t the northern edge of a campus that had expanded greatly from

d unimaginative as many others built in the seventies. But recent money had renovated and landscaped things nicely. It was ranked in the Top Ten, as everybody who wor

e South to a better school became attractive. Vicki was from Florida, and though she thrived in the city life of Boston, she could never adjust to the winters. They quickly adapted to

ht after her exit he couldn't sleep for all the questions, but as time passed he realized he would never confront her. The questions faded, bu

student was welcome. It was early May, though, and the days were warm. Student visits had become r

x where the third-year students were playing the faculty in the second of a three-game softball series. The professo

he first-base line, where the faculty team was huddled for a useless pre-game pep talk. Out in left fiel

Girls in shorts, a cooler always close by, festive moods, impromptu parties, summer approaching. He was forty-three years old, single, and he wanted to be a student again.

ith a most unimpressive lineup. Several were limping. Half wore some manner of knee brace. He spotted Carl M

crew out ther

n in Ohio where his father was a local judge, a local saint, every

e first game

venteen to nothing

d center fielder hobbled over, corralled the ball, kicked it a couple of times, fought over it, then flung it toward the infield, the run

t worse,"

ay had seen enough. "I'll be out of town early next w

excited," Mirk said

onvening a family summit

m s

discuss, nothing to fight ove

brot

cause more trouble,

thinkin

ts and give them assignments.

ing w

back Tuesday or Wedne

aid. "And hopefully thi

led untouched between

's over now

home. He hadn't been there in over a year, and

hs gathered and spooked the normal folks. The old Main Street was a pedestrian mall - a very nice one with cafes and antique sto

ld buildings had been renovated for more urban-style housing. His six-room apartment was above a Persian rug deal

the past few years he'd met two women he'd found attractive and had dated neither. He was much too frightened for romance. A saucy third-year student named Kaley was maki

fixed tea with no caffeine and put on some jazz, trying to stall as he prepped himself for the call. Odd that a phone chat with his only sibling sho

is. It rang for a long time before she answered. "H

he'd called eight times

hanks for asking. Great to hear your

ing his cal

aid, he's

Is there a dif

r w

is still the best n

tays here most

ell him I

lived on nothing but vodka for most of her adult life. She kicked it, walked away clean, tripled her body weight, and somehow got Forrest in th

ne when it rang. "Hey, Bro,"

yours. How'

l until I got a letter from t

rived

and we're a couple of delinq

Judge, Forrest. Hav

in two years, and I haven't set foot in the house in more yea

l be t

u talked

ery sick, Forrest, I don't think he'll be around mu

. I'm not listeni

g an addict from a prominent family, Forrest had been lectured to and preach

. "I'll be there.

ppose

ut one that was as routine as How's the weather? Wi

nd thirty-ni

's gr

was a relief, but to still be countin

ing too," he

. What kin

a bunch of sleazy bastards who advertise on cable and

He'd been a bail bondsman, process server, collection agent, security guard, investigator, and a

ad," R

er in a strip bar, a calling that was short-lived when he was beaten up twice in one night. He'd spent one full year touring Mexico on a new Harley-Dav

terviewers were generally turned off by his criminal record. Two felonies, d

lk to the old man

him Sunday,"

ill you get

metime around fiv

ive o'clock

, he

e sometime after f

id now could be said later, and in person. The Judge detested phones, especially those that rang at night and disrupted his solitude. More o

ways worn them that way. For him a white cotton dress shirt lasted a decade, regardless of the number of stains and cinder holes, and it got laundered and starched ev

sitting on the porch waiting for his sons to come home. He would want them to think he h