path: root/18-TheChildPart1.rst

Episode 3.18, The Child, Part 1
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At the Lin Residence

Cee-Cee’shouse is larger than Joan’s, situated on a wooded lot in an
upscale suburb of town. As she walks from the bus stop, Joan notices
it is a quiet neighborhood, except for a man using a leaf blower
across the street. She rings the bell, and China Faye answers the
door. She invites her in, “Hello Joan, it’s nice to see you again.”

Joan – “It’s nice to see you, too.”

China Faye – “Cee-Cee is in her studio above the garage. Follow me.”

As they walk through the house, Joan observes the furnishings. It is
a mixture of American and Chinese decor. Although Joan’s house is
clean, this house is spotless. You could probably eat off any surface
without getting sick. Joan decides to comment, “You have a lovely
home, and it’s so clean.”

China Faye – “We share the chores, but with all of us working or
going to school, we just couldn’t keep it up. My parents hired a
house cleaning service. They do a very nice job.”

A boy rushes toward them, “Do you have the keys? We’re going to be
late.”

China Faye – “I’m driving today. I’ll be there in a minute.” She
looks at Joan, “This is my brother Hui Charles.” She looks back at
her brother, “Hui, this is Joan, a friend of Cee-Cee’s.”

HuiCharles – “Hi, it’s nice to meet you. Cee-Cee is in her studio.”

China Faye – “You’re not wearing your name tag. Go find it.”

HuiCharles goes off in a huff to find his nametag.

China Faye sighs, “Boys!”

Joan smiles and asks, “Do all of you work at the restaurant?”

China Faye – “Yes, except for the little ones. It’s our family’s
business. We all work, and we all reap the rewards. Besides, my
father pays us very well.”

Joan – “What about those in school, like Cee-Cee?”

China Faye – “School comes first. Those of us in school only work
once or twice a week.”

China Faye stops at the stairs leading up to the studio, “Cee-Cee is
expecting you. Have fun.”

China Faye leaves and Joan walks up the stairs. She knocks and
enters, “Cee-Cee?”

Cee-Cee– “Right on time. Have a seat.” Joan sits, and Cee-Cee
continues, “Let me show you the routine that I did so you’ll have an
idea of what they are expecting.”

When the music starts, Cee-Cee begins to float around the room. Her
routine is a blend of many dances, some reminiscent of those done in
the movie *Flashdance*. Cee-Cee finishes as Joan sits in awe of what
she has just seen. “I… I could never do something like that! It was
so beautiful!”

Cee-Cee– “Sarah seems to think you can. Oh, sorry, I should say
Sister Sarah. Joan, have faith in yourself. I do, and so does Sister
Sarah.”

Joan – “You know Sister Sarah?”

Cee-Cee– “Sure, we met in class at Dawson State. Of course, she was
just Sarah McCauley then. She dropped out in her second year to
become a nun, but we’ve kept in touch.”

Joan – “Have you two been talking about me?”

Cee-Cee– “Of course, and we have a plan. Now, show me some of the
dances that you know.”

Joan – “Wait a minute. What kind of plan? This is still my life. I
may not want to become a dancer. I have actually been thinking a lot
about nursing lately.”

Cee-Cee– “And nursing requires college, right?”

Joan – “Yes?”

Cee-Cee– “So, we use dancing to get you into college, and then you
take nursing, too.The point is to get you in. You can thank Roger for
this idea. ‘There’s always a way to work the system.’”

Joan ponders the scheme for a moment, ‘\ The Dancing Nurse, that
would be an interesting twist!’ She responds, “I want to hear more
about this plan, but okay for now.”

Cee-Cee– “Dance for me.”

At the Park

Luke – “Which college do you think we should go to next year, Arcadia
or Dawson State?”

Grace – “It doesn't matter to me; I'm not going to college.”

Luke – “Come on, you have to go. Think of how much better you could
be as an educated free radical.”

Grace – “I've already had enough drivel shoved down my throat from
the thought police. I'm doing just fine educating myself.” Luke tries
to respond, but Grace is now on a rant, “And now we have the fat
police. You heard Brian the other day, no more junk food in school
vending machines. When did the school board become my parents? If I
want to eat a candy bar, I'll eat one, and it's nobody's business but
my own.”

Luke – “But they say that kids are getting too fat. It's for our own
good.”

Grace – “Yeah, yeah, it's for the children. Like I said, when did
they become my parents? It's none of their business what I eat. They
are supposed to educate, period, not run my life. I'm sick of these
high and mighty do-gooders interfering with everyone else's lives. I
didn't hear him mention removing the coffee machine from the
teacher’s lounge. Did I miss that? A lot of our teachers seem to be
pretty wired by the end of the day. I think they should stop drinking
coffee – for the children.”

Luke – “Grace! You don't eat that much candy anyway. Why do you
care?”

Grace – “It's incrementalism. You lose a little freedom here, a
little there, and soon, you have none at all. And don't get me
started on politics. The hypocrisy is rampant! How come if I have a
headache and want an aspirin, the school nurse has to get permission,
but if I want to have an abortion, sure, no problem, parental consent
isn't required. They'll even find me a doctor and provide
transportation. What's wrong with this picture?”

Luke – “I've never actually thought about it. Tell me what's really
bothering you.”

Grace – “Did you know that life is a four letter word?”

Luke – “Grace, tell me.”

Grace – “I'm late.”

Luke – “Late for what?”

Grace – “No, I'm late, late.”

Luke – “Oh geese! You mean…?”

Grace – “Yeah, that kind. I don't know what to do.”

At Home

Helen – “I’ve been thinking about the story you told me of how
Richard and Trenna first met. It’s really sweet, but why didn’t
Richard tell Trenna about how he paid off the other doctors?”

Will – “Richard told me that Trenna was happy believing that she
seduced him, and that’s why he kept it a secret.”

Helen – “Yeah, but don’t you think that Trenna would love him even
more, knowing that he did such a thing?”

Will – “Maybe, but she might become angry at him for deceiving her.”

Helen becomes frustrated, realizing that this conversation is going
nowhere, “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I’m going to get a shower.”

Helen sprays her face repeatedly, trying to clear her head. She
thinks to herself, ‘That went well! I still have no idea of what to
do about Joan. A special connection to the universe? God almost flat
out told her that it was true, but what does it mean? How does it
manifest? Does Joan realize it? The dreams, they must be part of it,
or are they all of it? Should she talk to Joan or just observe?’
Since yesterday, she has been caught in this endless loop of
questions. She wants to do what’s best, but she’s not sure what that
is. ‘If there's a right thing to do, a right way to be, why isn't it
obvious?’

At the Lin Residence

Cee-Cee– “That was really good! You know a nice variety of dances,
but unfortunately, most of them require a partner. What we need to do
is mix it up, modify them into just a series of moves. I think there
are a couple more dances that you could also incorporate. I can show
them to you. Then we need to make everything flow together. Does that
sound like a good plan?”

Joan – “The plan is great, but implementing it will be a problem.”

Cee-Cee– “Well, of course it will be hard work, but I know you can do
it. We’ll get the basic routine down today, and then Sister Sarah
will take over during your dance class on Monday and Wednesday. She
is going to have another Sister take over the class and just work
with you. I can work with you again on Thursday and Friday, and then
you’ll be ready for your audition on Saturday.”

Joan – “The audition is in one week? I don’t think I can be ready by
then!”

Cee-Cee– “Sure you can. You will blow their socks off.” She pauses,
“Roger uses that expression. I think it means to impress them. Is
that right?”

Joan – “Yes, that’s what it means. You really think I can do it?”

Cee-Cee– “I know it. The greatest factor in achieving success is
motivation. This is what you want, to go to college?”

Joan – “Yes, I really want to.”

Cee-Cee– “Then let’s do it. Now, let me show you some other dances
that I think would blend in well, and then I’ll show you the routine
I have in mind.”

At the Park

Luke – “How could this happen? We used a condom.”

Grace – “Well, brain boy, whatever made you think that you needed
extra girth?”

Luke – “I didn’t know. I’ve never bought them before. It only slipped
off that one time. The statistical odds of you getting pregnant from
that are astronomical.”

Grace – “Well, apparently the little spermazoids didn’t get the
memo.”

Luke thinks for a moment, “What about the RU-486 abortion pill?”

Grace – “I’m not sure if that’s what I want to do, and besides, have
you read some of the possible side effects? Cardiovascular disease,
high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attack, and stroke are just a
few. I’m not going to take the chance.”

Luke – “Then, do you plan to keep it?”

Grace – “I said, I don’t know. How do you feel about becoming a
father?”

Luke – “Scared to death! It’s something that I planned to do someday,
but now? This really changes everything!”

Grace – “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other
plans.”

At Home

Helen – “It’s too bad that Richard had to go home last night.”

Will – “Yes, it would have been nice if they could have stayed
another two days. He tried to get out of having to work this weekend,
but he couldn’t find anyone who would trade with him. Joan and Emily
seemed to have really hit it off.”

Helen – “Yeah, she’s so sweet.” She smiles and laughs, “Do you
remember Joan’s third birthday?”

Will – “That was the balloons, right?”

Helen – “We made her cover her eyes as we took her into the den. When
she opened them, she saw all the balloons that we’d blown up for her.
She was fascinated by them. She ignored all of her presents, and she
and YaYa played with the balloons all day long. It was so cute.”

Will – “I miss when they were young. I can’t wait to have
grandchildren.”

Helen – “Well, I’m looking forward to it too, but I can wait.”

Will – “Well, me too. I’m just looking forward to having little ones
again.”

Helen – “I know what you mean. When did Joan stop talking to YaYa?”

Will – “I’m not sure, but I think it was when she was four or five.”

Helen – “That sounds about right. Are you ready for lunch?”

At the Lin Residence

Cee-Cee– “You’re doing well. I like some of the moves you’ve added.
That was clever adding a herkie. What made you think of that?”

Joan – “Oh, in my sophomore year I tried out for cheerleading. I
couldn’t do it then. I just felt like putting it in.”

Cee-Cee– “Well, I think it works well there, but what were those
moves you did after that?”

Joan – “Oh, that’s part of an exercise routine I do with Ms. Keady. I
think it's Karate or something.”

Cee-Cee– “Well, I like that, too. It makes that part of the routine
very powerful, but you need to work on your facial expressions. I
know you are concentrating, but you always need to keep a smile on
your face. You have to appear to be doing your routine effortlessly.”

Joan – “Got it, I’ll try. Are you ready for lunch?”

Cee-Cee– “Sure, I’m ready for a break. We have plenty of food in the
kitchen.”

Joan – “I brought sandwiches. My dad made them for us. His sandwiches
are always so good!”

Cee-Cee– “Okay, let’s go to the kitchen, and I’ll get us something to
drink.”

After Cee-Cee runs through the selections she has to offer, Joan
chooses sweet green tea. They sit down and begin enjoying their
sandwiches. Cee-Cee asks, “How long can you stay today?”

Joan – “I told my parents I didn’t know how long I would be. They’re
fine with me staying, as long as I keep my cell phone on.”

Cee-Cee– “How tired are you?”

Joan – “A little, but I feel like I have this energy that just wants
to burst out.”

Cee-Cee– “I know that feeling. You’re really are doing well. I’m
thrilled that we have the routine pretty much done. Now you need to
work on the transitions between the dance moves. They need to flow
from one into the next. That takes practice.”

Joan – “This is going to be a busy week. I feel bad for Adam. I won’t
have very much time to be with him. We were supposed to go together
to the Allan apple orchard today. He’s drawing sketches for work.”

Cee-Cee– “I saw
that\ `portrait <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/JoA_Portrait_Painting2.jpg>`__\ of
you in your room. Did he do that?”

Joan – “Yeah, I love it. I asked him if I could watch him while he
works, but now I’m too busy to do it.”

Cee-Cee–“I’m sure he’ll be fine. He seems like an understanding boy.
After this week, things will calm down, and you can make it up to
him.”

At the Thrift Shop

Kevin – “Hey, are we about done? I’m getting hungry.”

Lilly – “Just a little while longer. I need to look at everything.”

Kevin – “First the yard sales, and now the thrift shop, you know that
shopping is a man’s least favorite thing to do.”

Lilly – “Then be thankful that you get to do it with me. It’s only a
month until Christmas, and I don’t have a thing for anyone.”

Kevin – “After we get some lunch, we could go to the mall.”

Lilly – “You know I don’t have much money. I can’t afford to shop
there.”

Kevin – “I have some extra money this week. I’ll pay for it.”

Lilly – “No!After we’re married, the money will be ours, but not
until.”

Kevin – “You haven’t said yet when you want to get married. Have you
decided?”

Lilly – “June, I would like a June wedding.”

Kevin – “Great, that’s fine with me.”

Lilly spots an item, “Oh, look! This is a beautiful scarf. Joan
always wears scarves. I’ll bet she’ll like this one.”

Kevin – “Yeah, it’s really nice.” Kevin continues to think to
himself, ‘Come on, I’m starving!’

Lilly can read his mind from the expression on his face, “Okay, just
let me look at the jewelry.”

Lilly paws through the items. Most of it is costume jewelry, but she
finds a necklace. “Look at this, a\ `Fleur-de-lis
Necklace <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/FleurdeLisNecklace.jpg>`__\ .
Do you think Joan would like it?”

Kevin – “Yeah, she used to have one like it, but she lost it
somewhere.”

Lilly – “Well, Joan’s done. Let’s eat.”

Walking Home

Grace – “So what do you think I should do, brain boy?”

Luke – “Well, the logical thing for you to do would be to have an
abortion. It would allow both of us to continue with our plans.”

Grace – “Why does my decision have to be logical?”

Luke – “Because I don’t believe that God endowed us with sense,
reason, and intellect, just to forgo their use.”

Grace – “Is that what you want me to do?”

Luke – “I don’t know. I’m just saying that would be the easiest
solution.”

Grace – “Yeah, but when have I ever done what’s easy? I’m going to do
what I decide to do. I just don’t know what that is yet.”

Luke – “You know we have to tell our parents. They’ll find out
eventually.”

Grace – “You’re not telling anyone! I’ve only told you because it’s
your fault.”

Luke – “Wait a minute, we both decided to have sex!”

Grace – “Listen horndog, I was never thrilled with the idea. The only
reason I decided to let you put your pizzle in my vizzle was to find
out what all the hoopla was about. Pregnancy was never part of the
plan. Anyway, I’ll decide who to tell and when. I need time to
think.”

Luke – “Have you told Joan?”

Grace – “Tomorrow. It’s my day and I’ll tell her then.”

At the Lin Residence

Cee-Cee– “Come with me. I need you to try something on.” Joan wants
to ask what, but she decides just to follow. Cee-Cee takes her into a
bedroom and pulls a dress out of the closet, “Try this on. I think it
will fit.”

Joan – “Whose is it?”

Cee-Cee– “China Faye’s. She already said I could borrow it.”

Joan – “Then why do you want me to try it on?”

Cee-Cee– “Because it’s for you. Put it on and I’ll explain.” While
Joan puts on the dress, Cee-Cee continues, “Every one of the other
girls there will be wearing tights. You are going to be wearing a
dress. We want you to stand out. When the auditions are finished, and
judges begin to make their decisions, I want the lady in red to be
stuck in their minds.”

Joan – “But this is so beautiful! What if I fall or something?”

Cee-Cee– “That is not going to happen. Don’t even think it.”

While Joan admires herself in the mirror, Cee-Cee starts rummaging
through the dresser. Joan becomes concerned when she realizes, “What
about when I do the herkie?”

As soon as the words leave her lips, Cee-Cee holds up a pair of black
short-shorts, “Got you covered.”

At Home

Grace and Luke arrive, and Helen asks, “Would you two like some
lunch?”

Luke asks sarcastically, “What kind of turkey surprise do we have
today?”

Helen smiles and sings, “Flaming turkey wings!”All get a laugh, and
Helen continues, “We also have some ham and lots of sides. There’s
pie if you eat something else first.”

Luke – “Never mind, I’m not really hungry.”

Grace – “Thank you, Mrs. Girardi. I’ll fix it.” She looks at Luke,
“Come on, you’re eating too.”

Grace fixes turkey for herself and ham for Luke, with the same sides
for each. They sit down, and Helen asks, “Are you two having a
problem?”

Grace – “Luke and I have started a biology experiment. Now that it’s
started, we’ve been debating whether we would be more satisfied with
the outcome if we worked with biology or against it”

Helen – “Joan and Adam are in your class. Maybe they can help.”

Grace – “I plan to ask Joan what she thinks about it tomorrow.”

Luke picks at his food for a while then decides he has had enough,
“I’m going to get online and do some research on our biology project.
I’ll be back down in a little while.”

Luke leaves, and Helen comments, “I’m actually kind of glad that Luke
left. I have a question to ask you. Has Joan ever talked to you about
her dreams, other than that night at Lake Nashman?”

Grace – “Mrs. Girardi, Joan has talked about them, but it was in
confidence. I don’t know if I should be talking to you about them.”

Helen – “Is she still having them?”

Grace – “Yeah, I think so, but she usually doesn’t tell me the
specifics. She doesn’t feel she should talk about them.”

Helen – “What I really want to know is if there is more than just
dreams and talking to spirits.”

Grace really feels uncomfortable talking to Helen about this, but she
decides to answer this question. She remembers Joan’s ‘half a red
pill’ comment and responds, “Yeah, there’s more, a lot more. I’ve
already said more than I should have. You need to talk to Joan.”

At the Lin Residence

Cee-Cee– “Okay, that is enough for today. I don’t want you to strain
anything before your audition.”

Joan – “I’m doing fine. I’m still working on the transitions.”

Cee-Cee– “No, that is enough for now. I would like for you to
practice some tomorrow, but not too much.” She retrieves a paper from
a folder, “These are the courses in which I would like for you to
enroll. All are required courses, except for ‘Modern Dance Techniques
II.’ You don’t need to take the first course. I think the instructor
will agree after she sees your performance. All you need to do is
decide on the nursing class that you want to take. You need to be
enrolled before the audition, so do it soon.”

Joan – “Thanks, I already knew about the required courses, but I
wasn’t sure of which dance class to take. I plan to ask Susan Jordan
about the nursing class at the job fair on Wednesday. Then I’ll go
online and register.”

Cee-Cee– “Would you like something to drink while I take you home?”

Joan – “Oh, you don’t have to, I can take the bus.”

Cee-Cee– “No, I’ll take you. We don’t want anything to happen to your
dress. You do need to find a pair of shoes to wear. Anything you feel
comfortable dancing in will be fine, but definitely no high heels.”

Joan – “I have a pair of sneakers with flowers on them. Some of the
flowers are red.”

Cee-Cee– “Those sound like they will be perfect.”

At the Flea Market

Lilly – “Come on, this will be the last stop. Just think about your
cousin Emily.”

Kevin – “What does she have to do with this?”

Lilly laughs and sings,

“\ Rollin', rollin', rollin'
*Though* the streams are swollen
Keep them doggies rollin'
Rawhide!\ ”

Kevin gets a laugh, “She did enjoy the ride. If we hadn’t stopped for
dinner, I think she would have ridden on my lap for the rest of the
day.”

Lilly – “Well, just imagine Emily is on your lap singing and
chattering away. We’ll be done soon.” They continue looking at the
variety of items on display. Lilly takes an interest in some of them,
but passes them by. When they finish looking through all the items,
Lilly asks, “There are a few things I think I will buy, but I want
them to be a surprise. Wait here, and then meet me at the car in ten
minutes.”

At Home

Grace walks upstairs and calls up to Luke’s attic bedroom, “You’re
still taking me to see Rent. Get a move on it.”

Joan arrives and meets Grace in the foyer, “Look at the dress I have
to wear for my audition.”

Grace – “That’s really nice. Where’d you get it?”

Joan – “Cee-Cee let me borrow it. It’s actually her sister’s.”

Grace – “Hey, Luke and I are going to see Rent. You wanna come?”

Joan – “Sure, can I ask Adam?”

Grace – “Make it quick. We don’t have much time.”

Joan puts the dress in her closet and calls Adam. Adam is returning
from the Allan apple orchard, and is only a few minutes away. She
takes a quick shower, changes clothes, and is back downstairs by the
time Adam arrives. As they walk out to the car, Joan decides she’s
more afraid to ride with Luke than to drive herself. She asks, “Luke,
would it be all right if I drive?”

Luke agrees, partly because this is the first time she has asked, and
partly because he knows that if he says no, she will be mad at him.
He doesn’t say anything, just hands her the keys.

On the way, Adam asks Joan, “How is your dance routine coming along?”

Joan – “Great! We have it all figured out. I just need to practice.
I'm so excited. This is my chance to go to college, so I'm going to
grab it with both hands, and hold on tight!”

Adam – “I'm really happy for you. Can I come and watch your
audition?”

Joan – “You can come if you want, but you won't be able to watch. The
only ones allowed in the room are me and the judges. Cee-Cee says
they will videotape it. I can ask for a copy.”

Adam – “I would like to see it.”

Joan – “Oh, this week I'm really going to be busy. I have dance or
work every night. I won't be able to see you, except for at school.
Will you be okay with that?”

Adam whines, “No, I'll miss you.” Joan becomes concerned, but before
she can say anything, Adam smiles and continues, “But I'll survive. I
know this is important to you.”

Joan – “After this week, I promise I'll make it up to you.”

Grace – “Okay, now that's settled, do any of you know what this movie
is about?” They all answer no, so Grace continues, “Well…”

At Home

Grace – “Did you sleep well?”

Joan – “I always sleep good after a day of exercise. How about you?”

Grace – “Not too bad. What are your plans for today?”

Joan – “To spend the day with you, until I have to go to work. I do
have to practice my routine, but that won't take long. Would you like
to stay here or go somewhere?”

Grace – “I would like just to stay here.”

Joan – “Are you hungry?”

Grace – “Starved!”

Joan – “Me, too.”

They proceed to the kitchen and find Will drinking coffee, “Can I
make you some breakfast?”

Grace – “I thought I would make it this morning. What would you
like?”

Will – “Well, I thawed a rib eye overnight. I was going to make
steak, eggs, and grits.”

Joan – “That sounds good. I haven't had that in awhile.”

Grace – “I can fix it.”

While Grace prepares breakfast, Will asks, “Did you enjoy your movie
last night?”

Joan – “It was okay. I really enjoyed just spending time with Grace
and Adam, and even Luke was nice to me last night.”

Grace – “The movie was just okay? It was fantastic! It was a message
of friendship, tolerance, and living every day to the fullest. Lines
of gender, education, talent, sexual orientation, and all-around
stereotypes were totally erased. It exemplifies what life should
really be about – love.”

Joan – “Yeah, you told me that before we went, and love is always
good, but for once, I agree with Luke. They were all unhappy about
their lives; the lifestyle they promoted was pointless, yet they
whined instead of doing something about it. People need to take
personal responsibility for their lives. They would have been better
off had they gotten jobs, paid their rent, pooled their remaining
money, and hired a real songwriter.”

Grace – “You didn’t like the music, either?”

Joan – “I liked the first song.”

Will – “Did you two watch the same movie?”

At Lilly’s Apartment

Ginger mumbles, “Can ar gapt sojwn?”

Lilly – “Yeah, Extra-strength Tylenol, please.”

Ginger mumbles, “Og. Krimwelat indefor.”

Lilly – “Okay, send him in.”

Ginger leaves and Kevin comes in, “Playing hookie from church today?
That’s a first.”

Lilly – “I don’t play hookie from church! God will always be first in
my life and you know that.”

Kevin – “Whoa!I was just trying to make a joke, trying to cheer you
up, sorry.”

Lilly begins to cough and doesn’t respond for a few moments, “Sorry,
I just feel like Joan looked last summer. I must have the first US
case of bird flu.”

Usually, Kevin can tell what Lilly means by the expression on her
face, but today, she just looks miserable, “Do you really think so?
Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”

Lilly – “No, I don’t really have bird flu. I do have something, but I
just need to get some more sleep. Ginger is getting some medicine.”

Kevin – “Are you hungry? Can I make you something? You should eat.”

Lilly – “Not unless you want to clean the carpet.”

Kevin – “Can I stay while you sleep? I’ll be quiet.”

Lilly – “I’d like that.”

Ginger returns with the medicine and a thermometer, “Pukem on meiat.”

Lilly – “I don’t need a thermometer to tell me that I have a fever.”

Kevin – “But we do. When I take your temperature later, I’ll need to
know if you are getting better or worse.”

Lilly relents and puts the thermometer under her tongue. When it
beeps, Kevin reads the display, “102.3. Let’s see what the Tylenol
does for you.”

At Home

Joan – “Are you mad at me?”

Grace – “No, just surprised. I thought you would like the movie.”

Joan – “Maybe I should have, because I’ve been digging through the
garbage, too. But I finally have found something that matters.”

Grace – “Dancing?”

Joan – “No, nursing. I want to help children.”

Grace – “Then why are you dancing?”

Joan – “To get into college. Once I’m in, I’ll take nursing, too.
It’s a great plan. Roger thought of it.”

Grace – “How do you know you want to be a nurse? Do your dreams have
something to do with it?”

Joan – “Partly, but there have been other things. I can’t explain,
but I really feel this is the right thing for me.”

Grace just sits for a moment, thinking about what Joan has told her.
“It’s nice to have a plan for your future. I wish I was so sure about
mine. I’m happy for you.”

Joan – “Let me show you my routine.” She retrieves the CD from of her
purse, grabs the boom box, and leads Grace out to the back yard. She
puts the CD in the player and says, “When I’m ready, select track
eight. This is a great dancing song. It starts off slow and ends
fast.”

Joan gets ready, but then she notices that Pallas Athena is still
lying on her side. She motions to Grace, “Come help me with this.”
Together, they lift the urn and place it back on its pedestal. Joan
then rotates it until Athena is facing the yard, “Now you can watch
me too!”

After Joan prepares, Grace selects track eight. Joan runs through her
routine. She does it almost flawlessly. When she finishes, she asks,
“What do you think?”

Grace – “It was great! Who was that singing?”

Joan – “Someone named Donna Summer. I’ve never heard of her, but
she’s good.”

Grace – “Me neither. Are you done?”

Joan – “No, I want to run through it two more times.”

Joan repeats her routine, then they go up to the bedroom. This is the
moment Grace has been dreading, but she needs to tell Joan. She
closes the door, “I have something important to tell you.” Grace
doesn’t continue right away, wondering if Joan will be mad at her, or
worse, be ashamed of her.

Joan – “Okay, what is it?”

Grace – “I’m pregnant.”

Joan’s jaw drops in disbelief, “Pregnant?” Grace’s revelation causes
Joan to leap into her ‘fighting place.’ She becomes filled with rage,
“Why that little frack!” She gets up, and as she passes through the
door, she yells, “Luke!”

Grace follows her, tugging on her arm, trying to stop her, “No, wait,
let me explain.”

Joan ignores her and yells again, “Luke, get your butt down here!”

Luke comes down and Will comes running up the stairs at the same
time, “What’s wrong?”

At the last moment, Joan curbs what she really wants to say, “Your
son is an idiot!”

Grace doesn’t want to involve parents yet. She tries to defuse the
situation by saying, “We’re just having an argument. It’ll be okay.
I’ll take care of it.” She drags Joan back into the bedroom and
closes the door.

Will stands looking at Luke, “Would you like to talk about it?”

Luke stands there, knowing the reason for Joan’s anger, but he
doesn’t want to tell his father the reason either, “Maybe later.” He
goes back up to his room, and Will returns downstairs.

Joan is still furious, “How could he do that?”

Grace – “But it wasn't his fault.”

Joan – “Then who's the father?”

Grace – “Okay, it's partly his fault, but I let him.”

Joan – “He seduced you?”

Grace – “Come on, think of what you're saying. You're talking about
Luke. Besides, no one seduces me unless I want to be seduced. Please
just calm down and let me explain.”

Joan paces around the room a bit, and then she sits and does the
exercise that Ms. Keady taught her. After a few minutes, she is able
to continue, “Okay, tell me why I shouldn't blame Luke.”

Grace – “Because I wanted it, too. Remember what Lilly told you?”

Joan – “Yes, but you're not stupid. Why didn't you use a condom?”

Grace – “We did, but something went wrong.”

Joan – “I guess so. What…?”

Grace interrupts her, “I wanted it, okay. All of that stuff that Luke
has been saying about us having a relationship, well it's true. And
you know what? He actually loves me and I love him. How weird is
that? Anyway, it's a fluke and it's not something that is going to
happen again. I just wanted at least once in my life to know what it
was like, how it felt, to have someone who actually loves me, make
love to me. Is that so bad?”

Joan – “I have those same feelings, but I don't think God wants me to
follow through with them, at least not yet.”

Grace – “Well, you could have it if you wanted it, and if you and
Adam don't work out, there will be a hundred boys standing in line to
fall in love with you. I have Luke.”

Joan – “No, that's not true. I'm sure there are lots of other boys
for you.”

Grace – “No, you know I'm right. Who else other than a science geek
like Luke could fall in love with a free radical like me? And if it
doesn't work out, there won't be another. That's why I decided to do
it.”

Joan – “Does he know you love him?”

Grace – “I don't know, but the important thing is that he loves me. I
don't think that is ever going to happen again. That's why it means
so much to me.”

Joan – “You saw what happened to Adam and me when we didn't share our
feelings. You have to tell Luke how you feel.”

Grace – “Okay, he knows, I just can’t say the words.”

Joan – “What are you going to do?”

Grace – “I don’t know.”

At Lilly’s Apartment

Ginger – “Eeid eht weasd.”

Kevin – “Yeah, I know. I’m worried, too.”

Lilly – “Are you talking about me?”

Kevin – “Yeah, it’s time to take your temperature again.”

Lilly – “Just let me sleep.”

Kevin forces the thermometer under Lilly’s tongue, and she
begrudgingly doesn’t resist. It beeps and he reads the display,
“103.6, she’s getting worse.” Kevin looks at Ginger, and then back to
Lilly, “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

Lilly – “No, I’ll be fine. I don’t have the money to pay for the
hospital. Just give it a while longer.”

Kevin – “Okay.” Kevin and Ginger leave the room, “If I wasn’t in this
wheelchair, I would drag her to the hospital, whether she liked it or
not.”

Ginger – “Teiee wimem que.”

Kevin – “All right, I’ll check her temperature again in a little
while.”

At Home

Helen – “Hi hon, where is everybody?”

Will – “They’re upstairs. Joan is mad at Luke, and Grace is trying to
calm her down.”

Helen – “Do you know what it’s about?”

Will – “No, but Joan is really upset about something. I can’t
remember seeing her this mad since we wouldn’t let her go to that
concert with Adam.”

Helen – “Maybe I should have a talk with her.”

Will – “No, I think we should just let them work it out for now.”

Helen – “Can I fix you something to eat?”

Will – “No, I had a late breakfast.”

Grace – “Are you calmed down enough to talk to Luke?”

Joan – “Now?”

Grace – “Yes, I want the three of us to talk about it. I want to hear
your ideas.”

Joan – “I don’t know. For a genius, he sure is stupid!”

Grace – “Well, I won’t argue that. Can I go get him?”

Joan doesn’t answer, but just gives her a nod and a manufactured
smile. Grace goes out to the attic stairs, “Luke, come down. We need
to talk.”

Luke comes down with a handful of papers, and they join Joan back in
the bedroom. Grace asks, “What are the papers?”

Luke – “I’ve been doing research. I’ve printed out a lot of
information on pregnancy and I have more about child rearing if you
want it. There’s some good information here.”

Grace – “Okay, educate us.”

Luke – “Well first, an embryo is what they call the first eight weeks
of life. Here’s a picture of
an\ `embryo <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/Embryo.jpg>`__\ .
It looks the same as any other mammal. It’s pretty much just a blob
of meat.

Then, starting with the third month, they call it a fetus. This is
when it begins to take human form. This is also when the brain begins
to develop, between the eighth and fourteenth week. Here’s a picture
of
a\ `fetus <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/Fetus.jpg>`__\ .

The answer to if or when a fetus can feel pain appears to depend upon
the agenda of the author. Logically, if something has a brain, then
it must be able to feel pain. So, if you do decide to have an
abortion, it would be best if you did it before the eighth week.”

Grace – “Do you still want me to get an abortion?”

Luke – “I never said that. I only said that it would be the easiest
solution.”

Grace looks at Joan, “What do you think?”

Joan – “I can’t tell you what to do, but whatever you decide to do,
you’re going to call it what it is. It’s not an embryo, a blob of
meat, or a fetus, and it’s definitely not an it. It’s a child.”

There is a long silence as Joan’s words resonate with Luke and Grace.
Grace asks, “Will you stand by me no matter what I decide?”

Joan – “Of course, I’ll always be your friend.”

Luke doesn’t say anything, so Grace begins to glare at him. “Of
course, I’ll always be here, too. You really didn’t have to ask.”
After a few moments, he continues with his presentation, “Also during
the eighth week, fingers and toes begin to develop…”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The phone rings, and Helen picks it up. Kevin’s voice is filled with
despair. “Mom, how high can a fever get before it’s dangerous? Lilly
is really sick, and she won’t let me take her to the hospital.”

Helen – “What is her temperature?”

Kevin – “It’s 104.1. I can’t get her to wake up. I don’t know what to
do!”

Helen tries, but fails to keep the alarm from her voice, “I’ll be
there in a few minutes.”

Will – “Were you talking about Lilly?”

Helen – “Yeah, she’s really sick. We need to get her temperature
down. Joan and I will have to get her into the shower.”

Will – “I can carry her. Let’s go.”

Helen – “No, but thank you. We’re going to have to remove her
clothes, and I may need help while she’s in the shower. We want to
help her, not embarrass her. This is a job for women.”

Helen knocks on Joan’s bedroom door, “Joan.” She doesn’t wait for an
answer and enters the room, “Lilly is sick. She needs our help.”

Joan – “Ah yeah, sure.” Joan begins to leave with Helen, but
remembers, “Oh, I’m supposed to be at work in a couple of hours.”

Helen looks at Luke, “You’re working at the bookstore tonight.” Helen
bags several cans from the pantry, and they leave for Lilly’s
apartment.

At Lilly’s Apartment

Kevin has started placing a cool towel on Lilly’s forehead. She’s
awake, but delirious.

Helen – “Can you walk?”

Lilly – “I don’t know.”

Joan and Helen lift Lilly out of bed. Fortunately, Lilly is able to
walk with their help. They remove her clothes and sit her on Kevin’s
seat in the bathtub. Helen starts the water, and when it is lukewarm,
she turns on the shower.

Lilly screeches, “Oww, that’s freezing!”

Helen – “No, it’s warm. It only feels freezing to you.”

Lilly shivers, but slowly becomes accustomed to the temperature. Joan
and Helen also sponge her with the warm water. She remains under the
shower until the water actually does begin to cool. Then Joan and
Helen dry her, help her back into her pajamas, and get her back into
bed. Helen, Kevin, and Ginger go to the kitchen, but Joan remains
with Lilly.

Lilly – “That was so mean.”

Joan – “Mom thinks it’s what you needed, and she knows about such
things.”

Lilly – “Yeah, I know.” Lilly’s eyes become heavy, “Do you mind if I
sleep for a little while?”

Joan takes her hand in hers, “Go ahead. I’ll just stay with her and
be quiet.”

With that, Lilly dozes off, and Joan begins to pray. She prays
silently until the others return.

Helen – “Lilly, wake up. I have some broth for you.”

Lilly – “I don’t know if I can eat anything.”

Helen – “You’re dehydrated. You need liquids.” Lilly relents and sits
up a little. Helen continues, “First, we need to take your
temperature.” She places the thermometer under Lilly’s tongue. When
it beeps, she reads the display, “99.1. Good, it looks like your
fever has broken.” Helen puts the bowl near Lilly’s mouth, and begins
to spoon-feed her the broth.

At Home

Luke is preparing to leave, “Are you sure you don’t want to come with
me?”

Grace – “Yeah, I’m going to go home for awhile. I have something I
need to do.”

Luke kisses her goodbye, and is pleased that she doesn’t resist.
“I’ll be home about eight-thirty.”

After Luke leaves, Grace walks into the kitchen where Will has been
quietly paying bills. Will looks up and asks, “Hey, it’s just you and
me kid. I don’t think we’ve ever had just the two of us. Would you
like to talk?”

Grace – “What do you want to talk about?”

Will – “Anything you like.”

This is too tempting for Grace. She thinks for a moment, and then
begins, “Okay, the first amendment says that Congress shall make no
law… abridging the freedom of speech. They are talking about
political speech, so how could the Supreme Court decide that
McCain-Feingold’s campaign finance reform doesn’t violate the first
amendment?”

Will is flabbergasted, “I don’t know. They must have had their
reasons. They are the Supreme Court.”

Grace – “Well, they need learn to read what the Constitution says,
not what they would like it to say. I have some reading to do, too.
Would it be okay with you if I went home for a while?”

Will – “Sure. It might be just you and me for dinner tonight. Would
you like anything special?”

Grace – “Anything but turkey.”

Will – “Sure, I’ll think of something.”

Grace smiles as she leaves, pleased that she could razzle Mr.
Girardi.

At Lilly’s Apartment

Lilly is able to finish the bowl of broth. Everyone is pleased when
she keeps it down. Helen gives her another dose of Tylenol and says,
“I’ll give you a little while, and then I’ll make you some chicken
noodle soup.”

Lilly – “That sounds good, but I need to get some sleep.”

Helen – “We’ll leave you alone.”

They all go out to the living room and Helen calls Will, “Hi hon,
Lilly’s doing better, but we are going to stay here for a while. How
is everything there?”

Will – “Luke went to work and Grace went to her house. I assume you
won’t be home for dinner?”

Helen – “No, I’ll have Joan and Kevin pick up something. Will you be
okay?”

Will – “Grace and I will be fine. I’m just going to run to the store
and pick up some hamburger and buns. It’s not turkey.”

Helen – “Well, I think we are going to have subs. I love you.”

Will – “I love you, too.”

At the Polonsky Residence

In addition to wanting time alone to think, Joan’s comment caused
Grace to want to review her notes from Hebrew class. Yes, she
actually did take notes, even though she made it a practice of
constantly giving her instructor grief. She often made smart-aleck
comments, and on one occasion, she asked her instructor, “Why do I
have to learn Hebrew, anyway? All of this stuff is already translated
into English.”

She had hoped to irritate her instructor, but instead he answered,
“Because the true meanings of some passages are sometimes
misunderstood after being translated from Hebrew into English.”

Rabbi Gellman – “Grace, please open your Tanakh and read Shemot 21:22
– 25.”

Grace complies, “\ And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with
child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow, he shall be
surely fined, according as the woman's husband shall lay upon him;
and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follow,
then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth,
hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound,
stripe for stripe.\ ”

Rabbi Gellman – “Who can tell me what this passage means?”

Leah – “Well, ‘her fruit depart’ sounds like a miscarriage. So, if a
man causes a woman to have a miscarriage, he should be fined.”

Rabbi Gellman – “Some texts do translate this as a miscarriage or
premature birth. Go to your Hebrew text and tell me what word or
words this phrase derives from.”

Leah looks it up, “\ v’-yats-u y’-la-dey-ha, which is a combination
of the Hebrew noun *yeled* (yeh'-led, Strong 3206) and a verb
*yatsa*\ ’ (yaw-tsaw', Strong 3318).”

Rabbi Gellman – “Jeremy, look up those words in your dictionary.”

Jeremy looks them up, “\ *Yatsa*\ ’ means ‘to come out’ and *yeled*
means child.”

Rabbi Gellman – “Good, now look up the word *nephel* (neh'-fel,
Strong 5309).”

Jeremy looks it up, “\ *Nephel* means miscarriage.”

Rabbi Gellman – “Leah, *yatsa*\ ’ is used 1,061 times in the Tanakh
and is never translated as miscarriage. Why should it mean that here?
If Moses actually meant miscarriage, then why did he not use the word
*nephel* instead of the words *yatsa*\ *’* and *yeled*?”

Leah – “I don’t know.”

Rabbi Gellman – “Let’s go back to the English translation. The phase
‘yet no harm follow’, to whom does this refer?”

Leah – “It sounds like it is referring to the mother.”

Rabbi Gellman – “Does it? Read the whole passage again.”

Leah reads it again, “Well, it really doesn’t specify whether it is
referring to the mother, her unborn child, or both.”

Rabbi Gellman – “Grace, please find Amos 1:13 - 14 and read it for
us.”

Grace finds the passage and reads, “\ Thus saith the Lord: For three
transgressions of the children of Ammon, yea, for four, I will not
reverse it: because they have ripped up the women with child of
Gilead, that they might enlarge their border. So will I kindle a fire
in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with
shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the
whirlwind.\ ”

Rabbi Gellman – “Here, the killing of unborn children is done on
purpose, but we can see God’s view of it. Let’s go back to Shemot
21:22 – 25. Grace, if either the child or the mother dies, which law
would apply?”

Grace says this aloud in the present as she remembers her answer, “A
life for a life.”

Rabbi Gellman – “This passage means the very opposite of what some
who support abortion profess. In this case, the woman is accidentally
struck, but if she or the child dies as a result, then the guilty
party could be sentenced to death. This is the only instance in the
Torah where involuntary manslaughter calls for the death penalty.” He
pauses and looks directly at Grace, “Do you understand now why you
are learning Hebrew?”

Grace begrudgingly answers, “Yes.”

Grace has made a career of besmirching the dogma of her Jewish
religion, but this has been mostly because of her resentment of
authority. Only to Joan and her father has she confessed that she
does believe in the God of Abraham and the major tenets of her
religion. She ponders this discussion and makes her decision.

At Home

When Grace returns, Will makes hamburgers, and they quietly enjoy the
meal. Although fearful after Grace’s last rant, Will once again asks
if Grace would like to talk about anything.

Grace – “How did you and Mrs. Girardi become parents?”

Will – “Ah… Ah… hasn’t your mother talked to you about this?”

Grace – “No, I don’t mean the plumbing. What I mean is, what did you
do to get ready? How do people prepare to become parents?”

Will – “Well, I think everyone learns from the experience with their
parents. They embrace what they feel was good, and they try to avoid
what they feel was bad. Helen also did a lot of reading. She read
everything she could find about raising children, and then we talked
about it. She also talked a lot to her parents, but it soon became
clear that for every suggestion of what to do, there was someone else
who suggested doing the opposite. When issues would arise, we would
talk about them, but Helen seemed to have a better instinct of what
to do. I usually ended up agreeing with her. You should probably ask
her these questions.” Will pauses for a moment, “Why are you
interested in parenting?”

Grace – “It's just that, well, since I've been here, I've seen that
you and Mrs. Girardi do things differently than my parents. I kind of
wish some things were different at home.”

Will – “Your parents are good people, and some things are not right
or wrong, just different. You should talk to them about what's
bothering you when they come home.”

Grace – “I wish it didn't take so long. Most rehabs are only 28
days.”

Will – “I talked briefly to your father about that. There is a lot
more spiritual training involved in her program than other programs
like it. They are both hoping that with this program, she will not
relapse again, and that's why they are in Baltimore instead of here.”

Grace – “I miss them.”

Will – “I know it's hard for you, and we are not here to replace your
parents, but while they are away, you are part of our family. Is
there something specific you would like to talk about?”

Grace – “Maybe later. Thanks, Mr. Girardi.”

At the Bookstore

It is a quiet night, with few customers and little restocking to do.
Luke is left with plenty of time to consider his predicament. Before
he left home, he borrowed Joan's iPod and copied his favorite songs
from CD. The music calms his fears, and he begins to accept his
situation. He sings along with Norah Jones and thinks about Grace,
how much she means to him, and what he must do.

At Home

When Luke arrives home, Grace is sitting on the couch watching TV.
She turns it off as soon as he walks in. He sits beside her and they
both speak at once, “I have something to tell you.” He lets Grace
continue, “I've decided to have the baby.”

Grace was expecting him to say anything but, “That's wonderful!” He
continues, “I have our new song. I want you to listen to it.” He
gives her the earphones, and once they are in place, “Come Away With
Me” begins to play. When the song finishes, Luke slides off the couch
onto one knee and asks, “Will you marry me?”

Grace – “What, are you nuts?”

Luke – “No, I looked it up this morning. Marriage without parental
consent in Maryland is age 18. However, since you're pregnant, that
age requirement may be waived for you. All we have to do is convince
my parents to let me.”

Grace – “Luke, use your logic. Neither of us is ready for marriage.
And besides, if we ever do get married, it's not going to be due to a
prenatal shotgun.”

Luke – “Grace, I love you.”

Grace – “And I love you, okay, there, I said it, but just forget the
marriage idea.”

Luke is disheartened by Grace’s rejection, but it is the answer that
he expected. What was a surprise is that she finally did tell him
that she loves him. He takes one of the earpieces, and they both
listen to
another\ `song <http://dc19.4shared.com/download/12740791/41c098e0/Norah_Jones_-_The_Long_Day_Is_Over.mp3>`__\ .
They cuddle for a while, and when the evening fades, they each go to
bed.

At the Crime Scene

Will knows he should get some sleep, but he just can’t until Helen
and Joan are home. They all got a late start this morning.

On the way to work, Will hears of the police investigating a
shooting. The address is nearby, so he decides to stop. When he
arrives, he finds Lt. Daghlian talking to a neighbor.

Will waits for Mike to finish and then asks, “What do we have here?”

Lt. Daghlian – “The victim is a Mrs. Carolyn Mitchell, gunshot wound.
She’s at UMC in critical condition.”
Will – “Why does that name sound familiar?”

Lt. Daghlian – “We investigated her daughter’s murder a couple of
years ago.”

Will – “Oh yeah, I remember, her daughter went to AHS.”

Lt. Daghlian – “Apparently she surprised a burglar, a black male age
18 to 25. A neighbor saw him speeding away in a white sedan. Not much
to go on, yet. We’re checking for prints near the back window.”

Will – “Where’s her husband?”

Lt. Daghlian – “Out of town on business.Toni’s trying to locate him.
Social services is making arrangements to pick up their children at
school.”

Will – “Well, good work so far. Keep me informed.”

At School

Helen and Joan arrive at school at about ten. Kevin took the day off
to tend to Lilly, who is now able to have a small breakfast of solid
food.

After lunch, Grace asks Joan and Luke to join her privately. Once
they are alone, she informs Joan of her decision, “I’ve decided to
have the baby. I know it’s probably not the logical thing to do, but
I feel it is the right thing to do.”

Joan – “Well, we’ll be here for you.”

Luke – “You didn’t say last night, do you plan to keep it?”

Grace – “I haven’t decided that yet. I’ve just decided that I can’t
kill it.” Grace thinks about what she has just said, and decides to
clarify for Joan, “I mean, I can’t kill a child.”

Luke – “When do you want us to tell our parents?”

Grace – “I need some time to think about what I’m going to say. I’ll
tell my dad next Sunday morning, and we can tell your parents after
your mother comes home from church.”

Adam walks up, “Hey, are you guys mad at me? What’s with all the
secrecy?”

Grace – “We just had some things to talk about. Have a seat, I’ll
fill you in.” Joan and Luke leave, and Grace tells Adam about her
pregnancy and her decision to have the baby.

At the Police Station

Lt. Daghlian – “We found some prints. Carlisle is running them now.
Mrs. Mitchell is out of surgery. She lost her baby.”

Will – “She was pregnant?”

Lt. Daghlian – “Yeah, about five months. She still in critical
condition and hasn’t regained consciousness.”

Will – “Five months, that’s a shame. Let me know if we find a match
to the prints.”

At St. Mary’s Convent

Lilly’s illness and her need for help comes at a bad time for Joan.
This week Joan needs to keep in top physical condition, but what
could she do? She had to try to help Lilly.

Before going to bed, Joan applies a liberal portion of Cee-Cee’s
sports cream everywhere she can reach. In the morning, she only has
one small bruise on her hip. Only time will tell if proactive
treatment actually works.

As expected, Sister Sarah takes Joan into a separate room to practice
her routine. Before they begin, Sister Sarah asks, “Please sign this
for me.” She hands Joan a clipboard, “Sign here and also at the
bottom of the second page.”

Joan – “What is it?”

Sister Sarah – “Applications for Dance at Dawson State. You still
need to apply online, but you also need these forms submitted. I’ll
take care of submitting them. There is a registration fee of $40. Can
you afford it?”

Joan – “Yeah, I can ask my dad. I’m sure he will give it to me.”

Sister Sarah – “Good, bring it with you on Wednesday. Now, let’s see
what you and Cee-Cee have come up with.”

Joan runs through her routine while Sister Sarah watches. When she
finishes, Sister Sarah doesn’t say anything. She appears to be
thinking.

Joan – “What do you think? Is it that bad?”

Sister Sarah – “No, it’s actually very good, but there’s something
wrong after your Karate moves.”

Joan – “I know, I’ve been working on the transition, but it’s hard.”

Sister Sarah – “It’s not you, it’s the routine. We need something
different in there.” Again, Sister Sarah pauses to think, “Do you
know how to square dance?”

Joan – “No, I’ve never done that.”

Sister Sarah – “I think that’s what we need. Let me show you.” She
starts with the Karate moves, twirls, and does several square dance
moves before continuing with the routine, “See, it works much
better.”

Joan – “Yeah, I like that, but you need to help me with those moves.”

Sister Sarah – “Sure, it won’t take long. Square dancing is easy, and
the judges will love it. It is the Maryland state folk dance.”

At the Police Station

Lt. Daghlian – “We found a match for the prints. It's a Leroy
Johnson. He has a juvenile rap sheet a mile long, but nothing since
he turned eighteen.”

Will – “Well, he might get off as a first offender on the burglary
charge, but we still have attempted murder. Do we have an address?”

Lt. Daghlian – “Carlisle and Toni are on the way there now. He also
drives a white Pontiac Bonneville. I've put his plates out on the
wire.”

Will – “Find him.”

At the Herald

Rebecca – “Hey, I have a story for you if you want it. How would you
like to go to the Anderson Clinic and report on the demonstration?”

Kevin – “The anti-abortion demonstration?”

Rebecca – “Yeah, you can try to interview the protesters and
patients, and get both points of view.”

Kevin – “Sure, I'd love to get out of here for a while.”

Rebecca – “I'll want the story by the end of the day. Can you do it?”

Kevin – “Yeah, I'll have it ready.”

At School

Joan – “I think I blew my calculus quiz today.”

Luke – “What are you studying?”

Joan – ”Lines, intersecting lines, and skew.”

Grace – “Bless you.”

Joan – “Ha ha, but I really do need help. Luke, can you help me after
school?”

Luke – “When?Don't you have to work tonight?”

Joan – “Well, ah, maybe you could come with me. Did you see Sammy's
new geek-a-palooza section?”

Grace – “Never mind, Luke. In study hall, we do calculus, and at
work, you teach me something. Deal?”

Joan – “What do you want me to teach you?”

Grace – “That you won't find out until tonight. Do we have a deal?”

Joan – “Yeah, I guess so.”

Glynis– “I love calculus. What is the first derivative of a cow?”

Friedman – “Prime rib.”

Joan – “Huh?”

Glynisslaps Friedman, “Hey, you weren't supposed to give the answer.”

Luke – “Shouldn't it be a porterhouse steak?”

Adam – “No, T-bones would be the first derivative.”

Glynis– “It's a joke, guys.”

Joan – “Oh, I get it.”

Adam – “What are we supposed to learn in government today?”

Grace – “Creative reading.”

Luke – “I thought we were still doing the Supreme Court.”

Grace – “We are.”

At the Anderson Clinic

Kevin is pleased to see the protest is civil. He interviews the
protesters, and learns their views are pretty much as stated on their
signs, “Abortion is Murder,” “Adoption is a better choice,” “No
RU-486.”

He tries to get a patient to talk to him as she was going in, but she
ignored his advance. When she leaves, one of the protesters taunts
her, “Abortion is Murder!”

Woman – “Frack you!”

Kevin tries again, “Can I ask you a few questions? I'm from the
Arcadia Herald.”

Woman – “I don't have anything to say to you.”

Kevin – “Please! I have already talked to the protesters. I would
like to get a patient’s point of view.”

Women – “I'm a murderer. Can't you read the sign?”

Kevin – “Do you really believe that?”

The woman continues walking, but then she turns around and decides to
talk, “My baby has Downs syndrome. Do you know what that is?”

Kevin – “Yes, I've heard of it.”

Woman – “But have you lived it? My brother has it. I love him dearly,
but I can't knowingly bring a child into the world with that
disorder. This pregnancy will be terminated tomorrow. My husband and
I will try again, and when the test comes out negative, we will have
our baby. Now leave me alone.”

The woman leaves and Kevin considers getting lunch. Then he spots a
woman he recognizes coming out of the clinic. A man is pushing her in
a wheelchair.

Kevin calls, “Teresa!” He rolls toward her and she recognizes him.
She motions to the man pushing her to continue. Kevin forces his
wheelchair in the way, “Teresa, I need to talk to you.”

Teresa – “We don't have anything to say to each other. It's over.”

Kevin – “That's what I want to talk about. Please, just give me a
couple of minutes.”

Teresa thinks for a moment, and then asks the man to leave. He asks,
“Who is this guy?”

Teresa – “An ex-boyfriend.It's ancient history. Don't worry about it.
I'll meet you at the car.”

The protesters become annoyingly loud with their chanting. Teresa
says, “Okay, but let's get away from these maggots.” They roll up the
sidewalk a ways and stop, “You know, I haven't thought about you in
years, and I've been quite happy with that.”

Kevin – “I know, you have every right to be mad at me.”

Teresa – “You don't know the half of it. Why are you here, anyway?”

Kevin – “I'm working. I work for the Arcadia Herald. Why are you
here?”

Teresa – “Why do you think?”

Kevin – “No, I mean why are you in Arcadia?”

Teresa – “I'll graduate from Dawson State in the spring.”

Kevin – “I've been trying to find you, but all anyone knew is that
you got married and disappeared. Is that your husband?”

Teresa – “Fiancé. My marriage only lasted a year. What do you want
with me? Haven't you done enough?”

Kevin – “That's what I want to talk about. I'm really sorry about the
way I treated you.”

Teresa – “You think that makes it all better? What makes you think
you can date someone until you have your way with her and then just
dump her?”

Kevin – “I know I did wrong. I just want you to know that I'm sorry.”

Teresa – “Well, you can be sorry about this. This was my second
abortion. The first one was during our junior year.”

With that, she rolls herself toward the car, leaving Kevin with the
realization of what she has just told him.

At the Police Station

Jeannie – “Will, Brother Jimi is on line two.”

Will – “Thanks.” He picks up the phone, “Brother Jimi, I haven't
forgotten, three o'clock Thursday afternoon.”

Brother Jimi – “Good, we are really looking forward to being able to
tell you about some of our ideas. Have you considered our invitation
to the fundraiser this Saturday?”

Will – “Yes, it has actually turned into a family affair. Our
children will be there for most of the evening, but Helen and I have
decided we would rather only attend for a few hours. Will that be all
right?”

Brother Jimi – “That will be fine. We are just happy you will be able
to come.”

Will – “Great, then I'll see you on Thursday”

Brother Jimi – “There is one more thing. I understand you are looking
for a young man named Leroy Johnson.”

Will – “Yes, he is wanted for burglary and attempted murder.”

Brother Jimi – “Well, I know where he is. He would like to turn
himself in, but he's afraid. The reports have been saying 'armed and
dangerous' and he is neither. Can you assist?”

Will – “Where is he?”

Brother Jimi – “At my house.Would you come and supervise his
surrender? I've told him that you can be trusted.”

Will – “All right, I'll be there with a couple uniformed officers
shortly.”

Brother Jimi – “Thank you.”

At School

Luke – “Wow, that was quite a compelling argument you made, but I'm
surprised you are even interested in the issue.”

Grace – “I'm not really, it's hypocrisy I abhor. Limiting political
ads prior to an election is obviously abridging the freedom of
speech. A moron can see that.”

Joan – “But isn't it a good thing that they are doing it?”

Grace – “That's not the point. The Supreme Court is supposed to
decide what is legal or illegal, based on the Constitution. If the
people would rather the Constitution say something different, there
is a process for amending it.”

At the Herald

Rebecca – “This is wonderful. You've managed to present most of the
arguments for and against the issue. I especially like that part
about the high school athlete who got his cheerleader girlfriend
pregnant and then dumped her. I think everyone knows someone like
him.”

Kevin – “Yeah, I knew someone like him, too.”

Rebecca – “But you misspelled 'arrogant'.”

Kevin looks at his article, “Oh yeah, 'errorgant'. I guess I was
thinking of something else.”

Rebecca – “Well, fix that and you'll have another Girardi byline
tomorrow.You deserve it.”

Kevin – “Thanks.”

At the Bookstore

With Joan taking care of the customers, and Grace restocking, they
have free time in short order. When Joan and Grace return to the
counter, Joan asks, “Are you going to show me what you have in that
bag now?”

Grace – “There's something I need to tell you first. I've decided I'm
going to keep the baby.”

Joan is surprised, “You are? That's great, but it's really going to
change your life!”

Grace – “I know. I'm sure they would find good parents to adopt her…
ah, him, but I don't think I could deal with never knowing my own
child. I can take care of it… sorry, him or her, and I have your
parents and mine to help.”

Joan – “Don't forget me, Luke, and Adam, but you can have all the
poopy diapers.”

Grace – “Yeah, I've been practicing barfing the last few mornings.”

Joan – “Are they going to let you stay in school when you start
showing?”

Grace – “Mr. Dingle is an idiot, but he does have access to a lot of
information. They can't kick me out. I'm going to finish high school.
I'll need that since I plan to home school.”

Joan – “You really have this all planned out!”

Grace – “No, not really, but I've decided that if I'm going to do
this, I'm going to do it right.”

Joan gets up and hugs her, “You will be a wonderful mother.”

Grace – “I want you to teach me how to knit. I have everything we
need in the bag.”

Joan looks through the contents of the bag, “Wow, you sure do.
Booties, great choice! Your baby's going to be born in the summer, so
I'm glad you didn't pick a sweater. Babies can always use booties.
This says it's a half-hour project, but forget that. Who knows how
long it will take us to make them?”

Grace – “I never thought I would be doing this.”

Joan laughs, “And you're not even a hundred. Well, things change,
they always do. This is actually fun, once you get the hang of it.
It's relaxing.”

Grace – “Relaxing I can use. This has been a stressful past few days.
Hey, I need to use the restroom before we start, do you have one
here?”

Joan retrieves a key from under the counter, “It's in the back, just
past Sammy's office.”

After Grace leaves, Joan hears a noise. She calls out, “Is somebody
there?”

God – “I'm always here, Joan.”

Joan peers around the bookshelf to see God with his mussed hair,
black eye shadow and lipstick, and assortment of protruding hardware.
“Oh, it's you. I haven't seen you in awhile.”

God – “You see me as you want to see me.” He holds up a book,
“Interesting reading, Whose View of Life?\ ”

Joan – “Hey, you're a little late, Grace has already made her
decision.”

God – “And how do you feel about that?”

Joan – “I think she made the right choice, but there are a lot of
people who would disagree. What do you think?”

God – “People make choices every day, good choices, bad choices,
small consequences, big consequences. It's all a part of life.”

Joan – “Oh, and life is the crux of the debate. When does it begin?”

God – “When do you think life begins?”

Joan – “That's just it, there doesn't seem to be an agreement.”

God – “Do you remember when we first met at your school?”

Joan – “How can I forget that? I thought you were a pervert!”

God – “I told you a lot of things about yourself. What else did I
say?”

Joan thinks for a while, trying to remember the details of what he
told her. After a few moments she remembers, “I've known you since
before you were born?”

God – “Hey, I love your dance routine.” With that, he smiles and
walks toward the door.

Joan – “Wait! What about nursing? Is that what you want me to do?”

God doesn't answer. He just waves and continues walking.

Grace – “Do you know him?”

Joan – “Nobody really knows him. Hey, let's get to our knitting.”

At School

It's finally the day for the long-awaited job fair. Joan is one of
the few students who are actually excited about it. Mr. Price is
quizzing students as they enter the room.

Mr. Price – “Mr. Friedman, what career field interests you?”

Friedman – “I thought I would check out medicine, since Joan invited
a rep. Maybe I'll become a doctor… Doctor Friedman, gynecologist and
obstetrician, that has a ring to it.”

Grace – “Well, now we know that Glynis isn't putting out.”

Joan – “Friedman, you are determined, I'll give you that. This may be
the only way you ever get into a woman's pants.”

Everyone laughs, even Glynis, but excluding Friedman and Mr. Price of
course. Mr. Price next queries Adam, “And how about you Mr. Rove?
Mrs. Girardi has prepared a presentation.”

Adam – “Yeah, I know, and I plan to talk to her, but Grace has
invited people from the union and trades. I'm been thinking about
brick laying. I thought I would follow in Rodin's footsteps.”

Mr. Price misses the allusion and comments, “Well, I'm sure you would
do well in that trade.” Mr. Price then directs himself to Luke, “And
Mr. Girardi, what is your interest?”

Luke – “I think I'll just browse.”

Mr. Price – “Ms. Girardi?”

Joan – “Nursing.I want to become a nurse.”

Joan is pleased when Mr. Price responds, apparently sincerely,
“That's a good choice. You would make a fine nurse.”

Mr. Price – “Ms. Figliola?”

Glynis– “I don't know. I guess I'll just browse, too.”

Joan enters the job fair and finds that Friedman is already talking
to Ms. Jordan. She decides not to join him, because she would rather
talk to her privately. She begins to browse and spots Flight
Attendant God.

Joan – “Still flying the friendly skies?”

God – “The most common reason why people choose a career is because
they want to feel useful. Flight attendants are useful, especially
when something goes wrong.”

Joan – “I suppose, but wouldn't I be more useful as a nurse,
especially with…” she looks around, “ah, you know what.”

God – “Did you know your grandmother was a nurse?”

Joan – “Grandma Alma?”

God – “No, Agnes.She was very good, until she became ill.”

Joan – “So, you do want me to become a nurse?”

God – “The choice is yours. Oh look, Ms. Jordan is free. You better
hurry.”

At the Police Station

Carlisle – “Mrs. Mitchell has regained consciousness, but her husband
is refusing to let us talk to her.”

Will – “We really need to know if she can identify her attacker.”

Carlisle – “He says she can, but he doesn't want her to have to do it
yet.”

Will – “Well, it can wait for a while. We have the prints.”

Carlisle – “Hey, tell Kevin I liked his article this morning. He's a
good writer.”

Will – “I'll tell him. He doesn't get to write his own stories often,
but they are always good when he does.”

Carlisle – “I just heard there's been an incident at the Anderson
Clinic. There's a unit on the scene investigating.”

Will – “Do you know what happened?”

Carlisle – “Some kind of fight.”

Will – “I'll have a unit stay there for the rest of the day.”

At School

Joan – “So, the programs are the same. If I go for two years, I can
become an LPN, and if I complete all four years, I can become a RN.”

Ms. Jordan – “Yes, the course is designed to allow you to achieve
whichever goal you are seeking. Some choose to complete the four-year
degree. Others choose the two-year degree, begin working as a LPN,
and then complete their RN training part-time. Which is best depends
upon your situation and your goals.”

Joan – “This is going to be harder than I thought it would be,
chemistry, biology, psychology, philosophy, public speaking, all in
the first year!”

Ms. Jordan – “It is hard work, but I'm sure you can handle it. It
does seem to be what you want, and motivation can overcome many
obstacles. There are also tutor's available for most subjects.”

Joan – “Yeah, I already have one in mind. Thank you so much for
explaining this to me.”

Ms. Jordan – “It's been a pleasure.” She gives Joan her business
card, “Call me if you have any other questions.”

Joan – “There is one other thing. Do you know anyone at the
Children's Hospital? I was wondering if there might be a job there
for me.”

Ms. Jordan – “I do know some people. I can make some calls.”

Joan – “Thank you. I do have a good job at the bookstore, but I've
been thinking that it might be a good experience for me to work
there. I can start to learn how things work.”

Ms. Jordan – “I'll let you know if I hear of anything.”

At the Police Station

Will – “Are these the people from the Anderson Clinic?”

Officer Gibson – “Yes Sir, Mr. and Mrs. Jamison, and Mr. and Mrs.
Oglesbee.”

Will – “Do we know what happened?”

Officer Gibson – “I believe so, sir. I found two witnesses who tell
the same story. Mr. Jamison was leaving the clinic, pushing his wife
in a wheelchair. When they reached the protesters, Mrs. Jamison and
Mrs. Oglesbee got into an argument. Mrs. Oglesbee threw some kind of
red liquid onto Mrs. Jamison. Then Mr. Jamison hit Mrs. Oglesbee.
Then, Mr. Oglesbee and Mr. Jamison began fighting. That is when we
arrived to break it up.”

Will – “Okay, who is charging what?”

Officer Gibson – “Each is charging the other with assault and
battery. Mrs. Jamison is charging Mrs. Oglesbee, and Mrs. Oglesbee is
charging Mr. Jamison.”

Will – “Do they want lawyers?”

Officer Gibson – “The Oglesbee's lawyer is already here. The
Jamison's is on the way.”

Will – “Good, call me after each of them has had time to talk to
their lawyers.”

At School

After Joan finishes talking with Ms. Jordan, she wanders over to be
with Adam, Grace, and Luke. She begins to listen to the conversation.

Luke – “How does someone learn to become a brick layer? Is there a
trade school?”

Tradesman – “There is technical training followed by apprenticeship
training, which is typically about three years.”

Adam – “Is there any way to accelerate it?”

Tradesman – “There are courses offered online, and they can be
completed at whatever pace you choose, but the on-the-job training
must be on-the-job. That length of time is determined by the hours
that you work and your proficiency.”

Grace – “Okay, I assumed you were joking. Luke, you can't be
serious!”

Joan – “Adam, you don't need to follow exactly in Rodin's footsteps.”

Luke – “I'm going to need to earn a good wage.”

Adam – “I'm not going to be able to go to the North Carolina School
of the Arts.”

Joan and Grace drag Adam and Luke outside. Joan talks to Adam, and
Grace talks to Luke, but each is listening to the other's
conversation.

Grace – “Listen brain boy, you are not becoming a bricklayer. You are
going to college, and someday, you are going to figure out that those
little string thingies are actually rubber bands.”

Joan – “You were so excited about going to NCSA. What happened?”

Luke – “But I'm going to need to support you and our child.”

Adam – “I was accepted, but I won't get the scholarships I had hoped,
and my college fund is not as large as I believed. I can't afford it,
at least not until I can save up some more money. If I go to NCSA,
I'll run out of money by the end of my second year.”

Grace – “I don't need your support. My parents will take care of me
and our child.”

Joan – “Duh, haven't you heard of student loans?”

Luke – “I need to do the right thing.”

Adam – “I have this thing about going into debt. I won't do it.”

Grace – “This is not up for discussion! If you don't go to college,
we are through.”

Joan - Okay, I know you're disappointed, but there are other options
than bricklaying. You know that Dawson State has an art program. It's
not NCSA, but it can't be that bad.”

Adam – “I really didn't like the instructor there. I already know a
lot more than he does.”

Luke resigns to Grace's demand, and they stop their conversation.
Joan and Adam continue.

Joan – “But didn't you say they offered you a scholarship? With the
scholarship, maybe you could go there for a few years and then finish
at NCSA.”

Adam – “Well, maybe. My dad and I will have to look at the numbers
again.”

Joan – “I really didn't like Mr. Dreisbach, but I learned that I
didn't have to. All I had to do was allow him to teach me. Sure, it's
nicer if you like your teacher, but you don't have to like him to
learn from him. And you know what the best part would be?” She
doesn't wait for Adam to answer, “Maybe we can go to college
together!”

Adam – “I have definitely been considering that, but that would be
the only reason I would go there. Wasn't it you who said that I
shouldn't pick a college just to be with you?”

Joan – “Yeah, but now you wouldn't be. You'd be going to Dawson State
because that is what you can afford. Having me there too would just
be a great perk!”

Adam – “When do you find out if you're getting in?”

Joan – “I'm not sure. I'll have to ask.”

Adam – “Okay, I'll apply after school and we'll see what happens.”

At the Police Station

Will – “What do they have to say?”

Lt. Daghlian – “They both correctly detail the assault against them,
but ignore the one they perpetrated.”

Will – “Okay, let me speak to their lawyers.”

After a few moments, Will and the lawyers meet in a conference room.

Will – “Catherine, it's good to see you maintaining a high standard
of clientele. Mr. Snyder, it's nice to meet you, too. Now, I have
heard both accounts, but what you don't know is that I have two
witnesses who tell the complete story.”

Catherine – “Who are these witnesses?”

Will – “We'll get to that. Anyway, no charges have been filed yet.
We've only taken statements. It looks like both of you have good
cases for assault and battery. So, you and your clients have a
decision to make. You can both decide not file charges and go home,
or we'll arrange for bail hearings. Let Lt. Daghlian know of your
decision. Thank you for your time.”

At School

Joan is sitting at a library computer, logged on to the Dawson State
web site. As she pecks away, she talks to herself, “And last but not
least, Modern Dance Techniques II.” She pauses for a moment and then
hits the enter key. A message appears, “Your application has been
submitted to the registrar and copied to the email address provided.”

She decides to check her email to verify that she did receive a copy
of the application. She begins to read the subject lines and comments
as she goes through deleting the spam, “‘Your PayPal account has been
violated', no, you want to violate me, ‘Important Notice: SECURITY
MEASURES', no thanks, I don't have an account with Wainwright Bank.
Oh, there's one from the IRS, ‘You have a refund coming', fat chance
of that, ‘From the desk of Mrs. Ali Musa', yeah, Nigerian scam, ‘Hi
its me', who cares.” She begins to delete the message, but then she
notices the return e-mail address, egirardi@jhmi.edu. She opens the
message and reads:

‘\ Hi Joan, I sure miss you. Good news! Dad let me have e male. Let
me know if you get this. Heheeheh, let me know if you don't get it
to. Dad says I can use the computer for school too – blah – and to
talk to you and few friends. Hey, can you find out if Zoe has e male?
He showed me Google and a cyclopedia. There really kind of neat. I
think Google has a problem with it though. Every time I search for
something, a place called eBay always says they have it. Strange. Not
a lot else has happened. School is okay. My friend Lauren likes
poetry, so I told her you liked Emily Dickenson. It's so cool that
she has my name. Sorry, it doesn't take much to get me excited.
Anyway, she got her book and has been reading her. We had her over
for dinner and it was so funny. Mom asked her to say the prayer and
this is what she said:

*In the name of the bee
And of the butterfly
And of the breeze, amen*

*After dinner, she showed me the poem. Isn't that awesome! Oh! I've
been warring the scarf you gave me to school. Everyone likes it, but
they think I'm wired. It's really not that cold yet, but I like to
wear it anyway. It smells like you. What was that perfume again,
leopards breath and which hazel? I get to go to singing lessons twice
a week. Ms. Thatcher is great! She's been playing different songs for
me, and having me try to sing them. She says that learning different
kinds of songs is good, but I still like country western the
best.\ *\ `Only
Hope <http://dc19.4shared.com/download/12732264/a8d0a6d0/Mandy_Moore_-_Only_Hope.mp3>`__\ *\ is
the song she had me learn yesterday. When I sing it, I can feel it.
It's so cool! Your going to have to tell me how your dancing went
with CC. Well, dad says its time for me to get off the computer. He
just showed me how to use the spell checker and put the music clip
in. Right me. Emily*\ .