Good Medicine Junior YearChapter 65 Developing A Relationship
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October 28, 1983, McKinley, Ohio
“You look cute in a skirt, Mike,” Melody teased.
“It’s a «袴» (hakama)!” Kimiko protested.
“Ignore Melody,” I chuckled. “And besides, the vestments I wear in church are very much like a dress, and so is my cassock! In fact, I’m wearing my cassock underneath this outfit to protect the Japanese clothes from skin oils, because we didn’t have a complete kimono available.”
“Where did you get the outfit for Mike, Kimiko?” Sandy asked.
“The hakama, or what Melody called the ‘skirt’, came from a martial arts store that sells uniforms for kendo and aikido. It’s not truly Japanese, in that it was made here, and mass-produced, but it serves the purpose.”
“And the top?”
“The «法被» (happi)? From the same place, as it’s worn in formal situations if the person can’t get an authentic kimono from Japan. The sword came from a costume shop. It’s a replica of a Civil War sword, because I couldn’t find a proper replica samurai sword!”
“And your outfit?” Melody asked.
“It’s a «小紋» (komon), which is a casual kimono to be worn around town. The only other one I have is very formal, and would be worn at a tea ceremony. It’s VERY difficult to put on, and VERY difficult to move in, and VERY difficult to clean! If I were a few years older, I would have a «振袖» (furisode), which signifies that I am single and of age, and available for marriage proposals.”
“You’re eighteen, though, right?”
“Yes, but traditionally, in modern Japan, girls get them at twenty. My father is very traditional, so we follow the Japanese custom.”
“I can’t believe you got Mike to dye his hair!” Sophia laughed.
I chuckled, “All she had to do was remind me of You Only Live Twice and I agreed. It’s theatrical dye I got from Deb. It’ll wash out in the shower with hot water. I didn’t go for dyeing my skin or rubber prosthetics to make me less of a ‘round eye’!”
“That’s a rude word,” Kimiko said. “You would never call me a ‘slant eye’!”
“No, of course not, but they made a point of that in the movie, which is why I said it. I think your eyes are beautiful!”
Sandy, Clarissa, Marie, Jeannette, Sophia, Kristin, and Melody all made fake gagging sounds or coughed or did something else to tease me.
“Laying it on pretty thick!” Sophia laughed.
“He was just being sweet,” Kimiko replied.
“Boy, does he have HER fooled!” Robby teased, laughing.
“Yeah, yeah,” I deadpanned. “You guys are a barrel of laughs! Though I have to say, Robby and Lee as cheerleaders in short-shorts, skirts, and sweaters are a sight to behold!”
“Did you guys see Jason and Fran?” Pete asked.
“A priest and a naughty nun?” Sandy laughed. “I thought those two were WAY too straitlaced for that!”
“Kind of the opposite of Melody,” Jeannette laughed. “She’s the mousey librarian, well, with massive cleavage!”
“Sophia,” Melody asked, “where did you get the football helmet, pads, and uniform?”
“They belonged to my older brother when he played Pop Warner,” she replied. “Once I decided on this costume, Lee had the idea for the cheerleader costumes. Clarissa, where did you get your outfits?”
“A costume shop in Columbus. Glenda and I went looking and when we saw the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’ outfit we asked about a ‘Good Witch of the South’ outfit and here we are!”
“How did you decide who would be Glinda and who would be the Wicked Witch?” Sophia asked with a smirk.
Glenda cackled, “Everyone knows I’m the wicked one!”
“Any idea what Milena is wearing?” Clarissa asked.
“She’s coming as Jeannie and Joel is coming as Major Nelson!” I replied.
“Yes, but does she show her belly button?” Melody asked. “The network wouldn’t let Barbara Eden show hers!”
“Idiots,” Marie, who was wearing a Cincinnati Reds #14 Pete Rose replica uniform, declared.
“Hey, they banned The Outlaw in Cincinnati because it showed Jane Russell’s cleavage!” Melody added.
“Prudes; all of them!” Jeannette, who was dressed as a VERY naughty nurse, stated firmly.
We arrived at Milena’s house and the party was just getting into swing. Milena was looking VERY sexy indeed in her ‘Jeannie’ outfit, and Joel looked quite handsome in his Air Force uniform. Her friend Deb was dressed as a 50s ‘bobbysoxer’, complete with poodle skirt, saddle shoes, and a ponytail.
“Shall I kick off my shoes?” Deb asked as she greeted me.
“I don’t have a pink carnation nor do I drive a pickup truck, but I think I can dance with you!”
“That’s a great song,” she said. “Have you ever tried to figure out all the references?”
“I have, but I’m not so sure of my interpretations. I read once that Don McLean refused to provide any hints, except to acknowledge that ‘The Day the Music Died’ refers to the deaths of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper in the plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa.”
“That one I knew!”
“But did you know Waylon Jennings was supposed to be on the flight, but gave up his seat to The Big Bopper, because The Big Bopper was ill? And Valens won a coin toss for the third seat.”
“Wow. No, I hadn’t heard that. I don’t think he won.”
“I’d say not. And if you want something really spooky, there’s a story Waylon Jennings tells, that when Holly found out Waylon had given up his seat, Holly made a joke about the terrible condition of the buses they were using by telling Jennings ‘Well, I hope your old bus freezes up.’ Jennings responded ‘Well, I hope your old plane crashes’.”
“Holy shit! What a thing to have to live with.”
“No kidding! Anyway. I think I’m going to get the sheet music for that song. I know the lyrics by heart.”
The gang went into the house and I saw a wide variety of costumes, including the traditional witches, skeletons, and ghosts, to a couple who were dressed as Luke and Leia from Star Wars.
“They have the incest fantasy thing going on there!” Clarissa whispered.
“Gross, Lissa!” I replied, under my breath.
I took Kimiko to the great room and we had our first dance, then went to get something to drink and circulate. The evening was a blast, and included everything from bobbing for apples to a costume contest, which to nobody’s surprise, Milena and Joel won. I had the chance to dance with most of the girls, and Milena and I sang a couple of duets, with the party finally beginning to wind down around 1:00am.
“I need to get back,” I said to Milena. “I have to be up for my 5:00am shift in the lab, and I need at least a few hours of sleep!”
“See you Sunday?” she asked.
“Sure.”
We hugged, then Kimiko and I left the party, accompanied by Clarissa and Glenda. Kimiko and I bade the other two ‘goodnight’ and she came into my room with me to help remove the Japanese-style clothing, and ensure it was folded properly. I was wearing my cassock underneath, so removing the makeshift kimono didn’t leave me naked.
“Thanks,” I said. “I need a shower to rinse this dye out of my hair, then I’m going to say my prayers and get some sleep.”
“Would you like some help washing your hair?” she asked quietly.
“I would,” I said gently, “but if you stay to help, I won’t get any sleep at all.”
“You’re still unsure?” she asked.
I took her in my arms and looked into her eyes, “I’m completely sure, but this isn’t the night.”
Kimiko nodded and we exchanged our three usual soft kisses. She gathered the clothing and left the room. I quickly stripped off my cassock and underwear, showered with very hot water and lots of shampoo to remove the theatrical dye, dried off, said my prayers, and climbed into bed.
October 29, 1983, McKinley, Ohio
I’d foolishly agreed to do the Saturday-morning checks at the lab so one of the grad students could go home for the weekend. On the plus side, it was $20 in my pocket, which helped make up for the expensive sushi dinner. But that meant I had to be up early the morning after the party, and the ringing alarm was like a klaxon horn inside my head.
I groaned, reached over, and roughly smacked the snooze button. I slowly sat up, stretched, yawned, and then reached over and properly turned off the alarm. I got out of bed, took a cold shower which jolted me completely awake, dried off, dressed, and said my morning prayers. I grabbed an apple from the bowl on top of the fridge, and munched it on the way to the lab where, before I did anything else, I turned on the coffeemaker.
Bleary-eyed, I began my tasks, keeping one eye on the coffee. As soon as the pot was brewed, I poured myself a cup, sipped some of the steaming liquid, then refilled the cup. I didn’t think the caffeine would prevent me from taking a nap because I was so tired.
At 6:00am, I downed the last of my coffee, handed in my work to the grad student, and then headed back to the dorm. When I arrived, I kicked off my shoes, then stripped off my pants, shirt, and socks, set the alarm for five minutes before we were supposed to meet for breakfast, climbed into bed and quickly fell asleep.
When the alarm rang at 8:05am, I felt much better than I had when it had gone off at 4:35am, reached over, turned it off, then got out of bed. I quickly dressed, gargled with some mouthwash, then went out into the hallway. Only Clarissa and Kimiko were there, so the three of us headed to the cafeteria for breakfast.
“I wonder what time they all got in?” I said.
“I saw Fran this morning and she said around 3:00am,” Clarissa replied. “She was up and not feeling very well.”
“You don’t think...” I asked.
“You know, I hadn’t even thought about that, but I think it was just how much she drank last night. I can’t imagine Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver making that mistake!”
“I wonder if she ever went on the Pill?” I said. “Back during Freshman year she made a comment about Midol taking care of her monthly discomfort.”
“No clue,” Clarissa said. “I told you they put me, the lesbian, on the Pill to regulate my cycle!”
“I was surprised at how easy it was to get birth control pills here,” Kimiko said. “They’re illegal in Japan.”
“What the fuck?!” Clarissa gasped. “Uh, sorry, Kimiko. I was just surprised.”
Kimiko smiled, “I’ve heard that word a few times, though it’s not one I would use.”
“You’re serious about the Pill being illegal in Japan?”
“For birth control? Yes. You can get it if you have serious troubles with your monthly cycle, but it’s the one with the very high dose. Prescribing it for birth control is completely illegal. I think it was illegal in some places in the US until the 1970s.”
“I remember hearing that from Melody,” I said. “It took two Supreme Court cases to solve that, first for married women, then about seven years later for unmarried ones.”
“Do they have a reason why it’s illegal?” Clarissa asked.
“The problem with blood clots and the fear people would stop using sheaths which would spread diseases, though mostly that is a concern around American military bases.”
I chuckled, “I bet!”
“I know why you laugh, but it’s no laughing matter in Japan. American soldiers are not known to be nice, and they make use of prostitutes. In Japan, it is only illegal to sell intercourse, but around the military bases, it’s only enforced if there are other troubles such as drunkenness or fighting. Sadly, there are rapes which occur, too.”
“Uhm, not to be indelicate, but ONLY intercourse is illegal?” Clarissa asked.
“Yes. The law is very specific. Similarly, the age of consent is technically eighteen, but that is only for intercourse, and anything else may be done once a girl or boy turn thirteen. And even intercourse is permitted if the parents give their blessing for a proper romantic relationship. Sex is not so taboo in Japan as it is in the United States.”
I was somewhat amazed at how open Kimiko was on the topic of sex, despite having seemed so reserved. Her last comment, though, along with the fact that she was becoming more comfortable with both Clarissa and me certainly explained it.
“It really depends on who you ask,” I said. “There’s a very wide variation of opinion here in the US. It’s not so, uhm, insular.”
“I don’t know that word,” Kimiko replied as we walked into the cafeteria.
“It means reflecting a narrow, communal view, and comes from the same root as ‘island’, which actually applies, now that I think about it.”
“You mean the very consistent Japanese culture, as opposed to the more chaotic nature of the US?”
“Yes,” I replied. “Though I’d use that term to describe where I live as well — it’s insular and everyone is expected to conform. I think the bigger the city, the more likely you are to have a visible counter-culture. I’m sure it exists in Harding County, it’s just not public. But I think, too, you mentioned things are different in your city from how they are in Tokyo.”
“You mean what I said about it being much more conservative and traditional where I live?”
“Yes. Which matches the difference between Harding County and New York City, for example.”
“I think that difference is actually much bigger,” Kimiko observed.
We got our food and sat down at a table to eat. As usual, I said my silent prayer and Kimiko whispered her Japanese one.
“You think the differences between Harding County and New York City are bigger than those between Tokyo and Oguni?” I asked.
“Yes, because the basic parts of Japanese culture are still practiced in the big cities, there is just more variation. I think where you live and San Francisco, for example, are two completely different cultures.”
I nodded, “I can see why you would say that, and now that I think about it, I would tend to agree.”
“Did you guys enjoy the party last night?” Clarissa asked.
“Other than lack of sleep, yes,” I replied.
“Me, too,” Kimiko said, “but I got more sleep than Mike!”
“So did I; Glenda’s still sleeping.”
“Wore her out, did you?” I asked with a smirk.
“You do realize it’s not an athletic competition between us, right?”
“No, actually, I don’t,” I smirked. “I think I’d need to observe to know for sure. You know, purely for medical research purposes.”
“Michael!” Kimiko said sharply. “That’s rude!”
“Just ignore him when he acts like a pig,” Clarissa laughed. “He doesn’t ACTUALLY mean it.”
I was tempted to reply, ‘Says you!’ but decided Clarissa’s defense of me for Kimiko was probably for the best.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” I said.
“Me? It’s Clarissa who should be offended!”
Clarissa smiled, “I’m used to him teasing me at this point. I tease him as well. I take it this kind of teasing isn’t common in Japan?”
“Not in public, except perhaps when a boy asks a girl’s father for permission to marry her. Her father will usually say it is up to her, and then it’s traditional for her to torment him for a time before she agrees.”
“At that point, would a girl disagree?” I asked.
Kimiko nodded, “Yes. Sometimes if two families wish to conclude a union, a boy may ask to marry a girl without what you would call dating. If she’s not interested, she insults him and tells him ‘no’. I have seen it happen one time, with an older friend whose father wished to make a business deal with someone who was much wealthier and had a much higher social station.”
“He offered his daughter?” Clarissa asked.
“No, not really. He simply said he would not object if she agreed, and gave permission for the boy to ask. But my friend already had a boyfriend and she wasn’t interested, even though the other boy was much wealthier and more socially respected.”
“Is that common?”
“More in the wealthiest of families, but I think that’s true here, and even more true in England. It’s not exactly arranged, but the wealthy kids or aristocratic kids are put together with the hopes they will marry at their station.”
“She has an answer for everything,” Clarissa said with a gentle smile. “I think we may be blind to our own culture. She has the advantage of seeing ours from the outside, plus being able to compare directly. Maybe medical school in Europe isn’t a bad idea!”
“Except that increases the difficulty of getting into a good Residency program here even more; and if we were to do our Residency overseas, getting licensed here would be much more difficult.”
“Bummer. Glenda has lots of great stories from her travel around Europe by train.”
“When did she do that?” Kimiko asked.
“Over the Summer. I was hoping to be able to do it before medical school, but I wouldn’t want to go alone and Mike is constrained by finances.”
“Your parents didn’t stop paying for your school?”
“Surprisingly, no,” Clarissa replied. “I was prepared to take out student loans to cover what my scholarships and grants don’t cover, but my parents sent me the usual amount.”
“But told you not to come home?”
“That’s true. I guess we’ll see what happens when I get my tuition bill for the Spring. I’ll have the loan paperwork filled out and ready to go if I need it. The school can process it quickly because of the circumstances.”
“And medical school?”
“Same as Mike — I’ll borrow what I need for tuition. I have money I saved, plus some from my grandfather’s will, which will cover my living expenses. I haven’t touched that for the same reason Mike works and saves — there’s basically no way to work during the last two years of medical school. Well, you COULD, but I think you’d be dead of exhaustion, not to mention having no time to study.”
January 20, 1984, McKinley, Ohio “I actually think that might be a good idea,” Doctor Mercer said when we spoke on Friday afternoon. “What kind of time limits would you suggest?” “I think I’d like to wait until I see you on the 11th. I’ll see Angie a dozen times by then, and I’ll have a better idea what to tell you.” “How is she?” “I know it might not have seemed like it, but it lifted her spirits and made her very happy.” “That’s good to hear. I take it there were no ill effects from...
January 1, 1984, McKinley, Ohio Chloe melted into my arms and molded her body against mine and we began swaying to All Out of Love. I very much enjoyed the full-body contact, but something just felt different. I realized that I, too, had been enthralled by our duet, but it had worn off. I wondered if that was true for Chloe as well. If it had, then she wouldn’t ask; if it hadn’t, and she did, I’d promised to say ‘yes’. And truth be told, I knew I wanted to feel the body which was currently...
March 20, 1984, Rutherford, Ohio I arrived at the halfway house in Rutherford just after 2:30pm on Tuesday afternoon wearing my cassock to keep up appearances. I was shown into Mr. Gilbert’s office. He offered coffee which I accepted and we sat down in a pair of chairs next to his desk. “Is everything OK?” I asked. “Yes, it is. I just wanted a word with you so I could thank you for the help you’ve given Paul Reynolds. I started doing this six years ago when I retired from GE, and we’ve...
June 9, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “Unbelievable,” Milena sighed as she snuggled close. We were sitting very close together in bed, leaning against pillows which were against the wall, the sheet pulled up only to our thighs, and wine glasses in our hands. “What?” I asked. “That something so gentle and so slow could make me feel better than a night of crazy sex.” “Isn’t that what happened with Joel?” I asked. “You told me that mostly it was just making love then talking for hours.” “But we’re...
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September 27, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “That was not what I expected, AT ALL!” I said when Robby, Lee, Angie and I left for karate on Tuesday afternoon. “Two kilos is distribution amounts,” Robby said. “Forget expulsion, he’s going to do some serious jail time unless he has a good lawyer who can arrange for him to cop a plea.” “The funny thing is,” Lee said, “he had such a rep as a partier, I wouldn’t be shocked if that was his personal stash!” “Oh, come on!” Robby exclaimed. “Do you realize...
September 3, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio “So now what?” she asked after about ten minutes of silence. A lot had run through my mind in those ten minutes. Jocelyn and I were two very different people, and I wondered if ‘Jos’ and ‘Mik’ actually still existed, or if they, too, had died as a direct result of that accident. And if they had, then what? Was there ANYTHING which could be salvaged from the past? Was Jocelyn even capable of having that kind of friendship? Her psyche was a complete mess,...
January 4, 1984, Rutherford, Ohio “How was New Year’s in Indianapolis?” I asked Dale when we sat down with our food at A&W. “Clara and I broke up,” he replied. “Whoa!” Jocelyn gasped. “What happened?” “It was building for the past few months,” Dale replied. “I’m not ready to be tied down as far as she wanted to tie me down.” “I don’t know,” I smirked, “I hear that can be fun!” Dale nodded, “Oh, it can!” Clarissa and I laughed and Jocelyn rolled her eyes as she had done so often...
November 13, 1983, McKinley Ohio Kimiko had spent the night with me on Saturday, and Clarissa joined the two of us to go to church. The previous night, when Clarissa had spoken my thoughts, we’d simply hugged, she’d kissed my cheek, and left, letting Kimiko know I was waiting for her. The previous twenty-four hours had been almost surreal, but also clarifying. But it wasn’t over just yet — I had my date with Tasha, which I felt was going to be equally enlightening. Kimiko hadn’t said...
September 16, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “Are you sure, Tasha?” I asked. “I’ve never done that and I’m not sure I know how.” “The book said some people enjoy it while others don’t. Will you try?” “I think I read the same book,” I replied. “The Joy of Sex?” “Yes, that was the book. So you know how it’s supposed to work?” “Mechanically, yes, but Tasha...” “Mishka,” she said gently. “You are my first lover, and the one I want to experience everything with. I’ve told you that for a long...
May 28, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio Later that morning, I stared at the phone, trying to decide exactly what I was going to say to Janey. My problem was, that even asking her to have lunch was fraught with problems. If we were seen together, AND it got back to Tasha, or worse, Deacon Vasily, that would be the end of any possible relationship with Tasha. And the more I thought about it, the more convinced I was that I didn’t want to do that. That said, I didn’t want to have the conversation with...
November 22, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio I’d expected an immediate reaction but for a good thirty seconds, you could have heard a pin drop in the sitting room. The silence quickly grew oppressive and suffocating. I carefully watched Deacon Vasily’s face and specifically his eyes, and waited for the eruption which was bubbling just below the surface, but his wife beat him to it. “Sasha,” she asked softly, a tear running down her cheek, “are you sure?” “Yes, Mom, I’m sure.” “How did this...
September 30, 1983, McKinley, Ohio Since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind. Well, perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration, but compared to other first kisses, this one was certainly memorable — a soft touching of lips, a light hug with Kimiko’s small, silk-covered breasts brushing lightly against me, and her hand lightly on my back. Kimiko broke the kiss, looked me in the eyes, and whispered,...
December 31, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “Mike!” Milena gushed when Clarissa, Tasha, and I walked into her mom’s house. “How’s the blushing bride?” I asked. “I don’t think Milena has blushed since she was twelve!” Doctor Blahnik teased. “Hi, Mike! Hi, Tasha! Hi, Clarissa!” “Hi! Milena, where’s your intended?” I asked. “His friends have custody of him until the wedding starts at 8:00pm! But the rule was he had to be sober, able to stand on his own, and have no injuries!” I chuckled, “So much...
May 29, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio “What happened yesterday?” Mom asked when I came downstairs on Sunday morning. “What do you mean?” “You and Tasha.” I shrugged, “I might have decided I’d had enough of Deacon Vasily and went to Tasha’s house and announced we were going to Grant Park and that I’d have her to church for Vespers, and then after Vespers, announced we were going to Pizza Inn for dinner.” “What’s the real story?” Mom asked with a knowing smile. “That’s the real story. Tasha...
April 27, 1984, McKinley, Ohio “I think I’ve finally recovered,” I said as Lara and I headed to the movies on Friday evening. “Sleep?” “And gorging myself on rich foods which I hadn’t eaten for two months! My body was totally out of whack. But I wouldn’t trade Lent and Holy Week for anything.” “You’re sure you’re OK with seeing Racing with the Moon?” “It’s what you chose, so yes. If I didn’t want to see something, I wouldn’t have said ‘pick whatever you want’!” “Is your sister still...
December 17, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio As soon as we started kissing, Hannah started tugging at my clothes, pulling my polo shirt from my jeans. We broke the kiss and she pulled my shirt over my head and reached for my belt. Less than a minute later she had me naked. “Wow!” she gasped. “It’s huge! And you can fit it in me?” “Yes,” I replied with a grin. “If you want.” “I want!” “I think you’re wearing too many clothes!” Hannah laughed and began quickly removing her clothes — sweater,...
February 19, 1984, Cincinnati, Ohio “Hi, Mike!” Anna exclaimed when she opened the door to her parents’ house. “Hi.” “Come on in. You remember Kyle, I’m sure!” “I do,” I replied, then set my bag down and knelt on the floor. “Hi, Kyle!” “Hi!” I held out my hand and he put out his little hand and we shook, then I stood up. “This is my sister, Gina.” “Hi,” I said. “Not quite the greeting he gives Steve, is it?” Gina said. “I miss Steve!” Kyle declared. “The guy from Milford I was...
October 27, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio “How did your clandestine tryst go?” Mom asked with a smile when she arrived home. “OK. Maggie is suffering under pretty harsh restrictions; in a way, they’re even worse than the ones you imposed on Liz, and Maggie didn’t really do anything other than go to church with me, read some Orthodox books, and say some Orthodox prayers. I mean, I could at least understand somewhat if she and I had fooled around, but we didn’t.” “And you think her dad knows that?...
January 5, 1984, Milford, Ohio “Should I lie on the couch?” I asked with a silly grin. “If you feel more comfortable. Some people do better face to face, some do better when they can’t see the therapist, others prefer side-by-side. You’ll learn that for what you’ll call your ‘bedside manner’, no two patients will respond the same way. You and one other young man who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty, just want straight shooting, no mincing words. Others need enough embroidery to...
February 11, 1984, West Monroe, Ohio After I left Doctor Mercer’s office, I stopped at a deli on Route 50 in Milford, bought a cup of coffee and a bagel, and then headed towards West Monroe. I was still chuckling to myself over the revelation that Emmy had told all of my sister’s friends about my measurements, and apparently my prowess, and that had led to Mindy’s full-court press, as well as attention from the other girls, which, until they turned sixteen, had been a bit of flirting, but...
April 2, 1984, McKinley, Ohio “«Ты говоришь по-русски?»” I asked when I recovered from the double shock. “«Удивлены»?” “I don’t think surprised even scratches the surface!” I replied in English, not wanting to give up any nuances of my speech. “What’s your full name?” “Larissa Sergeyevna Federova. I was named for ‘Lara’ in Doctor Zhivago, but I go by Laura Sera Bragg. My parents divorced when I was little and both remarried. My mom changed her and my legal name to Bragg, which is my...
June 3, 1983, McKinley, Ohio “You’re serious?” Milena asked, incredulous. “I am; you figured it out, and this is the talk we SHOULD have had.” She shook her head, “Now you have ME thinking about whether we should do this or not.” “Which was my entire point.” “Not to interrupt this moment of clarity,” Deb said quietly, “but is that invitation open?” I chuckled, “I’ll leave the answer to that to the pianist. Her opinion may have changed.” Milena sighed, “How the hell did a twenty-year...
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,...
August 7, 1983, McKinley, Ohio The phone in my room rang late Sunday afternoon while Milena and I were relaxing and listening to music. “Hi, Mikey!” “Hi, Liz! What’s up?” “Guess whose parents came home WAY earlier than expected? Three guesses, and the first two don’t count!” “«Говно». Maggie’s.” “Right the first time.” “And?” “Grounded for two centuries, I think.” “Wonderful,” I sighed. “It’s worse, Mikey.” “How could it be worse?” “Her dad found the books you gave her and the...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...