Good Medicine Senior YearChapter 36 End of the Semester
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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. The exam in computer science had been over concepts, not programming, and I was confident I’d scored well enough to have an A for the semester, as I’d had perfect scores on every programming assignment thanks to Kristin’s assistance.
“What time are you leaving, Sandy?” I asked when she came into my room about 9:30am.
“As soon as my dad gets here, which should be in the next twenty minutes. You?”
“After Kimiko’s parents pick her up, which will be about 2:00pm. She’s at her last exam right now — chemistry. Clark’s exam should done by then as well.”
“It sure doesn’t seem like two years since we took that first chemistry class!”
“No kidding,” Clarissa said. “Time seems to be flying by. We’re only about six months from taking the MCAT!”
“Next semester is going to be tough,” I said. “Three core science courses — biochem, physics, and molecular bio.”
“True, but world religions should be a cinch for you,” Sandy said. “You have the right mindset for it. And if you don’t get an A in Milena’s music survey class, something has gone horribly wrong with the world!”
“You realize she’s going to be tougher on me than anyone, just to prove there’s no favoritism, right?” I asked.
“You know more about music than anyone I know who isn’t a music major.”
I chuckled, “And if the course were ‘History of Rock & Roll’ instead of ‘Music & Society from Greece to Grease’ that would make a huge difference.”
Clarissa laughed, “I can’t believe she got away with that name!”
“Her mom is her department head, and the Dean of the Arts College is pretty cool.”
“How is that not nepotism?” Sandy asked.
“Because Milena’s PhD advisor is the Dean,” I said. “They worked that out so she could study here. Usually, Doctor Blahnik would be the advisor for someone focusing on music theory and instruction.”
“We’ll have two Doctor Blahniks?”
“Thoroughly Modern Milena is not only taking Joel’s name, but will use it for her doctorate. So she’ll be Doctor Greene. She’s a romantic at heart, and that’s why; but from a practical standpoint, it makes sense because it’ll prevent confusion.”
“And there is NO WAY she’ll be tough on you, Petrovich! That girl loves you more than anyone except her intended.”
“Which is exactly why she’ll do it,” I replied.
“He’s right,” Sandy said. “But I think it’s more because she’ll have higher expectations from him than anyone else in the class. There are NO music majors in this class; they aren’t allowed to sign up for a survey course like this one. Did the others sign up?”
“Yes,” Clarissa said. “Pete, Jason, Fran, and Melody. They all begged off on world religions and are taking a literature course instead.”
“Ugh,” Sandy said. “I had enough of that in High School. I was ready to hold my own personal book burning after Junior year — The Scarlet Letter, As I Lay Dying, The Great Gatsby, Ethan Frome, and Wuthering Heights. I didn’t mind Shakespeare Freshman year, but it went downhill from there!”
“I liked A Tale of Two Cities,” I said. “And Shakespeare. I wasn’t thrilled with the books you mentioned either, but they weren’t bad. I liked Moby Dick, too. Mom had me read Pushkin and Tolstoy in Russian, which made my head hurt, but it was worth it.”
“Your Russian was good enough to do that?”
“Mostly. I more or less quit using it around sixth grade because I was hanging out with so many people outside of church, and many of the younger kids at church didn’t speak it at all. Tasha’s family was an aberration. And Sasha would rather speak English.”
“How is she doing?” Clarissa asked.
“She’s fine, and her mom is acting true to form, and will be the insanely doting Russian grandmother. Her dad is, well, being himself, too. He’s grudgingly accepted that Sasha won’t marry the guy and he loves her enough to not act completely stupidly. Sasha is due after school lets out in May, so she won’t miss anything. And it’s not like she’s the first girl at Harding High to get pregnant. I just happened to be clueless enough to have missed most of the ones when I was in High School.”
“How has the church reacted?”
“They haven’t said anything publicly, so I’m not sure. I know Sasha told a few of her friends, and my mom guessed from a very oblique reference, but she has the damned «бабушка» sixth sense!”
“I think Tasha has the same thing,” Clarissa said.
“I think it’s something in the Eucharist or the chrism,” I grinned. “But it only confers that particular super power on females!”
“Your sister?”
“No, because she’s actively resisting. The LAST thing she wants to be is a «бабушка»!”
“When does Paul get out of jail?”
“In February.”
“Are you still planning to try to see him?”
“Yes. I want to explain certain aspects of life to him before he and my sister get together again.”
“You?!” Sandy gasped. “You’re like the most gentle, non-violent person there is.”
I smiled, “And if I point out that I’ll be very offended if he hurts my sister, it’ll be much more effective because of that.”
“But you wouldn’t use violence to solve the problem, would you?”
“I’d die to protect my sister. And my closest friends.”
“I’m curious; what would you do if you were drafted?”
“Report and serve as I was directed. With my training, I’d probably end up as a corpsman or medic; if I had my medical license, I’m sure I’d be a doctor. If not, then I’d invoke conscientious objector status to get a non-combatant role, but I’d do my duty.”
“Interesting. So you aren’t a pacifist?”
“Sometimes violence is necessary in self-defense. I don’t buy into the idea that wars can be just, only that sometimes they are necessary. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, what were we supposed to do? Just give up? I know the causes of the war are deeper, and that in some ways we forced their hand, but once they started the shooting war, it was necessary for us to bring everything to bear to end it.”
“And the atomic bombs?”
“Terrible weapons deployed against civilians, but I’m not about to second guess the idea that invading Japan might have cost millions of lives, Japanese and American. Could I have given the order to destroy those two cities? No. And the same is true for Dresden. But honestly, I can’t say we were wrong to fight back once we were attacked.”
“Dresden?”
“The firebombing of that city caused the deaths of at least 25,000 people, if not more. The Germans claimed 200,000, but our history book said that number was inflated for propaganda purposes. But that raid used about 1000 aircraft. Hiroshima and Nagasaki took one apiece, well, not counting the reconnaissance aircraft that flew over beforehand, and which filmed what happened. One of my friends in High School said Japan wasn’t so tough because all it took to beat them was one Little Boy and one Fat Man.”
“The code names of the bombs?” Clarissa asked.
“Exactly.”
“Have you talked to Kimiko about that at all?”
I shook my head, “No. I figured it was a very sensitive subject, and unless she raised it, I wasn’t going to. Kind of like not saying anything about Pearl Harbor just over a week ago.”
“Did your grandfather serve?”
“My Russian one? Yes. The other one, no. My mom’s dad was in military intelligence, translating Russian documents into English. He said the biggest dangers he faced working in Virginia were paper cuts and splinters in his butt!”
Sandy laughed, “My grandfather was in the Navy, and worked at the Newport News shipyard. He said something similar — his biggest risk was one of his fellow sailors smoking around the fuel and ammunition depots! The other one was never drafted and didn’t volunteer.”
“My grandfather on my dad’s side was in Detroit, and worked for General Motors,” Clarissa said. “He was exempted because of knee problems, but he managed a group which made tanks. My other one was an infantryman, and was wounded in North Africa. He got sent home after that.”
“Are they all alive?” I asked.
“Yes,” both girls replied.
“Mine, too.”
“Sorry to change subjects,” Sandy said, “but did either of you look at what our course schedule will be for Senior year?”
“The course catalog won’t be out until February,” Clarissa said, “but basically we have a cellular biology course, analytical chemistry, which means a lab, a biology elective, and a general elective. We also have a supervised research project of our own, which we’ll discuss with our advisors this semester. We can work together on that, too. For our last semester, it’s physical chemistry with a lab, a biology stats course, a humanities elective, and a general elective.”
“For our humanities elective, I’d like to take the new course in Russian literature that was proposed. Doctor Blahnik would teach it, if it’s approved.”
“Of COURSE you would,” Sandy said, shaking her head. “But I’m game, because I can’t imagine Doctor Blahnik screwing our GPAs.”
“Me either,” Clarissa said. “How about the ‘sex, drugs, and rock & roll class’ for our general elective?”
I chuckled, “‘Modern Social Issues’, or whatever it’s called? Sure. Sandy?”
“I like sex and rock & roll, but I’ll pass on the drugs. Well, minus alcohol! But that class is fine. What about the biology class?”
“Human reproduction?” Clarissa smirked.
“Pass,” Sandy said with a smirk. “I have ZERO interest in reproducing anytime in the next eight years or so!”
“I don’t think the point of the class is to reproduce!” Clarissa said with a soft laugh.
“I’m OK with ‘Reproductive Physiology’,” I said. “To be honest, and not to make a joke about it, my knowledge of that area, beyond the fun part in the beginning, is severely limited.”
“That’s because a ‘Y’ chromosome causes incurable brain damage!” she teased.
“Is there a lab?” I asked with a smirk. “You know, for experimentation? And a requirement to switch partners several times during the semester?”
“See what you did?” Sandy laughed.
“Petrovich is just pretending to be a pig, he’d never do that!”
“I don’t know,” I grinned. “Talk about a way to end college with a bang. Or a dozen!”
“Somehow,” Clarissa said with a silly grin, “I’m thinking that even with Dean Parker gone, the college hasn’t lightened up anywhere near enough for THAT! And besides, you might end up with a GUY as a lab partner!”
“Last I checked, reproduction requires a boy and a girl,” I grinned. “I know science has come a long way, but not THAT far!”
“Has anything come of Dean Parker’s fight with the University?”
“No. Melody told me that she heard from one of the members of the Board of Regents that the school attorney has said they can’t risk letting her back because of you.”
“I can be bought,” I grinned. “But the deal would have to be for her to come back after I graduate.”
“You’d do that to our friends who would still be here?”
“No, but the idea of having someone pay for medical school is pretty attractive. It’s just not attractive enough to allow ANY deal with Dean Parker.”
“Still searching for the bikini model heiress?” Sandy asked.
“There seems to be a serious shortage of them here in McKinley! So, all kidding aside, we’re in agreement?”
“Yes,” both girls said.
“What about campus visits for medical school?” I asked. “Are we still going to visit Stanford and Emory? In addition to UC, Indiana, Pittsburgh, and Ohio State?”
“Is there really a chance we’ll go to California or Georgia?” Sandy asked. “If not, I’d rather not spend the money. We could save it for a Summer trip after we graduate, instead.”
“You mean the Europe backpacking trip?” I asked.
“I do think that’s a great idea,” Sandy said. “And Pete is interested.”
“Me, too,” Clarissa said. “And I talked to Milena about just how inexpensive it can be if we plan it properly. Airfare is the biggest cost, but if we book far enough in advance, we can find some really discounted flights. We should start looking for them right after we finish in May of next year.”
“I guess my answer is that no, at this point, there is no real chance I’ll want to go to California or Georgia,” I said. “My strong preference is for McKinley Medical School, but we do need backups, and the more or less local ones — Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Columbus, and Pittsburgh make the most sense.”
“So you’re up for a trip like that?”
I nodded, “Yes. Everyone has been telling me to do it, and we know there’s no chance we’ll be able to do anything like that for at least six years after we graduate from Taft. So, I’m game.”
“Any specific places you want to go?”
“Rome, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Berlin, and London. I guess it depends on how much time we have, but Scandinavia would be cool.”
“That sounds like my hit list as well,” Sandy agreed. “But I’d add Athens.”
“And I’d add Vienna,” Clarissa said. “But we don’t have to figure that out just yet. Would we invite anyone else to go with us? Or just the three of us and Pete?”
“I think it would depend on my relationships at that point,” I said. “I know we kind of have to decide in June or July next year, but I’d like to wait until then.”
“OK. We have a broad outline of the next twenty months, and then it’s medical school!”
“Are you still planning to live with Doctor Blahnik, Mike?” Sandy asked.
“I plan to live at her house,” I chuckled.
“Which is what I meant, you dope!” Sandy laughed. “Not the other thing!”
“Leave it to Petrovich to take anything and everything the wrong way. It’s quite the change from when we met him.”
“That’s for sure!” Sandy agreed. “He’s actually fun now!”
“Gee, thanks,” I replied sarcastically.
“I wasn’t talking about screwing,” Sandy said lightly, “that was lots of fun. But you were WAY too uptight during our first two years.”
“Nice recovery,” I said flatly.
“Oh stop!” Sandy said, laughing. “I really liked our ‘stress relief’ sessions. I mean, REALLY liked them! And you have to admit you were wound way too tight when you first got to Taft.”
“Perhaps,” I allowed.
“Let me put it this way, first-year Mike couldn’t have played those concerts or had a girlfriend like Kimiko.”
“True.”
“Are you guys as serious as it seems?”
I nodded, “We’re working towards it, yes.”
“But you aren’t steady, right?”
“That has VERY different connotations for a traditional Japanese girl,” I said. “Asking her to go steady is basically getting engaged. We’re not there yet, and there is the whole church obstacle which we have to overcome to get there, as well as a few others. They aren’t insurmountable, but they have to be dealt with properly, which takes time.”
“But you’re thinking about it?”
I nodded, “I am. The same as YOU are thinking about Pete that way.”
“Just shut up!” she growled.
I chuckled, “Called it!”
“He did,” Clarissa confirmed.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for sex with only one guy for the rest of my life,” Sandy said.
“Well,” I said, “the only way THAT isn’t going to happen is if you break up with Pete or cheat on him, and I don’t see you doing either of those!”
“I know; I know!” she sighed.
Our other friends began filtering back from their last exams, and the three of us packed bags for heading home. When Kimiko returned from her exam, we spent an hour cuddling quietly on the couch before we joined our friends for lunch.
December 16, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio
The trip home was like every other trip home — about an hour in the car following Route 50, which I now knew so well that the car seemed to simply drive itself. Clark’s mom had been waiting for him, and they left a few minutes after we arrived at my house. Clarissa took her things up to Liz’s room, and I took my things to my room, then the three of us went down to the basement.
“Mom asked you to write on the calendar what days you’ll be home for dinner,” Liz said.
“OK. I’ll do that when we go upstairs.”
“Tomorrow you need to be at Mindy’s house at 8:15am. You can see Maggie for an hour or so. I don’t know if there will be another chance because you’re going to Michigan and then you have the wedding. Maybe right before you go back to school, but that depends on Maggie’s parents not being home at some point.”
“OK,” I said. “Are you planning on going to church for Nativity?”
“Mom basically begged so we could be together as a family. Well, you have to serve, but you know what she means.”
“Unfortunately, I have to serve in McKinley because of Deacon Grigory’s heart attack.”
“Mom is going to be pissed,” Liz said.
“Well, even though it was Father Nicholas who asked, she can take it up with the bishop. I sympathize, but once I accepted ordination, I sort of have to go where the bishop sends me. And you know what Grandpa will say.”
“He was happier about your ordination than YOU were! And he’s expecting you to be a deacon.”
“So is the bishop,” I said. “But there’s a minor impediment.”
April 7, 1984, West Monroe, Ohio “Hi, Mikey!” Liz said when I walked in the door of the house just after 11:00am. “Hi!” I replied. “You saw Paul?” “I did. Everything seems to be going OK. He said you had a good talk at breakfast this morning.” “I’m DYING, Mike! I need him to take me in his arms and...” I held up my hand and interrupted, “I get the picture!” “How are things with Angie?” “We only talked about her a little bit. This was mostly about me.” “Are you having trouble?” I...
February 11, 1984, Rutherford, Ohio “Hi, Mike!” Emmy exclaimed when Liz and I arrived at the apartment she shared with her cousin. Liz and I greeted her and she let us in. “What’s the plan, Em?” Liz asked. “The other girls will be here soon. We can go out or just order pizza and hang out here. My cousin bought a video cassette recorder, and she has some movies, or we can rent one from the store down the street, or we can go to the theater.” “Do you care, Mike?” Liz asked. I shook my...
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...
September 24, 1983, McKinley, Ohio On Saturday morning, I was up at 4:30am, quickly showered, dressed, and left Sophia in my bed while I went to the lab to take down the readings and complete the checklists. I was back about 6:10am and Sophia was still sleeping. I changed into my running clothes and headed back outside. As I ran, I thought about my conversation with Sophia the previous evening. I didn’t have an easy answer for Angie, any more than I’d had one for Jocelyn, and I was...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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 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...
Wendy secretly developed a liking for young men. She initially expressed her desire with “innocent†flirting. Next, she intentionally began wearing low-cut blouses and short skirts during her counseling sessions The new semester was just underway and Wendy felt like being naughty. Wendy K is an attractive, married white female in her Mid-50s. She’s 5’6”, 129 lbs., with brown eyes and short auburn hair. She’s a retired college guidance counselor. She and her husband live...
InterracialThere was only four weeks remaining until the end of the first semester, and the mid-year exams. It did seem strange having the semester broken into the two unequal parts, but I assumed they wanted to align the mid-semester break with the standard May school holidays. Whatever the reason was, there wasn’t a lot of time left finish off assignments for each subject, and study for the exams. Unlike the end of year exams, for the mid-year exams there wasn’t a week off before they started for...
September 2, 1983, West Monroe, Ohio “Thanks for the lift!” Clark said, as he, Clarissa, and I climbed out of my Mustang. “You’re welcome,” I replied. “Remember, we plan to head back around 8:00pm on Monday.” “Cool! I’ll make sure Mom has me here by then.” Clark’s mom was sitting on the porch, so we greeted her, and they left. It was early, so my parents weren’t home, but Liz was home from school. Clarissa went to use the bathroom, so I took her bag up to my room, and then stuck my head...
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...
Fender, Bender Gender by Suzanne Knight "Could I see your license and registration please Ma-am?" This would be the icing on the cake of an evening comprised of multiple layers of disappointment. I was driving home from an incredibly frustrating first, and last date with a guy that I had developed an on line relationship with over the past month. I was approaching a green traffic light, when blue lights started to flash, I braked quickly but the driver behind didn't react...
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...
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...