© 2024 Duleigh Lawrence-Townshend. All rights reserved. The author asserts the right to be identified as the author of this story for all portions. All characters are original. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. This story or any part thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the expressed written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a review or commentary.

Author's note: These stories are written in Literary Past Tense. Literary Past Tense describes how most of us use past tense in our stories. That is, most past-tense stories are written as though the events are happening now. Even though we're using the past tense forms of verbs, within the story itself, events are happening in the present, which explains present tense verbs in some descriptions.

All Aboard Andi's Dream

Chapter 8

The Brothers Jarecki

Eleven-year-old Paul Jarecki trudged home from school in the freezing rain. Ever since their dad mortgaged their house to prop up their failing auto lot boldly named Jarecki Motors, they were living on the edge. Then they lost the house and had to move to Tiorunda. Tiorunda was a housing project that started as housing for Wright Field, an old Army Air Corps base that became Buffalo International Airport and is as low class as you could get.

The house they lost wasn't much. It was over on Eller Ave. on the east side of Buffalo. Eller avenue and every street in all directions were filled with tall but skinny houses cramped so close together you couldn't get a full-size car between them. He hated that house; it was like living in a hallway. He also hated Tiorunda; it was like living in a slum with a nice park in the middle. Paul wanted to live with his mom's parents, Grandma and Grandpa Smolak in Gowanda. It didn't matter that Grandma Dorta couldn't speak English; Gowanda was pretty.

Paul hated being smarter than everyone he knew. He was eleven years old and had been advanced two grades to eighth grade and he felt like he was reading baby stories and doing elementary math. Paul knew he was going to go to high school next year and maybe skip another grade there and be driven further away from kids his own age. He walked as fast as his rain soaked shoes would take him. Paul was soaked and freezing and had nothing to do. He finished all his homework before his last class was over and stacked everything neatly in his locker because he knew...

"Hey Shrimp!" called Albert Crowe, the biggest bully in the school. Albert stole Paul's lunch, and Paul was starving and was in no mood for this now. Paul kept walking with his back to Albert, which infuriated the big dummy. While Paul had advanced two years in school, Albert was held back in second grade, twice. Paul's mom said it was wrong to call kids like Albert stupid. It was best to call them głupi. (Głupi is Polish for stupid)

"Hey Polack! I'm talking to you!" shouted Albert, but Paul kept walking.

Suddenly Paul was hit from behind and was sent sailing through the air. He landed face first with a splash in a deep puddle. "YES! THE HIP CHECK! The Polack was checked into the boards!" shouted Albert, trying to imitate Rick Jeanneret, the voice of the Buffalo Sabres. "Unopposed! Crowe with the shot! HE SHOOTS! HE SCORES!" shouted Albert as he kicked a pile of snow on Paul's head, then ran off with his minions, laughing.

Paul was soaked to the skin and was lying on top of his empty book bag, which was now full of water. That's why he left his homework in his locker. This little act plays out every day after school and Paul was used to it. He picked himself up, hating himself for being a punching bag. He didn't want to go home. There was nothing to eat there, nothing but tap water. Not even any sugar to mix into the water. He finally got to the big slab sided "four-plex" apartments and realized that he didn't have a key. Dad gave the key to Mrs. Benedetti for when she watched the Jarecki boys.

Each gray building had four cramped two story, two-bedroom apartments. "It's where the poor people live," thought Paul, which depressed him even more. He was sick of being the smallest kid in his class, even though he was tall for eleven. He hated being a walking punching bag, and he hated being hungry every day.

The sound of John's crying reached Paul as he rounded the corner. John was his baby brother, four years old. John was cute as a button, but right now he was crying his eyes out and his tears bored into Paul's heart. Four years ago, mom and dad handed seven-year-old Paul a tiny squirming, squawking bundle they named John. Paul wasn't impressed until their eyes met and he felt drawn to the little guy, and John felt drawn to him. Paul and John stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like forever, and fell in love. Big brother Paul could always calm down John and their parents called Paul John's babysitter, but Paul and John knew better than that. He was John's guardian angel made flesh. Paul was John's Big Brother, and he wore that mantle with pride.

Paul found poor mournful John standing in the rain in his yellow rubber raincoat and he looked soaked. He didn't have his rubber rain hat and his jet black hair was plastered to his forehead. Paul's problems and pain disappeared, and he ran to his little brother's aid. "What's the matter?" asked Paul, but John cried harder. He grabbed the doorknob to their home and pulled and twisted. They were locked out of the house. Mrs. Benedetti probably passed out again.

"Hungry," said John through his tears.

"What did she give you for lunch?" asked Paul.

"Nuffin," cried John, and he pointed to the bench in front of their apartment. She had locked him out and told him to sit on the bench. She's done it to Paul, too.

"Did she give you any breakfast?" John shook his head no. "No cereal? No toast?" John started crying harder. A window opened in the apartment next to them and a woman leaned out and said, "He's been squalling there all day."

"Did you call my folks? Did you call the cops?" asked Paul.

"He ain't my kid," she said and slammed the window closed.

"Come on," said Paul and he left his book bag on the bench next to the door and led John by the hand. "I know where to get free food, but you can't tell anyone. They'll make us move to Lackawanna."

Lackawanna was a dying steel town filled with unemployed, bitter, hard drinking steel workers. The steel mills were all closed, the union bosses took their money and ran, and the only thing that was made in Lackawanna anymore was nightmares. At Cleveland Hill Middle School, "Lackawanna" was synonymous with "Hell."

"Ok," said John.

The poor little guy was starving. Mrs. Benedetti didn't feed either of them breakfast and she didn't feed John lunch either. She sent him outside and locked the door so she could become better acquainted with a bottle of rye and was left uninterrupted.

Paul could go all day on one meal. In fact, with Mrs. Benedetti watching them, he hadn't had breakfast in weeks, and lunch was always stolen by Albert Crowe or his minions. But John was four. He couldn't go all day without food. In fact, Paul was feeling weak himself.

Holding his little brother's hand, Paul led John a few blocks to Genesee Street, a big, busy four-lane road that Paul was forbidden to cross with John. John automatically stood on tiptoes and reached up to push the crossing light button, and it was almost out of his reach. "You can do it," said Paul as he held John up to the button. The cute little guy pressed it and broke into a huge, happy grin. "You did it!" gushed Paul.

"Uh huh!"

When the light changed, Paul led John into forbidden territory. They crossed the street with moments to spare, and they had just stepped onto the sidewalk when the light changed and traffic started moving. "Come on," said Paul. "Do you like sketti?" John nodded his head vigorously. Icy rainwater splashed from his long raven hair as he nodded his head.

Paul led John through a restaurant parking lot and in the back was a battered old jade green dumpster. He moved John next to the dumpster so no one would see and then opened the lid and climbed in. "Paw?" asked John. Paw was how he pronounced Paul.

"Shush! I'm right here," said Paul as he rooted through the trash until he found what he was looking for. He's done this before, trying to deliver papers while he was so hungry he was shaking, but he saw good food being thrown in this dumpster and he helped himself. He knew in his heart he was stealing, but he was so hungry. Paul was sure there was probably some food there waiting for him. Sure enough, Paul found a large treasure trove of uneaten spaghetti. He popped above the rim of the dumpster and leaned over...

Anna Maria "Mama" Giardino was on the prowl for her husband Donatello Giardino. He's always disappearing to have one of those nasty black De Nobili cigars. He's usually right out back, but she didn't see him anywhere. She stepped outside and looked around for Donnie, but didn't see him in his usual spot. Then she heard a sound by the dumpster, and, in the waning light, she saw a tiny boy standing in the freezing rain voraciously eating a handful of spaghetti. "Madre di Dio... Mother of God!" Momma gasped and crossed herself. Such a thing doesn't happen in America! She burst into tears as a second boy popped up from the dumpster with a handful of pasta and leaned over to hand it to the tiny boy.

"No! Don't put that in your mouth! You boys come here!" cried Momma as she dashed across the parking lot.

"John run!" cried a terrified Paul. "They'll put us in the home!" No one knows exactly what 'the home' was, but everyone at Cleveland Hill Middle School knew for sure that the home is where you go until there's room for you in Attica prison. Paul couldn't run because he was trapped in the dumpster and John wouldn't move. "Johnnie! Run!" But this was the first solid food John had in over 24 hours, and he was not giving it up.

"No! That's nasty!" said Momma as she lifted Paul out of the dumpster. He was so light! Then she led the both of them by the wrists into the restaurant, where Donny waited for her. John still had a fistful of spaghetti clenched in his fist and several noodles hanging off his trembling chin.

"Here, you sit down," said Momma. "Why were you doing that?" she demanded.

Paul was terrified. He has never been in trouble, so he doesn't know how to deal with it. "I was just trying to feed my brother," said Paul.

"Hungry," whined John.

"I know baby," said Mama Giardino. "Where are your parents?"

"Working," said Paul, his eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry!" he burst out. "I didn't mean to steal but John was so hungry and we were locked out..."

"Sahwee!" cried John, and he burst into tears.

"I can't pay you, but I can work," said Paul as he panicked. "I can work hard, don't send Johnnie to jail, please." On Thursdays, he delivers The Shopping News, a free local paper full of ads. He puts ten at each local business on Genesee street and one at each home in Tiorunda. For that, he gets a few dollars a month. Paul isn't averse to hard work.

"Who is watching you?" asked Donnie, who was standing behind Momma. Both were middle age and had dark hair and Italian accents.

"Mrs. Benedetti.

"Serafina Benedetti?" asked Momma.

"Maybe, Mom calls her Sara. She lives in our building. Is she going to jail with us?" said Paul, trying to hold back the terror. John cried even harder.

"Hungry!"

"No one is going to jail, except maybe la puttana," spat Momma.

"Momma!" Donnie warned. Even her husband called Anna Maria, Momma. "Can you give me a phone number so I can tell your parents you're ok?" said Donnie as a boy a few years older than Paul gave Paul and John towels to dry off.

"555-632-2315" said Paul. "Please don't drag my parents into this, we can't afford a lawyer!" Now Paul was crying alongside John. He wrapped his arms around John and said, "Take me, he's too young to go..." Paul watched a lot of police dramas with his dad. He knew what was next. Shame, humiliation, a speedy trial and a long sentence. "It's my fault!" wailed Paul. "Please don't send my brother to jail!"

"Sahwee!" John shrieked. "Please!"

"Bambino, shush" Momma said as she took a damp cloth and she wiped John's face and grubby little hands. "Nobody is going to jail, now hush. You have been a good brother Paolo, taking care of fratellino like that."

She washed off Paul's face and hands too and when she was done, Donnie appeared with two massive plates of spaghetti crowned with a giant meatball and a side of garlic bread and placed it before them. A boy not much older than Paul, their son Danny, brought two ice cold glasses of milk and set them on the table.

Paul stared in awe at the feast set before him and said, "I can't afford this!" He looked completely terrified. "Johnnie, you eat, I will wash dishes."

"You eat too!" ordered Momma. "This is my restaurant, you eat, we'll worry about dishes later!"

Donnie couldn't hold back his tears and left. Those poor kids! Momma remained and tucked a napkin under John's chin and said, "You can wash dishes? Fine. That's your job. Now eat!"

"Thank you!" And just as John tried to eat, Paul said, "John... grace!"

"Grace," agreed John. He closed his hands together, closed his eyes, and lowered his head.

"Bless us oh lord and these thy gifts which we are about to receive..." Now Momma couldn't hold back the tears.

<><><><><>

Cyryl "Cecil" Jarecki got off the phone, and he turned to his wife, who was also the company secretary and bookkeeper. There were signs of progress in the books of Jarecki Motors. The economic doldrums appeared to be over, and more people were on the lot today than this time last week, and it was a cold, rainy day. Five sales were closed on new cars, and another six were on used cars. The garage was showing good numbers as well. Car maintenance and repair were what Cecil loved, but sales were what he did best, and it drove him crazy because he hated sales. Right now, he's got a nice fat preliminary contract with the city of Cheektowaga for several large trucks.

Sitting across from him was Katarina, his wife, and his partner in all he does. She's a genius at accounting and she seems to know trends before they became trends, and she's hot. Smoking hot. It's said that Polish women are some of the most beautiful women on earth, and Katarina was the pride of the litter. She was a sexy little thing when they met and after four children (their first child, a girl, died at 2 months due to SIDS and their third born 2 years after Paul died of respiratory illness) she's sexier than ever. She has an hourglass figure that is even sexier than when he first gazed on her naked body on their wedding night. Now nearing forty, she still has radiant blond hair above and below, but she wants to try dyeing it black and changing her name to Magda because Gypsies are so sexy.

"Who was that?" she asked as Cecil hung up the phone.

"That was Donnie Giardino, he's got a restaurant on Genesee street. They got the boys." He looked upset.

"What?"

"His wife Anna Maria found them in the dumpster. They want us to come get them quickly." He dialed his home phone number as he pulled on his overcoat, but there was no answer. "Something must have happened," he growled.

Katarina was confused. What were they doing in a dumpster? "That's on the other side of Genesee street! Paul knows he's only allowed to cross Genesee Street to deliver his papers and he's not allowed to take John!" Katarina began closing up her books and putting them in a safe. "What was he thinking?" She spun the dial several times then pulled the lever to insure it was locked, then she set the dial to 88. Her dad's car was a Delta 88. That's how she remembers the number this week. Too often they find the safe was touched. Paul use a step stool and threw a switch mounted over the door and they quickly left after locking up the office. They normally leave earlier, but there was something in the books they were trying to track down.

"We're going, Charlie," Cecil called to his sales manager, Charlie Giffard.

"Have a good night boss!"

Jarecki Motors isn't far from home, just a few blocks up Harlem road from Genesee street. "This can't be some kind of kidnapping thing, can it?" asked Katarina.

"It's a sick world darling, you never know." Cecil set his jaw and prepared his mind to beat anyone who touched his boys to death. Driving through the rainy night in their old Ford Torino, they quickly found Giardino's Family Italian Restaurant and pulled in. At the door, a cheerful Italian woman met them and picked two menus off a pile. "Just two?"

"We're Cecil and Katarina Jarecki..."

"Paul and John's parents! Come..." As they walked, she introduced herself. "I'm Anna Maria Giardino, but everyone calls me momma. Don't worry your boys are here and they're fine." She led them to a small table and said, "They will be right out. They're making a surprise for you."

"What were our boys doing in your dumpster?" asked Katarina.

"Just Paul was in the dumpster," said Mama.

"What was John doing?" asked Cecil.

"Paul and John haven't had anything to eat since dinner last night and..."

"What about breakfast?" Katarina asked.

"It appears that Mrs. Benedetti sent them both to school without breakfast."

"John isn't in school!" gasped Katarina.

"Paul's lunch was stolen, and John was locked out of the apartment all day so when Paul got home he had to feed his baby brother, so he brought him here."

"Oh no!" gasped Katarina.

"Paul got in the dumpster and found some spaghetti that we had tossed out and gave some to John, but I stopped him the minute I saw them and brought them inside, dried them off and gave them a proper meal."

"Oh God, I'm sorry," groaned Cecil. "Of course we will pay for everything that..."

"Paul already made plans on paying. He insisted on working it off before we even served them. And you know what they did before they ate?"

"Washed their hands I hope," said Katarina.

"That, and they said grace," said Mama. "I cried my eyes out, these poor starving boys, and they paused to say grace before eating... that shows good parents! But Mrs. Benedetti is known to us and I'm sorry you had to learn the hard way. We call her la puttana."

"Mama!" said her husband Donnie as he came up to the table. "I'm Donnie Giardino, and I'm going to be Paul's boss. Such a good kid!"

"He's too young to work in a restaurant," gasped Katarina.

"Not too young to work in the kitchen and help clean. Restaurants have different rules." Just then, Paul and John came up to the table, each carrying a large plate of spaghetti topped with a huge meatball. It was heavy for John, but he was helped by Mama and Donnie's son Danny.

"Mangiare! (eat)" cried John.

"Supper is on me tonight!" said Paul proudly. "I don't make enough to afford wine," he said as he gave his parents' glasses of ice water.

Cecil looked like he was going to say something disparaging, but Katarina said, "Thank you honey! It looks delicious."

John crawled up on a chair to watch, fascinated by how his parents used a spoon to roll up the noodles. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me," said Paul. "If you have time to lean, you have time to clean."

"He seems to love the work," said Donnie. "I don't know if it's the work or if it's doing the job he likes the most."

"Paul has to keep his mind active," said Cecil. "He skipped two grades, and we may skip a third. He's taught himself to play guitar and harmonica and wants to play the bass."

"Amazing boys," said Mama and they talked about what happened today. "Do not be surprised if your apartment is a mess, la puttana!"

"Mama!" scolded Donnie. "Unfortunately, it is something that Mrs. Benedetti does... she's quite friendly for a price and will used other people's homes to ply her trade."

Katarina looked confused but Cecil said, "a woman of negotiable virtue is in my house?"

"It would appear so. She has done it several other times in Tiorunda."

They talked, and they ate the best spaghetti that they ever tasted; the marinara was incredible with just the right amount of basil, sugar and a few hot peppers thrown in. The noodles were a special brand with a wonderful taste on their own, and the meatball was incredible. Every time Katarina took a bite, John opened his mouth like a baby bird.

As they neared the end of dinner, Cecil said to Paul and John, "I'm sorry that you had to go through that. It's a mess I made and I'm going to fix it to make it up to you." He turned to Katarina and said, "Why don't you take the boys to Dairy Queen when you're done here then meet me at home. I want a hot fudge sundae."

Then he got up and kissed Katarina on the cheek and patted Paul on the shoulder. "Congratulations on your new job," and with a wink, he left.

"Where's dad going?" asked Paul.

"I think he's going to find a new babysitter for you guys." When she was finished eating, she asked for a box for the left-overs and Paul came out with a bag with boxes holding his and John's leftovers, and he cleared his parents' plates and bagged their leftovers. He gathered up the dishes and silverware and said, "I'll be back." Fifteen minutes later, he was done washing their dishes, and he said, "I can go. I have to be back tomorrow at four."

"Thank you so much," Katarina said to Mama Giardino, then Mama said to Paul, "When you come tomorrow, bring your schoolbooks, you and Danny can work on your homework together in the kitchen."

There was a Dairy Queen on Genesee Street, right at the entrance to the Tiorunda subdivision and Paul and John often watched the baseball teams stopping for ice cream after a big game with envy, but tonight is their turn and they ate their chocolate dipped cones with gusto. When Katarina finished her sundae, she got one for Cecil and they headed home. When they got home, they realized it would be a long time before they got to bed. Several police cars sat parked in front of their apartment building, lights flashing, and a Channel 7 Eyewitness News cruiser was set up and a reporter was taping the arrest of a Cheektowaga prostitute who used her neighbor's houses as her bordello. It was a perfect news story for Eyewitness News; they loved the outlandish stories that stirred the lustful interest of their viewers.

"The family and I went out to dinner, and I wasn't feeling good so while they had ice cream I walked home. When I came in the house I heard noise, so I called the cops," said Cecil into the Eyewitness News Cruiser 7's microphone.

"What did you think when you found out that it was your children's babysitter?" asked Eyewitness News Channel 7 Action Newsman Nolan Johannes.

"I was shocked, literally shocked. My wife and I are going to have long talks with our boys and if she did anything untoward with them I will go to the states attorney general and demand justice."

Eyewitness News Channel 7 Action Newsman Nolan Johannes turned to the camera and said, "The Cheektowaga crime busters tell me that this lady of the evening has been busy in the Tiorunda area for months and thanks to an Eyewitness News Viewer she will spend a long time behind bars. Eyewitness News Channel 7 Action Newsman Nolan Johannes, reporting."

Paul and John ran up to their dad and hugged him while Nolan asked, "Are these the boys?"

"Yes, but no, we can't let them do a TV report, we need to have frank conversations with them," said Katarina as she handed Cecil his sundae.

<><><><><>

Despite the financial optimism by Cecil the day he became a TV Celebrity, the luck changed for Jarecki Motors the next day. Grandma Dorta came up to Cheektowaga immediately after she saw Cecil on tv. She wanted no prostytutka near her grandsons. Cecil and Katarina went into the office knowing that their boys were being taken care of properly and the first thing they looked at was the safe. "I left the knob at 88, it's at 34 now," said Katarina.

Cecil got a stepladder out of the closet and climbed to a small shelf over the office door where a video recorder and camera were mounted. He brought down the disk from the recorder and plugged it into his computer. Cecil opened the file, and it played a video of an empty office for a long time, then just after closing on the timestamp, the sales manager, Charlie Giffard, entered the office. He went to the safe and opened it, took out several documents and copied them with the office copier, then returned them to the safe.

"Any idea what those are?" asked Cecil.

"Contracts," said Katarina. "It looks like the contracts that we were trying to close with Cheektowaga."

Cecil felt sick. That's why so many potential buyers were backing out of sales deals. Charlie Giffard was getting into the safe, discovering Cecil's business deals and undercutting his boss. Charlie was a friend, and this is what Cecil and Katarina get for trusting a friend.

<><><><><>

"Hey Charlie, got time for a sales meeting?" called out Cecil.

"Yeah, what's up?" Charlie Giffard came into the office and along with Cecil and Katarina Jarecki, was Ben Travis, Charlie's assistant and another man whom Charlie Giffard didn't know.

"Just a quick meeting, ok Ben, I have had an inquiry from WKBW to replace a few of their trucks. Draw me up something that they'll like. Got it buddy?"

"Will do, anything else?"

"That's it for right now, I want to see what you can get me," said Cecil.

"I'm on it boss, I'll be back with something in a few minutes," and Ben got up and left. When he left, he slyly locked the office door as Cecil asked him to do.

"Isn't that my job?" said Charlie. "And who is this guy?" Charlie was feeling uncomfortable.

"This is Ian MacGregor, Detective Ian MacGregor of the town of Cheektowaga police department. Katarina and I have provided him with enough evidence to show that you have been stealing documents from our safe and using them to undercut our business."

Charlie looked back and forth between Cecil and Katarina, then jumped up and dashed for the office door, however the door was locked. In the few seconds that he tried to unlock the door, the detective was able to get handcuffs on him. "Like I told ya," Ian said to Cecil, "Running is an admission of guilt."

At least Charlie was smart enough to remain silent as Ian dragged him away. Charlie later admitted in court that he successfully cracked the Jarecki's safe by gently turning the dial and feeling the movements of the tumblers inside the lock mechanism months before. It took him hours, but he was able to get in. He took the information he stole to Walden Avenue Truck Sales, who undercut Jarecki Motors every time, often to their own detriment. They saw Jarecki Motors as that much of a threat.

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

At fourteen years old, Paul Jarecki graduated high school with honors and his seven-year-old brother John was there to cheer him on the entire way. Paul got a scholastic scholarship from the University at Buffalo where he enrolled in a pre-med course of study.

Just before Paul went off to college, they had a family meal at Giardino's Italian Family Restaurant. Mama Giardino joined them at the table and they convinced Donnie to join them, too. "My youngest boy is going off to college," sniffed Anna Maria.

"Mama, I'm not even Italian," said Paul. "I'm a Polack."

"You act like a dago, and you cook like a frog, that's good enough for me," Mama said to the laughter of all. She was right. Paul learned to cook in the kitchen of Giardino's Restaurant and he made some amazing meals.

Cecil patted Donnie's shoulder. "Donnie, I don't think we ever thanked you enough that night you saved our boys. It was genuine kindness and a kick in the ass. You saved our boys from pneumonia, we kicked a whore out of Tiorunda, and we cleaned up our business and started to earn a buck or two."

"I saw you were spreading out to foreign cars," said Donnie. Jarecki Motors was opening a big dealership in Orchard Park that was going to specialize in European imports.

"Because UB is taking your dishwasher away we decided to get you a replacement," said John.

"You're taking over at the sink?" Mama asked John.

"No, your thank you just arrived, come on," said Cecil and he led Donnie and Anna Maria out to the back parking lot where Mama caught Paul and John dumpster diving so long ago, and in the lot was a delivery truck lowering a big box to the ground.

"NO!" gasped Donnie.

"Madre di Dio!" shrieked Mama, laughing and crying they hugged Cecil and Katarina. Their thank you was a Champion UH130B high temperature under counter dish washer. It could wash and sanitize an entire rack of dishes in under two and a half minutes.

"No, we can't accept this," said Donnie.

"It's paid for, and what you gave us was worth so much more to us," said Katarina as she hugged her boys.

"It's too much!" said Momma.

"If you can't swing it, I can get a plumber and an electrician that can help," said Cecil.

"No, you've been more than kind," said Donnie. "Thank you so much!"

<><><><><>

Suddenly, it was silent around the house. The boys clowning around and Paul helping John with his studies was almost a thing of the past. Not completely a thing of the past, UB was not far away, and Paul ended up at home instead of in the dorm. He was wise for fifteen years old and knew that the dorm was not for someone his age. About the same time, Cecil and Katarina bought a new house in Williamsville, a tiny working class village that was suddenly becoming affluent. The new house in Williamsville was nice, just a block off of Main Street, and it was close to Tiorunda and John and Paul could ride their bikes back there if they wanted.

John became more and more interested in the church, especially now that they were going to St. Peter and Paul. Saints P&P was a huge stone edifice on Main Street with huge arrow-slit windows that were filled with beautiful stained glass. It wasn't the building that attracted John, and it wasn't the liturgy that he liked. It was Father Linus Wilder. Father Wilder was good with the children and spent all of his free time at the school the church ran. He was also an outspoken critic of abusive priests, but he spoke out against false accusations as well. He encouraged John and became the boy's mentor. John went to the church school and after eighth grade, he went on to Bishop Newman High School, not far away. He became very involved in CYO and sang in the church choir at the 9:15 mass, then again at the folk mass at 11:00.

Summers were warm and sunny, there were three parades on Main Street every year, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, and Paul and John never missed one, nor did they miss the carnival on Island park every July for Old Home Days. A broad shallow creek cut the village in half, and it became John and Paul's playground up until the boys left. They explored the banks of the creek that 150 years ago were tamed to turn the wheels of several mills, searching for crawfish under the rocks and trying to catch the trout they were sure were lurking there. They even played on the hallowed ground of the Sisters of St. Mary's convent. One day, as they rode their bikes on the dirt road that cut through the open fields that the convent owned on either side of Ellicott Creek, they stopped on a wide wooden bridge that spanned the creek.

They looked down into the shimmering water, sun dappled by the sunlight that made it through the canopy of leaves, and were quiet for a long time. It was a perfect day, hot and sunny. A slight breeze stirred the leaves, and a distant cicada sang. They were quiet for a long time, just enjoying the day, when Paul broke the silence and said, "I have been talking to a recruiter."

"Navy?" It seemed like all of Paul's former classmates joined the Navy, so it was natural for eleven-year-old John to ask that question.

"Air Force."

"Are you going to doctor sick airplanes?"

"No, you goofball," said Paul as he tussled John's hair. "When I get my masters, they send me to officer training school, then they pay my way through medical school."

"Officer? Like a captain?"

"Yup," said Paul.

"Mom will like that," said John. "Father Linus thinks I would do good at seminary."

"Mom will flip over that!" said Paul. In the Polish community, rank is based on what your children become. If Paul came home a war hero with ribbons and medals and the rank of general, that would elevate Momma Katarina's standing in the Polish community. But if John came home as an ordained priest, their mother would be elevated to royalty.

"What do you want to do now?"

"I don't know, what do you want to do?"

"I asked you first."

"I still don't know." They both knew, and they both soon had an ice cream and were sitting in the park watching the little kids play. Both were positive that this day would never end.

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

They clearly were clueless about what hot is back then, thought Captain Paul Jarecki as he walked from his car to the entrance of the Officer's club in the blistering Arizona heat. Today was a special day because his brother John was there with him! It seemed like ages since they saw each other. Paul still looked like a young teen, which brought him a lot of teasing, but John looked like a baby in this setting. But Paul was a damn good doctor and loved the challenges. John, however, was running away. A crisis of faith is what Father Rodriguez called it, but John felt otherwise, and he turned to his big brother for his opinion. Paul sidled up to the bar, ordered two gin and tonics for himself, and a ginger ale with a cherry for John, who refused to drink. They sat at a table and looked around the room. It was filled with young fighter pilots that were learning their trade and were brimming with excitement and testosterone.

"How do you silence a fighter pilot?" came a female voice from behind Paul.

John turned to look, but Paul didn't. "Tie their hands behind their backs," said Paul.

"Huh?" asked John. "I don't get it."

"Look around the room," said Paul. John looked around the room and realized that everyone that was talking was talking about flying and using their hands to illustrate their prowess at dog fighting or formation skills. The female voice belonged to a voluptuous redhead in a flight suit who eased into a chair next to Paul and he gave her his extra gin and tonic. "John, this is Lieutenant Melony Ruskin, Melony, this is my brother John."

"Good to meet you," said Melony, as she shook hands with John. "Oh my god, you're all that he talks about! Well, that and my tits." She threw that in to see if John would blush, and he did.

"Melony, John is in seminary, go easy on him," said Paul.

Someone across the room shouted something that John didn't catch, but Paul and Melony joined in the response and along with everyone in the room they stood up, held their drinks high and shouted, "And your mother too!" then they sat down.

"Why didn't you become a fighter pilot?" asked John, who chuckled for the first time.

"When I was about nine dad asked, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' and I said, 'I want to be a fighter pilot when I grow up!' Then dad said, 'You can't do both." Which confused John a bit, but caused Melony to break into laughter.

"You're a fighter pilot?" asked John.

Melony pointed to the set of wings on her uniform, they were very similar to Paul's wings, a pair of wings with a shield in the middle, but Melony's wings had vertical stripes on the shield, Paul's wings had a caduceus on the shield. "Yep, I'm here at Luke AFB learning to drive the eagle." The F-15 was the gold standard for fighter planes. Big, fast, and lethal.

"I didn't know that Paul had a..." He stumbled on the words and went silent.

"Oh, I'm not his girlfriend, I give him the occasional blowjob, so he doesn't ground me."

"I can't ground you," said Paul. "You're not in my squadron."

"Then what are all those blowjobs for?" demanded Melony with a smirk.

"Proficiency," said Paul. "Mel, John and I haven't seen each other in a long time..."

"I'm cool," said Melony, and she gave Paul a kiss. "Dinner tomorrow at Los Jimadores?"

"John has to learn Mexican some time," said Paul. "Might as well throw him to the wolves." As Melony disappeared into the crowd, Paul turned to John. "What's got you down little brother?"

"I can't talk here, it's too loud."

"Let's go find some Italian," said Paul and they finished their drinks and headed out.

"Olive Garden?" asked John in shock. Italian restaurants had an atmosphere that he could open up in, but when Paul pulled into Olive Garden, he was overwhelmed with a 'negative vibe.' It wasn't real Italian as far as they were taught.

Paul just smiled and pulled his sensible Ford Fusion through the Olive Garden parking lot and parked at Pasta Louies, a restaurant similar to Mama's. It was a small family-run restaurant that felt right; it was a place they could talk. "What can I get for you gentlemen," said Louie.

"We'll both have spaghetti, marinara, Italian sausage, garlic bread and Pepsi," said Paul.

"I usually get a meatball," said John quietly.

"Wait until you try his sausage," said Paul. "He gets it from Redlinski's in Cheektowaga."

"Well in that case..."

There were dozens of options on Pasta Louies' menu, but Paul chose the spaghetti. It has a special connection with them. When their meal came, Paul finally spoke up and said, "what brought you all the way to Phoenix Arizona?"

"I dropped out of seminary," said John sadly as he looked at his plate. It looked delicious, but John's stomach was so tied up in knots that he couldn't eat.

"You and God have an argument?" asked Paul. He wasn't making fun of John. They both knew that a person can come to an impasse in their spiritual life and they called that 'having an argument with God.'

"No, me and the church."

"Did they want you to start dealing with snakes?" Paul wound his spaghetti on his fork using a spoon.

"Metaphorically. I love the church; I hate the catechism."

Paul frowned. He knew it would eventually come to that. Both he and John would raise hell in CCD classes when they pointed out perceived inconsistencies in the catechism, which was the 'by-laws' of the church. When the nuns complained to their parents about Paul or John picking apart their precious catechism, their mother Katarina would say, 'Good! It means they are thinking! A skill that God heartily approves of!' Momma believes the Church is infallible, but her boys are more infallible.

"What set you off?" asked Paul.

"Everything you warned me about, the doctrine of grace being merited, the doctrines of mandatory penance, purgatory, indulgences, and... and... it's a cult of Mary." Inside his head John screamed, "there! I said it! Cult of Mary!"

"You've been reading the bible," said Paul with a conspiratorial wink.

"What am I going to do?" groaned John.

"Give me your hands," said Paul, and he gripped John's hands over the table. "You are going to take all those divinity school credits you earned in seminary and take them to any bible college in the land and say, 'make me a pastor!' then you go and you teach God the way you know God to be."

"What about momma? She's expecting a Jesuit priest out of me."

"You go and find a nice girl and hand momma a few grandchildren. She'll forget all about the Jesuit thing." Paul took a bite of the sausage and rolled his eyes in pleasure. "If she still doesn't like it, you go start a nice Baptist church and not let her in. That would drive momma crazy knowing that there's a place she would never go, but it wouldn't let her in."

John felt a rush of relief wash over him. Paul was right, and the answer was so simple, he just needed to hear it from someone else. "You saved me again," John said in a whisper.

"You know I'm going to need you one of these days. Just be ready to catch me when I fall."

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

The Jarecki family had a reunion at Luke Air Force Base when Captain Paul Jarecki and Lieutenant Melony Ruskin became man and wife, or as the rest of their squadrons said, doctor and test subject. It was a small ceremony held in a small chapel off base. Paul and Melony wore their mess dress uniforms, short tuxedo jackets with silver edged shoulder boards and silver stripe at the cuff, white formal shirt, bow tie, medals rather than ribbons, and wings. They wore cummerbunds and Melony wore a tab rather than a tie and she wore a formal length skirt.

They both looked happier than anyone had ever seen either of them. Joyfully, they started the process of introductions, but neither could predict the pain that they were in for. "This is my sister Monica," said Melony as she introduced her sister to Paul and John. Monica looked identical to Melony, but they both assured Paul and John that she was a year younger than Melony.

There was an invisible wall between Monica and John that neither wanted to broach. "John, Monica is an investment banker and she just moved to New York City," said Melony.

"Monica, John is a divinity student and is working on his Doctor of Theology." said Paul.

John and Monica politely shook hands as the family introductions continued. Melony and Monica clearly came from money. Their father Reginald wore a thousand dollar suit that was created for him on Saville Row. Their mother, Beatrix, wore the finest silk and was bathed in gems and pearls. Meanwhile, Cecil and Katarina Jarecki were their usual selves, wearing clothes bought off the rack, shoes from Walmart, and smiles that were genuine.

"Dad, this is Melony's father Reginald. He's a senior vice president with the investment firm of Thompson, Reed, Kane, and Archer," said Paul.

"Dad, this is Paul's father Cecil, he now owns four automobile dealerships," said Melony.

"So you sell used cars," said Reginald with a sniff of disdain.

Cecil knew everything he needed to know about Reginald Ruskin with that one arrogant sniff. He knew Reginald made well into six figures annually and was in debt up to his eyeballs, banging two different women other than his frigid wife, and cheats at golf. Cecil is a good a judge of human character as he is a judge of cars. "Yes sir, we sell them too at Jarecki Ford, at four convenient locations. One may be near you. A good used car can set a man that's down on his luck to rights." He tucked a business card in Reginald's pocket. "I can see you in a 1967 Galaxy 500 fastback with a two eighty nine. Fully auto and ready to install aftermarket air."

It was Cecil's polite way of saying, "Fuck you, ya snobbish dick."

"What was that?" asked Melony.

"That was dad's way of pulling your dad's leg. When he sees the business card he'll see that Dad specializes in AMG Mercedes, and Porches."

"That's kind of rude, isn't it?"

"I'm not going to apologize for my dad, he's a good man. I've never seen him do wrong to anyone, including the man that was trying to destroy his business."

"Destroy his business?"

"Yeah, he had a sales manager that would get bored, so he fiddled with dad's safe, pretending to be a safe cracker and he actually figured out the combination. He then copied preliminary contracts that dad was setting up with sales and give them to a rival who undercut dad and almost drove dad out of business."

"So?" asked Melony.

"He was my dad's friend. Dad gave him a job when he was down on his luck and he did that to dad, stabbed him in the back."

"It happens," shrugged Melony. "It's over, right?"

"Yeah, it's over," said Paul, but he was annoyed by her cavalier attitude. He wanted to scream, "We were eating out of a dumpster because of that guy," but he didn't know if that would get through to her.

"If we're ready," said the minister, and they gathered at the end of the chapel, the seats were filled with pilots from Melony's squadron and officers from the base hospital and from Paul's fighter squadron. A few of his pilots showed up, but most of them were TDY (Temporary Duty) to Tyndall AFB.

While Reginald and Beatrix sniffed in disdain that their daughter was marrying a commoner, Cecil and Katarina prayed fervently that their Paul would find happiness with his bride. She looked pretty, but she seemed aloof, like she was too good for Paul. He didn't buy his way through Harvard medical school. He actually has many credits from community college and the Air Force put him through medical school.

They said their vows and soon the pastor said, "by the power vested in me by the state of Arizona I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." And they kissed and Paul was never happier. All he could dream of was a partner and have a marriage like his folks who work together in everything.

There was a reception at a convention hall, and everyone had a great time except John. He didn't like Melony and her entire family, and he just wanted to grab his brother Paul and run. "Here," said Monica. "Maybe some orange juice will loosen you up."

"Thank you," said John and he sipped the orange juice, not realizing he was also sipping champagne, Grand Mariner, and a dose of blotter acid. "It's kind of fizzy."

"That's probably Seven Up," said Monica, who couldn't wait for the show.

"Come on Johnny," said Katarina. "Get in line," and she pushed him back into the reception line.

John had been to Arizona before, but he didn't realize how bright the colors were. In fact, some of the colors were whispering to him. The air conditioning kicked in, but to John it sounded like rain.

"What's the matter John?" Paul whispered.

John was trembling, the rain was frigid, and he was soaked. He could smell the rain and the dumpster that Paul was in. "Hungry."

"Dinner will be in a few minutes."

A snake made only of the color red whispered in John's ear, "Go! Run for your life! Satan comes!"

"Gotta go... Satan is coming," John said, and he walked across the room, bumping into furniture and looking around in fear. He was blocked in. John couldn't see an exit. He turned around and, seeing the only port in a storm, he reached out his hands in terror. "Paul... Paul help me!," he cried. A loud burst of lavender startled him and he dashed for the door, but he tripped over a chair and fell flat on his face.

"Mom, get my bag," said Paul as he knelt next to John. When he graduated from medical school, his parents gave him an old-fashioned looking medical bag full of some of the most modern gear a physician would need in an emergency. "Shush, it's ok John, it's me. I'm right here," said Paul over and over. "I'm taking care of you John, it's going to be ok."

John's wild eyes looked around in terror, "Satan is here... run Paul!"

Several other doctors from the base hospital kneeled around John as Paul got his statistics. "BP is rocketing, two hundred over one oh two, temperature one hundred, pupils are dilated and unresponsive..."

"It's acid," whispered a doc that Paul works with often.

"You sure?" asked Paul.

"I'd bet the rent."

"Shit." He stood and looked around the room. "Did anyone give my brother anything?"

"Just a mimosa with a little extra" said Monica. She shrugged like it was no big deal.

"Extra what?" demanded Paul in a tone of voice that informed Monica that her life was now in jeopardy.

"Just some extra Grand Mariner and a dash of Lucy." Monica shrugged again. "He was being a tight ass."

"You drugged a man who has never taken a drink in his life for FUN?" hollered Paul. "You're SICK!"

"You don't have to speak in that tone of voice young man," said Melony's father Reginald.

A pair of fighter pilots drew themselves up to full height and stood uncomfortably close to Reginald, glared down on him and said, "You will address Captain Jarecki as Doctor. And you better tell your idiot daughter that the police are on the way and we will hand her over, acid is illegal in Arizona."

Paul didn't hear any of that exchange. He was kneeling by John along with his mom and dad. "We're all here Johnny, it's ok, you tell me if you see anything weird." The rest of the day was a complete blur to Paul, Katarina, and Cecil, but it was worse for Melony and Monica. One by one, after giving their names to the Office of Special Investigations, the fighter pilots of the 327th, Melony's squadron, walked past Monica and said, "Thanks bitch," then left.

"What?" shrugged Monica. "Why are they so worked up?"

"They're grounded!" shouted Melony. "Every flier here is grounded until we pass a drug test and are interviewed by the OSI. That could be weeks. We all lose our flight pay and that can be a thousand dollars a month."

"I only gave it to him," Monica said as she pointed to the stretcher being loaded on the ambulance.

"Prove it."

"Just him, I swear! He was such a tight ass! Besides, you're going to Hawaii on your honeymoon in a few..."

Monica was interrupted by a slap from Melony. "I'm not going anywhere thanks to YOU. I will send you the bill for all of this, bitch." And she left to follow Paul to the hospital.

"I'll take care of it," sighed Reginald, as he hugged an angry Melony.

<><><><><>

In the Emergency Department, John was fighting back at the restraints. Satan was telling him things, horrible things and he wanted to run, but he couldn't get away. "Make him stop!" screamed John.

The only thing that calmed him was Paul's voice. "I'm right here John, tell me what he's saying." John repeated the things that Satan was telling him, promising global death, famine, plague, and war in lurid detail.

"Please Doctor Jarecki, you know you can't treat him," said the ED doctor.

"I'm not here to treat him, I'm here to support him and translate what you say for my parents. Now say something I can tell them."

Melony came up behind Paul and hugged him. "Are you always there to catch him when he falls?"

"Yes, we're brothers, he does the same for me."

Melony softly whispered in his ear, "Will you catch me if I fall too?"

"I'm your husband, of course I will. It's my job."

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

Paul and Melony eventually got orders overseas, so they spent a few days in Manhattan to visit Melony's parents. It was a trip that Paul despised, but at least Monica had the brains to stay away. After Manhattan, Paul and Melony ended up in Western New York for a week of peace at a bed and breakfast in Ellicottville, NY. The area south of Springville turned out to be beautiful, and both Paul and Melony were enchanted.

Paul smiled and said, "It's quiet in the summer but it will be busy in winter. This is ski country."

"I love skiing!" said Melony. She surveyed the hills and said, "Yeah, there's ski runs over there!"

"That's Holimont and over there is Holiday Valley. Up that way is Holiday Valley Tubing Park."

"Tubing down a river?"

"Nope. Tubing down a hill, it's sledding on tubes."

"Can we live here when we're done with our tours?"

"And be a country doctor fixing broken legs?" They laughed at the attractive idea. Paul owed Uncle Sam six more years, and then he could legitimately get out. Another six after that to retire. It was a decision to make after they get back from Japan, so until then, Melony would fly, and Paul would work on getting his specialty in cardiology. The minute Melony was tired of flying, there were other plans they could pursue.

They drove north on highway 219 through the beautiful hamlet of Ashford Hollow to Springville, then Orchard Park. "There's dad's main lot," said Paul as they drove past acres of brand new Mercedes, Porche, Ferrari, and Bentley supercars.

"Wow," said Melony, now embarrassed that her father called Cecil a 'used car salesman.' They had orders to Okinawa and wanted to say goodbye to everyone before heading to Japan. They rolled into a modest home in Williamsville and Melony said, "Your dad lives in this little house?"

Paul shrugged. "It's easy to clean and the yard is easy to cut. You met Mom and Dad, they're not pretentious, they'd rather spend money on making more money."

"There's people that can do their housework..." sputtered Melony.

"Mom and dad are first generation. Let them ease into the American dream." Which caused Melony to laugh.

"Tell your dad that for one of those Porsche's I'll do his laundry."

"Tell him yourself," said Paul as they stepped up onto the front porch. There in the cool shade were Katarina, Cecil, and John, just enjoying the warm afternoon.

"Paulie!" cried Katarina as she hugged her oldest son.

"You want a Porche?" asked Cecil as he hugged his daughter-in-law. "Go pick what you want and we'll talk, just don't touch the burgundy red ones."

"Burgundy red? What's so special about them?"

"Only dad and his head mechanic Darwin are in on the joke and they're not sharing any information," said Paul.

John Matthew Jarecki still felt that he had to get as far away from Arizona as possible. He embarrassed everyone and grounded an entire squadron of fliers. "I'm so sorry," said John.

"It wasn't you," said Paul for what had to be the hundredth time. "You were drugged, poisoned by..." he bit his tongue. Melony was nearby, and he had to hold back his colorful descriptions of his sister-in-law. "That was two years ago, Melony and I are going to Japan for a few years and we'll be back to celebrate your doctor of theology degree, right?"

John took a deep breath and said, "I enrolled in the École de Théologie Évangélique du Québec."

"Holy crap! Can you speak enough French to survive in the land of poutine and maple syrup?"

"Je l'espère bien."

"He's been running around speaking nothing but Canuck for three years," groaned Cecil.

"He can't speak the lords language but he can speak French," pouted Katarina as she knitted a pair of baby booties.

"The lords language... Latin?" asked Melony with a whisper.

"Polish," said Paul. "Who are the booties for mom?"

"You two! I have a dozen blue and a dozen pink. I'm starting on yellow and green in case you get one that can't make up its mind. Now bring me babies!"

"I warned you," whispered Paul.

"Momma Jarecki, let me fly for a few more years, then we'll have more babies than you can knit for."

"Promises, promises..." said Katarina, not looking up from her knitting but trying to hide a smile.

"I'm allergic to birth control pills and latex, so the minute we go off rhythm you'll have your babies."

"Promises, promises..." and she blew Melony a kiss.

They sat on the porch enjoying the warm sunshine, the refreshing breezes, the smell of the flowers and the hum of the hummingbirds as the tiny birds buzzed the feeders that Momma Katarina had around the front yard. John poured lemonade with a splash of tequila for Mom and Melony, one with a dash of vodka for dad, and straight up lemonade for himself and John. He ducked back into the house and came out with a guitar and a guitarrone, a Mexican base guitar.

"It's been so long," said John as he strummed the guitar, finding it just a little out of tune. They played a few chords, then began strumming a few cowboy songs from the old cowboy movies that their dad loves. It didn't take long to get the old skills back.

It was the very best of times...

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

"You're my new student?" said the sour-looking professor. Actually, she was beautiful. Breath-takingly beautiful, slim yet shapely, and her brown eyes drilled into John's soul, but she had a scowl on her face that ruined the image.

"Yes ma'am," said John, hitting the letter A in ma'am hard like a good Buffalonian. Only a Buffalonian could make a vowel sound like an insult. "Da letter right here in my hand says dat my advisor is Doctor Marie-Claude Solange Dagenais."

"Tu pronounces bien mon nom," (You pronounce my name well)

"Oui madame, j'ai pratiqué" (Yes ma'am, I have been practicing) and from that moment onward, all conversations with Doctor Dagenais were in French. She lectured in French, she questioned in French, she tested in French.

Dr. Marie-Claude Solange Dagenais was a former fashion model who went into academic theology and stayed there teaching class after class of prospective pastors but never having preached a sermon herself. Born of Nigerian descent, Marie-Claude Solange Dagenais' slim figure, striking features and coal black skin got her jobs in modeling when she was young and she made enough money to leave her family's world in a small Quebec fishing village behind, to strike out on her own, eventually and inexplicably winding up in the seminary.

She loved God, and she loved theological academia and when given the chance to pastor her own church, she turned it down for a teaching job at the École de Théologie Évangélique du Québec, the leading evangelical seminary in Quebec. She loved preparing young women and men for a life of leading a church, then she met John Jarecki, who exploded that life.

John really and truly didn't care about her skin color, and in a country that's less than 3 percent black, regardless of where she goes or what she does, her color always proceeded her through the door. And being especially dark, she was considered a femme de curiosité noir, a black female curiosity first, foremost, and never a woman of God. John wanted to dig down, to meet and embrace that woman of God, and to correct the nonsense her head had been filled with.

For the first year, he studied her teachings. Compared to the bible they were all wrong, which John appreciated. John was a contrary student. He actually learned more from a poor teacher than a good one. He researched furiously to find the correct information, and when a teacher proved to be a bad teacher, John would not trust a single word that the teacher said and worked tirelessly to correct the teacher's lecture.

That's not to say that John disliked the teacher. He never disliked a single teacher in his past except for Mr. Grimes, an abusive gym teacher. He was released by the school district during John's seventh grade year. But even the bad ones, John had a talent to correct them in a way that left them grateful for his help. However, Dr. Marie-Claude Solange Dagenais was not a bad teacher, she was an outstanding teacher; it was the material she taught that was bad and John wanted to help her see that and correct it.

<><><><><>

Occasionally, on Sunday Morning John's phone would ring and a fellow from California would say, "Is this John Jarecki?" and mangle John's last name.

"Yes it is."

"I have a Paul on the line from Okinawa Japan, do you want to speak with him?"

"Yes!" cried John. Other than lunch with Dr. Dagenais, this was the highlight of John's life and soon he heard squawking static from AM radio. Through the noise he heard "Johnnie! How are you doing in Quebec? Over."

"It's so good! My professor is beautiful, smart, witty, beautiful, clever, intelligent and she smells good. Over."

"You said beautiful twice, she must be cute, over."

"I cut back on the beautifuls, this is only a five minute call, over." They chatted together for the full five minutes about nothing, at the same time about everything. By the time the call was over, John knew that Paul and Melony were planning to have children. Melony discovered that nobody hires fighter pilots except for people who build fighter planes, and they have more than enough applicants. Melony was planning to get out and keep her license and become the wife of a country doctor in Ellicottville, NY, setting broken limbs at a ski resort.

<><><><><>

As time went on, a professional relationship between Professor Dagenais and assistant professor Jarecki grew and he began challenging her teaching. He challenged her on the New Age theology that she had been teaching. When she gave him a poor grade for a paper that disagreed with her interpretation of the bible he stared her straight in the eye and told her, "I'm God's servant, not His editor, I can't teach fiction." He led her back to the original text that backed up his claim.

He even asked Rabbi Jacobson to explain to Doctor Marie-Claude Solange Dagenais the motivation behind the Apostle Paul's teaching. A rabbi explaining the New Testament? Why not? The Apostle Paul was a Jewish scholar and everything he taught was based in Jewish law at some point. And in the end, when she realized that so much she was taught and was teaching was wrong, she resigned her position at École de Théologie Évangélique du Québec and sat down on her couch and stared off into space for almost an entire day.

John showed up at her apartment and found her in shock. Everything she thought that was right and real was blown away. She looked up at John and asked, "You brought me to this point, what is your plan now?"

He looked her right in the eye and said, "I think God brought both of us to this point. As for me, I am going to marry you and love you like no man ever has or ever will. We will be a team teaching, preaching, and making disciples, and if God blesses us with children they're going to be as beautiful as their mother."

That wasn't what he said, but it was close, and it was what Dr. Marie-Claude heard. She looked at him in shock. Over the past year, they became best friends, they were study buddies. They never spoke of anything that would be related to romance, or even a date, and now he was talking about marriage? And children? She looked him in the eye and asked, "You want me to marry you?"

"Well yeah, that's the easy part of my plan."

"What's the hard part?" she asked.

"This." John knelt on one knee and held up a small box containing a diamond ring. "Getting you to want to marry me."

"You're crazy you know," said Dr. Marie-Claude Solange Dagenais as she looked at the tiny diamond ring.

"Yes, I've been a bit nuts since I met the devil."

"You met the devil?" She looked at him in shock.

"I was drugged at my brothers wedding by his sister-in-law and the devil came and tormented me."

"You met the devil?" said Dr. Marie-Claude Solange. "What did he tell you?"

"It was really foggy, I was yelling for my brother and the devil was trying to keep me from hearing Paul. He told me what he likes and what he's afraid of... you think I'm crazy don't you Dr. Solange."

"No." the beautiful professor's eyes actually started to tear up. "I once met him myself... uh..." she looked at the ring with the tiny diamond. "I would like it if you called me Macy."

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

Captain Melony Ruskin was stuck at what many consider the worst base in the Air Force. She and seven other pilots from the 44th Fighter Squadron were TDY from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, to Osan Air Base near Seoul Korea. However, on their second to last day of flying in Korea, an A-10 came in for a landing at Osan and the nose gear collapsed and gouged up the runway while six of the eight F-15C's of the 44th were still flying. The Six stranded birds were diverted to Kunsan Air Base near Inchon, a few minutes' flying time south of Osan.

The F-15s landed at Kunsan and were directed into "the flows." These were roofed structures open on all sides that a fighter plane can pull into, refuel, rearm, and leave without shutting down their engines. They could also park there under the roof, unseen by spy satellites. They pulled into the flows and shutdown, then all six pilots were taken to debrief. Melony was the second highest ranking in the group. The detachment commander Lieutenant Colonel Abernathy 'Buzz' Blecher was with them. All planes landed 'code one' so they were ready to go for the final tangle with Kunsan's F-16's tomorrow. They were taken to the VOQ (Visiting Officers Quarters) and each got a tiny room with a writing table, tiny TV and single bed, except for LTC Blecher who due to his rank got a large room with private bath, full size bed and big screen TV.

After the Mongolian barbeque at the officers' club, Melony headed back to the VOQ to get some sleep before their mission tomorrow. "Come on Melony, it's karaoke night!" called her wingman Dennis "The Menace" Howe.

"It's a team building exercise," said Buzz Blecher. "We will drink, have fun, and laugh at 'Lawn Dart' drivers." Lawn Dart is a derogatory term for the F-16 which has as many names as it has weapons stations. Falcon, Fighting Falcon, Viper, Wild Weasel, Lawn Dart... it's actually a great plane, and time will probably show that it's a better plane than the F-35, it's small, agile, a spectacular dog fighter and bomber, and as the fliers of the massive F-15 say, it's cute.

"Ok, but I'm not going to laugh at the flight surgeon or the chaplain if they show up" said Melony, call sign Foxy.

"Is Paulie branching off into theology now?" asked Dennis call sign "Menace."

"No, his brother John just got his ThD, Doctor of Theology."

Karaoke night was crowded at the Officers' Club. Most of the two fighter squadrons assigned to Kunsan were flying early the next day, so drinking was light. Less drinking meant that there were very few singers. Of the singers that came forward, none could hold a candle to Melony's brother-in-law, John. That guy could sing. "My husband's brother could make Sinatra ask for lessons," said Melony with a slur.

"Then get him up there!" said Buzz. "Where is he?"

"Canada," said Melony, and for some reason that sounded funny to her, so she started laughing.

Occasionally they would down shots of a clear liquid called soju. Soju didn't taste bad, it went down smooth, and it didn't feel strong. Melony wasn't even sure if it was alcohol, but she wasn't paying, so let the good times roll! By the time Buzz said, "Let's get up and do some country," Melony was ready to sing. Then she stood up. The Soju hit Melony like a hammer, instantly she was seeing double. She grabbed Menace's arm as he guided her up to the stage.

I got friends with long faces

Where the Eagles rest

and the Chaplain chases bad news away

And I fly today...

Or something like that. They were all pretty well hammered and got back to their rooms about eleven PM and they had flight briefing at oh eight hundred, so they would be ok. The fighter pilot's motto is eight hours between bottle and throttle. This was going to be a long ten hours. They were going to be fine.

As they entered the VOQ Lieutenant Colonel Buzz Blecher guided an extremely drunk Melony Jarecki into his room. "What th' fuck is happen."

"You said you wanted a shower. I got a private shower you can use."

"K..." said Melony, and she stumbled into the bathroom and pulled off her flight suit and underwear and climbed into the shower. As she was showering, Buzz slowly eased the door open and grabbed her flight suit and underwear and draped them over the back of the chair at his writing desk.

Buzz Blecher wasn't always in the 44th Fighter Squadron, when he arrived at Kadena he was assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron. Both squadrons flew F-15C Eagles, and both squadrons had similar missions. The main difference between the two units was Major Paul L. Jarecki, the flight surgeon for the 67th. He grounded Buzz Blecher twice, once was for not taking his flu vaccine on time! Buzz was moved to the 44th where Jarecki's bitch flew, and he's been waiting for this moment since the last time Paul Jarecki grounded him. Paul grounded him for being overweight.

Melony staggered out of the shower with a towel wrapped around her and almost fell. "Come on sweetie, you've been waiting for this." Melony saw a pair of naked men... then she refocused.

"You're not Paul," she slurred. "Paul's dick isn't that tiny."

With an angry growl, he threw Melony face down on the bed while she screamed for help. "Here's your prize for singing so pretty tonight," snarled Buzz, and he flipped her over so she was face down, then yanked Melony's hips up and he forced his cock into her.

"DON'T! HELP!" she shrieked. She reached out and pounded on the wall, but Buzz put his hand on the back of her head and pushed her face into the pillow hard until she couldn't breathe. He started fucking her with all his anger and hate, and worst of all, her body betrayed her. He released her head but kept a hand on her shoulder blades, keeping her off balance. She felt unwanted excitement building as she gasped, "Stop, please stop. I'm not on the pill!"

"I got you covered, sweetie," said Abernathy Blecher, and he continued pounding at her pussy.

Before she realized it, she was cumming. Wave after wave of unwanted sexual pleasure crashed over her and she softy wept, "I'm sorry Paul." It felt good, nearly as good as the orgasms Paul was able to wring out of her at will, but she didn't want to feel good with this bastard. She couldn't help it, her body was reacting like it had done since the first time she made love to Paul.

Her whispered apologies to her husband only made Buzz angrier, and he continued to fuck, forcing another orgasm on her. This one was loud and long. When he finally came deep into her pussy, she was passed out.

<><><><><>

When Melony woke up, she was fully dressed, laying next to Buzz, who was also fully dressed in a flight suit. The only thing she had removed was her flight boots. She got up and found them under his desk and she pulled them on. Melony went into the bathroom to wash the sleep out of her eyes and noticed that the shower had been used. She swore she took a shower last night.

God, her head hurt! She went back to her room, brushed her teeth and used the toilet and ew! It was like she was full of cum or something. She washed up and headed over to the O club with the rest of the guys, but didn't eat. Her head was throbbing so badly she couldn't eat. "Soju migraine?" asked Buzz and he handed her a large pill. "This will fix anything that ails ya."

"Like what?"

"Just take it, I got it from the pharmacy for headaches," he grinned. 'My headaches,' he said to himself.

She didn't know if she should take it or not, but her head hurt badly, so she wolfed it down along with several Tylenol. She knew that once she got on oxygen, the oxygen will drive away the headache.

The preflight briefing was simple: take off from Kunsan, head up to the Gangwon range and "protect it" from "enemy" F-16s. Give them severe pipper burns in the back of their helmets (an expression that means the F-15's had such a good radar lock that it burned their helmet) and recover at Osan now that the runway is fixed and she's balls deep with Paul tomorrow!

She wasn't feeling much better when she got into the cockpit of her eagle, but once she got on oxygen, the headache went away. "Talon Zero Three, why don't you take the lead?" said Buzz over the radio.

"Talon Zero Three Rogers," she responded. Why are her hands trembling? "Ready Menace?"

"Roger Foxy, let's rock."

"Kunsan tower to talon flight you are clear to taxi via main taxiway to runway 34."

"Talon 3 copies, I have the lead." Melony flashed her landing lights at her crew chief, who gave a quick check of her plane, then marshaled her out of the flow. Dennis in Talon four followed and soon all six eagles were parading past their tiny counterparts. It felt good to be moving. Melony was in control when she was in her F-15 and headed for a fight. The world was her oyster when she was in an eagle and nothing could get her down.

Ten minutes later, Melony pulled out onto the active runway and her hands were shaking so badly that she could barely control them. Then her chest started hurting. "Oh no," she groaned. Then the pain intensified to the point where nothing existed but the pain.

"Kunsan tower to calling aircraft, say again?"

The only response was the engines of Talon 3 shutting down.

What the hell? "Talon 3 this is Talon 4," called Dennis. "Foxy this is Menace, come on Fox, talk to me." But she didn't answer. Dennis Howe pulled up alongside of Melony and saw her slumped over in the cockpit, her straps holding her up. "KUNSAN TOWER THIS IS TALON FOUR, GROUND EMERGENCY! GROUND EMERGENCY! TALON THREE IS NOT RESPONSIVE! REPEAT TALON THREE IS NOT CONSCIOUS!"

<><><><><>

Flying at Kunsan was halted as Melony's dead body was removed from her airplane and transported to the base clinic for examination. Immediately back at Kadina, their home station, all flying stopped as the commanders tried to process the information that one of their fliers had died.

Paul wasn't informed about the flying shut down until one of his "kids" came in for a quick follow-up from an earlier appointment. "Didja hear that they shut down all flying?"

Paul checked the lieutenant's vitals. He was doing fine, much better than the last time Paul saw him. His blood pressure was down to 135/85. "I would like to see that blood pressure lower, but you're back on flying status, git outta here lieutenant. See you in two weeks!"

"Yes sir!"

Paul dutifully entered the lieutenant's information into the computer system, then hand carried his records out to the front desk. "Set him up for a follow-up to the follow-up in two weeks, and I'll see whoever is next." He went back to his office and looked at his terminal to see what exam room he was needed in next and saw that his status was still "OWP" Occupied With Patient.

Then came the gentle rap at the door. "Doctor Jarecki?" Paul knew that voice. It was the wing commander, Colonel James Kendall.

"Come in," Paul didn't know what to expect but the Wing Commander entered his office accompanied by the Chaplain. "Oh god." It was dad, his heart was bad, he always worked too hard and too long, he's overweight and his blood pressure is through the roof. Paul knew in his heart it was Cecil.

"Major... Paul..., there's no way to sugar coat this..."

"Just say it sir," said Paul. He's been ready to mourn his dad for a long time.

"Paul, it's Melony, she's gone."

Paul didn't hear a thing after that. He was married to a fighter pilot; he should have been preparing to hear this since they day they met. There was a ringing in his ears and later when he thought back on that moment, he was sure he fainted with his eyes open. It couldn't be real, but Colonel Kendall kept talking.

"She was able to shut down the engines..."

The words he used were meaningless to Paul. They were full of syllables, but none of them made any sense.

"...she set the brakes and saved the plane..."

Now the chaplain started talking, and a scream started welling up in Paul's chest.

"Do you wish to inform her family?"

"I wouldn't piss on her father's face if his beard was on fire." To Paul, his life was over. He had no reason to be nice to anyone.

"Is there anyone you would like to call?"

"My brother... I need John." John is there to catch me, thought Paul, as his world imploded.

The chaplain sat down and started dialing the phone number Paul provided, but the phone rang and rang and rang... "He isn't answering," said the chaplain. "Is there anyone else?"

"My mom." And in moments, the chaplain handed him the phone. "Mom? She's gone mom, Mel is gone. She di... di... she died."

"Oh my God Paulie, what happened?" gasped Katarina.

"I don't know, she was in her airplane, on the ground and she taxied out to take off and died."

"Oh no! I can be right there, let me find my passport."

"No, you stay mom, this trip is far too long for you. Maybe send John."

"John? We haven't heard from him since yesterday morning, he eloped! They're on their honeymoon."

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

Macy never said yes, but she never said no. She carried the ring for almost a year as they grew to know each other, and to her surprise, they fell in love with each other. John convinced her to go back to École de Théologie Évangélique du Québec, and they worked on a new curriculum together, and they came up with a lesson plan she felt much better at teaching, too. She wasn't usurping anyone's authority. The older curriculum made her feel pushy and haughty and she was basically telling her students, "This is right because this is what I think the bible says." Now she can say, "This is right because it says so right here in the bible."

She gave John long, happy walking tours of places like the Parc du Mont-Royal, the city's largest park, the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), and Vieux-Montréal, Old Montreal. As they strolled, they talked, and John found out that like him and Paul, she was a fast learner. She graduated high school while working as a teenage fashion model and started college at thirteen. Now in her early thirties, she has a Ph.D. in Theology and a Ph.D. in Psychology.

"What did you think of my first doctoral thesis?"

"I hated it, why do you think I sent it back without a grade?"

"And now, a year later I send you a new paper, what do you think?"

"Much better, you should have given me that one first..." she looked at John and the mischief in his eyes. "It was the same paper, was it not?"

"I used a different type face and different shade of paper and sent it back, all I really changed is the attitude of my advisor."

"How did you do that?"

"I tried to show her that men aren't all bad and the old ways are still the good ways."

"Oui, it is a pleasure working with you, soon to be Doctor Jarecki."

They crossed the street and, as tradition dictates, Macy crossed sides and was walking on the inside and now John's right hand gently took her left hand. He felt it before he saw it. Macy was wearing her engagement ring. "Is this what all the girls in third period were chittering about?" John understands French very well, but when a room full of girls are all talking at the same time, he loses all ability to understand the lingo.

"Oui, I made up my mind when you were telling them about your potatoes and gravy theory of emotions."

"That's a good one isn't it? What do you think about it?"

"Needs work, but it shows me two things."

"What's that?"

"One, you have a good grasp of how emotions are different between men and women."

"What's number two?"

Macy sighed and smiled a smile that lights up the gloomiest day. "I now know I have good taste in men... Do not laugh at me!"

"I'm not laughing at you, I'm happy!" He pulled her close for the first real kiss of their relationship. Their lips met and her tongue darted out to meet his. His fingers tangled in her long raven locks and they both whimpered their pleasure as they kissed, blocking tourist traffic and making a show of their love.

When their lips parted, Macy asked, "Where did you learn to kiss like that?"

John shrugged and said, "I just made it up as I went along."

"You did very good, A+!"

"Did you tell the girls about your fiancé?" John asked.

"Oui."

"What did you tell them?"

"He is short."

"They'll never figure out who it is," John said with a frown. He's barely five foot seven, she's six foot two.

They ran hand in hand through the city of Montreal, stopping at every fountain and statue to kiss, and each kiss was sweeter than the last. The city was in bloom and the scent of the flowers filled the air. Finally, they stopped at a café for coffee. "Now what dearest John?" Macy pronounced John as Jean and John just loved it.

"I would like to start applying to churches that are hunting for a pastor, I'd like it to be in Buffalo or Cheektowaga, maybe here in Montreal."

"I mean about us," said Macy.

"We get married and we get a parish and you set up a ministry and..."

"And... wait," said Macy. "We need to talk."

The way she said it sounded like she was announcing she was going to leave. John swallowed down a lump in his throat and said, "Wh... what is the problem?"

"It is about sex," she said grimly.

"Oh god... you're a guy."

"Have you ever seen a guy with breasts like these?"

"Yes."

"I am not a guy... but when I was far too young I had a bad introduction to sex and I do not like even the idea of it."

"Can you cuddle naked with me... after we are married."

"Oui."

John brightened. "Then we work from there!"

Macy chuckled, her John. He could face a mountain with a teaspoon and smile and say, "I just have to dig!" Unfortunately, she couldn't say the same due to lecherous photographers and older models and their sick desires. They formed her ideas about sex when she was 13, and she was careful to guard herself after those early experiences. It's an enormous mountain for John's teaspoon to move.

"When do you want to get married?" asked John.

"Right away!" she said without a moment's hesitation. "Graduation is next week; you get your Th.D. and we run off on our honeymoon. It will be so romantique!"

"My parents will be here, I can introduce them to you and we can run off before they say something embarrassing. Oh no..."

"John, what is wrong?"

"My parents... they have money... I have seen what money does to pastors..."

"Oui! It is le fléau... a scourge."

John took both of her hands and said, "I pledge no extravagant gifts, we accept nothing we cannot repay."

"A vow of poverty?"

"If that's what we earn then that's what we live on."

Macy took John's face in both hands and leaned across the table and kissed him long and hard, then said, "I did select the right man!"

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

Graduation at École de Théologie Évangélique du Québec was a beautiful affair. The graduation was held outside in the flowered courtyard and was often attended by the student body. As a senior professor, Macy had quite a few things to attend to before graduation started, so John met his folks at the train station and his dad was just gushing over how beautiful New York State was. "I couldn't believe the country side, the mountains, the rivers..." spouted Cecil.

"He's going to get the train set out again," said Katarina.

"I now have a basement to set it up in," said Cecil.

John led his folks to their hotel room and then played tour guide, showing them the beauty of Montreal, then took them to dinner at a traditional Montreal café. Finally, back at their room, John slumped into a chair, exhausted. "Tired Johnny?" his mother asked.

"Exhausted. I spent the past couple of weeks getting three classes ready for graduation. It's like herding cats... and a church is going to be worse."

"You were always a man of God, John," said Cecil as he put a big beefy hand on John's shoulder.

"We almost lost you when you were little," said Katarina. "I was sure that God kissed you and sent you back to us, which is why you want to serve him." She smiled and teared up, then dabbed the tears away with a tissue.

"Don't get me tearing up too," said John. He was aching to get back to Macy, but tonight, he's here for his parents. They were exhausted. It had been a long day, and they saw a lot.

Cecil pulled an envelope out of his pocket. "We brought something we want you to have for graduation," said his dad.

To John, it looked like an envelope full of money. "Hold on to that dad, I haven't graduated yet."

"How can you fail? We saw your grades," said Katarina.

"You never know. Dr. Dagenais may take another look at my paper and cancel the whole thing."

"She wouldn't do that, would she?" asked Cecil as he took off his blazer and undid his tie.

"You never know, she's a woman of many surprises. I'll be back in the morning to pick you up," said John as he kissed his folks goodnight.

He got back to the little apartment, and everything was boxed up, ready to go. The only thing not boxed up for the movers was the mattress on the floor, a couple of pillows, and a blanket. He undressed and crawled under the blanket and snuggled up to Macy. She purred and pushed her ass back at him and felt his erection. "Again? Haven't we already done it this year?" She turned over to face John and kissed him. "You think I will fall for that it's my birthday story? No?"

"It's my birthday," said John with a grin.

As they kissed, Macy stroked his erection and purred, "I think I will learn to enjoy birthdays someday." The first time they made love was fumbling and confusing, neither came, they were both too nervous. It wasn't as good as John hoped and it wasn't as bad as Macy expected. Their second attempt was better and by the time their fourth attempt came, she realized she was getting turned on. That was something that had never happened before.

He kissed her firm breasts and ran his hands over her body. Macy moaned with the pleasure she felt as John suckled her breasts. Be caught a nipple between his teeth and flicked his tongue over it and she groaned. "Good?" he asked.

"Very good," she sighed. He went back to flickering his tongue over her nipple. He reached down to her pussy and explored her mysterious regions with untrained fingers. "Very Good!" she gasped again as his fingers discovered her clit. He massaged her pussy gently with his fingers and he slowly eased a finger into her pussy. She was so warm and moist, it felt so good. He was trembling as he slid his finger in and out of her vagina. She moaned and gasped until she cried baise-moi! (fuck me). They were both shocked that she was actually crying out for him. He climbed between her long, lithe legs and even before he got his throbbing cock near her pussy, he began to cum.

John felt so embarrassed as he spurted on the lady he loved, she has had so many problems with sex and now this happens. Macy saw the embarrassment on John's face and she cried out, mon amour, je t'ai enfin donné un orgasme (My love, I have finally given you an orgasm). She pulled John close and peppered his face with kisses until he began laughing. "Darling John. We will figure this out someday, no? And now we can shower together!"

"Thank you, je t'aime tellement (I love you so much)

<><><><><>

"Ok, you two stay here, and I'll bring Dr. Dagenais here to meet you after the show," said John as he pulled on his robes and disappeared into the crowd.

"I'll bet they don't speak English," muttered Cecil as he and Katarina sat down. As always Katarina brought out her knitting needles and resumed knitting a tiny pink onesie. Cecil was right. Most of the speeches were not in English. After what seemed to be introductory messages, they introduced the professors and there was a tall beautiful black girl that was introduced as Dr. Marie-Claude Solange... The rest of her name was lost in the raucous cheering of many underclassmen.

"Wasn't John's advisor named Marie-Claude too?"

"It must be a popular name here in Canuckada," snarled Cecil.

"Cecil stop!" demanded Katarina with a very sharp elbow to the ribs.

Finally, the long boring speeches were done, and they announced in French and English that they were recognizing the doctoral candidates. They called up the candidates and handed them diplomas and gave them the oh so French kiss on each cheek. Their John was third and Katarina could barely contain herself. When they announced his name, a group of girls squealed. He walked up on stage and the tall black girl kissed John's cheeks as she handed him his diploma. He gave her a big kiss on the lips and a third of the underclassmen went wild.

"The French are so romantic," said Katarina as she glanced up from her knitting.

"If they'd spend less time kissing we'd be out of here sooner," grumbled Cecil. The recipients of special awards were all receiving kisses on their cheeks, and Cecil was getting anxious.

After what seemed like an entire day, it was over and John led Macy to where his parents waited for them. "Mom, dad, this is my advisor, my guide, and my partner Dr. Marie-Claude Solange Dagenais-Jarecki, but she asked us to call her Macy. These are my parents, Cecil and Katarina."

"Marie-Claude Solange... So many names!" gushed Katarina

"Must be hard to keep them in line," chuckled Cecil.

"John!" snapped Katarina. She looked at the program and found Macy's name. Her brow furrowed, like she just caught him crossing Genesee street without permission. "Dagenais-Jarecki?"

"Yes mom, we eloped three days ago."

"When were you going to tell us?" gasped Cecil.

"Right now, actually."

"Oh My God!" cried Katarina as she hugged Macy. "Welcome to the family!" and before he knew it, his parents were gushing over Macy, telling their new daughter-in-law all about Johnnie when he was little.

"He still is little," said Macy as she hugged John, who was pouting.

"Macy, you know this town best, find a nice restaurant that Cecil can take us to," said Katarina.

"What do you like to eat?" Macy asked.

"Nothing froo-froo," said Cecil.

"What he means is nothing new age," said John. "You know, those fancy places with tiny portions and little dots of sauce here and there on the plate."

"I prefer my main course to be larger than the garnish," said Cecil.

"So many choices, we have restaurants from all over the world, we have a Portuguese restaurant where each choice is chicken... there's real Japanese..." Macy thought for a while then said, "Do you like French?"

"We've never had it," said Cecil.

"Toque isn't far," she said, then snapped her fingers. "Not Toque, Bistro La Fabrique!" and they walked a few blocks to a beautiful bistro with an incredible menu.

Cecil had the Thai style lamb, basil spätzle, pack choy and papaya salad, Katarina had the Bourride style salmon with baby potatoes, John had the pulled pork burger with coleslaw, jalapenos, and homemade fries cooked in duck fat while Macy had the sauteed cauliflower and broccoli with ginger and garlic, kalamata olive, tomato, parmesan mushroom arancini and a scallop on the side. As they ate, John and Macy picked off of each other's plate.

"Delicious! I have never heard of most of these meals," said Cecil.

"We have a lot of imaginative chefs in Montreal," said John.

After a spectacular dinner, they found a coffee house and sat down and talked. Katarina started knitting again. She said, "we sent our baby out to Jesuit seminary and instead of coming home with a black cassock he comes home with a black wife."

John put his hand on his forehead and groaned, "mom!" but Macy snorted and began laughing along with Cecil.

"What? Why are you looking at me? That was funny!" Macy said as she nudged John. They were sitting on a love seat and Macy was nudging John with her elbow.

"She's just saying things to embarrass me and she's wondering if the neighborhood will freak out when they see us. She told everyone I was going to be a priest." Then he whispered to Macy, "Mom's a lot sharper than this, she's testing us."

Macy nodded and then said, "I can borrow a nun's habit," which set Cecil laughing again.

"You're encouraging them!" cried John.

"It's ok, they don't know me so it's ok that they ask questions other people might think are uncomfortable. I want them to be comfortable with us, I want them to come join us when we get a church."

"Ok, ok," said John. "But you can't say I didn't warn you."

They talked about Jarecki family history, and they asked Macy about her family. "I was raised in northern Quebec, my family is all fishermen and we lived isolated from our entire village." Macy frowned and said, "I had no real friends, I was shunned at school, and the moment I was able to get a job, I left. I was a fashion model and because I was so tall everyone thought I was twenty one, which didn't work out so good so I quit and went to seminary and stayed. John is the first man I've kissed in almost twenty years."

As John and Macy kissed sweetly, Katarina asked, "When you have children will they be white? Black? Or will they have... stripes or spots?"

Laughing, Macy reached inside her purse and pulled out a ten-dollar bill and handed it to John, who was blushing furiously. "We had a bet on if you would ask that."

"I want to know!" said a confused Katarina while Cecil laughed.

"They will probably be a medium tan," said John.

"Has he told you about his brother Paul?" asked Cecil.

"That's all he talks about," said Macy. "He's so proud of his flight surgeon brother and his fighter pilot sister-in-law.

"There's genuine love there between those boys," said Katarina. "Years ago, we lost everything. We barely had any food in the house, and we had a neighbor watch the boys as we were trying to save the business. She kicked the boys out of the house without breakfast or lunch. When Paul got back from school, there was little John outside in the rain, starving, and trying to get into the apartment. Paul took John to a local restaurant and washed dishes so John would have food to eat."

"That is so sweet!" gushed Macy.

"That's not the entire story," said John. "I was four, and he was digging food out of the dumpster for me and we were caught. We thought we were going to jail and all I could do was cry. Mama Giardino took us and I remember being so scared and Paul kept saying 'send me to jail, John had nothing to do with it!' Inside they dried us off and fed us and Paul refused to eat until they let him pay for it by washing dishes. When Dad's business took off and Paul went off to college, dad bought Mama Giardino a power dishwasher."

"That's so sweet!"

"Mom, dad. Do you mind if we stay with you while we find a church?"

"We will be happy to have you!" gushed Katarina. Then she turned to her husband. "Cecil, didn't you bring something for John?"

Cecil pulled an envelope out of his pocket and said, "I know you are taking a vow of poverty or something like that, but this is a gift from the heart, and you two have nothing but debt to keep you warm this winter. If you won't take a gift, consider this a down payment on grandchildren. They're going to need a home too." He gave the envelope to Macy, who proved she was worthy by putting up with a lot of silly questions.

Macy looked in the envelope and said, "Oh my! This will make a wonderful emergency fund." And she slipped the envelope into her purse.

"We should be home in a couple of weeks, we're going to explore New England as we apply to churches request for pastors in Western New York and Montreal."

<><><><><>

The train ride home was wonderful! A sleeping compartment from Montreal to Buffalo, and the scenery along the trip was beautiful. Their dinner in the dining car was like their wedding night again. Katarina was still in shock that their baby, who only wanted to go into the priesthood, ended up graduating with honors from a protestant seminary and ended up with a czarny (black) wife. For his part, Cecil was crazy about Macy. She was taller than John but was sweet and treated John so wonderfully. "Our boys found themselves good women," said Cecil happily. "They take after their dad."

"If there's a compliment for me in there somewhere I'll take it," said Katarina as she finished the green onesie and planned to knit sweaters for Paul and Melony for Christmas. The cab let them off at their house and Katarina's head was still spinning from all the excitement. "We need to get John's room ready for them," Katarina said, putting her knitting away for a while.

"We should get them a decent bed for their new house," said Cecil. "You can get tables and chairs anywhere, but a proper bed is an investment."

"I like that idea," said Katarina. "Once they sleep on it, they'll have to keep it because we can't return it." It was in the evening when they got home. It was about 10:00 PM and Cecil was searching the fridge for a bedtime snack. "Have an orange!" she scolded. Just then, the phone rang and Katarina picked it up. A strange man said "Missus Jarecki?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"Here is Paul. He needs to speak to you."

"It's Paul!" she whispered to Cecil, who stepped up close to her so he could hear as well. "Paul? What's the matter baby, you sound weak."

"Mom? She's gone mom, Mel is gone. She di... di... she died."

"Oh my God Paulie, what happened?" gasped Katarina. Cecil's eyes grew wide in shock when he heard that.

"I don't know, she was in her airplane, on the ground and she taxied out to take off and died."

"Oh no! I can be right there," said Katarina. "Let me find my passport and I'll get right over to the airport."

"No, you stay mom, this trip is far too long for you. Maybe send John."

"John?" said Cecil. "We haven't heard from him since yesterday morning, he eloped! They're on their honeymoon."

"What? Who did he marry?"

"Don't you worry about that," said Katarina. "You tell them to send you home! We'll have a room set up for you..."

"Thank you mom... I-I-I gotta go. They just told me and I'm so lost."

"We love you Paul! Call collect any time! Put that first guy back on."

An unfamiliar voice came on and said, "Missus Jarecki? I'm James Kendall, Paul's Wing Commander. Is there anything we can do for you?"

"Just take care of our Paulie, he loved her so much..." and Katarina burst into tears for her poor Paulie's heartache. Cecil took the phone and said, "Sir, all we need is a number we can reach him at when his brother gets home, it's very important."

They got the number from Paul's commanding officer and Katarina posted it on the refrigerator door like she used to do with the boy's coloring, then they slowly went to bed. "Divine retribution," said Cecil as he sat up in bed.

"Go to sleep."

"It's divine retribution for what Melony's sister did to our Johnnie."

"I'm not saying it's not possible, but lets go to confession tomorrow and discuss it with Monsignor Zimpher."

As Cecil turned out the light, he said, "I can't believe you asked Macy if their babies would have stripes."

"I wanted to see her reaction. I needed to know if the girl has a sense of humor."

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

"Shoulda seen me when they told me to get out of housing... 'you ain't married no more, so go fuck off!' they says. I busted up everything and left it all behind." Dr. Jarecki was well into the scotch for the night and the bartender at the O club was getting worried. Doc Jarecki and Jacqui Davis were here every night tossing their entire paychecks across the bar at him.

"I hear that shit," said First Lieutenant Jaquette Marie-Claude Davis, known to all as Jacqui Davis. Jacqui was into vodka tonight.

"All I ever said was be there for me, just be there to catch me... and where was he? Did I ever tell ya... we were so broke I had to go dumpster diving to feed my lil' bruver," said Paul, now slobbering. "I caught him when he dropped out of seminary... I was there when that cunt's sister gave him a doze... duz... dose... dose of LSD and he saw Satan. He says, 'how kin I pay ya back?' and all I said was, 'be there for me when I need ya." Paul took a long pull on his scotch, then continued. "And when I needed him the most was he there?"

"Hell no," said Jacqui, seeing double now.

"Hell no, he was off on his honeymoon."

"Ok, doc, I have to cut you off," said the Bartender.

"We just got this party started," said Paul and his sweeping gesture took in the entire empty O Club.

"Rules are rules, when Doctor J starts talking about dumpster diving it's time to cut him off." The bartender didn't want to enforce those rules because they were tipping so well, but the rules were put in place by Doctor Jarecki.

"Fine... fine... yer just doing yer job. My bottle in my room loves me..." he threw some crumpled bills on the bar top and Jacqui followed suit. They pulled on their parkas and walked out into the frigid North Dakota night.

"Who the fuck wants to live here?" groaned Paul.

"Yeah," said Jacqui as they walked through the frigid North Dakota winter.

"I understand them sending me back from Kadina early, who wants to see a man mourn his slut wife, but why to Grand Fucking Forks?" groaned the Major. "My first assignment was Minot, now I'm in Grand Forks... What the fuck did I do to deserve this?"

"You should talk," said Jacqui. "I got orders to Grand Forks and my goddamn husband left me. Fucking coward."

The weather was horrible; the temperature was -20° (-28°C) and the wind was blowing about 45 MPH (72 KPH) creating a wind chill of -58° (-50° C). It was dangerous just to stand outside, but alcohol plus a suicidal attitude doesn't make for intelligent planning.

They walked the half block over to BOQ (Bachelor Officer's Quarters), blinded by the blowing snow and their tears freezing on their cheeks. "I think this is the sidewalk," said Jacqui and she turned up the sidewalk to the entrance of the BOQ. She got about four paces up the walk and she slipped on black ice and fell flat on her back, striking her head on the sidewalk.

"Come on Jacqui, get up, you can die there," said Paul as he leaned over Jacqui. Suddenly Paul's feet slipped out from under him on the ice and he fell face down, landing on Jacqui. When he landed on her, she didn't groan or move, which terrified Paul. "Come on baby, let's get up, we will die out here." Paul was so drunk his head was swimming. He was losing his vision around the edges, and he knew those signs. He was going to pass out. If he did, he was going to die. At -58° death was guaranteed.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He could be with Melony, and they could forget all rumors of Melony fucking around behind Paul's back and just go back to Ellicottville and start over. The tears started, and he gasped, "I'm sorry Mel... I'm sorry for hating you, and I'm sorry for becoming a drunk piece of shit..."

"Hey buddy, come on, get up."

"Huh?" someone was tugging at Paul's arm.

"Come on, get up, you'll die down there."

Paul looked up, and a fellow was standing above him. The guy was in an old parka and was wearing the hood up, and the mouth of the hood was snorkeled, nearly closed. "Come on," the guy said, and he grabbed Paul's arm and helped him up. "You ok?"

"Just a bit drunk," said Paul. He looked at Jacqui and tried to figure out how he's going to get her up. Jacqui was a big girl, easily as tall as Paul and muscular. She was a basketball player in college and was quite good. She was black and was married up until the day she arrived at Grand Forks Air Force Base as a member of the 932nd Aerial Refueling Squadron, the same squadron that Paul was a flight surgeon for.

"Is she alive?" asked the fellow. Paul looked, and through the blowing snow, he couldn't tell who he was. His voice was nondescript, but it was a man, and that was the only fact he was sure of.

"She's alive but she's not conscious."

"You get one arm and I'll get the other," said the fellow, and they hoisted Jacqui to a seated position which brought her around in a few moments. "Whaaaz happenin?" she sputtered.

"Ok, let's get her on her feet," said the fellow in the parka. Together they lifted Jacqui to her feet as she started protesting that she was ok.

"Come on baby, let's get you in my room where I can examine that nugget of yours." Paul pulled her right arm over his shoulders and the other guy got her left arm over his shoulder and she walked like a marionette between them to the door.

"My head hurts."

"It should, I think you broke the sidewalk. If it wasn't for that fellow you'd still be lying on the sidewalk."

"What fellow?"

Paul suddenly noticed that there was no one helping him with Jacqui and his blood ran cold. "What the... he must have ran off." But that wasn't likely in this weather. He got her in his room and examined her head, and she didn't break the skin, but there was a lump rising.

"Ow."

"Are you flying tomorrow?" He took a tiny flashlight and checked her pupils' response. Both were reacting equally.

"No, nobody is. The aerodrome is closed."

"What's the cube root of 27?" Paul asked as he checked her pulse rate.

"Three."

"Correct. How big is my dick?" he asked.

"I don't fucking know."

"Correct. I don't think you have a concussion, but I want to see you in my office and get a couple of x-rays."

Jacqui looked at Paul and said, "What would you have said if I told you your dick was big enough to reach the back of my throat?"

"I would have taken that as a correct answer also." He opened a locker to hang up his coat and a pair of racket ball rackets fell out. Paul used to be pretty good, and he learned to carry two rackets because he occasionally broke one or he'd meet someone who wanted to play but didn't have a racket. He slowly bent to pick up a racket and considered it for a long, long time before he handed it to Jacqui. "Tomorrow, gym. It's cheaper than tossing our paychecks at the bartender."

"You really want an ass whoopin' that bad?"

Paul thought of John and how his feeling zoom in all directions when he thinks of him. "I think I need an ass whoopin'."

<><><><><>

Paul and Jacqui were exactly the same height, but Jacqui was more muscular, making Paul look like a twig. "Ok, you have me alone in a locked room, should I start taking my clothes off or do you want me to struggle?" she said with a sneer.

"We can play strip racquetball if you want," said Paul and he recited the rules and he showed an example of the way he learned to hit a ball. Being an athlete, she picked up on the rules quickly and they started with a gentle volley just to get her used to using the racquet.

"How do we do scoring again?" Jacqui asked as she took a practice serve.

Paul had explained it twice, and each time his explanation came out sounding more complex than nuclear physics. Then he realized she knew. He just didn't explain it right. "Just like volleyball."

"Oh, why didn't you say so."

"Cause I hate volleyball. Game is fifteen points, set is best two out of three games, match is best two out of three sets."

"Wanna play a match?" asked Jacqui with a sharklike grin.

"We don't have the court that long. We're going to spend more time getting used to the rules today, let's just play a few games to get up to speed." They played the first game and as Paul said, it seemed to go on forever because Jacqui needed to learn not only about her shots but how to move out of the way after the shot. Eventually the air was filled with the squeaks of sneakers on the floor and the telltale sound of the racquet ball hitting the racquet.

After an hour and a half, mostly spent laughing, someone tapped on the door. "We have the court," said a fellow that Paul had seen from time to time.

"Yes chief!" said Jacqui. It was Chief Master Sergeant Harrington, the chief of maintenance for the 932nd Aerial Refueling Squadron. Lieutenant Colonel Ramirez, the commander of the 932nd, followed him in. Paul did not like Juan Ramirez, he was pressuring Paul to overlook medical conditions on his air crews.

"Saw bones!" said Juan with false cheerfulness.

"Gas passer," said Paul as he picked up his spare racquet balls and towel.

"Hey," said Juan as he held his racquet out in front of Paul to keep him from leaving. "If you think that flying a three hundred thousand pound aircraft is so easy why don't you come down to the simulator some time."

Paul gave Juan a disarming smile and said, "The day I think that hard work is flying in circles while other people bust their asses fixing that plane for a living, I'll be seeing a shrink."

Juan sputtered and said, "Our planes save lives!"

"You're lecturing a board certified cardiologist on saving lives?" Paul loomed over Juan, who was only five foot seven inches tall. "Do you want to know what hard work is? Keeping those planes of yours flying is damn hard work. When the next aircraft maintainer from the 932nd enters my office with frost bite or misses an appointment for "mission requirements," I'm going to the Inspector General." As Juan seethed, Paul pushed his racquet aside and said, "You don't save lives on rare occasion by killing your own people daily." Then Paul and Chief Harrington fist bumped as Paul left.

"Holy shit batman, you just butt fucked my commander in front of the chief of maintenance and the lowest ranking pilot in the squadron," Jacqui whispered hoarsely.

"Yeah, sometimes life is good. Did you bring a bathing suit?"

"Yep," she said.

"Is it revealing?"

"In your imagination it is."

They met in the steam room a few minutes later. "Minot has two steam rooms, one for the men and one for the women," said Paul. "That way you don't have to deal with these damn bathing suits."

"When I get orders out of here, I'm done with the Northern Tier bases," said Jacqui.

At the height of the cold war, the Strategic Air Command built bases all along the Northern Tier of the United States. From Loring AFB in Maine, through the upper edges of New York, Michigan, North Dakota, Montana and Washington bases were built. There were plenty of other bases in the SAC arsenal, but the toughest bases with the hardest men and women were the Northern Tier. The tip of the spear. Many of the bases were closed, but at the remaining bases the mission remained: if attacked, strike.

"You're going to miss the fishing," said Paul.

"I don't fish."

"Then you're not going to miss anything."

The two chattered like long time buddies, even though they only knew each other for a year. The steam room was full of men and women who were confused and tried to sort out the relationship between the surgeon and the younger black girl. But they would never figure it out because Paul and Jacqui could never figure it out themselves. They simply enjoyed it.

"I'm feeling dizzy," said Jacqui.

"Ok, come on, you're going to love this part," said Paul as he got up. "Follow me." He led her out of the steam room and down a hall that passed between the men's and women's locker rooms to the end of the hall and opened the door. "Normally I take a cool shower to lower my core body temperature, but in winter I do this..." said Paul. When the frigid North Dakota air met the warm moist air inside the gym, fog instantly formed. "Come on..."

"OUTSIDE?" Jacqui nearly shrieked.

"Doctor's orders. We go outside only until we feel the cold."

Paul led Jacqui outside, and the look of horror on her face changed to surprise. "This is awesome!" With her core body temperature so high from the steam, stepping outside was vitalising. There was no cold at all, just a brisk feeling.

"I know! It's refreshing and invigorating! I'm going to build a cabin in the woods and put in a sauna. Maybe a steam room, or both."

"I can't see you as a hermit, doc."

Paul tapped his head with his forefinger. "I'm already a hermit, in here. You're my only connection to humanity."

"I thought you had to love humanity to be a doctor."

"I do love humanity! It's the people I can't stand."

"I'm going to get that on a t-shirt. Who wrote that?" asked Jacqui.

"A guy named Charles Schultz." They went inside and changed, then headed back to the BOQ.

Back in his room, Paul checked his answering machine. There was one message. He hit the button, and he heard John's voice. "Paul this is John. Please talk to me, I love you and I miss us, please..." John sighed. "I have an interview with a tiny congregational church in..."

Paul frowned and erased the message. He couldn't bring himself to talk to John, and he didn't know why, and every time he thought about it, he wanted to die. Paul poured himself a scotch and held the glass up and thought about it again. Reaching an internal decision, he poured the scotch back into the bottle and capped the bottle. Then he turned off the lights and lit a single candle for Melony and fell asleep in his chair, dreaming of a cabin in the woods with Buzz Blecher's body nailed to a tree in a world that still contained Melony and the rumors of her infidelity were just rumors.

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

Gus Didomissio stood nervously at the door of the Springville Congregational Church waiting for the applicant for the open job of pastor. Ever since Pastor Maundy told the congregation that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, they've been relying on pastors from other churches to see them through. Attendance was dwindling, and it looked like they would have to close the doors and turn this beautiful old church into a museum.

Then a battered old Ford Fiesta arrived.

John parked the car across the street and got out and looked at the church and smiled. They've been to one dozen interviews, and this was the first one that was in a church that looks like a church. It looked like a little white prairie church with a steeple and double front door. In John's eyes, it was beautiful. Everything else they've seen were monstrosities of modern Christian flavored architecture. This building came from a simpler time, a time when hymns were melodic, not hypnotic. A time when the word was spoken with honesty and strength. John worried he didn't have a strong enough spirit to preach in such an edifice to do it justice.

He walked to the passenger side of the Fiesta and opened the door and let Macy out. "What do you think?"

"It's perfect," she gushed. "Let's keep it."

"Lucky number thirteen," said John. They have had frustrations in their search for a church. They were rejected for multiple reasons: being too conservative, being not conservative enough, not having any kids, and every interview in Quebec they were rejected for John's funny American accent even though he spoke French fluently.

They looked up at the white steeple against the azure blue sky, fluffy white clouds dotting the sky. The smell of the fields and the sound of the wind in the tree called out to John. It was perfect, and with Macy at his side, it was more perfect. "There's a bell up there," whispered John.

"It probably sounds beautiful," said Macy.

They climbed the seven steps to the front door where they were met by a cheerful-looking man who had the look of a man that worked with his hands. They shook hands and John said, "Hi, I'm John Jarecki, and this is my wife, Macy. We're here about a job."

"August Didomissio, please call me Gus, everyone does. I'm a deacon on the board and we're anxious to meet you." He led them into the church and said, "I apologize, we have the money and the land to build a new building next door but attendance has been dwindling."

"Does the bell work?"

"No, sorry. The rope is broken."

"This is beautiful," said Macy as they looked around in awe at the sanctuary. It was beautiful in its simplicity, and the only electronics that could be seen were a microphone at the podium and a speaker next to the podium. Someone put a lace doily and a flower arrangement on the speaker and the speaker faded into the décor.

"No drums," whispered John, and Macy noted there were no drums, and nodded.

When Gus gave him a puzzled look, Macy said. "We hate drums. They're too loud for a small church and when someone suggests putting a box around the drums, John suggests putting a shipping label on the box and calling UPS."

When Gus stopped laughing, John said, "I have nothing against electronic drum pads, their output can be adjusted for the room you're playing in, but trap sets can't be adjusted, they are for concert halls."

"Agreed!" said Gus as he led John and Macy to the back room, which held six people sitting around a U-shaped table, and Gus joined them. They gave John a chair in the middle of the U, but John sat Macy in that chair and went and got himself another chair and sat next to her. "We're a team. If you hire me I'll do the teaching and preaching and Sunday school, marriages and funerals. Together Macy and I will do counseling and new member introductions, and Macy will be involved in all church activities including visiting the home bound and children's church. She is an ordained minister so if something happens and you have no objections she can cover for me on Sunday."

"What if we say that we don't agree with that," asked a dour-looking woman on the pastor search committee.

"Then we'll thank you for your time and answer the other responses we received," said John.

The committee actually liked that, then they asked John and Macy about their academic accomplishments and were stunned to find that John has a Th.D. (Doctor of Theology) and Macy has a Ph.D. in Theology and Psychology. They asked questions about their grounding in the Trinity and divine grace among a dozen other topics. "How about music, do you have any musical training?" asked Larry Snow, who is in charge of audio and video.

"We both sing, we both play piano, I play guitar and Macy plays violin," said John.

"Williamsville is going to be upset if we move out here," said Macy. "We practice on my mother-in-law's front porch and the neighborhood comes out to listen to us every evening."

After about an hour talking to the committee, John and Macy sat in the sanctuary sipping coffee (Folger's) and whispering softly. "I am sure they will hire you," whispered Macy.

"Us, we both are under consideration, I forced that matter. I want them to look at more than your skin color." Then he sighed, "I wish Paul were here."

Macy held John close and whispered, "Mon pauvre Jean, (my poor John) I'm sure you two will reunite."

After just a few minutes, Gus came into the sanctuary and said, "Please join us." Trembling with excitement, Macy and John followed Gus back into the back room and Lou Sagget, the head of the committee who had been silent said, "The vote was unanimous, the Holy Spirit must want you here but now being a congregational church, the congregation must vote."

"No pressure," said John with a grin as an excited Macy hugged him. "Sunday on Independence day weekend... No pressure at all..."

<><><><><>

John and Macy practiced their message every night until the residents of Williamsville grew tired of hearing the same song over and over. The pianist from the Springville Congregational church heard of their plans and begged to join, so practice moved to Melissa Kraft's house in Springville, and then into the church.

John also had to learn the order of the liturgy, the order that the people were used to when they came to church. John also found the letters for the big sign out front and washed the sign down and put up.

Special Independence Day Service

Guest Speaker: Dr. John Jarecki Th.D.

Potluck Dinner to Follow Service

"Nobody knows what a Th.D. is," said Melissa as she saw John finish putting the letters up on the sign.

"Maybe they'll come in and ask," said John. "Didn't you say that your son Jacob plays the trumpet?"

"I like the way you're thinking," said Melissa, and soon Jacob was enlisted in John's program.

<><><><><>

John was right about setting up the sign like that, even though he felt like he was blowing his own horn. He never uses his title, Doctor Jarecki. It's too pretentious, but people showed up to see what Doctor Jarecki had to say. Maybe he's one of those radio preachers with a big following. Regardless of their reasons for arriving, there was a big crowd on Sunday. John and Macy were in the church basement helping set up the potluck dinner and Macy got to meet the women's committee. She made such a splash that Tammy Schatz, president of the Women's Ministry, said, "Even if they don't vote you in, we want Macy in our ministry."

"Merci beaucoup," said Macy as she washed out a crock pot in her new dress. John helped finish drying a serving platter and urged her to hurry. The service started soon.

"How many children do you have?" asked Tammy.

"Give us a chance," said John. "We just got married." They were met with shocked stares and John continued, "We thought you knew, we eloped a couple of months ago." Which caused an outcry and a lot of laughter and before they knew what was going on, the women's ministry was planning to throw Macy a bridal shower. "Didn't we elope to avoid all this?" John asked Macy.

"Maybe you did, but I love a good party," said Macy.

Upstairs in the sanctuary, the seating was filling up, and people were finding seating in the organ loft. John and Macy sat with Cecil and Katarina and Macy was having a difficult time trying to assure Katarina that she would not be sent to purgatory for attending a protestant worship service. Finally, after the opening announcements from the head deacon Dale Hansen, and several old school hymns led by Dante Reese, a powerful singer, the deacons took up collection and Melissa played a couple of hymns. Macy and John were sitting in the congregation with John's parents. When Melissa finished, Macy rose and stepped into the center aisle. Then John stood up and Macy gave him a kiss for luck and sent him up to perform his first public sermon.

John has done hundreds of practice and examination sermons at the École de Théologie Évangélique du Québec. In fact, his harshest critic was now wearing his wedding ring and sitting in the audience. As he opened his bible he said, "Hello, I am John Jarecki, and that woman that gave me a kiss..." then he looked extremely happy and said, "She is really friendly! You Springville people are just awesome!" which drew a lot of laughter. "That is my wife, the lovely Quebecois Marie-Claude Solange Dagenais-Jarecki, but she loves it if you call her Macy. Like I said, she's from Quebec. As for me I am from Cheektowaga, I'm a Buffalo boy through and through, I was weaned on beef on weck and learned early about that other trinity, The Sabres, The Bisons, and the Buffalo Bills."

This drew chuckles and nods of approval from the congregation. It's so tough to teach out-of-towners how to blend into the Western New York lifestyle.

"Also," continued John, "I was raised Catholic so I know how to Lawn Fete."

That brought chuckles and some applause. A Lawn Fete is an outdoor picnic with games for the kids. It's a fellowship gathering and a money raiser and is popular in the small villages in the Western New York countryside.

Macy took a peek around and saw, he's got them in the palm of his hands! They were leaning forward waiting for every word, laughing at the laugh lines and smiling at the rest! She was utterly astonished.

John continued. "I'm a Doctor of Theology, and Macy has a Ph.D. in theology. Now that sounds similar, but there's a big difference. As a Doctor of Theology, I can take today's lesson, John chapter fifteen, verse thirteen and explain what it means to us Christians. With a Ph.D. in theology, Macy can tell you what it means to everybody else."

"So why don't we do that and open up our bibles to John, Chapter fifteen, and we'll do verses eleven through sixteen."

Macy was amazed. He received high marks for his practice sermons at École de Théologie Évangélique, but here he sounded even more comfortable, like he was chatting about these verses with close friends, and his talking points were dead-on. It was short, but it was an amazing sermon. As he drew to a close, Melissa Kraft walked up the aisle and tapped Macy on the shoulder and Macy rose and followed her up to the front. As John finished his sermon with a prayer. Melissa sat at the piano and Macy got out her violin.

"This is a reminder of what we celebrate on Independence Day. We celebrate our unique country and constitution, but more, we celebrate the men and women that took our message today to heart to protect our country, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Sullivan Ballou was one of those men. Sullivan Ballou was a successful, 32-year-old attorney in Providence, Rhode Island, when Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers in the wake of Fort Sumter..." John took off his blazer, loosened his tie, and put on reading glasses as Macy softly played the sweet strains of 'Ashokan Farewell' on her violin.

"As his unit prepared for the first major battle of the civil war, the battle of Manassas, Major Sullivan Ballou wrote to his wife... My Very Dear Wife: Indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps to-morrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write a few lines, that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more..."

John dramatically read one of the most moving letters written, from an Army Major who felt he was going to die soon, to his wife. As Macy played Ashokan Farewell on her violin, Melissa joined softly on the piano.

"But, O Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth, and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you in the garish day, and the darkest night amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours always, always, and, if the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air cools your throbbing temples, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah, do not mourn me dear; think I am gone, and wait for me, for we shall meet again."

John was having problems holding back his tears, and all could see it, but he continued to read the amazing letter.

"As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care, and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers, I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children."

Then, as taps was heard being played on a trumpet outside, John said, "Sullivan Ballou died a few days later at the Battle of Manassas." He took off his reading glasses and said, "My sister-in-law Melony died in the service of her country. Her husband, my brother Paul is still in the service, and I pray every night he returns safe to us..."

<><><><><>

It took John a long time to pull himself together after that. He's done a dramatic reading of the Sullivan Ballou letter before, but that was before Melony died and Paul turned his back on him. Macy finally got him back together, buttoned his collar, tightened his tie, and dusted off his jacket as they spoke in French.

"Do you think it went well?" asked John.

"You really delivered a beautiful message," said Macy. "I would not doubt if they requested the Sullivan Ballou letter every memorial day."

"I don't know if I could take that again."

Macy held him close from behind and rested her cheek on his shoulder and said, "I will hold you like this and you can lean on me for support. Now let's go, papa is getting hungry." Papa was Cecil, who insisted that his daughter-in-law called him papa.

They went downstairs through the back staircase and joined the congregation as they celebrated fellowship with a feast. Papa and Katarina were talking trucks (of course) with Gus, and it looked like Cecil was scoring a sale. They joined the food line and loaded their paper plates with casserole and salads of all kinds. The dessert table was overflowing with cake, cookies, cupcakes, bars and pies.

John, Macy, Cecil and Katarina sat at a table with deacons, Dale Hansen and Gus Didomissio, and Dale and Gus made sure that John and Macy knew everybody's name as they came up to talk to the young pastor. John's head was swirling with names and faces, but Macy seemed to remember everyone.

"Are all protestant churches like this?" asked Katarina.

"Mom, what did you expect?" asked John. "Sacrificing babies by the light of the full moon?"

"NO!" gasped Katarina. "Well, maybe a little." Causing everyone to laugh. When they finished eating, John got his guitar out and started strumming some cords and plucking notes as he does when he's thinking about something. Macy got out her violin and played a short version of Ave Maria, to the applause of everyone there.

"Got a song for us pastor?" asked Gus.

"I'm not a pastor, not yet at least, but I have a few songs and hymns in here."

"You got hymns in there?" asked a small girl who seemed to be infatuated with John.

"Yeah, watch." John held the guitar over his head and shook it. He then brought it down to his lap and said, "Let's see what we found..." he strummed a discord and said, "Oh, no. That's not a song."

He held his guitar above his head again and shook again, and now there were nearly a dozen small children around him. Most were curious and wanted to see what this new guy was doing. The rest were there because big brother or big sister were there.

John brought his guitar down to his lap and strummed a cord, and broke into a huge grin. "Look what I found..." and played "On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese, I lost my poor meat ball, when somebody sneezed..."

The little girl looked around in shock when Macy joined in on violin and all the adults started singing the song. "It rolled off the table and onto the floor, and then my poor meat ball rolled out of the door..."

"Meatballs don't really grow into bushes," the little girl assured John when the singing was over.

"That's how those old songs go," said John. He then played a few old hymns and Macy joined in playing on her violin while many of the congregation sang along.

When the singalong was finished, the head deacon Dale Hansen stood and said, "Folks, I think it's that time. John, Macy, could you step outside for a few minutes?"

"We'll be right out front," said John and he and Macy climbed the stairs to get outside.

Out on the front stoop of Springville Congregational Church John stood looking out over a valley, a farmer on the other side of the valley was plowing a field and another farm had a few dozen head of dairy cows slowly munching their way across the pasture in the warm sunshine. "I really love it here," said John. God, "I wish Paul were here."

"It smells so nice, and the birds singing, it is beautiful here," sighed Macy. To her, this was a tropical paradise compared to Northern Quebec.

"It's close enough for mom and dad to come up on occasion and spend time. I bet there's parades in the summer and picnics in the park."

"It would be wonderful."

Just then Ernie Kraft, a member of the board, came outside with them. Ernie was a farmer, a big, powerful old guy, and he never looked happy about anything. "Dale would like it if you would join us now."

Nervously, John and Macy followed Ernie back into the church basement and the entire congregation watched them come down the stairs. As they stepped off the stairs, everyone in the basement shouted, "WELCOME HOME!"

"What took you so long to get here," laughed Gus. "We've been waiting months for you."

Laughing and nearly in shock, John and Macy began shaking hands with everyone in their new home and somehow John ended up with a two-year-old admirer in his arms and carried the little fellow around as they tried to thank everyone in the room that voted for him. It was a unanimous decision, so they shook a lot of hands.

Cecil and Katarina hugged and cried tears of joy for their youngest boy and Katarina tearfully said, "I get my sewing room back!"

"Let's get Paulie back," said Cecil and planned what he was going to say to Senator Elden in the morning.

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

"Oh yeah, Jacquette with the racquet," Paul softly cheered as he looked through the Air Force Times. Jacquette Davis had just won the USAF Racquetball Tournament held at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. There was a wonderful photo of her being handed a trophy by the commander of the Air Combat Command on page 16. His phone beeped, and he saw a message from Jacqui responding to the message he sent her a few minutes ago. "Love ya too! Did you call John yet?"

He typed a quick reply that merely said "Nag nag nag" then got up. Court was going to resume. Lieutenant Colonel Paul Jarecki finished his coffee and followed the rest of the crowd into the courtroom. He was called here to testify in a murder case. At first, he accepted because it was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and he wanted to look around the museum on somebody else's dime. Then he accepted it because the accused was General Abernathy 'Buzz' Blecher, and Paul hated that guy. Assholes like him always made rank. He made life a living hell for Paul in Kadina, whining about his fliers and excusing dangerous and criminal acts of hiding medical issues from the flight surgeon by saying "everyone does it!" Paul actually beat the guy up for making a smart-ass remark at his going away party. Then he found out who the murder victim was, the hard way.

Because he was an expert witness, Paul was denied foreknowledge of much of the crime, but he was called to testify about an allergy to levonorgestrel, something he knows quite a bit about because of Melony's allergy to levonorgestrel. Then he discovered it was her murder trial.

"Doctor Jarecki did General Blecher ever ask you for 'Plan B' tablets?" asked the USAF Judge Advocate General lawyer appointed as the prosecutor..

Paul looked over at the defense table. 'Buzz' looked older, fatter, and a lot smaller than he looked when he was a flight lead on F-15s. "Yes he did. He asked me reasonably frequently. As flight surgeon for his squadron, he had to clear prescription medications through me. He always asked just before going on TDY."

"Objection," called Buzz's high price civilian lawyer. "Calls for speculation."

The AFJAG prosecutor asked Paul, "Would you care to clarify your statement?"

"There's no speculation at all, he would be in my exam room in his underwear and ask for Plan B to 'make sure what happens TDY stays TDY."

Court Martials are not civilian trials, there's no shouting or outbursts, you could go to jail for that. No, when a killing point is made, the silent room somehow gets more silent.

"Colonel Jarecki, how did General Blecher get Plan B tablets?"

"That would call for speculation on my part."

"Please speculate," said the JAG prosecutor. "You were brought here as a subject matter expert. Speculate away." The JAG lawyer was a short, dark-haired, handsome man. He reminded Paul of his brother John, and that was getting unnerving. First Jacqui nagged him about John, now John's mirror image was questioning him.

"The general would ask me for three Plan B tablets just before a deployment. I would ask him if he thought he was pregnant with triplets, and regardless of how he answered that question, I would tell him 'no,' because he would not be the person taking them. That was a point he never seemed to understand."

"How do you think he got them?"

"I do not know, legitimately the Air Force Pharmacy will not hand them out without a prescription. If he found another way to get them from the pharmacy that would fall under NCIS to research. In Japan he could buy them downtown, but he would have to pay cash if he could find someone that would sell it to him, that's about 25000 yen for one pill, about two hundred and fifty dollars back then."

"Objection," called the defense lawyer. "The witness is accusing a general of illegally purchasing drugs."

"Your honor, the witness clearly said this was all supposition on his part before he answered the question. He is here to give expert testimony, it would be nice if the defense would let him do that."

"Duly noted," said the judge. "Mister Howe, could you please keep your objections within the limits of calling an objection to an actual infraction or infringement?"

"Yes your honor."

The prosecution continued. "Your wife was a flier, could she use Plan B?"

"No sir, she was allergic to levonorgestrel, at any level it was very dangerous to her. She couldn't take normal daily birth control pills because of the levonorgestrel which is the active ingredient. Plan B tablets are merely a megadose of levonorgestrel. They would have killed her." Paul was sadly remembering conversations that they should have acted on earlier. He could be a father of a pre-teen right now and Melony wouldn't have been on the flying schedule and met her murderer in Korea.

"That must have made life difficult for you."

"No, not difficult," said Paul. "We were structured differently. We had to make sure we were both aware of her cycle. Because of her allergy to latex, we couldn't use most condoms. It actually brought us closer together, we were both active in her... in our birth control. We got pretty creative."

"What about an abortion, could she have an abortion?"

"Yes, physically she could have, but emotionally we couldn't do that. At that point in time we had decided that we wanted children, so an abortion was never an option."

"Thank you colonel. Your witness," said the JAG prosecutor, and the high-priced lawyer stood. Military Justice is swift, stalling tactics do not work in a military court martial. When you're called on to question a witness, you stand up until you're done.

After standing and looking at his notes, he finally said, "You told the court that Lt. Ruskin was allergic to levonorgestrel. How would General Blecher have known that?"

"Because I told him. In one of our first discussions over Plan B, I clearly stated that my wife, a flier, was allergic to levonorgestrel and that a birth control pill would make her horribly sick, and a Plan B tablet would kill her. I told him that this was one of the reasons why birth control pills are only taken under a doctor's care."

"You spoke with other people about your wife's medical condition?"

"Yes, this was not a secret, Melony was not alone in her allergy, and she wanted as many people as possible to know about it to hopefully find an alternative to levonorgestrel.

The lawyer glared at Lieutenant Colonel Jarecki and tried a tactic that he used in civilian courts. "Is it not true that you're a doctor in the twilight of your career that you are lashing out trying to take down one of the last men to see your wife alive?"

"Yes. It is true." Mr. High-Priced Lawyer was shocked. "General Blecher was one of the last men she saw alive, but he was also the only man who went TDY with her that I know to have an odd fascination with the drug that killed her. So yes, if he's guilty I hope he gets the maximum penalty."

"You know Dr. Jarecki, that could be death."

"Yeah, I know. What's your point?"

Paul was released, and he headed back to his seat. He was glad this was over, so now he could go poke through the Air Force Museum. His brain was fried. He sat down and a beautiful black woman in a bright yellow business dress sat down next to him. She was as tall as Jacqui, but slim with a fairly nice rack from what he could see.

The beautiful black woman leaned close and said, "Doctor Jarecki, I need you to come with me."

She was nice looking, but not that nice. Besides, there are better places to pick up guys. He tried to wave her away, but she wouldn't go.

"Doctor Jarecki, I work for Cyryl Jarecki, and he needs you." She handed him a version of his dad's business card. Instead of saying Cecil, the first name was his real name, Cyryl. Very few people get that card, just high end buyers.

"What does he want?"

"He wants you." She handed him an envelope that was thick with papers. He opened it up, and they were all stapled together like they do with military orders. "These are your orders; you've been assigned to the Western New York VA Hospital as Director of Cardiology. Follow me." She picked up his overnight bag, and his antique looking doctor's bag that his parents gave him so long ago and has proved so useful. Without a word, she left with his luggage.

"I'm almost retired," said Paul as she hurried out of the building to a waiting car.

"And you'll be able to retire around family and friends. The car took them directly to the airport where a small private plane was waiting. Paul got on the little Piper Cheyene 400 III, a six passenger twin engine turbo prop.

"What about my rental?"

"That will be taken care of for you." She held her hand out, and he gave her the keys to his rental car.

"And my room at the BOQ?"

"That has been packed. Your hold baggage is on the way to Western New York as we speak."

"This is like being in a spy novel," muttered Paul.

"Believe it or not, you have friends in high places, Doctor Jarecki. They care for you and miss you."

"I never caught your name," said Paul.

"I am Doctor Marie-Claude Solange Dagenais-Jarecki." Her accent was so heavy that Paul didn't catch her last name.

"Where are you from. France? When I was stationed in Germany I got to go to Paris, and they all talked like you."

"I am from Montreal."

"Do you mind if I get some sleep? I've been flying around for days." Paul had been at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas, teaching when the request to testify at Buzz Blecher's trial came up. He just landed in Cincinnati that morning and drove to Wright-Patterson in time for the trial. Now that his part in the trial was over, he can screw off for a little while. He took a sip of iced tea that Marie syllable syllable syllable brought him and was asleep before he could take another sip.

Paul woke up when the tires of the Cheyene hit the ground at Buffalo International Airport. The plane pulled into a parking spot at Prior Aviation on the north end of the airfield and soon shut down. "Follow me S'il vous plait," said the black woman in the yellow business dress and she climbed off the airplane and held open a rear door on a Bentley Continental Flying Spur Saloon. He hopped in and Marie syllable syllable syllable put his bags in the trunk then got in next to him. As the big luxury saloon eased out of the airport, she pulled some papers out of her briefcase and started going through some paperwork in a leather folder, tapping away on a calculator. "Checking my dad's sales figures?" asked Paul.

"Huh? Oh non, Doctor Jarecki, I am double checking the treasurers figures for the Springville Congregational Church's budget."

"Why?"

"Because the treasurer asked me to. We are building a new church and want to come in under budget."

The Bently was pure luxury. Dad must be doing gangbusters in the Mile Strip Road location that were all European luxury cruisers. "Hey, stop at Charlie the Butcher's!" They serve a great beef on weck there.

"I am sor-ree, dinner will be a bit later after your meeting with Mr. Jarecki." They left the airport and swung up Union Road, then pulled on to The Thirty-Three and barely got up to speed before it exited on to Harlem Drive. "Ah, the old neighborhood," said Paul sarcastically as they drove up Maryvale drive then turned into Cedargrove Heights. "This used to be named Tiorunda."

"I know, Mister Jarecki told me." They drove through the evening neighborhood and Macy said, "Did you know Doctor Jarecki, that your father is offering financial help to the poorer families here? I thought that was interesting." The Bently stopped in front of the ancient Four-plex that they lived in and Paul stepped out of the car. Macy stepped up to the door of the apartment building and opened it for him.

"I used to live here," said Paul.

"I know. Doctor Jarecki told me."

"Huh?"

Paul stepped into the apartment and walked slowly through the kitchen. The ancient stove was updated, as was the ancient refrigerator, and they were pulled away from the wall. It looked like the apartment was getting ready to be painted. He stepped into the living room and a single bare bulb illuminated the room and in there were mom and dad, Cecil and Katarina. "Mom!"

His parents hugged their oldest son. Nearly twenty years had passed since he put on the uniform, and now he was home for good. "Why didn't you let me come to you, we all wanted to come help."

"Mom, that was an eighteen hour flight!"

"So? It was for you Paulie, you needed family," said momma.

"Paulie, you don't know how hard it was not to get on that plane."

"Dad, I'm sorry, I wanted to talk to John so bad and when he was gone I went crazy I guess..."

"We know honey," said Katarina, patting his shoulder. "And now you two can make it right." Cecil, Macy, and Katarina stepped outside and locked the door.

"Mom? Come on mom!"

"Someone put key locks on the inside of the doors," said a familiar voice. "It's a fire safety violation and they all have to be replaced and the landlord went bankrupt. Dad is funding their replacement."

"John?"

"Paul, I'm sorry for not being there." John stepped out of the shadows wearing just jeans and a t-shirt.

"I'm over it," snapped Paul.

"Then why are you avoiding my calls and letters?" John held his hands behind his back. "I wasn't there for you like I promised... you needed me and I wasn't there for you. It's ok to hit me."

"I'm not going to hit you.

"You need it as much as I do. I was wrong, I deserve your hate."

"I don't want to hit you."

"Hit me! I promised you that I'd be there to pick you up and I failed you. You had to face the horror of your wife dying alone, I could have been there in a few hours... HIT ME!" To the surprise of both of them Paul wound up and hit him in the stomach and with an oof, John crumpled to his knees.

"There, happy? Now leave me alone."

Wretching a little, John slowly got up. "I can't understand the sorrow and the loss you felt when Melony died, at the same time I lost my only brother and it's my fault. I cry for you at night and pray you'll call... I can't take your hatred... HIT MEEEE PLEASE!"

Paul gave him another gut punch, but he didn't go down. He bent over, puked a little, then slowly stood back up. "What's wrong with you?" demanded Paul. "Just go down and leave me alone."

"No, it's not fair what happened to you and I should have been there for you. I was wrong! Damn it HIT ME! Give me your hate. HIT ME!

"NOOOO!" Screamed Paul and he wound up with all the pain and anger that had been festering for the past decade and hit as hard as he could. John sailed backwards and hit his head on the floor, and stopped moving. "John? JOHN!" Paul dove to his little brother. His eyes were fluttering. "Oh crap, I didn't mean it... John, I didn't mean it."

"It's ok, it's all my fault," and John slipped into unconsciousness.

"Damnit John," groaned Paul as he ran to the sink to wet a rag he found, then he looked in the fridge and found that an ice tray was full of ice cubes. He wrapped the ice cubes in the wet rag. "Don't you dare die on me."

<><><><><>

Outside Katarina, Cecil and Macy waited nervously. "The boys never really fought before," said Katarina.

"Doesn't sound like John is fighting at all," said Cecil.

"He is, he's fighting the way that hurts Paul the most," said Macy, who was quietly weeping. "Have you ever seen the movie Ghandi?"

"John is laying down in front of armored cars?" asked Cecil.

"In his way."

<><><><><>

Paul turned to go back to John and saw that John was picking himself up from the floor. His eyes weren't focusing, and he was wincing in pain. "Hit me," groaned John. "Beat the failure out of me." He turned to Paul and begged, "Please!"

"I'm not going to hurt you anymore," said Paul.

"You did much worse when you threw me away." He collapsed to his knees. "Please, I can't take your hate anymore, please hit me until your hate is gone or I am gone. PLEASE!" John looked up, his eyes full of pain and tears. "I can't live like this."

Their eyes met and Paul was reminded of the tiny, confused and starving boy weeping in the rain, locked out of the house by a drunken whore while mom and dad worked in desperation to save the family business. Paul remembered John's scuffed knees. John would run to Paul, knowing Paul could make it better. Then the sunny days and ice cream on they enjoyed on Island Park came to mind, watching the kids on the swings...

"Oh god John, I missed you so much!" and suddenly they were hugging. The pain and hate and anger and pride of the past decade were draining from Paul's heart and they were, once again, John and Paul, inseparable brothers.

"I missed you so much..." gasped John.

"I missed you too... I don't know why I acted like that."

"Pain makes people do things they wouldn't do normally," said John. "Let's not do that again, ever," he said through his tears and they knelt and held each other. They hugged and wept for what seemed like ages, apologizing to each other over and over. It was so good for each to have their brother back!

"I'm so sorry, did I hurt you?" asked Paul sadly.

"Yes, but Dad brought you home so we could work it out."

"Not that," said Paul as he helped John to his feet. "The punching."

"That? You hit like a girl." John tried to stand straight, but a jolt of pain shot through his abdomen. "A really, really big angry girl."

Suddenly Paul was crying, "I'm so sorry... so damn, damn sorry but I'm so lonely. I didn't want to hurt you, I wanted you to hit me. I can't take being alone anymore..."

The brothers held each other tightly. "I'm here for you now, we're family again," said John as Paul tried to compose himself. Then John said, "Don't worry about it, when she comes you'll know her and she'll know you, and God will bless your union."

"What do you mean?"

"That's how it's going to happen. That's how you're going to meet your wife."

"While we're waiting, I want to meet your wife," said Paul as they slowly walked through their old home.

"You already did. Dad sent her to Cincinnati to pick you up."

"That was your wife?" Paul asked in shock. He compared Marie syllable syllable syllable and Jacqui and shook his head. The Jarecki boys are back. "How do we get out of here?" said Paul, finding the door still locked.

"Shave and a haircut," said John. Paul tapped the ancient rhythm, "Shave and a haircut, two bits," on the door and the with the jingling of keys the door opened.

"Oh!" the tall black girl cried, "My Jean!" (that's what it sounded like to Paul) and she put her arms around John. "Are you hurt?"

"A little, but the real pain has stopped." He slowly straightened. "Paul, this is my beautiful wife, Doctor Marie-Claude Solange Dagenais-Jarecki."

"Call me Macy."

"Macy, this is your only rival for my affections, my brother Paul." Even through his pain, Macy could see the joy in John's smile. This was all worth it.

<><><><><>

A car whisked them to Giardino's Family Italian Restaurant, where Momma Giardino shrieked with joy when she saw Paul and John enter together. "Paulie! Johnny! Everyone listen, my boys are back!"

"Please Momma, keep it down!"

Momma seated them at a special table often reserved for events. Without asking, Momma's son Danny, now the restaurant manager, set a plate of antipasto out for his brothers. "The usual Macy?"

"Oui! It is so délicieuse!"

"Paul? Would you like to see a menu?"

"You know what? Tell the cook to bring me whatever he likes to cook."

"Will do. Mom? Dad?"

"Momma just wants a salad and a chance to pick off my plate," said Cecil. "We'll have the Penne Contadina."

"Very good, coming right up," said Danny as a waiter set out water and bread with plates of seasoned olive oil to dip the freshly baked bread in.

As the waiter returned with two large glasses of Pepsi for Paul and John, their father sat back with a harrumph.

"What's the matter dad?" asked Paul.

"All these doctors!" he said. He pointed to Paul, "Doctor." Then he pointed to John, "Doctor." Finally, he pointed to Macy. "Doctor Doctor. But the used car salesman is footing the bill."

Paul pulled out the wallet. "Let me see if there's anything left from the pittance you taxpayers give us..."

"Collection was a bit short this week," said John, searching his own wallet.

"My employer sent me out of town, I had to get a new dress," said Macy as she rifled through her purse.

"He does this all the time," said Katarina. "Don't listen to your father, the business is doing well."

Cecil leaned over to Paul and said, "I am looking to retire but I want to keep the business in the family and these two took a vow of poverty!"

"It's not a vow of poverty dad," groaned John. "I promised my church that I would prioritize them right after Macy. So I work for the church and pick up money working for Gus."

"He is an apprentice carpenter," said Macy. "He is learning to make furniture now."

"Gus lets me use his tools and I've been making cabinets for the house."

"You got a house?" asked Paul.

"Oui!" gushed Macy. "It is what you call fixer upper."

"It's a farmhouse without a farm," said John. "Only a block from the church and we gutted it and are rebuilding as we go. Right now I'm building the hulls for the kitchen cabinets. Gus is teaching me and so far all we've had to buy is lumber and screws."

"Who is Gus?" asked Paul.

"He's a deacon at the church," said John.

"You didn't hear me when I mentioned the family business?" growled Cecil.

Without turning from John and Macy, Paul waved his hand and said, "I'll do it pops." Then he looked at his father and said, "If I find anything in the books that looks a little bit sketchy I'll sell the whole damn thing and donate it all to John's church."

"The books are immaculate," growled Cecil.

"Oui, I have been reviewing the books, they are clean so far."

"Well, dad must be up to his old tricks if he can get a Senator to yank me out of Texas for my last few years in the service."

"No!" gasped Macy. "Senator Elden bought a car for a member of his staff and he was happy with the car!"

"And he was happy with the fact that we didn't tell his wife," whispered Katarina.

"Errr, yes, there was that."

"Dad! You strong armed a United States Senator?"

"NO! The guys name was Senator. Senator Elden, he lives in North Tonawanda. I just mentioned that it would be nice to have you home to take over the business. He may have strong armed a senator, but he let me borrow his plane to get you."

As the meals arrived, then Paul laughed and said, "Yes. I will take over. I have to prioritize the VA hospital as I go, but I will learn the company and when I retire from the service I'll take over Jarecki Motors."

John and Macy's usual was Spaghetti Viviana, spaghetti with chicken, fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, asparagus, and Greek olives in olive oil and garlic. Mom and Dad's Penne Contadina was penne pasta with ham, mushrooms, and mozzarella in olive oil and garlic with a touch of marinara. Chef Dominic himself brought out Paul's dish, Chicken Pappagallo. Grilled chicken breasts with sauteed artichokes, tomatoes, mushrooms, and basil in olive oil and garlic.

"We didn't eat like this a few years ago, did we," said Paul as he watched the couples share a plate with each other...

Macy saw Paul sadly watching the couples share their meals. She leaned over John and whispered to Paul, "It will happen soon. Do not worry."

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

It was autumn, and the leaves were a riot of colors; the air was crisp, but the sun was warm. The church was a beehive of activity. Workmen carried the new pews in one by one, final touches were being completed. Larry Snow was toiling with the new 32 channel sound board and the sound equipment in the church. His wife Carol was standing in the middle of the sanctuary listening to sound levels and giving Larry suggestions on setting sound levels.

John was in the kitchen installing a second dishwasher while the women's ministry decided where each dish went, where the silverware would be stored and the plasticware would be available and the coffee pot! Should it be near the sink where the water is available or near the door so you could grab a cup without getting in the way? Decisions decisions.

"Wow," said Paul as Macy gave him a tour of the goings on. "John must be excited about opening this building."

"He hates it. Jean loves the old church and is sorry to see it go. He's been preaching over there for two years and he fell in love with it. But the congregation needs this new building, we have outgrown the old church! And the old church is not disabled friendly, our old members cannot get in the old building, the stairs are too steep, so is the ramp. So we will use it as storage and have special events there like weddings." Paul and Macy put the boxes they were carrying in an empty office. "This is our office," said Macy as they set the boxes of books down.

There was a folding couch in the office and Paul said, "This is where you two sleep?"

Macy nodded brightly. "We haven't finished the house yet, so we sleep here at night and as soon as we finish this building we can concentrate on the house."

Just then, a fellow leaned in the office door. "It's almost noon."

Macy looked excited. "Does John know?"

"He will in a few minutes."

"Gus, this is Paul, yes, that Paul. Paul, this is August. He's kind of in charge of this building."

"Well, I did build it," said Gus as they shook hands. "Gus Didomissio, general contractor. It's good to meet you. Let me guess, you and John reunited last week on Thursday?"

"Yes, who told you?"

"John's smile. He's done nothing but talk about you, and now he's just walking around grinning." Gus urged Macy and Paul to the main door of the church. From there, you could see the countryside and directly ahead of them was the old church building.

"What are we looking for?" asked Paul.

"Wait for it," said Gus with a huge grin. Macy couldn't hide her grin as well. Gus looked at his phone and said, "three... two... one..." then from the old church came a gentle clang, followed by a louder clang, then louder.

"The bell!" shouted John. "You fixed the bell!" He nearly shrieked in joy as the old bell in the church steeple clanged the noon hour. Decades ago, the rope broke, and the congregation gave up on the bell. One of Gus's employees climbed up and replaced the rope, lubricated the bearings, then installed a device that they salvaged from another church that would ring the bell at the times set. All work stopped as the bell rang out loud and true. The sound was pure, and it echoed across the valleys. John threw his arms around Gus and kissed his cheek. "Thank you! Nothing is impossible!"

Macy was laughing, and John turned to her, and they hugged and kissed. The ringing of the old bell signified something different to everyone that heard it, but grumpy old Ernie Kraft said it best when he said, "That is the sound I grew up with. Wherever I was working I would hear that bell coming across the fields and I knew what time it was." He place a bearpaw sized hand on Gus's shoulder and said, "Thank you for giving it back to us."

The ringing of the bell soon faded, and the gathered workers of the Springville Congregational church began clapping and cheering. The bell was a thing of a different age, when there were no cellphones to tell you the time and watches were expensive and rare. A village like Springville depended on the church bell that rang at noon and six, calling the villagers to worship on Sunday morning. The ringing of the bell was a clue to villagers to set the time on their alarm clocks.

"Hey Gus, I bought a house in town," said Paul. "Any chance you could give it a look and tell me what you think?"

"Sure, where's it at?"

"It's the Victorian at the corner of Howard and Second."

Gus gave Paul a huge grin. "I've been dying to get into that place for years!"

"Here you go, knock yourself out," said Paul, and he handed Gus the keys. "Make up a punch list for me and we'll talk."

"What would you like, restaurant quality kitchen, planet fitness in the basement, and bedrooms like a palace?"

"You're the man!" A fist bump somehow started an incredible friendship.

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

Gus started work at Paul's house almost immediately. Their friendship was solid and Paul's house was coming along nicely, but the VA sent Paul to a conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. Just days after Halloween and it was as frigid as mid-January. Paul looked around the St. Paul Hilton's banquet room. The enormous glass walls gave an impressive view of the Twin Cities at night. They also insured that the sub-zero temperatures outside were part of the ambiance inside. It was freaking cold in that room. Paul was not ready for an upper Midwest cold spell. He turned his back on Grand Forks ages ago. He got another gin and tonic and sipped it thoughtfully as he watched the crowd of doctors mingle. "Gin lover?" came a woman's voice from somewhere below him.

"Not really. I like the quinine in the tonic water. I'm terrified of malaria." The tiny woman chuckled and Paul said, "Have you ever been to Minnesota in the summer?"

"No, why."

"Let me put it this way, as a woman your size you won't have to worry about bears or coyotes because the mosquitos will have carried you off. I was stationed in Grand Forks and Minot, I know this area."

"My grandmother lives in Bismark. We visit her every Christmas, and I never had a problem with mosquitos." Paul gave the tiny woman a look that was more than charitable and she laughed. "Did I really say that?" Her laugh was pure and clear and refreshing to the soul. "Who are you here with?"

"It's just me, myself and I," said Paul. "Who are you here with?"

"Me, Madeline, and Sandy."

"Who is that?"

"My constant companions," she said as she rubbed her huge tummy. "They should be here by Christmas."

"And your husband?"

"He's upstairs." Her frown said it all. He was probably banging someone on the cleaning staff.

"They're calling us together for a photo."

"A doctor's work is never done," sighed the little woman and the doctors in attendance for the conference gathered in a group, Paul being the tallest in the back, the tiny woman in the front and they posed and named their favorite body parts when the photographer opened the shutter.

"It was so nice to meet you Doctor Roberts," said Paul, reading her name off of her "Hello, I Am..." tag.

"And you Doctor Jar-Ecki," said the tiny woman.

"It's pronounced Yer-es-ki."

"I like that," she said with a dazzling smile.

"Would you honor me by joining me for dinner at the banquet?"

"I'm sorry," she said. "The girls are wrestling, and I don't feel well. The three of us need a rest."

"Before you go... If it's embarrassing please say so because it is for me," Paul sputtered, "but can I feel them once before you go?"

"Here, give me your hand." She placed his hand on her stomach and he felt it! He felt the wriggling of a child. No, he felt children! She made sure he felt both of her girls inside her womb. "You don't have children?" A look of fascination crossed his face as the babies moved.

"No, I lost my Melony years ago."

The look of wonder that came over his face astounded Doctor Roberts. He's a doctor. This should be old hat to him, but their movements amazed him. "I've never..." suddenly the words became very hard to say. "We wanted kids when she died."

Sadly, the kids settled down not long after he placed his hand on her belly. "Wow, you're a baby whisperer, I should keep you around."

She left and Paul ordered another drink, then went back to his room and ordered a pizza. He just couldn't face another banquet meal: dried out chicken breast in mystery gravy with overcooked vegetables. He couldn't do that to himself again, not alone.

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

Cecil passed away not long after Thanksgiving, so Paul insisted everyone come together in his house. Paul, John, Macy and Katarina lived together in his big Victorian until John and Macy got their house finished leaving Paul and Katarina alone. Then momma passed away and Paul was all alone again. He was pitiful after her funeral service, and she was laid to rest next to Cecil in the tiny cemetery next to John's old church.

Paul kind of slithered into a cocoon and barely spoke to anyone. He came to church and played the guitar during the worship hymns, then would leave to walk around his backyard or go to Worzils and drink beer. "I need you to promise me something Ayato. The minute I start talking about dumpster diving, cut me off."

"You got it Doc!"

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Macy heard him say that. She made a few calls and within the week, she showed up at Jarecki Motors and dragged him out of his office.

"You're coming with me," she said as they drove along in her little Alpha Romeo Spider, and she took him to a dog kennel in East Aurora and Macy introduced him as Lieutenant Colonel Paul Jarecki.

A woman with a steel leg stepped up to Paul and said, "Here. This is Wonka. He's been waiting for you," and she handed Paul a leash. At the other end of the leash was a chocolate lab.

Paul immediately said, "I don't need a dog."

"Of course you don't. But he needs you."

"Well, you... I... he..." Paul sputtered as Wonka looked up at him with those big brown eyes. "I'm going to get you for this Doctor Jarecki."

"Your welcome Doctor Jarecki," said Macy. "I'll be back when the training is over."

"I don't want a dog that needs training," complained Paul.

"It's not the dog that needs training," smiled the woman.

It wasn't long later when Paul and Wonka became a village icon. They walked everywhere chatting with their neighbors. Wonka particularly liked Veronica von Köster, who lived a block up Second Ave. He always wanted to stop for snacks, but never with his Support Animal vest on. In his vest, Wonka paid attention to no one but Paul. Wonka lay at Paul's feet at Worzils as he had a cold beer and sat at attention when they would go over to the Cricket House, where John and Macy would dance.

Wonka would catch and return a frisbee until your arm fell off, but would stop when you said, "That's enough Wonka." Wonka even went swimming in the pool with Paul, but became confused when Paul sagged into the relaxing waters of the new hot tub. The water was too hot for him and he would peer over the edge of the tub and whimper as Paul soaked. To rescue Wonka, Paul would sit in the hot tub and toss a ball into the swimming pool for Wonka to dive after.

"What's the matter boy? Is the yard too small for you? It is? I can fix that."

Paul concentrated on his business and his house, then one warm summer day he called John and Macy to join him on Trevett road. He led them down a path to an enormous barn. "What do you think?" he said excitedly. This was the best he felt since momma died, and Macy gave Paul to Wonka. (That's how they express it and both Paul and Wonka are good with it) This sunny day Paul just opened another Jarecki Motors, bringing them up to seven dealerships and they were becoming an economic power in Western and Central New York.

"It's a barn. I like it, it's cool but..." John missed the glint in Paul's eye, but Macy didn't.

"It has a hen house up in the hay loft," said Paul.

Macy said, "We could raise chickens in the barn!"

"Yeah! And a cabin right here in the trees... what do you think? We'll build a cabin with a loft and you and Macy can sleep upstairs in the loft.

"You're crazy," chuckled John. "I dare you."

"You dare me?"

"Yeah, I dare you!'

"Hold my beer," grinned Paul.

Two weeks later, John and Macy walked hand in hand up the road that Paul cut through the field with a drag plow. John saw it first. "He built another barn. He bought the land and built another barn."

What John was looking at was a large "garden barn" It had the normal barn shaped "hip roof" and was two stories tall, each story was over seven feet tall. Instead of barn doors on the front of the barn, it had a series of windows and a three foot wide Dutch door. There was a patio awning built out the front and a picnic table under the awning. "He did it, you bet him and he did it," said Macy with a joyful grin.

"Can he afford this land and the buildings and..."

Macy hugged John from behind and whispered, "He's ok, you're ok. He's doing some incredible things with your legacy." She kissed his ear and whispered, "the two of you can retire in comfort right now if you want."

John shook his head and sighed. "He did it."

"Did what" asked Gus as he stepped out of the barn. "I'm not sure what he's doing, but I just finished hooking up the electric and the wood stove he put in works fine." Gus showed John and Macy the interior, which was empty of furniture, but there was so much room! Sixteen feet wide, thirty-two feet long, and a staircase on the back wall led upstairs. The interior was all insulated and paneled with rough cut timber.

"John and Paul had a wager that he couldn't purchase this land and erect a cabin on it and two weeks later it's done!"

"Oh, he got this land a couple of months ago," said Gus. "he said the back yard wasn't big enough for Wonka. He's going to put in a second cabin next year."

"For what?"

"A sauna," said Gus with a huge grin as John rolled his eyes and tried not to laugh.

"Where is he? I hear a tractor running somewhere."

Soon a gray and red tractor appeared, coming out of the forest, pulling a trailer full of tree trunks. Wonka sat proudly on the tree trunks as they approached the cabin. "What do you think?" asked Paul as he pulled up to the cabin.

"You did it!" cried Macy as Paul shut off the tractor.

"It's a start," said Paul. "I want a second cabin with a flush toilet and a sauna, stove, and fridge and a counter to work on when you're preparing food. I want to be able to live here properly if we're trapped by a blizzard or if we're just getting away from it all."

"Do you mind if we go for a walk in the woods?" asked John.

Paul jumped down off the tractor and said, "This isn't mine, this is ours. It's mine on paper but I want you to use the land as you see fit. Plant veggies, hunt deer and turkey, swim in the pond, camp in the forest. This is what we talked about as kids, our own scout camp!"

"Come," said Macy as she reached for John's hand. "Let us hike," she said, her French accent thicker than ever for some reason. They walked back toward the south end of the property. A small hill hid a large pond and Macy gasped. A pipe was sticking out of the side of the little hill and water was running.

John caught some water in his hand and tasted it. "Spring water!" he said. "We don't have to drive down to Zoar Valley to get our water anymore." The spring water dropped into a bed of stones then John saw a black plastic pipe buried under the dirt and sod. The pipe caught the spring water and channeled it to the pond. "Spring fed pond," said John. They walked around the edges of the pond and found the gentle outflow stream that meandered through the woods and eventually met up with a larger stream. They followed the larger stream that, without warning, plunged over a thirty foot high cliff onto rocks below that fed a pond.

Macy pulled off her t-shirt, kicked off her shoes and wriggled out of her shorts, and John leaned back on a tree and watched his wife step under the waterfalls. The water splashed on her ebony skin and caught the sunlight and sparkled like diamonds. "The water is so perfect! Revigorant!" (Invigorating) Macy was so beautiful under the water, her lithe body on full display for him and no one else, her midnight black nipples pointing at him. They were so hard they looked like they ached. His heart throbbed with love for this smart, sexy woman and he said a prayer of thanks for her love.

John smiled and pulled off his clothes and stepped under the waterfall. The water was somewhere between cool and chilly, but the waterfall was getting direct sun, and the warmth of the sun was perfect. John came up behind Macy and wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her close. He nibbled at her shoulder as she directed his hand toward her pussy.

Macy turned around in his arms and kissed him hard and fast, her tongue plunging in his mouth. "I want you now John, let's forget about our past and make glorious love!"

"Yes!" Their fumbling, bumbling sex life has been more comedy than procreation. The abuse Macy suffered in the fashion industry horrified John. He was terrified that his beautiful Quebecois would never be able to trust a man or woman in a sexual situation. John has been so patient, and now, here in the woods, Macy suddenly becomes the aggressor? She wants him, and that's all that John cared about. She led him out of the stream and she found a birch tree, bent over and grasped the trunk.

Her dark skin pressed against the white bark, and she looked back over her shoulder. "Maintenant mon amant, fais-moi l'amour," she gasped in a breathy voice. (Now my lover, make love to me)

"Je t'aime Marie-Claude," (I love you Marie-Claude) he said as he nervously eased his cock into her pussy. She was surprisingly wet, and he was able to sink into her tight pussy as deep as he wanted.

She felt John's pubic hair press against her tight, round ass cheeks and she sighed, "j usqu'ici ça va" (so far, so good) to herself. There were no signs of the panic that usually ruins their lovemaking, just sweet, sweet pleasure. "Maintenant mon amant, (Now my lover) more!"

Worried that he may panic her, John was gentle as he began stroking in and out of her, but she moaned and smiled. John watched in amazement as her face remained calm as he increased his speed. How can a woman's back look so sexy? The hot clasping grip of her pussy was driving him out of his mind. "You ok?" he asked.

"Oui! Oui!" she gasped. "Baise-moi!" (fuck me) she cried, encouraging John to harder and faster efforts. Was it the waterfall? Was it walking naked in the woods? Macy didn't know. She just knew that for the first time in her life, she wanted a cock inside of her. Not just any cock, she wanted John's perfect cock. It always feels good, but the fears of her past always interrupted their lovemaking, but not today. Her cries of passion drove her fears away and drove her husband on.

Soon he was a madman, fucking hard and fast. His thrusts drove her shoulder into the tree, his groin slapped against her tiny ass. She endured and enjoyed every stroke. She owed her beautiful, patient husband at least this much, and it was now working on her. "OUAIS! OUAIS!" she cried with each slapping stroke and with a long scream she announced her orgasm and scared every bird in the vicinity.

Soon he was cumming also and the sheer pleasure overwhelmed the lovers. Neither would say that it was worth the wait, all those long years of failure after failure... but it was the most blissful experience either of them had.

John collapsed on her back, his cock spent, cum running down their legs and when she lost grip on the tree, they collapsed to the forest floor. "J'aime la nature," (I love nature) she gasped as they snuggled in the forest floor debris. This was their most successful attempt at making love, and both saw a gate opening. It was like they were freed of the failures of the past and were now able to make passionate love whenever they want... hopefully.

"Are you ready?" Macy asked with a wicked smile.

"Ready for what?" gasped John as he lay in the leaves and pine needles, panting.

"Ploos!" (more)

"I created a monster," he groaned as he pulled a laughing Macy to him. They kissed passionately, then slowly getting up on shaking legs made their way to the waterfalls. They washed each other under "Their" water falls and walked back naked, drying in the sun until they reached the pond.

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

The land and the cabin seemed to be the best investment that Paul and John ever made. The simple exercise of cutting, splitting, and stacking firewood was cathartic and when Paul couldn't be found in his office up on the third floor of the Victorian house on Howard Street, he was there in the cabin with Wonka at his feet. If he wasn't there, he had an office at the big Jarecki Motors import lot on Mile Strip Road where he (and Wonka) ran Jarecki Motors. He also put in a few hours every week at the VA hospital, consulting with the cardiology department without Wonka's help. Occasionally, Wonka went to visit the hospitalized veterans.

Paul started studying tax law the week after he took over for his dad because he felt Jarecki Motors was being cheated by New York State. He was right, he somehow had to prove it. He ended up with a degree in law and, with help from Cecil's old friend, Senator Elden, he got a shot at the bar exam. Paul passed the exam and was now Doctor Paul M. Jarecki, Attorney At Law, Lieutenant Colonel USAF (Retired).

Paul was returning with Wonka from a visit to a dealership in Olean that he was in negotiations to buy when Macy called him on his cell phone. She was laughing so hard she couldn't get the words out. "Slow down mon ami," (my love) said Paul. "Step away from the poutine (French fries and cheese curds covered in gravy) and take a deep breath."

"We need you at the cabin," she said finally.

"Why?" asked Paul. He was getting suspicious.

"We are having a church board meeting, and we need you."

"I'll be there shortly," groaned Paul. This was one thing he couldn't blame on John. Paul went to John's church out of loyalty to his brother, then slowly he realized he had found a home at the Springville Congregational Church. His buddy Gus talked him into running for trustee on the board of directors and really enjoyed the responsibilities that the job brought now that the new building was completed and open.

He turned onto his driveway and slowly approached the cabin. As he came round the low hill that provides some privacy, he saw all the cars, the crowd of people, the barbecue grills, the picnic tables and Macy's chickens strolling about. He and Wonka got out of his truck and walked up to the crowd. He was recently talking business with an interested dealership owner, so he was wearing a coat and tie while everyone else was dressed comfortably. It was a large group, the board of directors and the woman's ministry. The church constitution didn't allow John and Macy to serve on either body, but they were always welcome at the meetings and their input was always appreciated. From what Paul could see as he and Wonka approached the group, John was cooking burgers and dogs, and Macy was moving about the folks getting them drinks.

"PAUL!" the crowd shouted as Paul and Wonka approached and they all surrounded Paul and congratulated him.

Across Trevett Road, Josh Gravely had finished setting a log in place and was planning to take a break. A year ago, Josh bought the property across the street from Paul and John's property, and he was rebuilding some of the old cabins that used to be populated with scouts on the weekends. The cabins were vandalized, and Josh was rebuilding them one by one. The standing cabins had some fire damage from vandals. He ground the charred area down and painted over it with Kilz Primer. He fixed roofs and replaced floors where damaged roofs led to water leaks. It was a lot of work, but it was fun, and he hoped he could turn the property into a campground for weekend campers. Other than his cabin at the edge of the woods next to the pond, he has three cabins brought back to usable. One was across the pond from his cabin.

"Break time," he said to himself as he finished the last of a warm beer. Then he heard the cheer from across the road. It sounded like a party to the southern boy. "That ain't no party," said Josh as he headed back to his cabin. "It ain't a party until ol' Josh gets there." He walked back to his cabin and washed up, changed his shirt, and headed across the street to introduce himself.

He strolled up Paul's driveway and approached the crowd, and it was apparent that they all knew each other closely. Josh was going to stick out in this crowd, but Josh tries to ensure that he sticks out in every crowd. He was approached by a tall black woman with wavy shoulder length hair and a slim runner's body. "Bienvenue!" (welcome) she said as he approached. She gave him a million megawatt smile and said, "I am Macy Jarecki, and this is my husband John Jarecki he is pastor at Springville Congregational Church." Her French accent was delightful and surprising to Josh. She pulled a short white man to her side and Josh got the vibe of 'newlywed' from them.

"It's quite a party you have here."

"This is the board of directors," said John as they shook hands. "They are celebrating the fact that they railroaded my brother into serving as chairman of the board."

Josh laughed and said, "Now y'all sound like a right buncha Southern Baptists! Least wise the kind I grew up with."

Macy laughed at his accent and whispered to John, who laughed. Before Josh asked, John said, "She says with your accent you sound more alien than she does."

"Ain't that raht," said Josh. Macy led him through the crowd and introduced him to all. When she got to Paul, she said, "Here is the owner of this property, John's brother Paul."

"Can I get you something to drink Ephraim?" asked Paul as he raised his Pepsi.

"Ah don't drink coke, it's bad for ya. Got any beer or water?"

"We don't drink, as a group. But when the crowd's not around you can come over for a beer," said Paul as he handed Josh an ice cold bottle of spring water.

"How do you know my name?" asked Josh.

"Ephriam Joshua Gravely, we saw each other at the VA hospital a few months ago, I was training some newly branded doctors, and they did a work-up on you. What brings you to Western New York?" asked Paul as he and Josh slowly walked back to the pond.

"Work, what else?"

Paul started laughing. "You moved to Western New York for a job? Erie county is where jobs go to die."

"Yeah, that's what they told me. But there's a few places with the guts it takes to make it. A place called Andalon hired me, the boss is a great guy, I can't wait to start. Nice pond!"

"It's spring fed," said Paul as he pointed out the source spring. "I put this beach in last month. It took about seven loads of sand."

"Why?"

"It's a gift for my brother John and his wife Macy, they like the beach but they like privacy. When they go for a walk in the woods I should put a flag up or something, warning hikers."

"Ah have a sister," said Josh. "If ah were drowning she'd throw me a bucket of water."

"John and I were really close but somehow we got to that point. It was so bad that his wife Macy locked us in an empty building to work it out and he begged me to hit him."

"What did you do?"

"I hit him," said Paul as he looked sadly at the pond. "I hit him until he won. He got all the hate and anger out of me and now we're closer than ever and I feel like shit because that's what it took to pull my head out of my ass."

"That may be why he's pastor and you're not," said Josh.

They walked around the pond and headed back to the party and found that they were like souls, Air Force Veterans, damaged in heart and mind and just looking for someone who can lead them to peace.

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

It was a cold, dreary December day, gray, damp, slightly foggy, one of those days where it seems like everyone and everything is dreading an upcoming funeral. Dr. Jarecki looked up from the document he was reading on his laptop. The scent of smoke from his pipe and bacon from the morning breakfast filled the air. It was a manly cabin filled with mementos of hunts and fishing expeditions, photographs of Paul Jarecki and friends, usually John or Macy or Josh holding up fish, or ducks, or deer. On one side of the cabin, a wood stove warmed the cabin with a snap and crackle. The flames seen through the glass door moved in slow motion from the controlled intake of oxygen. A covered iron pot on top of the stove was slowly coming up to heat. There would be beef stew for dinner tonight.

He didn't expect snow and just to show him who was in charge, snow started falling from the dark, dreary sky. "Let's go outside boy, before it gets bad," and Wonka, his companion, got up as Paul pulled his coat on and they went outside. The snowfall was beautiful, big swirling flakes coming down from the sky. As Wonka finished peeing on the woodpile, Paul realized this snowfall could get bad. He slid open the barn door and inside was his baby, his 1950 Ford 8N tractor. The boys at Jarecki Motors laughed when he towed it in there on a trailer. Paul Jarecki, owner of seven (at the time) Ford dealerships just bought a Tractor? The gang rebuilt the engine, transmission, and differential, found new tires, and the gang in the body shop painted it up like new. They thought it was going to be a display, but since that day, the little tractor has been working harder than ever.

He spread out the tire chains in front of the big rear wheels, then fired his baby up and pulled forward three feet. Now the fun part. He took the big set of chains and looped it over the top of the wheel, then raised the chain behind the wheel and connected them, making a loop of chain around the tire. Elastic straps pulled the chains tight around the wheel and when he was done, he backed the tractor in the barn. He's going to have to plow the drive tomorrow, that's for sure.

Paul and Wonka returned to the cabin and put on some classical music. In the soft light and the dry warmth of the cabin, Paul sat down on the couch to watch the fire and Wonka put his head on Paul's lap and snorted contentedly. Paul even turned on the Christmas lights.

This wouldn't be a bad way to go, he thought. Alone in the warm cabin, he gazed at the fire and grew gloomy. He's got nobody to leave his wealth to. His will said John and Macy will receive it all, but he had no children, none at all, so why not go? He dreamed soft, sullen dreams of how freeing it would be to die alone, and he was becoming jealous of Melony.

Enough with this miserable emotional masturbation. He turned on the reading lamp and began reviewing records from the VA Hospital that he was asked to comment on and had several pages filled on his legal pad (to Wonka's annoyance) when his phone rang and the Caller ID showed Town of Concord Police. "Doctor Jarecki," was his terse but professional greeting.

"Doctor Jarecki, this is Sergeant Montgomery from the Town of Concord Police Department."

"Hey Stan, how are you doing?" Officer Montgomery was a member of John's church.

"Doing good. We need you Doc, Trisha at Erie County 911 has a family on the line, it looks like they went off the road on Trevett near Gerry and Irma Hirsh's farm. Gerry and Irma are not answering and John said you were out at your cabin. Is there any chance you can get on your sled and go look?"

"I'd be glad to. If it's a family, my sled may not be big enough. I got the chains on my tractor; I'll hook up a hay wagon and go look. That'll haul any size family."

"Thanks Doc. Give me a call before you head out, and I'll buzz you if Gerry or Irma calls back."

"Will do." Paul dressed up in his winter finest, Carhart coverall, heavy insulated jacket, Buffalo Bills scarf, hat and gloves (this could be the year!) and USAF issued, but never returned, mukluks. "You stay here and keep an eye on the fire Wonka. I'll be back soon." He stepped out into the storm and realized that this was a matter of life or death, he could barely see, and now he wished he had his desert goggles. They did a great job of keeping the sand out of your eyes. They'd probably work well on snow too.

He fired up the Ford tractor and drove around the back of the barn. There was an earthen ramp that led up to the upper loft. He pulled into the loft and coupled up to a large hay wagon. He made sure there were enough bales of hay to snuggle in and stay warm and he headed out after insuring that the barn was closed up tight.

"Hey Stan, I'm heading out now, I'll be at Gerry and Irma's farm in ten minutes."

"Thanks Doc, I'll have Trisha pass that on."

Paul realized ten minutes was an optimistic estimate. Trevett road was getting hard to see. At this end of Trevette Road, the ditches were deep and narrow and overgrown with weeds. The weeds caught the snow, making the ditches look like flat ground. He slowed down as he neared the wide, sweeping 90° curve, and that is where he found the car in the ditch.

Paul stopped the tractor and hopped down, then leaned under the hood to inspect the car. It was bogged down good and over centered on the edge of the ditch. It is going to take some work to get it out. Maybe he could lift it with the Kubota. He walked up to the car door and leaned over and the window came open. "You're in that ditch good, ma'am."

A very cute woman looked up at him and said, "Can you get us out?"

"Not with this tractor, I'd be afraid of ripping off your bumper or something like that. I have another one that works a whole lot smoother. And if I did pull you out, where would you go? Route 39 is impassable. All roads south of Orchard Park are closed. But you're more than welcome to wait this storm out in my cabin. It's warm and dry and supper's on."

Then from the back of the car he heard two children sing out, "Supper!" They were probably starving. Suddenly the thought of poor, tiny John crying because he was so hungry came to mind.

"I don't know..." She looked back at her children and said, "I don't know you, I can't... I can't risk the safety of my girls."

"That's something I truly understand, ma'am. The safety of the ones you love is of prime importance, there's nothing worse than seeing a loved one come to harm" Thoughts of John whimpering "Hungry" in the freezing rain came to mind. He had to do something. "Ma'am, this is a killer storm. Your car will be buried, you will run out of gas, when that happens you will freeze to death, when the snowplow comes it won't see you and it will crush you. I utterly understand your fear, but your babies back there, I can't... I don't want to see them die."

"I'm sure there will be someone as soon as the snow stops."

"No ma'am, they will not, this is a Lake Effect blizzard; it's expected to last until Saturday." He tried to explain how Trevett Road is a "tertiary" road and is last on the priority list when it comes to plowing. Their chances of surviving are nil, but she wouldn't have any of it. "Look. If you won't let me help you, I have some MRE's on the wagon - military rations and they're sealed. They'll hold you over."

"That will be fine," she snapped, which hurt Paul for some reason.

"I'm going to turn this rig around first." Paul hopped back on the tractor, drove it and the wagon past her car to US 39, where there was room to turn around. He pulled up next to her car again and realized he couldn't leave. Paul could not go back to his cabin while they slowly died out here. He set the brake, then grabbed an MRE and held it up so the lady could see it. But she wouldn't open the window. He could hear children screaming, but the woman was paralyzed with fear.

Paul had to fight her, and the only way he could win was to fight the way John taught him. He slowly sagged to his knees and crossed his arms over his chest and prayed that she would realize that they could die and let him help her. At worst, maybe the plow that comes in three or four days sees his tractor and stops in time to avoid crushing the woman and her children.

As he waited and prayed, he heard a familiar voice. "Doctor Jarecki? Do you know Doctor Jarecki?"

"That would be me."

"Just checking."

A moment later, the trunk lid popped open. Paul was so relieved that he felt like he was going to cry. He got up and transferred her luggage to the hay wagon. Then the driver's door popped, but she couldn't get it to open. Paul held it wide open and held his hand out to her to help her out of the car and she shunned his hand. Paul felt a sting when she did that, like she slapped him.

The woman struggled out of the car and fell into the foot deep snow. Then she got up and looked around. "What is that sound I hear?"

Paul patted the tractor. "Plugs are fouled a bit, won't take much to clean them..."

"No, that hissing noise, it seems to be coming from everywhere."

"That's the sound that heavy snow makes when it lands. I take it you're not from around here." Just then, a tiny blond girl peeked out of the open car door. Paul lifted a giggling girl from the stranded car and held her over his head as he carried her to the hay wagon. She held her arms straight out, simulating an airplane or maybe an angel, and she touched down gently in the soft hay.

"Denver actually," she said.

"The snow is drier and lighter up there," Paul said as he 'flew' another little girl into the hay wagon. Twins? He went on talking about snow. It was easier than trying to figure out who this woman was. "Down here by the lakes it's pretty heavy, wet stuff. It's so heavy that it makes a noise when it lands, and in a heavy fall like this we hear it as a hiss." He helped the small woman up into the hay wagon, where the little girls already made a nest in the hay. "That's the idea, you three cuddle up close and cover yourselves with hay, that'll keep you warm." Once they were all settled, Paul climbed up onto the tractor seat, cracked open the throttle, and they started moving.

The ching-ching-ching-ching sound of the tire chains and the swirling snowflakes must have gotten the little girls in a festive mood, and they began singing 'Jingle Bells' at the top of their lungs. Eventually they sang "Over the River and Through the Woods," as he turned off the road. He turned around and shouted out, "This is my driveway."

Paul stopped the tractor at the patio, set the brake and hopped off, then helped Andi and the twins and their luggage from the trailer and ushered them through the Dutch door into the small barn. "Go warm up by the fire but don't touch, that stove gets pretty warm. And don't worry none about Wonka, he won't bite."

The tiny woman brought up all the force her four-foot nine-inch frame could manage. "Doctor Jarecki, if you actually are Doctor Jarecki, I am going to protect these girls with everything I have, because they're all I have..."

He took off his glasses and said, "Ma'am, I fully understand, just let me get your bags off the hay wagon and I'll be out of your hair. Here's my cell number if you have any questions, and he handed her his business card, which he pulled from his wallet. Just be nice to my cabin, it's not all I have, but I like it very much." And with that he set down her bags inside the cabin door, then got on the tractor and putted off into the storm.

Paul put the trailer away in the upper hay loft, then pulled the tractor into its parking spot. Then he closed up the barn, checked on the chickens. They're supposed to be Macy's chickens, but the only part of raising chickens she likes is eating Paul's omelets and buying baby chicks at the Tractor Supply every spring. The hen house would be a nice warm place to sleep, but the smell! He went downstairs and found that the kerosene heater was out of kerosene. He found an old blanket and wrapped up in straw and tried to stay warm. Then his phone rang, and he saw a Denver phone was calling him.

"Doctor Jarecki, we... I may have acted hastily, I should be thankful, but when it comes to my girls..."

"I wish I understood, but I have no children of my own, my wife died young."

"Please come here, maybe we could talk about what we are going to do over dinner."

The walk back to the cabin took what seemed like ages. The wind was blasting, and if he hadn't plugged in the Christmas lights, he may never have found the cabin. He stepped into the dark, dim cabin and removed his jacket. "Doctor Jarecki? I'm Doctor Adrianna Roberts." In the dark cabin, he saw her and saw the fear on her face, and he also saw two tiny faces peering out from behind her.

Paul reached behind a jacket that was hanging by the door and flicked on the interior lights. Apparently, she couldn't find the switch. When the lights came on, he realized it was her. "We've met," he said softly.

"This is so cool!" squealed the twins in unison as they looked around the cabin. They suddenly stopped short as they drew near the wood stove. A large brown object laying near the stove slowly came to life. With a whine, it unfolded, stretched, and rose from the floor.

"That's my buddy Wonka, he's the worst guard dog on earth."

"Wonka?" asked the girls as the chocolate lab, bleary-eyed from his nap, sniffed them, made a quick decision of approval, and wagged his tail. The twins never had a dog in their lives, but they got over any trepidation in a microsecond and began petting and hugging the dog, whose tail wagged faster with every coo and hug. Dr. Jarecki introduced his dog as "Not only the world's worst watch dog, but the sweetest friend a man could have. He's... uh... my service dog."

After showing the little family where the bathroom was and how it's used, and after Andi corrected whatever nonsense about zombies and outhouses that Dixie's brother Melvin taught the girls, Paul asked Andi, "Is this them? Are these the babies I met in Minnesota?"

"This is Sandy and this is Madeline," said Andi as she remembered the soft, reassuring touch of "the Baby Whisperer" from the worst night of her life.

With John's words from years ago ringing in his ears, Paul served dinner and he couldn't take his eyes off of the tiny doctor he knew. He served up stew that was heating atop the wood stove. The sound of spoons clanking on bowl filled the cabin and drown out Wonka's snoring while outside the Christmas lights strung on the patio roof illuminated the falling snow. In the background, a seasonal piano adagio was played on an unseen stereo.

Paul and Andi's eyes met over and over until Andi said, "eat your bread too girls."

"It's shaped funny," said Sandy, who only saw Wonder Bread.

"The edges are crunchy," complained Madeline.

"How do you make bread that's not sliced? Do you put it together?" asked Sandy.

Andy broke off a piece and handed it to Madeline, her more courageous daughter. "Taste."

"IT HAS A FLAVOR!" Madeline shouted in surprise.

"Let me try," said skeptical Sandy. "IT DOES! IT TASTES!"

"Now eat while Doctor Jarecki and I talk," said Andi. "Paul, you were saying something about a ceremony?"

That was the first time she had used his name, and Paul's heart leaped when she did. He was turning into a teenager! "I was invited out there to a Change of Command Ceremony this spring. I just got an email from a dear friend telling me that she was selected to become the commander of the 91st Strategic Missile Wing. I am so proud of that woman," said Paul. He shook his head and said to himself, 'imagine how much money you would have saved if you had introduced her to racquetball first instead of scotch.'

"A female commander?" asked a surprised Andi.

"Yes, she was a KC-135 pilot before she made Lieutenant Colonel and went into the command structure of the Air Force."

"Here's to the female pilots in our military service," said Andi, as she lifted her water glass in salute.

"And the rocketeers too," added Paul.

After the twins pulled their bags upstairs, Paul said, "I'm going to go clear the driveway," and he hit a few switches on the wall which turned on some flood lights outside, "you gotta keep up with these storms or you'll end up stuck good." The snow was piling up fast out there.

"Thank you so much for everything," said Andi, as she looked into his eyes, trying to read them.

"It's not a problem, I just hope you enjoy my company" he said as he stepped out the door.

"I'm starting to," she said to the air in his wake.

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

Seventy hours later, Paul called John. "Hey bro, I'm still alive."

"Hey Paulie! Did you see the game? I love Saturday games, in my profession they're a God send! Go Bills!" There was a football game that afternoon between the Buffalo Bills and Andi's team, the Denver Broncos, but the power went off in the waning minutes of a tied game.

Andi rolled her eyes as Paul excitedly asked, "We won? Ooo-rah!"

"Yes sir-ee! We're going all the way this year!"

"Umm, Ixnay on the ame-gay, on-Jay. I have a Denver fan sitting next to me. Hey - did you lose power in town? Ours went out right before the last field goal. It was out for a couple of hours."

"Nah, we have been good all day. So, what may be the nature of this call, if I may so inquire of youse."

Andi rolled her eyes. Paul's brother does the Damon Runyon impersonation like Paul.

"It's like this," started Paul, "I met the most wonderful woman in the world, she's been snowbound with me since Wednesday and we are discussing marriage one way or another, which means with or without you."

"I find that impossible since the most wonderful woman in the world has been married to me for over 10 years. Let me talk to this imposter."

"Hello John," said Andi.

"You sound wonderful enough, what is your name?"

"I'm Adrianna Roberts, but I prefer Andi. I'm a doctor like Paul and..."

"Andi - run. If you value your life RUN. I've been treating Paul for years, he's dangerous. Grab your coat and RUN!" The phone went silent for a long pause. Then John said, "Is she still there?"

"I'm still here."

"That may not be a good thing," said John. "I'm going to need some alone time with Andi. Paul, go and check on my chickens while I chat with Andi for a bit."

"Ok, I'll give you a half hour or so."

"If she's marrying you she may need longer. Are you gone yet?"

"Yea I'm gone. You can start," said Paul as he zipped up his parka.

"He's not gone," said Andi.

"I could tell by the tone of his voice," said John. "GO old man!"

"I'm going, I'm going," and Paul slipped out the door with a smile toward Andi.

<><><><><>֎<><><><><>

Andi was in shock, she was just shown the house of her dreams and Paul had said it would be all hers in a few short weeks, he also mentioned that he had a maid service, and he reluctantly let it slip that he owned ten Ford Dealerships. This can't be true. She's lived from paycheck to paycheck (barely successfully) most of her life and Paul is admitting in bits and pieces to being a millionaire.

"After I reunited with John my dad put me in charge of the family business, several car dealerships. I was able to cut through the red tape that was strangling dad and more than double the number of dealerships."

"Wow. How did you do it?"

"Dad liked to build a new dealership from the ground up. That's a lot of work and a whole lot of money. I prefer to buy an existing dealership and stamp my brand on it, then watch it like a hawk and slice away the deadwood. Right now I have a list of four dealers that want to franchise the Jarecki brand."

Paul pulled into a parking spot in front of Springville Congregational Church, hopped out of the truck, and helped Andi down. They unbuckled the twins and led the twins through the parking lot to the church.

As they turned up the walkway, a beautiful, tall, slim, black woman with long, flowing raven hair came out of the church. A huge smile glowed on her face, and she held her arms wide. "Is this her mon frère?" (my brother) she cried to Paul in a delightful French accent. When he nodded in the affirmative, she threw her arms around Andi and gave her a huge, warm hug. "Ma belle-sœur!" (My sister-in-law) she cried.

"Andi, this is Macy, John's wife."

"We talked last night," gasped Andi. Macy's hug was tight and loving and Andi was having trouble breathing. Andi rarely judges people at the first meeting, but she really felt a love toward Macy.

"It's so good to meet you!"

"And these are my Love Bugs, Sandy..."

"Bug bug."

"And Madeline..."

"Bug bug."

"Oh they're so cute!" Macy crouched down and hugged the twins, who were reveling in the attention. "They're so tiny!" Macy mouthed up to Andi.

"There wasn't room in mommy for two of them, so they moved out at 28 weeks." Andi didn't add that her ex-husband Frank's slapping her around for being fat as the babies grew put the babies at more risk than her own tiny body.

Macy walked with them up to the church door. "Sorry you ended up in a Lake Effect storm, especially down here in the Snow Belt. How was being holed up in the cabin for a long weekend?"

"Well..." Andi was blushing furiously.

"Oooo girl!" Macy grinned. "we'll talk later." Macy was in heaven. She grew up in a tiny house full of big men. Macy never had a girlfriend and now she felt an immediate attraction to Andi. She finally has a sister!

As they entered the church, Paul introduced Andi to everyone. So many names! There was no way she could keep track of them all. "Darling, here's the shepherd of this flock, my baby brother John."

John was a shorter, younger version of Paul and had a smile as big and as bright as his wife Macy. John's eyes popped wide open. "Hello Andi! You didn't tell me how beautiful these girls are!" He crouched down, "You must be Sandy and you must be Madeline!" He got an appreciative giggle with each correct identification.

"He's lucky," Paul whispered to Andi. "He's always been lucky. See how he got the girls names right on first try?"

"I told him about the freckle," Andi whispered in reply. Madeline has a small freckle on her neck below her left ear.

"Wait, what freckle?"

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

John stood before his flock, the farmers and laborers and businessmen of Springville. The Christmas Eve service just ended and now begins something that he, Macy and Paul had waited for breathlessly for years. Paul and John wore maxing tuxedos. John's tuxedo had green lapels and bow tie, Paul's had the lapels and bow tie in red. Macy wore a beautiful green off the shoulder floor length dress that had white lace trim up top that plunged between her breasts in an inverted bustier. The same lace became half sleeves which emphasized her beautiful black skin, and the green of her dress perfectly matched the green of John's bow tie and lapels.

"You were right," said Paul in a quiet whisper.

"Right about what?"

"You said, 'when she comes you'll know her and she'll know you, and God will bless your union.' We knew each other before we got back to the cabin and somehow I knew I was not going to emerge alone ever again."

"Never doubt Doctor Jean," whispered Macy.

They were joined by Gus and Andi's friend Lucy, who were followed up the aisle by Sandy and Madeline, who were guided to the front of the church by Paul's best friend, Wonka. When they hit their spot, Melissa Kraft and her sons Damon and Jacob began to joyfully play the bridal march.

The congregation stood and watched the small woman stride forward, clutching a bouquet made of red roses, white lace, and sprigs of holly and pine accented with small red ornaments and red ribbons. Her smile was blissful, and her head held high as she slowly walked the length of the aisle alone. Her brown eyes flashed between the twins and Paul, who both waited breathlessly for her arrival. The spotlights reflected off the hundreds of rhinestones on her white floor length cape, the reflections dancing across the ceiling of the church in a myriad of patterns.

John couldn't help but grin as he said, "Brothers and sisters we celebrate the wedding of our own Paul Jarecki and Adrianna Roberts. Who gives this woman in marriage?"

There was dead silence for a long time. Then in response came Andi's voice. It rang out and was heard clearly throughout the church. "No one. I give myself to this man who risked his life to save myself and my children. I give myself to his love and his protection without qualm or reservation." With that, Andi drew off her white floor length cape to reveal her chosen wedding gown, a mirror image of Macy's dress but in the same shade of red as the twin's dresses. She handed the cape to Lucy, who folded it, laid it on the pew, and stepped up on the podium.

Andi took her daughter's hands and walked confidently up the steps to stand next to Paul. This was a family wedding. They wanted everyone to know that Paul wanted the twins to be part of the family. Paul and Andi turned to face each other and from that moment, Andi and Paul lost track of the entire ceremony.

How is it possible that two people aching from loneliness meet, then reunite half a decade later? They waited long enough to seal their relationship...

<><><><><> ֎ <><><><><>

Marrying Andi injected life into a man that had retreated into a shell of despair and misery. John watched in awe as Paul first dispatched Andi's ex-husband. Then he dug into that pool of money that had been accumulating and made life better for Andi and her little girls. He paid off their bills and Andi's student loans and showered them with a life full of joy. The yacht, Andi's Dream, may have been going a little too far, but Paul came up with a way to make money with it when they weren't using it.

After a honeymoon cruise, they returned to Western New York with energy and a love that could be seen from miles away. The happiest day of Paul's life was when Andi told him she would marry him and move to the nest he built for her in Springville. The twins were a little upset that they would have to say goodbye to the friends they had back in Denver. But when they returned to Denver to pack up and move, the twins didn't think about their friends at all. They wanted to get back home to Wonka.

Exhausted, the cross-country trip was finally over and Paul was ready to drop into bed. It was still early in the evening and everybody was hungry, but that was a long demanding trip, from Buffalo to Minot, North Dakota to Bismark, North Dakota, to Mount Rushmore, to Denver, then back to Buffalo. Paul and his co-driver, Kenny Johnson, walked up the driveway and they could both clearly hear one of the twins inside the house shout "MOM! POPPA'S HOME!"

"I guess you're home," said Kenny with a laugh. It was cool, and the house was sealed up. That little girl has a set of lungs on her.

"I guess I am home," said Paul, shaking his head as the icy rain fell from the sky. "Ides of March... yuck. What day of the week is this?"

"Friday," said Kenny. It had been a long haul, and he had to check his watch to see what day it was.

"I could use a fish fry," sighed Paul. Worzil's Friday fish fry was truly a feast.

As Paul entered the house, he found that their friends Gus and Lucy were there and that Andi and Macy had pulled chairs away from the kitchen table and the chairs faced each other. Before Paul could say hi to his friend Gus, Andi pushed him down in one chair. Macy pushed John into the other chair and the two women sat on their husband's laps. At the same time, Andi and Macy handed their husbands a small plastic device. Each device had a little window, and both devices showed two red lines in that little window.

As they kissed their husbands, Macy whispered to John, "je vais avoir un bébé."

Andi said it in English when she said, "I'm going to have a baby."

John cried out in joy, "Dear God! Thank you lord!" while Paul broke down in tears of joy. "It's been so long..." As he kissed Andi he whispered, "Five months ago I was so lonely I was seriously considering suicide. You saved me."

"You can't go now," said a tearful Andi between kisses. "I've got work for you."