Pop: Chapter 23b

    Of course, we called Dad immediately.  He didn't sound too concerned over the phone, but with him, one can never be that sure.  He was already thinking about having Sam have one last check-up before moving anyway, so this was just one last thing to add to the visit.

    The rest of the morning on campus was routine.  The athletic supervisor suggested that Sam move in a few weeks early, due to his accelerated timeline for registering.  We'll see to that, but I'm not sure how enthusiastic Sam will be to that.  We ate lunch at one of the food places that have popped up since I was here.  That too bad, but I'm not sure if I would've liked such a variety when I went here.

    This afternoon, we went to check up on Pulse.  Technically, I did mention to Addie about possibly buying the building, but since we're not married, yet, she shouldn't complain.  I mean, I already have the money.  Okay, the Burton family has the money, but I was able to hammer out a fair deal for all involved.  I have had some ideas about what to do with the place, and they should work out.  Especially since I know where I can park now without having to stop at a health food convenience mart for validation.  Although, they do have those protein bars I like.

    We next went to the store where I'll be having my signing on Saturday.  I wasn't planning on checking up, but with the storms, I wanted to make sure.  I had sent an email, and later a text while at UK, but the store hadn't responded.  Turned out, they had some windows broken out in the storm and were closed to the public.  Apparently, they had updated the customer info, but not the owner's personal sites, which were the ones I was using.  They were just reopening to the public when we arrived.  The manager apologized about missing my messages, but there really wasn't a problem.  We did decide to push back the event by an hour, just to make sure everyone knew that the signing was still going on.  I would still be there early, of course, just in case someone misses the update.

    Then, we went grocery shopping for non-perishables.  There is a chance the power will have to be off at times so that the remodeling can finish up.  The fridge will have to be cleaned out by the time we leave on Sunday, but having a few more supplies stocked up in the pantry can't hurt.

    By the time we were done, it was almost six.  Yeah, for all of my planning, I'm still one of 'those' shoppers who just can't help but check out everything in the store, even if it isn't on my list.  It only happens with groceries.  And sometimes books, but what can I say?  I need to check out my 'competition' every now and again.  Anyway, we had an early dinner at this new restaurant, Catalino's.  Pretty sure that name is made up.  Some pretty good sandwiches though, almost good as some of the ones in New York.  Sam might just like it here after all for the next few years.

    As soon as we got back, Sam went straight up to his room to sleep.  Well, he is a 'growing boy' after all.  I just hope he doesn't get much bigger.  I have a feeling that he'll be asked to play basketball all the time, and he has no game.  That's the problem with being small for so long.

    I finally open my eyes and look at the screen.  Dang!  It's almost eight-thirty.  I must have dozed off myself for a bit.  I turn off the television and get up.  I guess I should go to bed myself.  I've got a lot to do tomorrow.  I turn off each light I go through the rooms and into the hall.  I had already locked all the doors when we got it.  I strip off my shirt and pants and dump them into the hamper in the hall as I pass by the bathroom.  I leave the socks on until after I use the toilet.  Don't want any splashing on my feet.

    I go into my bedroom, heading straight for the bureau when I remember.  I already took all of my clothes up to the spare bedroom, including my pajamas.  I double check all the shelves, but everything's empty.  Looks like I'll have to sleep in my briefs, not that I haven't before.  Or less.  Everything's ready for bedroom set to be taken upstairs by the movers, or least the parts we're keeping for now.  The only thing left down here will be the sheets, and I'll stuff them in the hamper I soon as I get up.  The pillows will be moved a bit later, and the mattress is staying.  I think. Can't remember if I'm getting changed tomorrow or not.

    I take a look at myself in the mirror.  I can't help it, but I look good.  Not great, but pretty good.  I do a double biceps pose for my own benefit.  Yeah, I could stand to improve, but I'll still be in great shape for the wedding. I shouldn't have done that, as thinking about Addie is getting me all excited.  I barely got a chance to kiss her yesterday.  Well, it has been a few days.  I take off my briefs.  Yep, I'm ready.  Better now than in bed.  Sure, the odds are low, but it almost happened last night.  And it's only happened once this year.  Nowhere near as often as when I was a teenager, but the chance is there.  I don't want to have to explain myself if I 'stain my sheets.' I mean, it has been quite a few days since I could do this.  I start a bit before going into the bathroom to finish.  

    This is going to be a great night.

    This is going to be a great year.

    This is a great life.

Pop: Chapter 23a

    Addie and her family left early this morning for St. Louis.  The airport wasn't too badly affected by the storm, so they were back up to their regular schedule.  Before she left, Addie left my a suitcase full of some of her essentials that she wanted to make sure got here safely.  I wanted to be with her more, but with the storm and her family, we barely had time to kiss before she went back to the hotel.  I woke up a few times on my back overnight because of it.  Hey, it needed the extra room.

    A special delivery from Addie came this morning just before Sam and I went to UK.  A large number of boxes of some more of Addie's things.  It was lucky that Sam's appointment got delayed, or we wouldn't have been here for it.  I'm not sure the neighbors would have liked having to sign for so many things.  As it was, it took Sam and I a few minutes to haul everything up to the spare bedroom.  That place is going to get awfully crowded soon. I can't wait until The new master suite gets delivered, so we can store more of these things.  Addie will be sending one last large shipment over, with all the really big things, just before the wedding.  I am not sure what will be left.

    Dad and his aide made it back to Richmond well-enough.  There had been some wrecks along the way, but far more than what Pete saw on his way back to Morehead.  It looks like he'll be taking the job at Berea, so there's going to be another waves of moving going on soon.  At least I don't have that much to move down from New York.  Sam will probably have to split his stuff between my house and Dad's.  That is going to be a headache to plan.

    Sam hadn't thought that much about going to UK before declaring, so he never got the chance for a full in-person tour and interview.  Yes, we had been on campus, unofficially, to look around, but never as part of the official athletic department's program.  Sam had been so sure of going to Dad's school, he never gave UK the full treatment.  I basically forced him to look the campus the few times we came down for games and holidays.  Since classes weren't in session most of the time, he never got the full experience, but I hope this helps make up for it.  Even if classes still aren't is session.

    One of the things he had to do was have a physical examination.  Nothing out-of-the-ordinary. However, I was right.  Sam is now six-foot five, and a quarter inch!  I knew he was in the middle of a late growth spurt.  Sam is also about twenty pounds underweight for an athletic young man of his stature.  He's going to have to check with his regular doctor to see if there's anything wrong with him.  Sure, his growth spurt could be normal, and that could explain why he's underweight, when added to his constant swim practice, but there's also a chance that he could have a medical condition.  With all the history on Dad's side of the family, and all of the unknowns on his biological mother's side,  Sam could have any sort of issues to come up.

Pop: Chapter Twenty-Three

    "It looks like next week is going to be clear up to the weekend, as the tropical storm is going to just graze the Gulf shore before dying off over Georgia."

    "That's great Craig.  Coming up, we turn to sports and the latest on UK's run through the NCAA baseball tournament."

    I mute the television.  I don't feel like listening to any more of the late evening news broadcast.  I lean back in my recliner and shut my eyes for a sec.

    The last twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind, pretty much literally.  I was hoping the news would cover the storm some more, but after a day, there wasn't much left to cover.  Lexington got off pretty easy. Power out for some blocks on the north side, trees down in numerous spots, minor damage to a few buildings and vehicles, but no serious injuries.  There were two deaths over in Clark county.  Overall, Kentucky got off light compared to what happened in Indiana and Illinois. Twelve deaths combined.  Huge damage to some smaller towns.  When the derecho crossed over to Kentucky, it started to die off.  It still caused thousands of dollars in damages, but nowhere near as bad elsewhere.

    Luckily, my smart thinking saved the Camaro.  Not even a dent.  Rick wasn't so lucky, as his SUV had its windshield broke out completely.  At least they can afford the repairs, I guess.  Pete's truck faired fairly well too; only a few minor dings.

    I was watching the news to see if Addie was mentioned again.  She managed to phone in a report for the late night broadcast, which got repeated for the morning report.   I guess it wasn't important enough a day later.  Instead, the station let Craig Phillips go for his usual forecast.  He's the one Addie will be replacing this summer, as Craig is bound for Indy in a few weeks to join a sister station.  Maybe sooner.  Technically, Addie will be on weekends while the weekend weather person gets the evening shift, but Addie will probably be bumped up to the spot by the end of the year.  The station is trying to keep it all quiet until just before he leaves.

    After I talked to Sam, we and the guys went back up the stairs to the second floor to an open door to the emergency stairs.  We then walked down to the basement level to find Addie, my Dad, the rest of the wedding party, the catering staff, and the night manager for the center.  It turns out that it was standard procedure to lock the main doors in a weather event.  However, it was a mistake on the manager's fault to lock the stairway entrance.  Addie had been trying to call me, but either the basement doesn't have good reception or a tower had been knocked down in the storm.  Anyway, everybody was safe.

    Sam apologized to Addie and her family for his outburst, while the caterers went back upstairs to finish clearing up from the dinner.  Sam then apologized to Dad, who promptly asked if I had told him.

Before I could respond, Sam said that I hold told him everything about why Dad was selling the house and leaving New York.  Dad then corrected Sam and asked if I had mentioned that Sam was going to be my best man.  In all the confusion about the storm, and the fallout from Sam's outburst, I had forgotten to announce the fact.  At least with it coming out like this, the offer won't come off as some sort of token of forgiveness.  Rick was only planning the party; he and my other friends already knew that Sam was getting the position.  There was much hugging before we left to survey the rest of the damage.

    Will's wife's sister had kept all of the kids safe in the hotel's own basement.  In a stroke of luck, Jim's wife had made the same wrong turn that he did and wound up taking shelter in the wrong building.  Jim was able to make sure both his children and the rest of his clothes were safe from her anger.  They aren't reconciled yet, not by a long shot, but all five of them are still going on to Florida to visit Jim's family.  The storm should miss them, if barely.

    Will gave Rick the names of some therapists in the Lexington area to help Rick deal with his issues of his guilt over his former doctor.  Rick is going to help out Pete get in contact with some local government officials, just in case he does get called out to run for office.  Meanwhile, Pete would use his connections in local school systems to see if there is an interest in starting a program to monitor kids like Ray to make sure their stories don't turn our as tragic.  I offer my own help, but it really wasn't needed yet.  Rick doesn't need an editor or ghostwriter, yet, if ever.  Pete has a stronger connection to local politics than I knew.  How did I not know, or remember, that the four of us registered as the same party back in high school.  Well, I waited until college after I turned eighteen, but we all voted the same way that November.  I definitely have nothing to offer Will beyond seed money for any projects, but that will be a little down the line.

    I will always love these guys, even if we aren't really that much alike any more.

Pop: Chapter 22c

     "Look, I don't care or mind whoever it is you like and date.  I just want you to know that I support you in whatever you do.  I just wish you could have told me instead of sneaking..."

    "Chaz is not my boyfriend!" Sam yells. "And he probably never will be," he adds in a softer tone.

    "Sam, I know that Chaz has been staying overnight at least once a week for the past few months.  Usually two or three times.  The security systems pick up on that.  The house may be big, but it's just small enough to know that something has been going on.  I don't mind, really."

    Sam sighs before answering.

    "Chaz lives in a small house with his three younger sisters.  There's only three bedrooms, so Chaz doesn't have his own room.  He usually sleeps in the living room.  Most nights, it was difficult for him to sleep or study.  So, on nights before big tests and such, I invited him over to stay so he could rest.  His parents knew every time he stayed over.  Dad did too."

    "But not me?"

    "No.  We never thought that you should know.  You were gone for much of the last few months, with your big tour and wedding plans.  Dad and I just thought it would be better if you didn't have one more thing to worry about."

    And yet Dad wanted me to keep all of these other secrets from Sam.  How did he keep everything straight.

    "Okay, I see that, but that doesn't explain why he was over this past Monday.  You two graduated high school last week.  There must be something more going on."

    "Unfortunately, nothing more than what you and your friends did in your 'Rounds.'"

    "What did Rick tell you?" I blurt out.

    "Nothing.  I mean, anyone could guess what you were talking about.  I'm eighteen after all.  Teenage boys haven't changed that much since you were my age." Sam responds.

    "What did you mean by 'unfortunately' though?'

    Sam sighs again and hangs his head before answering.

    "I've had a crush on him for the past two years.  I was always hoping he liked me too. However, I was too afraid to tell him.  We seemed to be getting closer these last few weeks.  His parents had visitors over the holiday weekend, so he asked to stay over one last time Monday night, so we could get in some laps together Tuesday morning.  We shared a bed that night, but nothing more came of it.  I thought it would.  I mean, Chaz is into girls, but he seemed turned on by guys a few times as well."

    "What happened?  Did you tell him anything?"

    "When we were changing into our trunks at the pool and we were both naked, I told him I liked being with him and that I liked the way he looked.  Naked.  I had never had to courage to say those things before.  He brushed it off, but I guess he was kind put off by it.  We barely said anything before we took off so I could get back and clean up to see Dad.  In hindsight, that was a warning sign."

    "Go on, Sam."

    "After I saw you and Jim last night, I felt even worse.  So, I tried calling and texting Chaz.  It was almost midnight before he responded.  I tried to tell him how I was feeling and what I saw, but Chaz just said that he didn't want to talk to me any more.  He was getting ready to head out to Tucson for college early for a part time job over the summer.  He hadn't even told me he had applied to Arizona!  I thought he was staying in NYC.  I almost told him I loved him, but he cut me off and told me he admired our friendship, but that was all it was. He hung up on me.  He hasn't responded since.  I was so mad.  That's why I wanted revenge.  I thought that if Chaz and I were just near each other for a little longer, I could make him see me the same way I saw him.  I'm sorry I hurt you and Jim, really I am. I wanted to blame you for my pain." Sam starts crying and lays his head and my shoulder.

    I wait a beat before I take his head in my hands and turns it to face me.

    "Sam, I can't say I know what you're going through.  You feel like you have lost your first big chance at love, and that it cost you one of your best friends.  You and Chaz might make it around again, maybe not.  Maybe you should have told Chaz sooner, maybe not.  At least you still have your memories."

    "But it isn't fair.  You get to have your friends back.  Why can't I have just one?" Sam blubbers.

    I sigh.

    "Sam, I was almost a decade before I saw Pete and Will again after they left.  I hated them for a long time for things that weren't even their fault.  I barely acknowledged Rick, and he moved in down the street from me.  Yeah, we finally got back together, and I now know why we fell apart.  We each had our secrets that prevented us from staying close friends for so long.  But we will never be as close as we were.  I've been trying so hard to fix our situation, but I think we're just too different now to ever be that close again."  I pause.

    It hurts saying that, but I know it's true.  

    "Pete, Will, and Rick know me better than almost anyone else that I'm not related to, and vice-versa, but we aren't the same any more.  Sure, we will always have ties, and we won't hate each other. But, as hard as I want it, we will never be as close as we once were.  But we will still be friends, and maybe, you and Chaz will be that way again.  Just give it some time."

    With this, I look up and see the guys coming out of the restroom.  Jim has taken off his wet clothes and has a T shirt on and Pete's jacket wrapped around his waist.

    "What happened to you?" Sam asks as he turns to look at my friends.

    "I needed some dry clothes, and they volunteered." Jim answers.

    " I can see that, but how."

    "Well, I was the only one with an undershirt, so I gave it to him." Rick answers. I can see his dress shirt is still partially unbuttoned.

    "And I didn't need my jacket, so we decided to tie it around his waist, since none of us could lend him any pants." Pete explains.

    "Uh, that's not gonna cut it, if your jangly bits are still out."

    Will isn't looking directly at the rest of us.  I can just barely tell that he has removed his belt.

    "They're covered," Will responds, "I took off my briefs for him to wear.  I was the one closest to his, well, girth.  And well, a man needs to help out his brother.  So, I'm going commando, for now."

    "Yeah, you do anything for your brother." I rub Sam's hair as I say this. 

    "However, that still is a little gross.  Just saying." I laugh to ease the tension.

    They laugh with me.

    "Come on," I say as I stand up.  "We'll probably have to go up a floor to access the stairs.  We really need to see how everyone else is doing. Oh, and Jim. Try not to expose your back to anyone, if you can help it."

Pop: Chapter 22b

     "I mean, we could have just moved somewhere nearby.  I would still be near the university.  It wouldn't have been so hard..." 

    I stop Sam before he finishes his thought.

   "Sam, the university was never going to allow you to enroll."

    "Wait.  What?" Sam sputters.

    "Just before your junior year, when Dad thought he would finally go back to teach a little, the university informed him, that under no uncertain terms that you would be allowed to enroll.  Even if you were the best swimmer in the region, which you almost are, and with the best possible grades, which you almost got as well."

    "Why not?  If I was good enough, why wouldn't they want me?"

    "Blame our grandfather, again."

    Sam groans.  "What did he this time?"

    "Well, while Dad had the grades to get into school, he wanted to be a studio art major.  While most of the department thought he had the talent to succeed, one or two of the higher ranking professors felt otherwise and were going to strongly suggest that Dad go into art history or even another department instead.  Our grandpa wanted Dad to stay close to home so much that he offered to fund the school's new mechanical engineering lab if they would just allow Dad to keep his major and stay at the school.  The school's board of directors agreed and the new lab was started before Dad even started his third year."

    "There's a building on the grounds named for our grandfather?  I didn't know that." 

    "Well, there was.  Let me go on.  When Dad wanted to pursue his Masters at the school, the head of the art department wasn't having any of it.  Grandpa greased the wheels again, and he had a cancer wing built onto the school's medical center.  It was dedicated just before Dad graduated.  As a final stroke, donated the majority of the funds for a new office complex for the school, just so that Dad would be hired as an assistant professor.  The former head of the art department retired before allowing that to happen, but grandpa had his wish.  Too bad he died before he could see it through.  The naming rights went to someone else, but Dad was there at the opening ceremony."

    "So, Dad only got his degree, his job because of grandpa?" Sam asks.

    "Kind of.  Dad had the talent, but not the attitude many of the professors liked to see.  Dad was more folk art, Rockwell and Moses, while the faculty was all modern art.  The head was actually a friend to Andy Warhol if I'm not too mistaken.  That's why Dad was pushed into getting out of his comfort zone so much, like with his thesis films.  He hated doing them, but his professors wanted him to feel discomfort.  Dad still can believe that there are so many fans for his student work."

    "But they didn't want me because," Sam leaves the question hanging.

    "The university felt that the Burton family would lead to another scandal if you became an accomplished athlete, even if you got in entirely on you own merit.  I mean, our family fortune isn't as deep as it was.  This infuriated Dad, but he calmed down enough to come up with a compromise.  The cancer wing would be renamed for his mother.  The engineering lab would be renamed for anybody else.  The university thinks it will need replacing in a decade or so anyway.  Dad would come back to his office for one last semester in the spring to check on any students he had that were still there after three years of sabbatical.  The school wouldn't bad-mouth him if he looked for another job."

    "And here I thought he was still waiting to return." Sam says.  "Wait a minute.  Did you help me get into UK?"

    "Me?" I laugh.  "I don't have any pull whatsoever there.  All I did was inform your swim coach that you should apply to more schools, including Kentucky, because of the problem.  Your coach didn't know the details, but he did encourage you to check other schools.  You got into UK entirely on your own, based on your academics and athletics, no Burton interfering at all."

    "I just wish you could have told me, then I wouldn't have acted up so badly."

    "You just wanted to have as much of your life back as you could.  Your house.  Your school, Your boyfriend Chaz."

    "What do mean by 'my boyfriend!'" Sam yells.

    Oh-oh.

Pop: Chapter 22a

    "Remember how bad Dad was after you mother and Candi died, recovering from the transplant and other cancer treatments."

    "Yeah, it was all but a miracle that he made it." Sam replies.

    "Well, he wasn't able to take care of all the arrangements that had to happen after they died.  He left most of that up to his legal team.  For instance, putting me into temporary guardianship over you."

    "I know."

    "Well, Dad also had to deal with you mom's clinic.  Dad was in no way to handle it, even when he was well.  So, the legal team starting making plans to sell the clinic to an interested buyer who would keep it open.  The entailed going over the clinic's records, including finances.  Dad's accounting team handled those, and they found something odd."

    "What did they find?: Sam asks, some trepidation slipping into his voice.

    "About ten months before your mother died, she withdrew about sixty-thousand dollars from her and Dad's joint account.  More than once over week's time.  She deposited the money into one of the clinic's sub-accounts.  Five weeks or so later, she returned the money to the joint account, but none of the interest.   Dad couldn't remember her mentioning that the clinic needed any emergency funding.  Some of the former employees were asked about the money, too.  Not many had stayed in the area after the clinic was temporarily closed.  None knew about the transfer or any reason for one.  

    "The primary theory was that an employee had performed the transfer, hoping to ultimately steal the money from the account.  Your mother found out and returned the money, without notifying authorities about the intended theft.  Tax forms showed everything about the transfer, and no one had bothered to flag the incident.  With your mother dead, everyone thought the case was closed.  However, Dad still felt that something was off.  He told me about it, and I immediately realized what the problem was when he told me about when she returned the money."

    "Why was that important?" Sam asks again.

    "She returned the money a few days after Dad got his cancer diagnosis.  Now, part of this might be projecting about my own mother, but your mom could have been planning to divorce Dad and squirreling away money was part of it."

    "NO!  Mom wouldn't have done that.  Why would she put the money back then, if she wanted a divorce?" Sam yells.

    "This is only a possible theory, Sam.  However, it does fit.  If your mom divorced Dad, she would have only gotten less than half the total amount of Dad's assets.  Enough would have been held up in trusts for you and Candi, as well as various other funds, that she would have needed some extra money to continue living in the lifestyle she was accustomed to.  Dad lets accountants handle everything.  He wouldn't have noticed that you mom would have been doing something wrong, and the accountants wouldn't have caught it either until after the fact."

    I pause a second until Sam nods for me to continue.

    "However, if Dad had died while they were married, then she would have access to almost everything. The only funds that she wouldn't control would be our sister's trust fund, but Candi would almost definitely let your mom have some access to that, especially if she hadn't been found."

    "But what about my shares, or yours?" Sam asks.

    "I was missing.  Your mom could've declared me dead or disinherited for a lack of contact.  She would have had control of my part.  As for you, your were a minor.  She would control your trust until you turned twenty-one, the same way my grandmother denied me access to my funds until she died just before I found out about them.  Furthermore, it would have been possible for her to have you disinherited as well, since you were born via surrogate.  Since you weren't even her natural child to begin with, she might have even thrown you out when you turned eighteen, but that is the worst-case scenario. Still, she had done such things before."

    "What things?  Are you telling me that mom ..."

    I interrupt Sam before he completes his thought.

    "Your mother was a senior nurse at the hospital where our grandfather was staying at after his first heart attack.  Some of her colleagues at the time suggest she was planning on cozying up to him in an effort to possibly marry him and get his money.  She only went after Dad when she realized grandfather wasn't the kind of man to remarry on a whim.  To accomplish that, she tricked the investigators looking for me after my mother went one the lam into stopping the search.  She made them think the notice came from grandpa just before he died.  She may have even got 'closer' to one of the detectives, if you catch my drift.  So, a few months after grandpa died, she married Dad.  My mother had her divorce fast-tracked, so nothing stopped your mother from getting the rich lifestyle she craved."

    "I can't believe this is happening,"Sam moans.

    "Sam, not all of this can be proven.  Your mother might not have been a gold digger.  She could have just took an opportunity when she saw it, and most everything else was a coincidence.  Still, Dad didn't want the happier memories despoiled by staying in the old house.  He needed to leave, as he had no more ties to the place once you start college.'

    "I would if I have gotten into Dad's university.  I still might be able to.  If the memories attached to him were the reason, we could have moved to allow me to stay in the area."

    "No.  You would never have been allowed to enroll there.  Ever."

    Time for the next shoe to drop.

    At least Burton males are known for their 'third leg' to let that happen.

Pop: Chapter Twenty-Two

    I leave the restroom into the dimly lighted hallway.  I almost call out for Sam, but I notice someone sitting down on the floor a few yards away.  I walk over to the spot and sit down beside him.

    "I thought you'd be here sooner or later.  I heard you guys searching for me.  After Jim went by, I knew it wouldn't be much longer before you found me." Sam says.

    "What happened?  Jim said he though he saw you poking your head form the ladies' room."

    "After I left the dinner, I ran to the elevator.  It had just arrived when I got there.  I rode it down to the first floor, thinking I would just run out to the car, or possibly just across the street.  As soon as the door opened, the lights flickered in the hall.  I saw a man running to the stairs we took earlier just as the lights came back on, before they went off again and he was gone.  I ran to the doors, but for some reason they were locked.  That's when I noticed the clouds.  Then there was the lightning.  I ran back to the stairs to the bottom floor, but that door was locked too.  I wanted to hide from you, so I felt that the ladies' restroom would be a good spot.  I was pretty sure it would be empty, and I was right.  I hid in there when the power cut off completely and the storm started to shake the building.  I stayed in there until I thought I heard something come through the glass."

    At this point, Sam points to the main entrance.  One of the rather large planters, about thirty pounds, that had been beside the door had been thrown into the hall.  I guess it was possible it was the wind, but I suspect it was Jim.

    "I saw Jim when I poked my head out to check.  I didn't know if he saw me or not, but if he had, you would be coming soon after."

    "So, you knew we were in the other restroom?"

    "Yeah," Sam answers, "I heard the four of you yelling when the storm started. I was just glad you didn't have the time to look in there.  Is Jim alright?"

    "A few cuts and soaking wet, but I think he's fine."

    "No, about me ruining his life by thinking that the two of you..."

    "It's too early to know about that yet.  However, you should apologize to him later.  And to everyone else at the dinner.  Why did you do it, Sam?  This is so not like you."

    "Yes, it is." I can barely tell that Sam has turned his head to directly look at me. "You and your fiancé tricked Dad into selling the house.  We were doing fine until you two decided to leave everything I knew behind.  How could you!"

    It was time to tell Sam the truth.

    "Do you remember how Dad's mother died?'

    "What?! What does this have to do ..."

    "Just humor me Sam.  It'll make sense."

    "She died of cancer.  Woman cancer, I guess." Sam sputters.

    "Uterine.  Grandfather insisted that she should stay at the manor as long as possible.  When she got too sick to climb the stairs, he moved her to the servant's quarters downstairs.  Now, they had a live-in housekeeper at the time.  She stayed there through the week and went to her own place on the weekends.  Grandmother insisted that the housekeeper take one of the upstairs bedrooms.  Dad was at school at the time, so grandfather was the only one up there.  There was plenty of room, and grandfather had the master suite to himself.  After one week, he told the housekeeper that she would be moving to one of the smaller downstairs rooms, and that she couldn't tell grandmother anything about it.  'Servants stay downstairs,' he said. The housekeeper refused.  She decided to stay at her place from then on, only coming it to do her job and check in on grandmother.  There was also a stay-in nurse, but she was only there for grandmother.  After she died, the housekeeper quit.  Dad found out all of this at the funeral."

    "What happened next?" Sam asks.

    "After that, grandfather just hired a cleaning crew to come in on a regular basis and did much of his own work.  When Dad inherited the place, he refused to hire any staff because of what his father did.  That's also when he got sick, he refused to use that room where his mother spent so much time before she died, at a hospital mind you.  He just associated that room with too many bad memories.  The same thing holds true for his brother's and sister's deaths."

    "What do you mean by that?"

    I continue.

    "When Dad's baby brother got cancer, Dad had just been allowed to move his bedroom further away, to the room that became his art studio, the one of the far left end of the hall.  He was about six and his brother was four.  Maybe seven and four."

    "I know."

    "Anyway, grandfather had insisted that Dad's brother stay in the nursery as much as possible, only going to the hospital at the end.  Just before our sister cam along, Dad had the nursery remodeled into a walk-in closet and made the sewing room a new nursery."

    "Wait, my old room, it was once something else?'

    "Yeah, Dad didn't want his kids to be sleeping in the same room where his brother had been suffering.  That's why you and our sister got a new room.  With monitors and such, it was safe enough to be that just across the hall when you were old enough.  Do you remember how Dad's sister died?"

    "Yeah, she had hit her head while playing in the backyard or something.  Right?" Sam responds.

    "Dad's mother had taken him and his brother for a doctor's appointment, leaving Dad's sister to be watched by grandfather.  He had stepped inside to take a phone call, landline, this was years before cells. When he went back outside, a few minutes later, about the same time Dad got back, there she was lying on the grass near the pool.  She was in a coma for three dies before she finally died.  For decades, that was what Dad believed, but it was a lie."

    "What really happened?" I noticed a slight trace of sarcasm in Sam's tone.

    "A few weeks before grandfather died, he told Dad the truth.  He had been on the phone for over an hour.  There was no way of knowing how long she had been lying there.  Grandfather had felt so guilty, that he tore down the playground and doubled the size of the pool."

    "Wait.  The pool wasn't always that big."

    "No.  Dad actually had liked swimming in it, until he found out.  When he got the house, he didn't use it for years until your mother insisted that it should be used for you and our sister.  Every time he saw you two swim, all it did was bring back bad memories.  The entire house is that way for him, especially after the deaths of your mother and sister.  He never wanted to live there after his father died, and with you out of school, this seemed like a good time."

    "Why did he stay then?

    Time for the second shoe to drop.

Pop: Chapter 21c

    Jim begins to say something, then stops.  He starts back.

    "Ray was my best friends, partially because he didn't have anyone else.  Scrawny, quiet, kinda ugly to be honest.  I could be around him and not be attracted to him the entire time.  Some of the other boys, I had these strange feelings for, almost as bad as those to Chris." Jim nods towards me as says this. "But with Ray, none of that mattered.  With him, I could be me.  Our friendship started to fall apart when he asked me about doing something similar to what he was planning to do to you, bro."

    "Wait, what," Will chimes in.

    "It was a few weeks into senior year. Ray never had brought up with what happened with you Will. During one of our, 'sessions' together, he suggested that we might want to try something different.  Now, we had being doing our own thing since eighth grade, every few weeks.  Just watching and working it off. Out of nowhere, Ray wanted us to try 'that,' just to see what would happen.  Now, I would never consider doing that, not ever.  I just find the idea unpleasant.  When I said 'no,' Ray got all weird.  He may have thought I would go for that, I don't know.  Anyway, he got his clothes and left.  I tried to talk to him the next day, we had four classes together that year, but he avoided me.  After awhile, I stopped trying and hung around with you guys for the most part.  It wasn't until spring that Ray and I started to talk again.  We started to make plans for college, together, but when he disappeared that summer, I just gave up one him.  I still wanted to see him, at least one more time, just to tell him what he meant to me, you know."

    Yeah, I know, all too well.

    I try to look at the other guys faces in the darkened restroom.  In the soft glow of our phones, I can just make them out.  

    Pete's on my right.  I have been holding a grudge against him for no reason besides taking over my old friend's house.  Now, he is so beyond me.  The big lug, a jock all this time.  He could have had so much. 

    Rick is just to my left.  He's keeping quiet, probably trying to guess how to help out Jim, if he's done what we suspect.  I knew he had been keeping quiet on something and that it was starting to gnaw on him.  I was just so far away.

    Will is tending to his brother's wounds.  I had noticed how timid he had been yesterday, and this evening, but I would never had guessed what had happened to him.  He's going to need therapy himself to get over all of this guilt.

    And Jim.  

    "I hope Sam hasn't cost you your family.  What he did was wrong." I say.

    "Don't worry too much.  I called over to my sister-in-law as soon as you left, Jim.  She is going to make sure that your kids are going to stay where they are.  Your wife isn't going to take them.  At least not tonight." Will responds.

    "I knew you would be looking out for me not-so-little bro," Jim adds as he reaches up to mess up Will's hair.  "As to Sam, I think I'll be able to forgive him, in time."

    "Thank you."

    "Chris, I think I saw Sam on my way here."

    "What, Jim?"

    "Yeah," Jim answers.  "I think I saw him ducking his head out the ladies' restroom.  I can't be sure, but he's the only male around here that tall.  You might want to check on him."

    "I've got to check on Sam.  Be back soon."

    I rush from the restroom to find Sam.

Pop: Chapter 21b

     Will immediately jumps up and closes in on his brother.  The rest of us slowly rise and shine our phones on Jim.  He looks a mess.  He is soaking wet, a puddle forming at his feet as water is running down his clothes.  Pete rushes to grab some paper towels while Rick and I just look on.  Blood is running down Jim's face from multiple spots.  Nothing too serious, but then I'm not one of the two doctors in the restroom.

    "Jim, what happened?" Will asks, as he starts taking some of the towels from Pete and starts examining Jim's face.

    "It was horrible out there.  Can I sit down, first?  That storm took a lot out of me." Jim starts heading to the back and sits down on the first stall.

    Jim takes off his left shoe and pours the water out onto the floor, where it runs towards the back of the stall.  He puts it back on and takes off the other one before he starts talking again.

    "It took me a minute to go after my wife.  I guess she slapped me harder than I thought.  Anyway, she had already took the elevator down by the time I reach it.  She must have punched the buttons for every floor, because the elevator was taking forever to come back." Jim puts the shoe back on.

    "It took me a minute to find the stairs and start down.  On the second floor, I could see her running through the parking lot.  I should have realized something was up.  It shouldn't have been that bright.  I ran down to the first floor, winded.  I barely noticed bumping into some short, bald guy as I raced through the door.  That's when I finally noticed that all of the lot's lights were on, way too early.  I looked up, and the sky was almost pitch black.  Dark gray clouds were just flying by.  I didn't think about them as I hobbled my way across the parking lot."

    Jim is taking off his jacket and trying to shake some of the water off, to little effect.

    "I'm really out of shape, and those dress shoes weren't helping, either." Jim continues, rubbing his large belly through his drenched shirt.  "You know, I could piss myself right now, and you couldn't tell, these clothes are so wet.  In fact, I think I may have a little while the worse of the storm came though.  I made my way to the street, almost going the wrong way.  I had ran a few yards before I turned around the right way and saw the storm coming.  That's when the thunder started in earnest, as well as the tornado sirens.  I might have heard one thunderclap when I left the center, but now it was revving up.  I could see the sheets of rain approaching.  I ran back to the hotel, crossing the street just as the lights went out.  Fortunately, there were no cars out, or I would've been trouble."

    "The hotel's doors were locked, or broken, or something.  I banged on them, but they wouldn't open.  Because the power was out, I couldn't tell if there was anyone in the lobby to help me in.  That's when the first raindrops started.  I quickly decided that going back to the center was the best option, as opposed to staying at the main door or finding another entrance to the hotel. The hail and the wind started before I got back to the parking lot.  At least these extra pounds helped keep me planted to the ground."  Jim rubs his belly again, before reaching down to take his shoes off again, and then takes off his socks.  He starts to wring them before stopping and just placing them on the tank behind him.

    "I stayed away from trees and poles, due to the lightning.  I weaved through the few cars left in the lot, trying to keep out of the worst.  I made it back to the door, but it was locked too.  I tried to huddle up behind one of those huge planters by the door, but it barely helped.  I kept getting hit by hail and debris.  I moved after I realized I was by one of the drains.  Finally, a large hunk of something flew by and hit the door, shattering the glass."  Jim was looking right at Rick when he said that last part.

    "Very lucky that you were able to finally get in," Rick responds.

    "Yeah, it was," Jim answers.  "I knocked out a few last pieces of glass, before I was able to make my way in.  The storm was mostly over by then.  I must have been out in the rain for about twenty minutes. I made my way down the hall to the men's room."

    "We heard a hard crack of thunder a while ago.  That must have been you coming in."

    "Yeah.  I guess I through open the door a little hard.  I shuffled my in, and I heard Will talking about what happened to him.  I kept quiet to listen to the story.  I am so sorry Will.  If I only knew.  You should have told me this sooner."

    "I know.  It was just.  Well, Ray was pretty much your only friend, and you were his.  I didn't know what to do." Will begins to shake. "I didn't know."

Pop: Chapter 21a

     Will takes a breath before continuing.

    "Jim and Ray hung out over the summer a few times, but I made sure I was never with them.  Shortly after school started back, the two of them had a falling out. Jim didn't really have any other friends, so he hung our with us much of the time.  It wasn't until the spring that the two of them reconciled.  They were going to be roommates in college, even with Ray's poor grades.  After graduation, our family went to Florida to visit my uncle for a few weeks.  When we got back, Jim couldn't find Ray anywhere.  Ray's mother said he just went to work somewhere, but she didn't go into any details.  Jim could tell that Ray was still around somewhere, but he was never able to contact Ray before college started.  When Jim came home that first weekend, he told us that Ray never even enrolled, even after being accepted.  Jim gave up trying to find him, but he would still be on the lookout if anyone else had."

    "Will," I ask calmly," what happened to Ray?"

    "I found out from my girlfriend that year, Bobbie Sue, that Ray had been kicked out of his house by his stepdad a few days after graduation, with barely more than the clothes on his back.  Ray wound up shacking up with Bobbie's cousin, ten years older than him.  She kicked him out a year or two later, after they had a baby.  I never told Jim, though.  Not even when he wanted Ray to be the best man at his wedding, and I had to take Ray's place.  About a month after that, when I was helping out at a rehab center, I saw Ray.  He had been with another woman, got her pregnant with twins, and left her.  I found all of this out from a co-worker.  None of this is confidential, by the way.  That information, I was never privy to. Still never told Jim, not even when he named one of his own twin boys after him."

    "Why didn't you tell Jim about this?" Rick asks.

    Will squirms.

    "I felt that Jim was better off without him.  Ray almost did something to me that was disgusting.  I kind of enjoyed keeping them apart, if only to save Jim from finding out how bad his best, and only, friend was."

    "Only friend?" I ask.  I was sure Jim was more popular than that.

    "The two had known each other since just before kindergarten.  Jim was always well-liked, but he kept most people away.  He barely dated, never anything steady, and it shocked me when he announced he was engaged.  In hindsight, it makes sense.  He was unsure of who he was, and I kept him from the one person who he did feel close to."

    Pete starts to open his his mouth, but a quick press on his arm from Rick stops him.

    "A few weeks ago," Will continues, "some workers clearing out a local cemetery found Ray's body, right behind his father's gravestone.  He had been missing since just after Christmas, about the anniversary of his father's death.  Overdose.  While growing up, his stepdad wouldn't allow Ray to visit the gravesite.  Ray's cousins tried to help, but that monster was stubborn as all get out.  The cousins just managed to pay for the funeral, as the stepdad wouldn't.  I don't think Ray's mother and sisters were allowed to go, although I think the sisters are almost eighteen now.  It was through one of them that I managed to find out about Ray. If only I had spoken up sooner, Ray could have gotten help.  Now, five children from three different women will grow up without their father, even if wasn't that good of a man.  He was just trying to, I don't know,  escape somehow."

    Will starts to cry, deep heaving crying.

    "So, that's why you've been so nervous around Jim lately." Pete says.

    "Yeah," Will whimpers through the tears. "It has been so hard keeping these secrets from him for so long, especially since I found out about Ray's death.  I should have told him so long ago, and now it is too late."

    "If you didn't want to keep this a secret for so long, why did you decide to apply to the same medical school your brother got into?  If it were me, I would have picked anywhere else." Rick wonders. "At the very least, you should have tried to get into UK."

    "I did.  I was accepted.  Easily." Will responds.

    "No you didn't.  We kept pestering you, but you always said you never even thought about applying."

    "Well, I did, and I got accepted.  Virginia was only one of my backups.  I only went there because of my parents.  When Jim got married, my mother talked to his bride and found out that he didn't seem to have any friends.  This got my parents so worried, that they begged me to go there too, to make sure that Jim had some extra form of support.  They were getting ready for the move toFlorida to be with my uncle, and they were afraid that Jim would need someone else in his life.  It wasn't the best position for me, but I would do anything for Jim." Will says.

    "You didn't have to that for my account."

    "JIM!" we shout.

Pop: Chapter Twenty-One

     "What do you mean be 'almost assaulted?!'" Rick exclaims as the echo from the thunder finally dies down.  "What happened that you never told me about?"

    "Don't blame yourself.  At the time, I didn't think it was as big as I'm making it out to be.  Maybe." Will stops chuckling.  "I shouldn't even bring it up, but it has been driving a wedge between me and Jim lately. I barely tell my own therapist this stuff.  I guess it's just the nature of being a psychiatrist."

    "Will," I start, "tell us what happened."  Everyone else is.

    Will inhales a few times before he starts.

    "It was the week after I finished eighth grade.  Rick was in Lexington getting his operation, but I didn't know that at the time.  Jim had just started a job volunteering at the hospital.  Dad was driving him, as Jim wouldn't get a car until just before school started back.  I had gone to a neighbor's house to swim.  They were just about the only ones around who had a pool, so they let many of the local kids use it.  As long as there was someone old enough around to make sure no one drowned or anything like that.  That afternoon, it was only me and Jim's best friend Ray.  He lived over a mile away, but he always seemed to be around.  He and Jim used to let me hang around with them, on occasion.  They never got me into any trouble, but it was kind of weird, now that I think about it."

    "I had been swimming for, like, half an hour.  There had been others around when I came by, but there were only me and Ray left.  The woman, Mrs. Rogers, maybe, had just went back inside for something.  Well, I felt that I had to pee.  They had facilities just inside their garage, just off from the pool.  The Rogers were very strict about anyone going in the pool, so I quickly got out, put on my sneaks, and ran to the garage.  As you know, swim trunks don't have flies, so I had to pull them down far enough to go.  I was just standing there, when I heard someone come into the garage and open the door.  I was in such a rush, I hadn't locked it.  I yelled, 'Occupied!' but they still came in."

    "It was Ray.  I was just about to yell at him to wait his turn, when I noticed that he already had his trunks down, exposing his, excitement to me.  This was the first time I ever saw it, and I was scared.  Ray then tried to grab me from behind and push me down."

    "Wait, wait. Will how come you never said anything about..." Rick sputters.

    "Let me finish.  Now, Ray may have been almost eighteen, all but an adult, but he was short.  Maybe five six or so.  I, however, was in the middle of a growth spurt, and nearly as tall as he was.  Sure, I was bone skinny, but I had some leverage on him.  I was able to shove him off of me before anything happened.  I pulled up my trunks and ran out of the garage.  I grabbed my towel and stuff from the pool and ran all the way home.  It wasn't that far.  Ray never came after me.  After I had been home for a while and calmed down, my Mom came to my room and told me that dinner would be late.  There had been an accident on highway, and Dad and Jim would be held up for some time.  They would try to find a detour, but that might take them longer than just waiting for the accident to be cleared."

    "Since I had the time, I decided to go over to Ray's house and beat him up." Will simply states.

    "What?  Beat him up?  That's so not like you.  I don't remember a single time, in all the years I've known you, that you got angry. Especially not to the point of hurting someone." I chime in.

    "Well, I guess it was hormones and almost getting violated.  Anyway, I walked the mile plus to Ray's house.  I had been there enough time with Jim to know the way.  I snuck around back to his bedroom window.  I was just barely tall enough to see into in; the curtains were fully drawn.  No one knew I was there.  That's when I saw Ray.  He was lying on his bed, without any clothes on.  And there was his step-father, about ready to do to Ray what Ray had almost done with me."

    "Will, if this is too much for you, you can stop any time.  If this secret is this bad, then maybe you should stop." Pete tries to calm Will down.  I can just barely tell that he's shaking.

    "No.  I need to say this.  Ray's father died in a mining accident when Ray was only two.  His mother remarried a huge hulk of a man.  Well over six four, two hundred thirty, easy. She had twin girls, but that really took a lot out of her.  I guess that step father needed something he couldn't get elsewhere, and he wasn't going to look for it outside of the marriage.  I ran back home, and I never told anyone at the time.  Not about what happened to me or Ray.  In hindsight, I should have, and maybe this story wouldn't have such an unhappy ending." Will goes on.

Pop: Chapter 20c

    "About three years ago.  I had just started back working after my paternity leave with Darrin.  I met a lawyer at the court house I hadn't seen in a few months, Douglas Anderson.  At first, I thought he just wanted to catch up, but he needed to see me about a case of his.  See, Dr. Mendel's daughters had hired him about something that happened to him in prison." Rick goes on.

    "Are you sure you should be mentioning this?  Privilege and all."

    "It's fine Chris," Rick pauses.  "You see, a few months after he was incarcerated, Dr. Mendel castrated himself, or so he said."

    "What?! Why did he do that?" Pete cries out.

    "He might not have.  The daughters think in was some of the other prisoners who went and did that.  Maybe even some of the guards.  Mendel wasn't speaking about it, even after he was transferred to another prison.  Everything was cut off.  He couldn't even go to the bathroom until a special prosthetic was put in.  The doc kept saying it was because he felt ashamed for what he did.  Doug was going around asking some of his former patients if he actually did do anything with them, beyond encouraging them to have their pictures taken.  The daughters felt that someone had been spreading rumors at the prison, possibly management, so that their father would be attacked.  Mendel wasn't cooperating, so the daughters were going out on their own to sue.  I told Doug what I remembered, and he asked if I could be deposed when the time cam."   

    "Ouch.  What happened next?  Some of this sounds familiar for some reason."

    "I'm getting there," Rick continues.  "I had trouble sleeping the next few nights.  I couldn't help thinking that I was the cause for all of this.  I was the one who came forward and brought Mendel to justice.  I didn't even tell my wife until she caught me sleeping that weekend in the middle of drinking.  I wasn't drunk, technically, but I was tired and it wasn't going to take much to get there.  For the next few months, I would drink one weekend a month to help clear my mind, but it wasn't helping. Almost a year after that, reporters had gotten wind of Mendel and other problems at the prison."

    "That's why it was so familiar.  I read it in the paper awhile back.  Maybe on television too."

    "I don't read the newspaper any more.  Not my taste, but I may have seen it on tv."  Pete chimes in.

    "Well, with the publicity, the prison struck a deal.  No trial, so I wouldn't have to testify, but I still felt that I was to blame for Mendel's injury.  Sure, he deserved to be sent up the river, but not the pain he suffered.  I started going to a counselor soon after.  Sorry I didn't ask you for a consult, Will, but I didn't want you to know."

    "None taken," Will says after a few seconds.  He has spoken in a few minutes.  Almost as quiet as the thunder.

    "Yeah, she has been saying I should open up more, but it didn't feel right, until tonight.  Last night actually.  When I went to get some of my last special edition brews and they were gone, I thought I had been drinking them without remembering.  Didn't even think that Jim took them.  My counsellor thinks I should quit alcohol, at least for awhile, until I get my head in a better place.  She's probably right.  I've just been so confused lately.  I've even been thinking about leaving law and going back to writing.  True crime stuff, like I was going to report on before I got enamored and sidetracked.  Maybe when I take off for the new baby. I could really use ..." Rick stops.

    A loud crash roars through the hall.  This is the loudest the thunder has been for a few minutes.  And here I thought we were through the worst of it.

    Will starts laughing as the roar dies down. He just keeps getting louder as the echoes of the thunder subside.

    "Dude, what's wrong with you?  Rick just spilled his guts and now you are laughing at him."  Pete yells.

    Will stops as the last slam of the thunder suddenly ends.

    "It's not you or Rick, it's me.  I finally found out why your were gone when I needed you the most." Will gets serious, his laughing over.

    "Will, what's do you mean?" Rick asks.

    "Well, while you were getting operated on that summer, my brother's best friend tried to assault me."

    This night just keeps getting weirder.

Pop: Chapter 20b

    A low rattle of thunder rolls through.  Definitely winding down.

    "He told us the basics as soon after we sat down," Rick continues.  "He told us how the first pervert was detained by UK security, but the guy wouldn't reveal how he got those pics of me and the other patients.  Not through the school, fortunately.  Dr. Mendel had left a few years prior after his wife died.  No one knew where he took off to.  Other former patients of his were being scoped out, based on the information on some of the pictures, but not might not get any leads.  Furthermore, because the pics were released on the web, the FBI might be getting involved.  He finally added that another attorney, Collins, would be taking over the civil side of our case while he would be staying on just to keep tabs on the criminal proceedings."

    "Why didn't you tell us anything about this sooner?"

    "There were naked pics of me online!  While I was kind of an exhibitionist at the time, this was another matter entirely." he shouted. "Do you want me to finish or what?"

    "Go ahead, Rick.  I'm sorry I interrupted."

    "As we were finishing up, a young woman came in with some papers and refreshments.  Thompson said that she was his daughter, Elaine.  She was finishing up a semester early at Transy and was already shortlisted for UK Law."

    "Hold up.  I guessed Elaine might be older than you, but not that much older than you." Pete pipes up.

    "You don't mention a woman's age, Pete.  But yes, she is a few years older than me.  Don't bring it up again." Rick says, with just a touch of threat lingering behind the statement.

    "Gotcha.  Moving on." Pete almost whimpers.

    "When Elaine asked me about myself, I blurted out that I was pre-law as well.  I gave my parents a sharp look to shut them up.  I was smitten on her immediately, so I kind of lied to get her attention.  Now, some of my professors had suggested I should look into law, but I never brought that up to my parents or you guys.  That following Monday,  I called up my advisor and asked to switch over to pre-law, so Elaine wouldn't think I was lying to her.  My advisor reluctantly agreed, but only if I kept going for my journalism degree as well.  After a few months of meetings with Collins, I felt that I could ask Elaine out, now that her father wasn't actively our lawyer.  We were steady by the time I got the news about Mendel."

    "Were you two using my dorm room for your 'meetings?'  I'm sure someone was using the extra bedroom after Evan moved our a few days into the spring semester.  I didn't get a new one until the next year.  I guess he felt a little embarrassed after what happened to you, but he did stay at school." Will asks.

    "I told you guys last night.  Elaine and I didn't hook up until we were married.  I didn't want to risk pissing off her dad while he was working on my case." Rick says.

    "Uh, that would've been me.  You gave us the spare key, so I used it a few times when you were out and I needed the space for me and my girlfriend to, you know.  I swear I didn't use it any more after you got that second roommate."

    "Ugh.  I wish I hadn't known that.  Please continue Rick." Will says.

    "Anyway, when I had gotten back from our spring break trip, my dad called saying that Mendel had been found in New England somewhere.  Vermont, maybe?  Or New Hampshire?  Well, he was extradited back to Kentucky, where he was charged on federal and state crimes.  I was already in law school by the time the trial started.  Having multiple letters of recommendation from Thompson's firm really helped booster my only slightly higher than average test scores.  After the guilty verdict, I proposed to Elaine and we got married a year later.  The state charges weren't contested, and the class action civic case for his patients was settled out of court.  No one got much money, as Mendel didn't have much left after his trial.   A little over a year after that, Lydia was born.  I thought I wouldn't have to deal with Mendel any more, but I was wrong." Rick sighs.

    "What happened next?  What could have happened?"

    

Pop: Chapter 20a

     Even when doing it with three of your friends.

    "My visits were routine.  I didn't experience any more painful episodes.  Not until late April, and it was minor.  When I went in the following week for my regular visit, I had grown about a quarter of an inch and put on about five pounds.  Dr. Mendel was urging me and my parents that I should get the operation soon, before my growing caused another bout of pain.  Both my dad and I agreed I should wait until after school ended for the year.  I didn't want to miss out on any finals, not to mention how awkward it would've been to explain the operation." Rick continues.

    "When I went back for the final visit the day of the operation, I had grown another inch and a half or so and put on almost fifteen pounds.  I was having pain almost every day, as puberty was hitting me, 'hard.' The doctor said the operation would have been more difficult if I had waited much longer.  That morning, I had to procedure, stayed there overnight, and left the following afternoon when it was apparent I wasn't going to have any complications.  We stayed in Lexington for the rest of the week, and when I measured myself when we got home that Saturday, I had grown another half inch.  I couldn't get the area wet, so no regular baths or swimming for a few weeks.  Hated that."

    "I could only imagine, considering how much time you spent in the shower in college," I add.

    "When I went in more a follow-up visit a few weeks later, I was a little over five ten, maybe taller than the doc.  He barely looked me over, and then he said I was fine.  My growth spurt had sped up the healing process, I guess.  By the time I started high school, I was just over six feet tall, one of the biggest guys in our class.  And I finally looked like all the other guys, down there.  I was no longer embarrassed in the restroom or locket room.  In fact, I guess I had a 'cockiness' to be myself, now that I no longer had to hide." Rick laughs at his own little joke.

    "I'll say," Will pipes in.  "You would barely open up to me back in grade school, and even then I felt you kept things back.  When all but stripped down naked that first time in the locker room for PE, in front of so many strangers, I couldn't believe it.  Or when me and Pete did the same."

    "Hey, I joined in too." All four of us laugh at that point.  Who knew that barely a month later, we would see a lot more of each other.

    "I didn't think about that any more, until our second year of college," Rick carries on.  "When Pete had left, Chris needed a new roomie.  I volunteered, especially when one of Will's pre-med classmates needed a new room himself.  His name was Evan, something."

    "Evan Neilson.  I haven't heard from him years, not since he moved out."Will adds.

    "Well, those first few weeks, I would accidentally wind up in my old room, since in was at the near end of the hall.  Evan didn't seem to mind when I walked in unannounced, but he would rarely talk to me when you weren't there, Will.  Finally, in October, I asked him one day, why he didn't want to talk to me.  He hesitated a minute before finally saying that I looked like a person in some naked pictures his old roommate had on his computer.  Now, I got naked a lot more frequently than I probably should have in both high school and college, but it was never in a situation where anyone could've taken pics of me.  I 'kindly' asked him about his old roommate and to take me to his room immediately.  Will came in, so I wouldn't get an answer from Evan for a few more days, but that Friday, Evan took me over to another hall so I could confront the guy." 

    "I don't remember any of that.  Evan was acting weird that fall, but neither of you mentioned anything." Will says.

        "I wanted to keep things quiet, until I knew more.  Reporter's instinct and all. Anyway, Evan old roommate had stepped out for a minute. He showed Evan while I stayed behind until he left. He hadn't gotten a new roomie yet, so he had the whole suite to himself.  And he was able to keep him computer out and open all the time.  So, I was able to easily bring up some of the stuff he had.  I quickly found the pictures of me.  And video.  They were the same ones Dr. Mendel had taken of me before the surgery."

    "But, you were only ..."

    "Yeah," Rick adds with a sense of finality.  "There were other pics from other patients, but the only video was of me. I confronted Evan immediately, why he didn't bring this up to the authorities sooner.  Evan didn't cave.  I mean, I was a few inches taller than him, and way heavier.  I was picking him when the roommate walked back in.  I dropped Evan and rushed the other guy.  He had seen that I had been watching his computer and ran out the building before I could catch up to him.  Campus police caught him a little later.  What that guy did was a crime, and he was kicked out of school.  Evan was allowed to stay, but on a probationary status."

    "Why didn't I hear about this?  You think this would have been all over the campus."

    "I was a journalism major, remember.  I made sure that the story was kept quiet, especially since I was part of the story.  The university wanted to keep things quiet too. I called my dad that afternoon, before I was set to go home for the weekend, and told him everything.  I few minutes later, he called back, saying that I needed to stay in town that weekend.  He had contacted a firm in Lexington that had worked with the sheriff's department frequently and that we had an appointment to see what could be done.  The firm of Collins, Jacoby, and Thompson."

    "Thompson? Isn't that..."

    "Yep.  My future father-in-law." Rick chuckles upon answering.