you can sign at the closing. I’ll have the money in the escrow account by then.”
Katy hugged me tight and kissed me on the cheek.
“Thanks for helping me make my dream come true.”
“You’re welcome.”
We walked back to the great room where the agent was standing.
“I have my investor,” she said. “We can proceed.”
“I’ll get things started on our end.”
“And we’ll go to the bank today to complete the loan application.”
We all shook hands and left the house. Katy and I got into her Taurus and she drove me around so that I could get an idea of the area. It was beautiful, but not someplace I’d want to live full-time. Montpelier, the state capital, only had about 8,500 residents. Even Burlington on the New York border only had 40,000 people, less than many Chicago suburbs. Heck, Woodlawn and Hyde Park each had just under 30,000 people! Kenwood, where the house technically was, only had about 18,000, but was still huge compared to most cities in Vermont.
We stopped in a small diner for lunch, and then went to what appeared to be the only bank in the small capital city that was not even twice the size of Milford. We parked on the street and walked into the bank. We walked over to a woman sitting at a desk opposite the tellers.
“Mr. Allen is expecting us,” she said.
The young woman got up and went to an office just behind her desk.
“His name is really Ethan Allen?” I asked quietly.
“Yes. He’s related, distantly, to the famous one. Kind of like my neighbors back home who are distantly related to Paul Revere.”
“Mr. Allen will see you now,” she said.
Our meeting took about twenty minutes as we worked out the details for the loan. I provided Jamie’s and Bruce Grady’s names and addresses, and got copies of all the forms I’d need to fill out. I handed him a folder of documents that Bruce had prepared for me, and after Mr. Allen reviewed them, we shook hands, and Katy and I headed back to Londonderry.
“Wow,” she said when we sat down on her couch after the two-hour drive. “Were you this excited when you bought the house?”
“Pretty much,” I said. “The only thing missing from that farmhouse is a sauna!”
“I don’t think we can afford one at this point. I’ll add it to the list!”
“I’d go with a freestanding one,” I said. “There’s enough space between the back of the house and the orchard to fit a nicely sized one. But that’s going to be a few years down the road, if you do it at all. When do you think you’ll open?”
“March. I’ll get started lining up furniture and everything else I’m going to need right away. Will you be my first guests?”
“I’ll see what we can do. We’d have to make it a 3-day weekend, and I’m not sure we can bring all the kids with us.”
“Just let me know. Shall we make some dinner?” Katy asked.
“Sure!”
“What would you like?”
“You know me; I’ll eat just about anything!”
“How about me?” she asked quietly.
“Before or after dinner?” I asked.
“Both, please. You can do anything you want. Anything.”
“Katy, is this because of the property?”
She sighed deeply, “I just need to feel close to someone right now. And I know you love me.”
I nodded, “I do, which is why I’m concerned about you.”
“Will you stop arguing with me and ravish me?” she demanded, exasperated.
I smiled, “Let’s go to bed, Katy O’Connor.”
We never did get to eat a real dinner. We ate fruit and cheese and drank some wine while I recovered, though I spent a lot of time pleasuring Katy with my tongue as well. Our lovemaking was gentle and slow, and Katy cried out in ecstasy over and over, before we finally fell asleep around midnight.
January 5, 1991, On the road from Londonderry, Vermont to Boston, Massachusetts
“I still don’t believe you turned that down,” Katy said as we neared Logan Airport.
“You didn’t REALLY want that,” I said gently. “You were just so emotional that you were willing to do it.”
“I would have let you,” she said quietly.
“That’s just it. It’s not about letting me; it’s about wanting to do it.”
“I maintain you are the strangest man I know!” she laughed. “No other guy on the planet would say no to that if I’d offered it!”
“Bethany has really worked me over about the issue of consent over the years and it sunk in. The key thing she said is that acquiescence is not consent. And I think she’s right about that. Following her guidance has served me well.”
“I’m glad she’s doing OK. She’s such a sweet girl and had more than her share of adversity.”
“No kidding,” I agreed. “She has to be the strongest person I know.”
“I’ll just drop you at ‘Departures’; Logan doesn’t let me come down to the gate.”
“O’Hare just implemented the same rule,” I said. “Honestly, I don’t think it makes any real difference in security. It might SEEM more secure, but it really isn’t. Hijackers buy tickets; they don’t just rush the plane.”
“Is this another patented Steve Adams ‘Police State’ rant?” Katy laughed.
“No, just an observation. I actually don’t have a problem with security screening, because it’s done by companies employed by the individual airlines. To me, that works because the airlines have a vested interest in not letting a gun or bomb or whatever on the plane.”
“Ever the capitalist!”
“If I wasn’t, you wouldn’t be buying your property, Miss O’Connor!”
We pulled up to the American Airlines doors and after a quick kiss, I got out of the car, taking my bag with me.
January 5, 1991, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“These are excellent seats!” I exclaimed as we waited for the puck to drop.
“The Pens don’t sell out very often, so it’s not hard to find seats for games. And there are lots of season ticket holders who put some of their games up for sale. The Devils aren’t a high-demand ticket like the Flyers.”
“Are you a hockey fan, Marie? Or are you just here because Mario is?”
“I like hockey, but I prefer baseball.”
“How is your PhD work coming?”
“It’s only a question of whether I kill my advisor before or after I finish my dissertation.”
“Of those two options, I’d advise ‘after’, and by ‘after’ I mean after he accepts it.”
“She. But yeah!”
“Tara, where you going to school?” I asked Marie’s younger sister who filled out our foursome.
“CMU. I’m a Freshman, and I haven’t declared a major yet. I’m not sure what I want to do yet. Where did you go to school?”
“Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.”
“And you started your company right out of college?”
“Yes. Mario was our first hire after the founders. He’s been with us almost from the start.”
We stopped our conversation to stand for the National Anthem, and then the puck was dropped and all of my attention was on the game. Two hours later I was hoarse and happy. Five different Penguins scored - Coffey, Errey, Jágr, Murphy, and Recchi. Tom Barrasso held the Devils scoreless, giving the Pens a 5-0 victory.
“How did you get to be such a huge Penguins fan living in Chicago?” Tara asked.
“When The NHL and WHA merged, Cincinnati lost their team. I had to pick, and chose the Pens.”
“It’s been a long, sad ten years, hasn’t it?”
“They have what they need to win the Cup this year if Super Mario can get healthy! Adding Jágr was a huge benefit, and Barrasso is an excellent goalie.”
“Do you want to get some drinks?” Mario asked.
“Sure!” I agreed.
“There’s a pub close to the Igloo that has tables. So long as we order food, there’s no problem with Tara being there.”
I’d questioned Mario about why he brought her along, and he’d told me he had to buy four tickets from the season ticket holder. Marie had suggested offering the extra ticket to her little sister, a hockey fan. That had been a great idea, because Tara turned out to be fun and engaging, and had been almost as excited with each goal as I had been.
We left the stadium and walked a few blocks to a sports-themed bar, asked for a table, and ordered loaded nachos and drinks.
“Still drinking bourbon?” Mario asked.
“That’s pretty much all I drink, though I do occasionally go for rye, Irish whisky, or others in the same basic family. I will drink wine with dinner, of course.”
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April 5, 1997, Chicago, Illinois “You missed cuddles this morning!” Birgit said accusingly when I walked into the house about 9:30am. “I know, Pumpkin, but I had a work emergency and had to go see Aunt Joyce and Grandpa A.” “And now we have to get ready for karate!” “I know. We’ll have some family time this afternoon. I don’t have any plans.” “Good!” I hugged her and the rest of the kids, then went to find Kara. We hugged and kissed, and went straight upstairs to get ready for...
September 3, 1989, Chicago, Illinois “Good morning, Sensei,” I said, bowing to Sensei Jim. “Good morning!” he said waving me to a chair in his office. “How was your trip?” I asked. “Enlightening. I spent most of my time acting as a manservant to Sensei Robert and Sensei Hiro.” “He who will lead, must first serve,” I said. “Someday, I’m going to send you to Sensei Hiro, should he live long enough. You understand.” “Does that mean you are now 6th Dan?” I...
October 29, 2000, Chicago, Illinois Birgit followed me as far as the stairs, then scooted upstairs when I went to the front door and opened it. “Hi!” Sophie said. “Hi!” I replied and held the door open so she could come into the house. I closed the door behind her then led her to my study where I waited until she went in, and then walked in, closing the door behind me. I nodded to one of the wingback chairs, she sat down in one, and I sat down in the other. “Is something wrong?” she...
August, 1983, Chicago, Illinois I walked in the near 90°F heat to Carla’s place. I was grateful that the humidity of the morning had dropped significantly; otherwise the heat would have been unbearable. By the time I walked up the steps to the apartment over the photography studio and knocked on her door, I had broken into a light sweat. Carla answered almost immediately and invited me inside her studio apartment. The air was moderately cool, and the window air conditioner was running full...
July 1982, Milford, Ohio On Tuesday morning, I kissed Kara goodbye and headed to my parents’ house for my usual morning routine with my little sister. She was happy that I could spend the morning with her and asked to take a walk, so we weren’t in the house with my mom. “Let me guess — this walk will end in the clearing,” I said with a smile. “Yes,” she said, taking my hand as we walked down Overlook towards Klondyke. As usual, we turned around and walked back, taking the path to the...
March 13, 1994, Chicago, Illinois “Hi, Steve!” Ailea said when she opened the door. “Hi,” I replied, accepting the offered hug. There was no touching of lips, just of cheeks, and I wondered if I’d misread her intentions at her birthday lunch, or if, perhaps, she detected my reluctance to return the offered affection. “Lunch is ready, so go ahead and sit. I’ll bring it in from the kitchen.” I went to the low table, sat down, and a minute later, Ailea brought miso soup and sushi, our usual...
April 3, 1997, Dallas, Texas “Remember what I said about drinking too much,” I said, as I poured bourbon into three cups. We’d stopped at a liquor store, bought a bottle of Blanton’s, and then returned to the small suite I’d reserved at the Westin. Deborah’s room was down the hall, and Krissy’s was two floors below. Krissy’s comment had caught me a bit off guard, but I hadn’t reacted visibly. I didn’t know her quite well enough to know if she’d been teasing with Deborah, so I was being...
March 28, 1991, Chicago, Illinois “This day belongs to you, Kara!” I said when the three of us woke on Thursday morning. “Happy birthday!” Jessica said. “Thanks,” Kara replied happily. “I think I’d like an amazing birthday fuck from our husband, and then a nice loving shower with my wife!” Kara said. “Do we have enough time?” I asked. Jessica giggled, “I set the alarm for thirty minutes earlier!” “Then let’s not waste any of it!” I said pulling Kara to me. Kara’s squeals as I plunged...
September 4, 2000, Chicago, Illinois On Monday morning I went to my study to make a surreptitious call to ensure that the surprise I’d planned for Kara was still going to happen, and after confirming that it was, Jesse, Matthew, Michael, and I began preparing for the Labor Day party by getting beer and soda into coolers, getting the grill ready, setting up tables and chairs in the backyard, and ensuring the liquor cabinets were stocked while my wives and daughters worked on food prep in the...
September 1, 1987, Chicago, Illinois “I heard that you have some kind of plan to help Ed,” I said to Connie. “There’s no plan,” she replied. “A witness who saw the shopkeeper alive after Ed left came forward.” That sounded convenient, and I wondered if the witness was real or someone that Anthony had put forward to solve the problem. Certainly, the videotape was real, because I couldn’t imagine how Anthony could have faked that, but the witness? Who knew? “So is he being released? Or is...
August 17, 1997, Chicago, Illinois We finished lunch and Marissa and the younger kids went to play, but Natalie sat with the adults to talk, with coffee, tea, or soft drinks. The Sarcus were very comfortable, but the Heaths were still struggling. But, vitally, they hadn’t left and hadn’t insisted Natalie leave the group. “Can you explain how you developed this attitude and approach?” Chris asked. I nodded, “It started when I was just a bit younger than Natalie. My mom was a total control...
July 1979 — Falkenberg, Sweden On Friday, when I got back from my run, Pam was in her bra and panties again. I whistled at her, she giggled, then finished dressing. I showered, and we went to breakfast and finished up our last day. Once class was done, we were pretty much free. On Saturday, we’d have several optional activities and then on Sunday we’d head back to our host families. After dinner on Friday, I took Pam’s hand and we walked towards the river. It was quiet and peaceful, and...
July 1980, Over the North Atlantic We reached cruising altitude, and I settled back to read my book. Pam raised the armrest between us, snuggled close to me and read as well. The cabin crew offered drinks, and I had my first Coke in a year! Meal service began about an hour and a half into the flight. After the cabin crew picked up the trays and offered drinks again, they passed once more, offering headsets for the movie. Trevor and Maria took them, but Pam and I didn’t, instead we turned on...
July 8, 1997, Chicago, Illinois “Is it really that surprising?” Leah asked. “I suppose not,” I replied. “I just didn’t read too much into the kiss on the cheek.” “I didn’t think it was a good idea to kiss you on the lips with all those people around, because I had no idea who they were or what they would think. You were VERY careful with our dance, so I kind of followed your lead.” Which showed very mature thinking on her part. Both of these girls were exactly the kind of students I...
November 8, 1993, Chicago, Illinois A dark fog swirled before my eyes as I tried to take stock. My head hurt, badly. I felt something on my face and realized, dimly, it was an oxygen mask. My right hand was uncomfortable and I recognized the feeling of an IV and pulse-oximeter. My left arm ached fiercely. On my chest I felt the pads and wires of an EKG. I didn’t feel anything else wrong as I continued taking inventory. I tried to open my eyes, but the fog didn’t clear. I tried to speak, but...
August, 1983, Chicago, Illinois In the morning Anala and I ran as we had the previous time, then showered together, carefully washing each other’s bodies in an intimate but non-sexual way. After our shower we went to the kitchen and I made breakfast and we sat down to eat. “Steve, may I make a suggestion?” she asked. “Sure.” “Broaden your circle of friends. Other than me, all of you are white, nominally Christian, 20-year-old Americans. And you don’t invite me to your Sunday...
June 23, 2000, Chicago, Illinois “Steve,” Kimmy said over the intercom, “I have a Suzanne Aavik for you.” “Thanks,” I replied. “Put her through, please.” A few seconds later, Suzanne was on the line. “Hi!” she exclaimed when I greeted her. “I’m in Chicago for three weeks. Can I still run away and join the circus?” I chuckled, “You might want to find out what the circus is actually like before you join! If you’re free, you’re welcome to come to the house tomorrow or Sunday and meet the...
March 1979 Monday was back to the normal routine of school. Debbie Courtney, who lived across the street and had turned fourteen the last week in February, started flirting more with me on the bus each day. Debbie Vaughn, who lived just down the street, would turn fourteen on March 16th and invited me to her birthday party. And Donna Woody, who lived just down the street in the other direction, would turn fourteen on March 20th. She had made it clear what she wanted for her birthday, and in...
June 2, 1990, Chicago, Illinois “My office, please,” Sensei Jim said after class on Saturday. I followed him to his office and waited for him to bid me to sit. He did, and I sat in the usual chair across from him. “She has a real problem, you know that, right?” he asked. “I do. That’s why I insisted she start seeing a counselor.” “I run a huge risk having her here with that kind of temper and her violent acts.” I nodded, “I understand. May I ask what you intend to do?” “I really don’t...
February 21, 1991, Chicago, Illinois “Hi, Sweetheart!” I said, greeting Bethany at the door. “Uncle Steve!” Nicholas exclaimed. I took him from his mom and he hugged me tightly. “Is Jesse with his moms?” Bethany asked. “Yes. They won’t bring him back over tonight so you and Nicholas can surprise him in the morning.” “Perfect!” “How was the drive up?” “The same as usual. Just a bit of traffic in Northern Indiana. Otherwise, smooth sailing. It was driving the other direction that was a...
November 4, 2000, Chicago, Illinois “Good morning, Sensei,” Miyu said when Kara, the girls, and I walked into the dojo on Saturday morning. “Good morning, Miyu.” “Do you have a moment, please?” I nodded and we went to the small practice room for privacy, as Sensei Jim had a family in his office. “What can I do for you?” “I need you to meet a young man,” she said. “I think you might be taking this ‘not do anything without permission’ a bit too far!” Miyu shook her head, “No, I’m not....
May 1979 The limo dropped me at home about 9:00pm. I took my stuff to my room, stripped, and hung up the tux. The rest of the things went into the hamper. I took a shower, put on shorts and a t-shirt, and walked down the hall into my dad’s office. I saw no reason to put this off any longer. “Stephen, you need to explain yourself!” my mom demanded. “I was in Mrs. McGrath’s, well, Mrs. Sanders’ now, wedding, as I said.” “You walked her down the aisle! You’re sixteen and not even related to...
November 3, 1990, Chicago, Illinois “I still don’t understand why you told everyone to leave Katy alone last night,” Elyse said on Saturday morning. “Because we weren’t going to talk her out of it. I could tell by the way she told us. I hoped letting her sleep on it would allow her to hear what we had to say. Obviously I was wrong.” “I was surprised that she wouldn’t talk to Jennifer at all,” Kara said. “I thought Jennifer would be the one to get her to listen to reason this morning.” I...
February, 1983, Chicago, Illinois Our first joining since the previous summer was slow and sweet, trying to express our deep love for each other through the motions of our bodies. When we finished, Karin held me tight and refused to let me move off of her. “Sleep there, please,” she whispered. I kissed her once more then adjusted my pillow so that I could rest my head next to hers. It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but it was what Karin wanted. The feel of her firm body under mine,...
July 3, 1996, Chicago, Illinois I blinked several times and took a breath before responding. It didn’t help. The best I could do was contain my visceral reaction at her completely out-of-line request and her wrong-headed assumptions when she had NO idea what had happened in my life the previous eight months. “What makes you think you can make that request after refusing to talk to me for nearly eight months? And equally importantly, without explaining Alexi? And without giving me the first...
August 12, 1994, Chicago, Illinois “Fuck ‘em all,” I sighed. “Especially Donald Fehr. Running to Federal Court, the NLRB, and Congress? I’m really tired of the government putting its thumb so heavily on the scale.” “Well, we’re not going to resolve that problem today,” Elyse said. “Jackie and Jeremiah want to come over.” I chuckled, “Why am I not surprised? I bet you anything he had a rough sketch done ten minutes after they hung up the phone.” “They want to discuss options. Kimmy felt...
July 1983, Milford, Ohio My drive to Ohio was filled with wild swings of emotion. After quickly driving Anala home I had set out for Milford, driving as fast as I thought I could get away with, slowing only when warned to do so by my radar detector. I’d told Nancy that I’d come straight to her house and asked her to call my dad and let him know so that Stephanie wasn’t worried. I pulled into the Blanchards’ driveway at 3:30pm, having managed to avoid any run-ins with the Indiana State Police...
June 1980, On the Train, and in Abisko, Sweden As the train sped across the Swedish countryside towards Stockholm, I reflected on the fact that there were less than three weeks to go until I had to be in Copenhagen to board a flight home. I was torn between wanting to go home and wanting to stay, but in the end, I didn’t have a choice. I really liked my life here, the freedom I was given, the friends I had and, the respect I had from adults. I hadn’t run into a single adult who had treated...
May 18, 1997, Chicago, Illinois “As I said last time, today we’re going to talk about decision making and how to make good decisions. I think we’ll start with what I think has to be the easiest decision with the least controversy - is it ever OK to drive drunk?” “No!” came a chorus from several of the students. “And yet, people do that every day,” I replied. “And they die or kill people because of that bad decision. You have to ask yourself why people would drive drunk; and often it’s...