PARADOX

Doreen was charmed by the smitten expression on Jaime''s face.  She told her friend that Stan worked two jobs and usually had Mondays off, but since today was his birthday, he took a little extra Personal time.

            The dinner became more awkward and interesting when a phone call came for Doreen.  Her mother lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico and telephoned with the sad news of the death of Doreen''s father.  She loved her father and wanted to just drop Everything to go be with her mother.

             While Jake and Doreen sought a solution to the crisis,  Stan talked with the deaf girl; mostly small talk about school,  but quickly moving on to other interests while the stereo played quietly.  The television set was not on at the time.

             It was decided that Jake and Doreen would go to Las Cruces together and he would return shortly.

             Stan was comfortable in the Hemming home because he had lived in that house with Jake until he married Doreen.  Stan''s present apartment was only a few blocks from the house.

             Jaime was staying overnight with the couple after a particularly unpleasant bout of fighting with her mother.  She didn''t have much luck with jobs and felt her Social Security benefits did not always pay well enough for her to put a down payment on a place to live by herself.   She was looking for a deaf roommate.

            Jake was going to take both Stan and Jaime home until he learned that the deaf girl would be staying for the night.  Stan wanted to stay and talk with her more,  if nobody minded,  so that Jake could take his grieving wife to be with her mother.

            A storm was beginning as the couple left.  The storm would prevent Jake from making as speedy a return as he planned. His Mother-in-Law would not hear of him driving back in such abominable weather. When Jake called his home phone number,   Stan answered the phone.   He had been telling Jaime that his parents were supposed to visit,  but his thirteen year old sister had ditched a few school days so the trip had to be cancelled.

            Jake told Stan that he would have to wait until morning to return. Meanwhile,  Stan could sleep in his old room or allow the girl this comfort.   The tall musician with semi-curly hair had left his chat with the young lady to take the call.   Instead of letting misfortune rule the night,  Stan returned to the deaf girl with a silly scheme to raid the Hemming''s refrigerator.  This was becoming an Impromptu Slumber Party.  They finished off an entire carrot cake that Doreen had made for dessert.

            "Oh! Dorrie is going to KILL US!", Stan said.

            " I can make another one."  Jaime said as she prepared to perform the task. Fortunately all of the ingedients were still available in the kitchen.  While the cake baked they exchanged life stories and coping with the loss of one sense.

            Jaime told him of her illness and how her brother gave her a ''stupid sign name'' as well as the fact that her parents had divorced,  but each time Stan mentioned school,  she seemed disinterested or did not respond.

            Stan loved education.  He disliked Boredom and didn''t date much due to his busy schedule.   He had learned Spanish and studied a bit of German as well as taking an interest in the Japanese audio tapes his father had sent him.

Formats

Softcover

£14.99

Softcover

£14.99