Autumn
can be sad and depressing amidst the bright colors. Sharon tried to help Diane;
she was very caring, a true friend. With the start of college they couldn't meet
regularly at lunchtime, but they did get together almost every night. The hockey
season started, and they attended all the Pirates home games. "Go Jason," they
shouted in unison. And they skated at the Civic Center when there wasn't a game.
Sharon tried very hard to get her "sister's" mind off of Roger. They spent alot
of time outside at the Public Market shopping and listening to the jazz
musicians there. Aunt Sarah made blueberry ice cream and other treats. She
occasionally joined the two in the living room playing board games. "I just
can't forget Roger. I can't believe it would have ended this way." "You did the
right thing Diane." "I'm not sure if I did. It was so good being with him." "But
he hasn't called. If he really loved you, he would have," Aunt Sarah told her.
"I know he did love me; we were kissing; then I had to give him the ultimatum.
When he didn't accept, I told him it was over and to get lost." "I think maybe
you were too demanding," Sharon said. "No she was right," Aunt Sarah spoke up,
"You can't let men do anything they want. If he loved you enough, he would have
made a commitment to marry you, and would have given up cigarettes for you. You
don't want to marry a man who is going to die from smoking. He was too
independent, too busy. He isn't the only fish in the Bay." "I still love him. I
offered him all my love!" "Smoking stinks and kills," Sharon reaffirmed. "Roger
didn't say a word; he didn't; he couldn't answer me." "Did he not say anything?"
Aunt Sarah asked. "No, complete silence, and I left."
Later, "Ever read
the Bible?" Sharon asked Diane. "No." But Diane was "almost" a Christian. Aunt Sarah had
tried to get her niece to go to Mass with her, but Diane refused. "Come with me
to 'Fellowship With A Fork' this Saturday," Sharon invited. It was a covered dish
feast at Sharon's church, North Deering Congregational every second Saturday.
"There won't be a service or preaching, just wonderful food." "Thanks, it sound
better than Mass." "Diane, that's disrespectful!" Aunt Sarah retorted. But Diane
wasn't a bad person. She loved life and was a dreamer. Dreaming of a prince, a
castle, and children. She needed someone to love, and someone to love her. And
then she found him.
A week later. "Sharon, do you
believe in love with someone you have never met?" "No, not even with those I
have met." "This man e-mailed me at the paper objecting to my article about
Maine being the best New England state. He's twenty-seven, five feet eleven,
dark brown hair and teaches mathematics at ITT Technical Institute in Boston.
And you will like this, he's a Sunday School teacher." "Diane, you had better be
careful. I've heard alot of bad results from e-mail romances." "And he can ice
skate!" "What's his name? Have you checked on him?" "His name is Michael King.
He e-mailed me last night and said I was his Princess...it's a sign. And he's a
Leo. I have hired a private investigator to run a background check and report on
him." "That's a very wise thing to do." "Boston is only one hundred miles away."
"Don't you hate it when people say Portland is a part of Massachusetts?" "He
says he wants to come to Portland to meet me. Is Flatbread Pizza still open?
Want to walk down to Old Port and get a mushroom and herbs pizza, and I could
tell you more about him?"
**continue**
