Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 02:56:12 +0000 (GMT)
From: Dan Perducci <danperducci@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: College Town (Part Six)

College Town (Part Six)
By Dan Perducci
danperducci@yahoo.co.uk

I knew that Stephanie might be coming to see me when she returned to
town.  I don't think she was being sneaky or anything.  And I don't
think that she was trying to `surprise' me -- but I sure was surprised.

Stephanie's eyes looked like they were going to well up with a gallon of
tears.  Her face turned a shade of crimson and she bit her bottom lip.

"I don't know why you're sorry," she said.

"I should be.  I shouldn't be..." I muttered.

"I don't know why you are..." she replied before turning a pitiful eye
toward Garrett.

Garrett looked downward and let the events unfold.

"You're looking after this kid because his father threw him out.  I
understand that."

My heartbeat settled enough.  My nervous sweating ceased.

"My next question is to ask what you're going to do about your little
fugitive here," Stephanie grinned, attempting to put Garrett at ease.

I looked at the kid and pondered this roller coaster moment.

"I saved your life," I referred to his comment after our episode on my
floor.  It was not a statement but a tone that begged for an explanation.

"I know that my dad would have killed me if I went back home."

"Don't you think you're going to have to go back to your parents?"

"I know that.  I just don't know how to go back."

"Your dad is not going to be too upset.  You were just hugging..."

Garrett became visibly flushed.

"Dad did not just see me hugging Nick.  I lied to you.  It was a little
more passionate than that."

I swallowed hard and waited for him to go into specifics.  I should have
known better.  He was not going to say anything more in front of
Stephanie.
"What time does your father get off from work?" she asked.

"At five," he replied.

I had an idea.

"Why don't we take you home now.  Your mother should be more
understanding.  Besides, she is probably worried sick over you; you know
this for a fact."

Stephanie and I gave Garrett a few minutes to collect his thoughts.  We
were soon walking him back to his apartment together.

We knocked on the door and Rachel swiftly let us into her home.  She was
obviously distraught but relieved at her son's return.

The mother drew her son close to her body and caressed his brown hair.
She was amazed at how fresh and clean he was.  She expected him to reek
of a Dumpster -- or worse.

"Garrett, don't you ever leave me like this again."

"I'm sorry," he said, "You know that Dad won't accept me like
this."

"That's for us to deal with.  You can't just disappear like that and
leave me to have a heart attack over you!" Her frustration bubbled to
the surface.

"Thank you, Chad," Rachel said to me, hinting that she needed time
alone with her son.

Stephanie and I excused ourselves and returned to my apartment.  I
resumed my laundry chores as I conversed with Stephanie about her
weekend.

It was a bizarre occurrence.  Stephanie started looking at me with the
same expression that she gave toward Garrett.

"What's the matter?  I know that he's home safe now."

I was confused as she grappled with the proper way to say things.

"I was dropping by, Chad, to tell you that perhaps we should see other
people," she finally said after a few minutes of dead silence.

"You must have met somebody," I said.

"Maybe I have," Stephanie replied, "Let's just consider being friends
for now."

TO BE CONTINUED