Gregory

By Jorjan Jane

* no summary

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483602301

Jorjan Jane

Jorjan grew up in Batavia, Ohio. She attended the Cincinnati College of Music as a child. Her professional career as a ballerina began at the age of fourteen. After college she went to New York to follow her dream as a dancer. She eventually made her way to Las Vegas where she danced in the big extravaganzas on the strip. She became one of the first female patrol officers for the Metropolitan Police Department. Both she and her husband were cops. Later, she transferred to McCarran International Airport where she was an operations coordinator handling bomb threats, hijackings, emergency landings, and plane crashes. She has an insatiable appetite for learning evidenced by degrees in five different fields. She attended the University of Cincinnati, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and the University of Humanistic Studies. Psychology was her forte. After internship with a psychologist, she opened her own office as a motivational therapist. She worked two jobs for six years while going to college and raising a family. Her hobbies are gardening, the Japanese floral art of Oshibana, graphology, traveling the world, and collecting thimbles. She has two sons, Gregory and Travis. Each one has a book written about them. She also wrote her husband’s biography titled “Up by the Bootstraps”.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

It was a great evening for a football game, greater than I ever expected, and one I’ll never forget. Autumn had come gently that year. There had been no freezing temperatures yet, but there was just a slight nip in the air. Fireplaces were lit to take off the chill, while small clouds of smoke billowed from chimneys, permeating the air.

Trudy and I had arrived early, so we took our seats in the back of the school bus. We were just waiting for the football players to board. Naturally, we were revved up for the first game of the season, and we would be cheering at the top of our lungs.

Our new cheerleading uniforms were outstanding, like no other I had ever seen. They were short kelly green skirts with green and white striped inserts that flared out when we twirled or jumped. Our mascot was a Bulldog, much to my chagrin. One of the boosters always brought his dog to the game. It was a mean, vicious dog that had to be kept on a short leash. It’s a wonder that he never bit anyone. I hated that damn canine, but tonight I was hoping that our team would be as ferocious and intimating as that malicious dog.

As I peered out of the school bus window I nudged Trudy and asked if she knew the name of the new player on our team.

Yes, she said. His name is Randall and he’s a freshman from Gleneste. He didn’t live far from her boyfriend, Robby, and they rode to school on the same bus each day.

I think I see him, I said. I wish it wasn’t so dark. Maybe he’ll turn around so I can get a better look. Just then the bus driver started the engine and turned on the headlights. Low and behold, there he stood. I was speechless. My heart started pounding, and I just knew it was going to come right out of my chest. He looked like a Greek Adonis except for his blond hair. He had a finely sculpted nose, high cheekbones, and broad shoulders. I jumped out of my seat and ran to the other side of the bus to get one more look before he disappeared in the shadowy tree lined sidewalk. He was heading back into the school with a few other players to gather their gym bags.

What on earth is wrong with you? Trudy blurted, You look like you’ve seen a ghost. I’ve never seen you act this way. Do you know him?

I sure do. I said emphatically."

From where? Trudy asked. I didn’t answer. I just stared off into space. I couldn’t talk and could barely catch my breath.

Trudy had been one of my best friends since the first grade. We had no secrets, but she was now worried. Did you stay up all night studying for the algebra test?

No, not past midnight, I said, as though that was the bewitching hour that causes all types of body and mind dysfunctions. Listen to me Trudy. I’m dead serious. I’ve never met him, yet I’ve known him all my life. He’s my husband-to-be, my soul mate, and the father of my children. I know it doesn’t make any sense, and I can’t explain why I feel clairvoyant but I just got a peak into the future. I clearly see a darling blond haired, blue eyed, baby boy in my arms that would tug on your heart strings. Randall is standing by me, smiling.

Gregory, this was just the beginning, and son, you were the blond haired, blue eyed baby boy I imagined. Randall was your father.

Trudy looked at me disparagingly and uttered, You’ve been drinking!

No, not a drop, I said. Although, Trudy and I were known to tip a few. That’s how we got through French class. We credited our straight A’s to drinking wine as we studied. When in France do as the French or was that when in Rome? Nevertheless, you get the idea.

I didn’t utter another word until we got to the game. I was overwhelmed with the experience, strange as it may sound, but I just had a fast forward glimpse of my life, and I liked what I saw.

I couldn’t describe much about Randall on the football field other than he was about five foot ten, agile and wore jersey #29.

I didn’t sleep well that night. I tossed and turned, then finally got up and planned my strategy. I was on a mission. I made it a point to introduce myself and invite him to the house after school for a cola and to listen to records. I was smitten. We didn’t talk much. I didn’t want to take my eyes off of him. He was a cross between the handsome movie actor John Derek and the innocent-looking, Ricky Nelson. His soft expressive eyes shown as bright as his smile. He had a cleft in his chin and a child-like giggle.

We started seeing each other several times a week when he didn’t have football practice, or when I didn’t have cheerleading rehearsals or ballet lessons. We went to a small school so everyone knew I had a crush on him, and that we were seeing each other. It was so obvious.

One evening, Trudy and I had a few minutes before the football game, so I pulled out the white, liquid shoe polish from my tote bag to give my shoes a quick shine. Something was bothering Trudy. She looked up at me so seriously and said, I have something to tell you, but keep in mind that it’s over and never amounted to anything.

What? I asked curiously.

Do you remember last Friday night after cheerleading and football practice when it started raining hard and we went for pizza?

Sure, I said.

"Well, Carrie Rizer asked Randall if she could give him a ride to Gleneste so he didn’t have to hitchhike home in the rain. But they didn’t leave the football field. She parked her car in the near by wooded area and took off her blouse, to entice him. She then offered all she had, just for the taking. I heard he couldn’t resist the temptation and probably thought, ‘What the heck, everyone else has had her.’ The whole school knows he likes you and this was just a one time thing," Trudy said.

Carrie was one of the few girls who had a car. She had been a transfer from another school, and hadn’t made many lasting friends since her parents moved around a lot.

I knew that Trudy had heard the rumor from her boyfriend Robby. It was probably all the talk in the boy’s locker room. Randall and I were very close but not intimate with each other. Now, this was something I had to rethink since he was finding love in all the wrong places. Did he want a good girl or a bad girl? That’s a silly question, I thought. He wanted his needs satisfied. It was as simple as that, and it wasn’t happening since we had been dating.

When I saw Randall at school the next day, I acted as if I knew nothing. I smiled, winked, and asked if he wanted to come to the house after football practice. He accepted and I was ever so glad. Much to my surprise he began to tell me of the incident. He explained what had happened and how he followed through even though he knew it wasn’t right. He probably wanted to tell me before I heard from someone else. He apologized and hoped it would not come between us. All was forgiven and it was a thing of the past. We continued to enjoy each other’s company but my anger toward Carrie continued. For several months I found it difficult to speak to her as we passed in the hallway at school, nevertheless, I acted as if I knew nothing. The holidays were approaching and I hadn’t seen her lately. I just figured that she and her family moved again.

Randall hadn’t been showing up for classes or football practice. I asked his friends if he was sick, but no one knew a thing, not even the coach. He had no phone, so I couldn’t call, and I didn’t have a car to check on him at his home. Then I heard the most shocking news from Trudy. Randall quit school and married Carrie!

What? I blurted. How can that be?

Trudy looked down, fidgeting and said, Carrie told him she was pregnant.

I stood motionless with my mouth dropped