Good Medicine Junior YearChapter 65 Developing A Relationship
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June 1, 1983, McKinley, Ohio
Wednesday at the Quick Mart was very much like Tuesday, though there were no deliveries, so I had time to work through a number of items on Mr. Sokolov’s list. That kept me busy, and away from Nancy except for when it was time for her breaks. She apologized again and I replied as I had before, just telling her to take her break. Maybe I was being a jerk, but I was honestly quite upset with her, and really didn’t think there was much to talk about.
When my shift ended, I headed back to the dorm and dialed Clarissa’s number for our agreed-upon once-per-week calls.
“Petrovich!” she exclaimed when I said ‘hello’. “How are you?”
“Good, Lissa. How are you?”
“OK. I miss you already!”
“Me, too. I actually wished you were here Monday night so we could talk.”
“What happened?”
“Actually, I should tell you about home, first. Janey and I had a final argument, I confronted Tasha’s dad, and I decided I’m not going home very often in the future.”
“WHAT IS IT WITH YOU?!” she exclaimed, exasperated. “I leave you alone for a few days and you turn the entire world upside down!”
“I thought you advised me to break things off with Janey!” I protested.
“I did! I just didn’t expect you to actually do it!”
“She’s still hung up on that whole idea that I should commit to her without her having to commit to me.”
“The whole thing about you not being a couple but her being bothered by you being with other girls? And not wanting to discuss the future in any serious way?”
“Correct. I suppose it won’t surprise you that I’d actually thought about how to patch things up with Janey and talk about the future, even if it meant giving up Tasha.”
“I knew it!” Clarissa exclaimed.
“You’re a genius,” I laughed.
“You’re too predictable, Petrovich! So you were ready to give Janey another chance and she threw it away; all because you wouldn’t tell her who you were sleeping with? Dumb, really. I mean, seriously, would she have been OK with you telling the world she was sleeping with you?”
“I think only insofar as it would have pissed off Tasha. Janey was really jealous, I guess, and even wanted me to stop Tasha from standing next to me in church. And I would have done that, IF Janey and I had worked things out and discussed our future. She was still missing the entire point of our discussion that day we broke up.”
“And that led you to confront Tasha’s dad?”
“Basically, yes. I went to Tasha’s house and simply told her father I was taking Tasha to Grant Park. He was taken aback, but then his wife said Tasha could go. After Vespers, I did the same thing, told him I was taking her to dinner. And I did. And then I took her to lunch on Sunday.”
“I bet he’s fit to be tied.”
“You could say that.”
“And?”
“And Tasha and I agreed we have a lot of work to do if we’re ever going to be together. That was the point of the confrontation — that there was no way I could ever marry her if her dad forbade us from getting together.”
“And that’s what you want?”
“Maybe. But how could I, with the way things were going, ever figure it out? I’d have gone into a marriage basically blind with the hope we’d both be happy and that it would work out.”
“Did you fall and hit your head?”
“No. Why?”
“Because you’re actually making sense!” Clarissa teased.
“Gee, thanks.”
“So what happened after you got back to McKinley?”
“Remember how I said Nancy and I agreed to hang out occasionally over the Summer? Just as friends?”
“Sure. I thought that was a good idea. I thought that you needed someone other than Angie to hang out with occasionally. What happened?”
“She, in a gentle and nice way, pressed me for a sexual relationship. She wasn’t demanding or strident. I told her ‘not tonight’ when she asked on Sunday, then went to dinner at her house on Memorial Day. Her mom teased in such a way that it was clear Nancy had told her we might be a couple again, and that Nancy had basically announced she was going to spend the night with me.”
“Bad move on her part,” Clarissa declared. “I know you too well. You walked out.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s going to be uncomfortable given you have to work with her.”
“I know. I was pretty upset because I was sure she was really talking about something casual. But when her mom said I could call her ‘Mom’ that kind of belied what Nancy told me.”
“Shit! She lied to you. Or misled you about her intentions. That’s the kiss of death! Are you doing OK?”
“Actually, yes. It won’t surprise you that Milena saw me sitting under that big oak in the grassy area next to the dorm and propositioned me again.”
“Of COURSE she did!” Clarissa laughed. “You really enjoy frustrating the hell out of her!”
“I do! I did tell her to come up with a ‘good’ reason for me to do it with her and if she did, I’d seriously consider it.”
“What good reason could she possibly have? She just wants a notch on her bedpost and you are the supreme challenge!”
“I just want to see what she comes up with!” I chuckled.
“Now that’s evil. I love it, but it’s eeeevil!”
“It’ll be fun. How was your first day at the clinic yesterday?”
“Probably a lot like yours at the store. I replenish supplies in the treatment rooms, answer phones, and do whatever else they need me to do. Not exactly medical training, but I will get an idea of how things operate, and it’s good community service because it’s a free clinic.”
“When does Glenda leave for France?”
“Tomorrow. I talked to her last night. She’ll be back at the third week of July. Talking about relationship stuff again, how often will you see Tasha?”
“She’ll come visit me here over the Summer and I may go home once, but I’m not planning on it. I’ll talk to her tomorrow evening to figure out when she’ll visit. Wednesday evenings don’t work to talk because of Vespers.”
“May I say I’m impressed that you had the backbone to finally confront Tasha’s dad?”
“You may.”
“I’m impressed that you had the backbone to finally confront Tasha’s dad!”
I laughed, “Good one, Lissa!”
“I miss you a lot, Mike! It seems like July 1st is so far away!”
“I miss you, too. You know you’re welcome to visit any time.”
“Maybe I will. I do have a question for you.”
“What’s that?”
“What are you going to do if Milena actually DOES come up with a good reason?”
“Decide whether or not to fuck her brains out,” I deadpanned.
I moved the phone from my ear because Clarissa was laughing so loudly. The gales of laughter continued for about a minute before I could move the phone close to my ear again.
“There may be hope for you yet, Petrovich,” Clarissa said, still laughing, but now softly.
“Why? Because I swore or because I might actually do it?”
“Both!”
“You really think I should?”
Clarissa laughed again, “Think about this — you actually do that, make her beg for more, and say ‘no’, that it was a one-time thing! Period!”
“Now who’s being eeevil?” I asked, laughing.
“I’m not saying you should or shouldn’t, Mike. But the fact that you could joke about it and use that word tells me something very important happened since school let out. You seem to have discovered a new side of yourself. One I very much like and think is important for you to be a good doctor and a good friend. That said, don’t you dare lose the sensitive side, or I’m going to have to beat you about the head and shoulders until it comes back!”
“You’ll beat sensitivity into me? Isn’t that kind of the opposite of how it should work?”
“With a «глупец» like you? I’d say it would be strictly necessary!”
“I love you too, Lissa!” I chuckled.
“You do. And I love you. Talk to you next week?”
“Absolutely. And let me know if you want to visit before the 1st.”
“I will.”
We said ‘goodbye’ and I hung up. I went across the street to the deli and had an early dinner. It was a bit early to head to Vespers, but I decided to go to church anyway. I had keys, and I always enjoyed the peaceful time when nobody else was in the church, so I dressed for church, then left the dorm. Twenty minutes later, clad in my cassock, I was standing in the nave, before the icon of the Theotokos reciting the prayers of preparation for confession.
When Father Nicholas arrived, I asked if I could confess and he agreed to hear my confession before Vespers. Once he’d said his entry and vesting prayers, he beckoned me to stand before the icon of Christ with him. I walked forward and after the appropriate prayers, Father Nicholas heard my confession.
“Well, yes, that was a bit impertinent,” he said with a slight laugh. “Even though you won your point, and you are probably right, you should apologize to Deacon Vasily for the tone, not the words.”
“So just how I sounded, not what I said?”
“If you’re relaying accurately what happened, yes. Privately, as one member of the clergy to another, I believe he’s making a grave error, but it is his family to manage, and he answers to the bishop first, and then Father Herman. If you did the same thing he’s done with your children, I’d speak to you about it and try to guide you to a wiser course of action. His behavior is likely to produce the exact situation he’s trying to prevent. That said, one must always speak the truth in love, not anger.”
“I don’t know that I was angry,” I said.
“Frustrated, then? The effect is often the same from the hearer’s point of view.”
I nodded, “I can see that.”
“Good. I won’t belabor the point. How are things between you and Natalya?”
“Call it the ‘first date’ stage, I guess. We’ll see each other over the Summer and try to get to know each other better.”
“Properly, Subdeacon Michael. That is a confession I do NOT want to hear from you.”
I nodded, “I understand, Father.”
“Good. Is there anything else?”
I shook my head and he put his epitrachil over my head, prayed the prayer of absolution and made the sign of the cross.
With confession completed, I retrieved my vestments, folded them, and placed the orar on top of the sticharion. I carried them to Father Nicholas and received his blessing to put them on. Once I’d done so, I began preparing for Vespers. I lit a piece of charcoal and put it in the censer, then added a bit of incense. Once the smoke began wafting up, I lit the candles on the altar, and then placed the correct prayer books, with the prayers for the day marked, on the stand where Father Nicholas could easily reach them.
A few minutes later, two middle school boys arrived to serve as acolytes, and once they received a blessing and put on their robes, I ensured they knew their duties, then quietly waited for the service to start. A few minutes later, I pointed to the acolyte on the far side of the altar who opened the ‘north’ deacon’s door so Father could exit.
When the service ended, I received a blessing to remove my vestments, then snuffed the censer and the candles, then left the altar. As I left the nave, Katy stopped me to say ‘hello’ and we chatted for a few minutes before I walked out to my car, removed my cassock, and drove back to campus.
I parked in the lot and walked towards the dorm, where I saw Nancy sitting on a bench in front of the building. I suppressed a sigh and walked over to where she was sitting.
“Hi,” I said flatly.
“Are you ever going to talk to me?”
I shrugged, “I’ll talk to you about anything except us.”
“You won’t even listen?”
“To why you either deceived me or outright lied to me? It really doesn’t matter.”
“What are you talking about?”
“What your mom said. That wasn’t just her wishful thinking. She was responding to something you said. Something about us possibly getting back together.”
Nancy looked down, “She asked if it might be possible and I said ‘yes’.”
“And you announcing in front of both of them that we were going to sleep together? Without consulting me?”
“A foolish attempt to make it happen. But I honestly didn’t try to deceive you about my intentions.”
“Then why not simply tell your mom ‘no’?” I asked. “I can’t imagine your mom thinking anything bad about you. After all, she encouraged us to sleep together even when we weren’t a couple!”
“I’m sorry.”
“I understand that, but you told me that while it was possible, you didn’t expect it. So why even suggest it was possible to your mom?”
“I don’t know. But why is it such a big deal? I told you I didn’t expect it.”
“You did say that, but when I put everything together, I can’t be sure what you think. And I don’t believe I can even trust you to tell me.”
“But I didn’t lie to you,” Nancy protested.
“What you told me and what you told your mom doesn’t line up, not to mention the public assertion about spending the night with me.”
“Public? My mom?”
“And Art, who I had just met that day. It was totally inappropriate. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go inside, relax for a bit, and then go to bed. Alone.”
Nancy simply looked down without a word, so I went into the empty dorm, rode the elevator up to the second floor, and went into my room.
June 2, 1983, McKinley, Ohio
After my shift at the Quick Mart, where, other than basic greetings, Nancy and I didn’t speak, I walked back to the dorm, changed into shorts and a t-shirt, and called Tasha’s house. It was early enough that her dad wasn’t home, so I knew he wouldn’t answer; Matushka did.
“Subdeacon, how are you?” she asked after I identified myself.
“Good. I’m calling for Tasha, if I may speak to her.”
“Of course. But before I call her to the phone, I wanted to say ‘thank you’ for what you did.”
“You’re welcome, though I do need to apologize to Father Deacon Vasily for the tone I used with him.”
“The only one which would have worked. He was surprised by your resoluteness and the forceful way you presented yourself. I’m very glad you did.”
“Nevertheless, I do need to apologize. I’ll do that face-to-face as soon as I’m able to.”
“Mischa, if I may be familiar, please don’t show weakness now. I understand what you mean, but you did a very good thing for Tasha. Let me get her for you.”
Tasha came to the phone almost right away.
“Mishka!” she exclaimed. “How are you?”
“Good. And you?”
“Good. When can I come to see you?”
“That’s really up to you. This Saturday isn’t good because I have RA orientation. Any day next week would be fine, just remember I work weekdays from 6:00am to 3:00pm.”
“I don’t want to upset my dad too much, so perhaps the following Saturday, the 11th? I’ll drive up as early as possible, and if it’s OK, I’ll drive home that evening sometime after Vespers.”
“That’s fine. Please make sure that’s OK with your mom. Do whatever she says.”
“Is that a command?” Tasha asked.
“Let me guess, she said you should marry me!”
“Of course,” she laughed. “You know what happened with her and dad. But we discussed that, and we are not them.”
“No, we aren’t. We’ll make specific plans next Thursday, if that’s OK.”
“Yes, of course. What have you done this week?”
“Worked and gone to church. Nancy and her mom invited me for Memorial Day dinner and tomorrow I’m having dinner with Doctor Blahnik, my guitar teacher, and her boyfriend.”
“When do the students arrive?”
“Saturday. There’s no orientation for them because everyone is at least a Sophomore.”
“Have you spoken to Angie?”
“No. I’ll see her on Saturday.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
“Same here! I’ll talk to you next Thursday.”
“Great!”
We said ‘goodbye’ and I hung up, then picked up my guitar to practice. I practiced for a couple of hours, then walked to the local burger joint for dinner.
June 3, 1983, McKinley, Ohio
“Hi, Mike!” Doctor Blahnik said when she opened the door to the house. She gave me a light hug and invited me in.
“Hi,” I replied, following her into the house with my guitar and sheet music in hand.
“Hi, Mike!” Derek said, coming over to shake my hand.
“Hi, Mike!” Milena called out from the kitchen.
I shook Derek’s hand and said ‘hello’, then called ‘hello’ to Milena. I laughed softly when she AND Deb came out from the kitchen.
“Hi,” I grinned.
They both gave me chaste hugs, but both winked at me. I wondered exactly what it was that Milena had come up with, but her look told me she had an idea.
“Dinner is ready,” Milena said.
We all followed her into the dining room and sat down with Doctor Blahnik and Derek on the ends, and the two girls sitting across from me. I surveyed the table and was happy to see a very nice roast, vegetables, rolls, and salad. I helped myself to several slices of roast when it was passed. Pentecost was still more than three weeks away, and I was going to take full advantage of the festal period which followed Pascha!
“I hear you’re working over the Summer,” Derek said.
“Yes. I’m an RA for Summer semester, and I also work at the Quick Mart, which is owned by one of the men from church.
“I take it you’re putting yourself through school?”
“With some help from my parents and some grants, plus what I’ve saved, yes. I’ll need to borrow quite a bit for medical school, obviously.”
“Do you plan to be an RA your last year as well?”
I nodded, “I do. I’ll probably do next Summer and the Summer after that as well. My goal is to have enough saved that I don’t have to borrow living expenses my last two years of medical school when I’m doing my Clerkships and Sub-Internships.”
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December 1, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “You really object to Emmy and Clark being together because they’re from different races?!” I asked, completely taken aback. “I’m sorry,” Kimiko replied meekly. “I was trying to describe how Japanese felt about mixed-race children, especially those of black American soldiers and Japanese women. But it’s really any mixed-race children or relationships, because they are not pure Japanese.” “So if you and I were to marry, and have kids who were half-Japanese,...
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January 7, 1984, McKinley, Ohio “Thanks for the lift, White Boy!” Clark said as we got out of my Mustang. “Somebody had to drag your lazy black ass the last fifty miles, and I have sympathy for the mentally challenged,” I deadpanned. “Hey, Cracker, are you saying I’m dumb because I’m black?” “Not at all! You being dumb has absolutely nothing to do with the color of your skin!” “Fuck you, Honky!” “I love you too!” I grinned. We both laughed, shook hands, and with Clarissa following...
June 25, 1983, McKinley, Ohio I awoke to someone pounding on my door and calling my name. A quick glance at the clock showed it was 2:50am. I quickly got out of bed, pulled on shorts and a t-shirt and went to the door. I opened it to see a girl in a robe. “What’s up?” “Cecilia said to come get you. One of the girls is really sick!” “Did someone call for an ambulance?” I asked. “I don’t know.” “Call right now. Use my phone. Where are they?” “243!” I hurried down the hall into the...
December 16, 1983, McKinley, Ohio Exams had gone well, and Clarissa, Sandy, and I didn’t have a Friday exam because of our work in the lab only had an evaluation, which we’d each received earlier in the week. We’d all received excellent reviews, which meant an A for the course for each of us. Our stats exam had actually been a breeze, as had the biochemistry exam. The psychology exam was moderately tough, but I was sure I’d achieved at least a B, which meant I would have an A for the course....
March 30, 1984, McKinley, Ohio “Sorry about earlier,” she said. “My roommate was being a bitch.” “Something specific?” I asked. “She’s been on the rag ever since our second week here. Guy trouble. I guess she thought you were trying to use me.” “I can see why she would think that,” I replied. “You and I don’t know each other except basically by sight and name, I sang to you, and you came to my room.” “If I were totally clueless about life, I could see it. But I knew what was going on!...
MAGIC MEDICINE Christopher Halstead was at the end of his tether. He was only 50 years old but felt deep down in his soul that his useful life had come to an end. To understand why it is necessary to go back some twenty-five years. In 1992 Christopher married his childhood sweetheart Amy. He and Amy had grown up in adjacent houses; attended the same schools; and had had an unspoken 'understanding' from their teens. They only occasion they spent time apart was whilst they were at...
November 26, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio “So what did you say?” Clarissa asked after I relayed what Hannah had said. “I simply said I appreciated the offer, that I’d keep that in mind, then smiled and left the house.” “After Maggie gave you permission?” “I don’t need ‘permission’ from Maggie to do anything,” I protested. “And be serious, Lissa, do you think it’s a good idea?” Clarissa shrugged, “Is it all that different from Kristin? Or from Mindy and Emmy?” “That kind of thinking is a...
October 16, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “I started dating someone,” I said to Tasha as we relaxed in the whirlpool at Doctor Blahnik’s house. “You’re not cheating on her, are you Mikhail Petrovich?” “No. It’s not THAT serious, and it won’t be anytime soon, if it ever is. But I thought you should know because we promised complete truth and complete honesty. I don’t want any misunderstandings.” “May I ask about her?” “Her name is Kimiko Mei Takahasi. She’s from a small town called Oguni in...
July 23, 1983, McKinley, Ohio Just as I had when Nancy told me that her mom had put her on the Pill, I missed a shift due to being completely surprised by Maggie’s question. I recovered enough to find the correct gear, and willed my heart to stop beating rapidly. The silence was deafening, but I needed to think about how I could answer her question. I wasn’t sure I knew the answer, but saying that seemed lame in the extreme. Almost immediately, I realized that I really shouldn’t have been...
July 28, 1983, McKinley, Ohio On Thursday evening I was sitting in my room, practicing my guitar after having spoken with Tasha and confirmed our date for Sunday. Just after 9:00pm, there was a knock at the door. “It’s unlocked! Come in!” The door opened and Milena walked in, closing the door behind her. “Hey!” I replied. “What’s up?” “Got some time for me?” “Always. What can I do for you?” “Sing me a love song and then make love to me?” “Your wish is my command!” I grinned. “Come sit...
November 19, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio “You know I think you’ve made a terrible mistake and given Sasha bad advice, right?” Clarissa asked after we got into my Mustang for the drive to my parents’ house. “Obviously.” “Her life is going to be very, very difficult.” “And living with her conscience after what she would consider murder would be easy?” “It’s not murder, Mike,” Clarissa said firmly. “I know that’s what you believe, and I know that’s what the law says, but I also know what she’s...
March 15, 1984, Gettysburg and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania “You’re OK?” Clarissa asked when she and I got out of bed on Thursday morning. “Yes. Just kissing was fine, Lissa. Let’s get our showers and meet Jocelyn. We need to get on the road by 6:30am so we can be in Philadelphia by 10:00am.” We both quickly showered and dressed, then we met Jocelyn in the hotel lobby. We went across the street for breakfast, and from there, straight to the car so we could get on the road. We followed US 30,...
July 1, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “Are you OK?” Clarissa asked on Friday morning as we lay in bed together. “Why wouldn’t I be?” “You seemed a bit out of sorts last night. Did that kiss bother you?” I smiled, “Not the way you mean. It was just, well, to be blunt, fighting a reaction. And losing.” Clarissa laughed softly, “I know. I felt it when I spooned. I’m sorry.” “Don’t be. I liked the kiss. The other reaction is kind of involuntary. As I keep saying, testosterone knows NOTHING about...
July 5, 1983, McKinley, Ohio As I showered after karate, I wondered exactly what Angie had meant when she said that she’d changed, and what that meant for the future. Angie had told me that her counselor had advised against starting a relationship, so perhaps this was just Angie’s way of telling me that what Clarissa had suggested might be true — that Angie was playing the ‘long game’ and this was simply the next step. That made more sense than anything, but it also meant I needed to be...
April 8, 1984, McKinley, Ohio “Natalya Vasilyevna Antonova, please meet Larissa Sergeyevna Federova,” I said. I laughed as the two girls instantly switched to Russian and I had to focus to catch everything that was said. Clarissa smirked and rolled her eyes, and I just shrugged. The gist of the conversation was hometowns, parents, churches, majors, and to Tasha’s obvious shock, Lara’s age. “Perhaps we should switch to English so Sveta isn’t left out,” Tasha said in English. “Mike looked...
June 18, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “Becky, this is my friend Milena; Milena, Becky.” “Hi!” Milena said. “I hope I’m not intruding.” “Hi,” Becky replied. “You aren’t. Mike told me you were going to hang out with us tonight.” “Do you drink wine?” Becky laughed, “My pastor would have a cow, but he’s not here!” Milena laughed, “And shacking up with Mike, THAT would be OK?” “Well, no!” Becky laughed, blushing slightly. Milena uncorked the bottle of wine while I got three glasses from the...
August 28, 1983, McKinley, Ohio When I got up on Sunday morning, I showered and dressed, and then Kristin and I left my room and I found a note from Angie on the corkboard next to my door. It said she was getting a ride to church from the same woman who had picked her up the previous night and I shouldn’t wait for her. I shrugged, locked the door, and gave Kristin a quick kiss. She headed down the hall towards her room and I walked over to the elevators and pushed the ‘Down’ button. An...
February 25, 1984, Rutherford, Ohio “Hi!” Emmy gushed when she opened the door for Clarissa and me on Saturday morning. “Thanks for letting Clarissa hang out here while I take care of this for Liz.” “You’re doing the right thing, Mike. I have to go to work in a few minutes, but Clarissa can buzz you in when you come back, and then if you just lock the door when you leave and bring the key to Lou’s everything will be cool.” “You’re a sweetheart, Emmy Nelson!” “I know!” she giggled,...
August 27, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio “Tasha,” I said gently, “you made me promise to keep you pure until we were married, or at least betrothed, no matter what you said! In other words, you made me promise not to do it even if you changed your mind! And I made that promise!” “I can’t change my mind?” “You were very clear that I was responsible for you NOT doing that.” “But isn’t that up to me?” I nodded, “As an adult, in charge of her own decisions, it is. But you extracted that promise...
October 14, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “I’m worried about Angie,” I said as Clarissa, Melody, and I made our way back to the dorm from the Chancellor’s office. “I know you told the detective that you have no idea where she might be, but do you have ANY thoughts?” Melody asked. I shook my head, “If she wasn’t with her friend and she wasn’t at church, and her counselor hadn’t heard from her, then no, honestly, I have no idea. I mean, she could have gone home, but I’m sure someone called there to...
December 21, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” I said. “Afraid you’ll lose?” Violet asked. No, I thought, I wasn’t afraid of losing at all. In fact, I was sure that win or lose, I’d win, from a certain perspective. “No, that’s not it...” I started. “Then let’s play!” “Are you sure?” She nodded, “I can’t think of a more fun way to celebrate my birthday!” I could, and I was sure that what I was thinking was exactly what she was thinking, and she was just...
January 8, 1984, McKinley, Ohio “Is it always like that in the morning?” Clarissa asked. “Pretty often, but it doesn’t have the urgency, if you will, and it goes away pretty quickly once I get out of bed.” “Do you have ANY control over it?” “Limited,” I chuckled. “It pretty much has a mind of its own.” “That has to be difficult.” “Think standing in the altar, wearing acolytes’ vestments and seeing Tasha walk into church in a sundress.” Clarissa laughed softly, “She is gorgeous!” “And...
May 6, 1984, Rutherford, Ohio “I’m curious,” Clarissa asked quietly, “but what about a patronymic in this case?” “Sasha hasn’t said,” Tasha replied. “Technically, it would be some form of Timothy, because Timmy Aston is the baby’s father, but I don’t think she’ll do that. She really could pick anything.” “What happened with the baby’s father?” Clarissa asked. “My dad, Timmy’s dad, and two attorneys worked out the deal. Timmy’s going to college and really can’t afford to pay child support,...
June 5, 1983, McKinley, Ohio My alarm rang on Sunday morning and when I reached over to shut it off, Milena groaned softly, stretched, and turned to face me, her glorious breasts rubbing against my chest. “Hi,” she said sheepishly. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing! That’s just it. Nothing is wrong. I slept, naked, with a guy and literally nothing happened except a ‘good night’ kiss and spooning.” “And you think something should have happened?” She kissed my nose, “No, not at all. I mean, we can...
September 3, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio Tasha was very quiet on the drive home from Jackson Lake, and I wasn’t sure what to say to her, so I stayed quiet as well. When we arrived at my house, we exchanged a perfunctory kiss. “Are you OK?” I asked. “Yes,” she replied. “I’ll see you tomorrow at church.” I got out of the Volvo and went into the house. I said ‘hello’ to my parents, then asked Clarissa to sit on the patio and talk with me. We went to the kitchen, got glasses of lemonade, then...
September 5, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio “Now that you’ve had time to sleep on it, have you had any new thoughts?” Clarissa asked as we walked along the road from my house towards ‘downtown’ West Monroe on Monday morning. “Should I have new thoughts?” I asked. “Let me put it this way — if you’re going to change your mind, do it NOW, today. If she shows up in McKinley expecting two passion-filled nights and you back out, it’s going to be VERY ugly.” “Why would I back out? You and Liz made very...
December 17, 1983, Rutherford, Ohio After Vespers, Clarissa, Jocelyn, Tasha, and I went to Lou’s diner in Rutherford for dinner. “Is this Mike’s nightmare?” Jocelyn teased. “Or Mike’s ultimate fantasy?” “The three of you would be a nightmare,” I said flatly. “It’s bad enough to have ONE woman telling me what to do! But three? Kill me now!” The girls all laughed. “He knows women are in charge,” Tasha said primly. “Even the bishops cower in the corner if the women of the church are...
January 5, 1984, Columbus, Ohio “Master, Bless!” I said to Vladyka ARKADY when he greeted me in his office. “The Lord bless you, Subdeacon Michael,” he said as I kissed his hand. “Anthony, would you please bring the tea?” “Right away, Vladyka,” Subdeacon Anthony said. “Sit, Subdeacon. We’ll use the comfortable chairs so we can have a quiet chat.” I sat in one of the very comfortable wingback chairs and the bishop sat in a second chair which was very close. Subdeacon Anthony brought in a...
January 14, 1984, Loveland, Ohio On Saturday morning, after breakfast, I’d said goodbye to Clarissa and gotten in my car for the drive to Loveland. The ninety minutes in the car gave me my first real time alone since returning to campus. Clarissa was doing OK, and I’d managed to spend a few hours over the course of the week with Sophia, and had a chance to be the octopus for Kimiko. It was an interesting dynamic, because Kimiko and I hadn’t been going out as a couple, so to outsiders, it...
April 5, 1984, McKinley, Ohio Students from all over campus came up to shake my hand, pat my back, or offer thanks. When Clarissa and I, and our close friends, left the auditorium we were confronted by Reverend Saddler. “I’ve never seen a more disgusting performance by an alleged clergyman in my life!” he declared. I shrugged, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you’.” “That is...
July 4, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “It’s OK to flirt with Maggie when your sister and the girls arrive.” We were in the kitchen packing a picnic basket for a day at Milton Lake with Liz, Maggie, Emmy, and Mindy. Milena, Deb, Blaine, and Royce would join us as well. “Maggie and I don’t really flirt,” I replied. “It’s more like trying to agree on terms.” “Of surrender?” Clarissa laughed. “Of her virginity?” I laughed, “Those terms are well-known and agreed — engagement ring, wedding ring,...
July 22, 1983, McKinley, Ohio It took me a minute before I could think straight, and another minute to formulate a semi-coherent response. “Angie, I can’t make the commitment necessary to do that,” I replied gently. “I know, and I’m not asking for one. I just think it’s the only way forward.” It was obvious that she felt, based on everything that had happened, she had to prove to me that she COULD have sex. But I wondered if it was more than that. As I quickly thought about it, I was SURE...
October 11, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “So what are you thinking?” Clarissa asked as she and I sat together on my couch after lunch on Tuesday. “I’m thinking you and Glenda are conspiring, that’s what I’m thinking!” “Kimiko?” “Kimiko.” “All I did was talk to her about you, Petrovich. I didn’t make ANY suggestions. And while we were talking, she asked about the other girls she knew you saw from time to time. At this point, it really is only Tasha, because Maggie is in what amounts to solitary...
December 3, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “What can I do to help?” Clarissa asked as we walked into the church. “Check the answering machine, please. It’s in the church office. Just write down any messages on the pad next to the machine. If the phone rings, please answer with the name of the parish. You can answer the two most likely questions — yes, we’re having Vespers tonight, and that Father Deacon Grigory is undergoing bypass surgery at University Hospital. Anything else, other than something...