“Pops, I think that was a fantastic story and I’m sure I’ll be able to use quite a bit of it in my program Monday night. As I said, you will be rewarded greatly for your contribution and I wish you the best of luck in the future. I am going out to the resort Saturday and I’ll definitely look at that place with a whole different frame of mind. Thank you again.”
Marcia Meadows got up from the table and walked out the front door of the bar. Stanley T. Brown, overhearing the last part of her conversation, watched her go out and thought to himself, if she is going to be at the resort Saturday then that is where I’m going to be. I can’t let that get out of my life.
Emerging into the bright morning sunshine like a slippery newborn colt out of her mother’s womb, the mint green nose of the Chrysler minivan slid slowly out of the fog bank onto the moist black asphalt
Billy, staring at the back of his mother’s ash blonde head whined for the second time in fifteen minutes. “Mom, when are we going to get there? We’ve been driving for days.”
Lisa Forham, slightly irritated, but realizing the impatience of a nine year old, settled herself more comfortably in the leather bucket seat and without glancing back answered in an even tone. “I hope you understand young man we’ve only been on the road for seven hours. I know it must seem like days to you; but that’s only because you’re bored. We’ll be there in less than two hours. Just think of all the fun you’re going to have with your friend Jack. You haven’t seen him since last Christmas and I’m sure he has lots of neat things to tell you.”
“Yeah, pipe down pipsqueak. You’re interrupting my daydreams of all those good-looking boys I’m going to see at the lake, especially that hunk Brandon Miles. He’s totally awesome isn’t he mom? Beverly Forham at sixteen was already showing the mature beauty she would radiate in her later years. Dark haired like her father, the classic lines of her satin smooth face and long shapely legs were inherited from her beautiful mother.
“Yes, I guess he is dear. At least all the girls in America think so. I just hope he’s as nice as he acts in the movies. It would be a shame if he really is a spoiled actor like a lot of them. That, success generally goes to their head.”
“Don’t worry mom. He’s a dreamboat in real life according to all the magazine articles I’ve read. He’s supposed to be really polite and very humble around his fans. That’s the guy for me.”
“Aw Beverly, he’d throw rocks at you. He’d tell you to get lost. Wouldn’t he mom?”
“Okay you kids. Be nice to each other. I want you to be on your best behavior when we see your father. You haven’t seen him in two weeks and I want him to remember wonderful children he has.”
“Mom, I am not a children. I’m a teenager. Besides, I’m adorable.” Beverly fluttered her eyelashes and pursed her lips in a mimicking gesture.
“You’re a goon Bev,” Billy chanted. “You’re the bride of Frankenstein.”
“That’s enough guys.” Their mother warned. “Enjoy the scenery and we’ll be there before you know it.
Lisa Forham was looking forward to seeing her husband, Bill, again. They had been separated many times over the course of their marriage and each mini-reunion was better than the one before. Their love for each other was very deep, based not only on deep compassion for each other, but also a deep commitment to please the other. It didn’t take that much work, both being very sensitive to the other’s needs and desires. Their happiness was reflected not only in their children but in their friends as well. Kevin and Sue Backlin, their closest friends, had a similar commitment to each other. The two couples with two children each strived over the years to spend every major holiday and vacation together. There was never the arguments and yelling matches that many families seem to have as a core to their relationships. Even though the parents sometimes had slight disagreements with their individual spouses, these minor arguments never surfaced in public and especially in front of their offspring. The families got along so well that, they all looked forward to the many rendezvous they had over the years. The men had such a deep respect for each other not only in business but, in their personal lives that, even if one had a little too much to drink at their many family affairs and holiday parties, the last thing on either one of their minds was to make a pass at the other ones wife. It was an almost perfect relationship, achieved by the steadfast commitment to one another.