 
# ELECTRIC

### Book 1

### The Beginning

2nd Edition

## By Carly Compass

ISBN 9781310833267

Edited by: Devika Fernando

© Carly Compass, 2012, all rights reserved.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author, with the exception of the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events are entirely coincidental.

### Family Tree

### This Book is dedicated

### To the memory of

### Dorothy Reid

### Her voice was never heard.

### Through her

### I found my voice

### And the courage to speak

### And, to all the victims

### Of sexual abuse

### And Domestic

### Violence

# REVIEWS

A Pictorial Review by artist, Sharach Del'Monte

delmonte1.wixsite.com/shadrachdelmonte

#

Shadrach Del'Monte paid me the highest compliment:

After reading Electric, The Beginning, Book 1, completely unsolicited by me, he created this movie poster of how he saw the book. I cannot tell you what a thrill it is as an author to receive such high praise. I was so impressed that I had to include it here in my second edition of this book where I changed the chapter headings from roman numerals into regular numbers throughout the series.

In the picture you can see the intensity of Mads Mikkelsen as Mikhail Vladimir and although their backs are turned on each other you can feel the chemistry and sense the vulnerability of Anne Hathaway as Gina Parrot. You can also feel the electric current and mayhem that is about to ensue. This is a perfect depiction of Electric, The Beginning, Book 1 in my series.

#

# Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Family Tree

Reviews

Pictorial Review

Prologue

Chapter 1-1

Chapter 1-2

Chapter 1-3

Chapter 1-4

Chapter 1-5

Chapter 1-6

Chapter 1-7

Chapter 1-8

Chapter 1-9

Chapter 1-10

Chapter 1-11

Chapter 1-12

Chapter 1-13

Chapter 1-14

Chapter 1-15

Chapter 1-16

Chapter 1-17

Chapter 1-18

Chapter 1-19

Chapter 1-20

Chapter 1-21

Chapter 1-22

Chapter 1-23

Chapter 1-24

Chapter 1-25

Chapter 1-26

Chapter 1-27

Chapter 1-28

Chapter 1-29

Chapter 1-30

Chapter 1-31

Chapter 1-32

Chapter 1-33

Chapter 1-34

Bonus Chapter/Book II

Chapter 2-1

About the Author

Questions For Discussion

Contact

# Acknowledgements

Thank you Jodi Bernicky for being the first person to traverse through the rough draft of my manuscript. Your insight has been invaluable and I hope you are proud of the finished product. I sincerely hope to one-day return the favor.

Thank you James Bernicky, Esq. for all your legal advice and help with the copyright and trademark. Thank you too for loaning out your wife's time to me. I really appreciate it and hope you enjoy the novel.

Thank you Linda and Tom O'Connell, your insights and friendships are such a strong support to me, without which I wouldn't have been able to compete this work.

Thank you Marty Finkelstein for your advice that got me over a hurdle and created the prologue.

A special thank you to all of my online friends.

Mike Wells, thank you for always being there with a quick concise answer. It always amazes me, that such a prolific author as yourself still makes time to lend a hand. You have been a great influence on me and I have learned so much from you. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience.

Nicholas C. Rossis, thank you for helping me with the correct Greek, terms of endearment.

Janet Noto Lamb for your help with the funeral home scene.

A Big Thank You to Casey Harvell from Fancy Pants Book Formatting, for interviewing me and giving me support throughout the entire process of self- publishing.

Many thanks to Devika Fernando, author, your love and support have been immensely helpful. Thank you too for the final edits. You are a linguistic genius!

A special thank you to Shadrach Del'Monte for showing me what my books might look like if they were made into a movie. I cannot tell you how much that has meant to me other than to say, thank you.

Thanks also to the members of my Street Team, Carly's Comets and Triple A, book spot for supporting me on my cover release party through to the book release. And to all of my online friends, your love, support and kindness are meaningful, valued and appreciated.

# Prologue

Gina sat despondent, disheveled and disillusioned wondering what she could have done differently? How did this happen and over such a short period of time?

Was she to blame? Did she ignore the signs? Now, two people whom she loved very much were gone, lost forever. Dead.

She poured over the letters. One line stood out to her: "In my mind and heart you will always be with me, and I will carry this into the next life."

Did he hope to have some sort of relationship in the afterlife? Is that why all of this happened? She should have known from that first day she met him. She had a vision. Why didn't she take it as an omen and just walk away?

Now, all the signs were clear. Hindsight is 20/20. Gina's mind drifted back to that first day...

# Chapter 1-1

# Chance Encounter

The parking lot was dark and desolate as Patty and Gina stepped down the stairs of the old loading dock in the back of the building. The evening was hot and humid as they both tried to adjust to the climate change having just left the air-conditioning. "I wonder how the ducks are doing?" Gina asked, thinking how nature was all but pushed aside leaving this poor mother duck to make a nest behind the dumpster in the parking lot. A van whizzed up nearly hitting them, Gina grabbed Patty's arm to pull her back from the van's path.

The driver rolled down his window two inches from where the two shocked women stood and said with a flirtatious undertone, "Good Evening Ladies, did you just get off work?"

Patty, the 22-year-old brunette Russian equivalent of Farah Faucet, smiled exposing her perfect pearly whites. Her brunette hair glistened in the phosphorescent light that beamed down from the electric pole that doubled for telephone lines not ten feet away. She tilted her head and gently brushed her hair away from her soft tawny complexion widening her pale green eyes as she added an uneasy giggle and said, "Yeah, we're just heading home."

Gina felt a little more at ease at this point, at least Patty knew the driver. Gina wanted to haul off on him for nearly hitting them, but since Patty knew him, she guessed he was just kidding around, _albeit asinine_. Gina resumed her way back toward her van when she remembered the ducks. Patty motioned for her to wait.

"I just renovated my office, do you want to see it?" asked the driver.

"Well, I have to get going," Patty replied.

"It'll just take a minute. Come in and see it," he insisted.

"Hey Gina, come in and see his office with me."

"I have to get going," Gina replied.

Patty turned her head away from the driver's view, her thick dark hair hiding her contorted expression. She widened her pleading eyes and motioned with her hand, just below the passenger's window for Gina to come with her. "Come with us Gina, you know you want to see it too," she giggled trying to make light of the situation and not show any fear.

Gina lagged behind as he parked his van and jumped out. He seemed to be reorienting his feet with his medium built frame in a youthful stance. He stepped out toward the loading dock, wearing a locomotive engineer's railroad cap, a bright white t- shirt tucked into a large burnished silver steam engine buckle that belted his faded Levis. He stepped toward the women in his heavy black construction boots with his hand extended in greeting.

"This is Gina," Patty said shaking his hand, "and this is Mr. Vladimir of Vladimir Electric."

"Hi. Nice to meet you," Gina said, extending her hand.

He looked down at her 5'4" frame, flashing a confident smile of impeccably brilliant white teeth hidden beneath a thick well groomed salt and pepper beard, while he enveloped her frail hand into his large calloused hands in greeting and said, "Nice to meet you too."

They proceeded back up the steps to the entrance.

His office/warehouse was located on the first level of the old building, while their office was on the second floor, but shared the same entrance. They walked through his immaculately kept warehouse to the main office that was lit with fluorescent ballast in a drop ceiling, with the silver square light covers, giving the appearance of daylight. The office was warm, inviting and meticulously arranged; a stark contrast to the insurance office where they worked, a dusty, stale, paper-piled room with a hodgepodge of ripped up amber and avocado furniture from the 1970's.

Vladimir installed powdered blue sculptured Berber carpeting, painted the walls a sky blue, replete with light oak office furniture and a surround sound system, all state of the art. It was clean, sharp and efficient.

"This is really nice!" Patty exclaimed, as he drew their attention to a model he had protruding from the wall.

"Check out my train model," he said, as he turned on the sound system, Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major K.279 (movement 1) Allegro, streamed through the surround sound speakers as they walked over to the model.

The model was a scene of a train coming out of the side of a mountain through a tunnel. "I carved it out of Styrofoam and painted it to look like the Rocky Mountains," he said as they looked at the tiny pine trees, shrubs, and boulders scattered across the rocky surface. The colors were rich glossy black, blue green spruce, evergreen, wheat and slate gray; a stunning contrast to the sky blue walls. "That's the C & C Rail Road going through the Rocky Mountains," he beamed and continued, "I made it myself. I'm going to convert my entire basement into a train model, but these ones will actually run through the tunnels. I'll have the Colorado River running alongside the rail road just like it is in Colorado."

Admiring the scene, Gina exclaimed, "Wow, you're an artist! This looks so authentic."

"Yeah, well, I love trains," he relinquished modestly.

"It's a good spot for your office then, with the train right across the street," Patty added sarcastically, because she hated the location of the office and the many times she was stuck at the train tracks while a freight train meandered through the little town of Riverdale. Patty had big dreams and this town was going to be a distant memory for her very soon she thought.

"Yeah, that's right! Now that I have my office finished, I'm looking for someone to work part time to run things for me. Let me know if you know of anyone?"

"What hours are you looking for?" Gina asked.

"10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m." he quickly replied.

"Well, I have children in school and I'm not sure I could be available all the time."

"I'm flexible," he replied. "I'm completely flexible and willing to work with you," he said looking intensely into Gina's eyes, which she nervously averted.

"Okay, I'll drop off my résumé and we'll see what we can do."

Patty started to get uncomfortable and said, "We better get going."

"Okay. It was nice meeting you," Gina said, extending her hand again.

He shook her hand and said, "Don't forget about that résumé" all while holding back a smirk with a knowing smile.

"I won't," Gina said, as they left the building.

As the women walked out to the parking lot Gina sensed tension and said, "Patty, I work with you in the evening, so no worries, it won't interfere with my job."

Patty smiled, and said, "It better not, I would hate to lose you."

With that said they went to their separate cars, "I forgot about the ducks," Gina said to Patty as she walked over to the dumpsters. Patty reluctantly followed her feigning interest. Gina peered behind the dumpster. Immediately behind the true link fence there was a tiny nest among the overgrowth of weeds, it now appeared abandon. "Good," Gina sighed with relief, "I don't know how they did it, but it appears that the ducks are gone now."

"Well, nature has a way of taking care of itself," Patty added as she headed back to her car.

"Goodnight Patty, drive safe," Gina, said as she entered her van.

"You too," Patty said as she unlocked her car door and got in. They drove off into the night toward their respective homes.

# Chapter 1-2

# Routine

When Gina arrived home, the house was a mess; she had to navigate the ten shoes and three backpacks strewn in the doorway entrance. She rolled her eyes as she surveyed the dinner dishes still on the table in the small sunroom where her family took their meals, and she winced at the laundry that was piling up in the corner just off the utility room where the washer and dryer were kept. _Just once I wish Brad would help. I wish he would help without being asked, but mostly I wish he would just follow through on what I already asked,_ she thought as she continued to survey the galley kitchen that still had the dinner she prepared before work sitting in their pots and pans as she heard Brad snoring off in the direction of the living room. She rolled her eyes in disgust and shook her head in despair.

_YOU WOULD THINK WHILE I AM AT WORK THAT HE COULD PITCH IN AROUND HERE AND TAKE CARE OF THINGS!_ Gina thought as she went through the den and up the stairs to check on the kids to make sure they had brushed their teeth, it was already 9:30 p.m. and the kids had just started school that week.

"Did you eat your dinner Lisa?" Gina asked as she surveyed the girl's bedroom.

"Yeah," Lisa said looking up from her book, already snuggled up in her bed. Amanda however was sitting in a pile of Polly Pockets still wearing her school clothes. "Amanda, let's get that cleaned up, it's past your bedtime," Gina said with exasperation, "Where's Duncan? Did he eat his dinner?"

"Yeah," Lisa replied.

Gina peered into the boy's room and said, "Rob, stop playing that video game. Let's get to bed now. Come to the bathroom and brush your teeth."

"Okay," Rob replied still playing his game.

"Hurry Rob, Amanda hasn't even taken her bath yet, at this rate you guys will still be up at 10:30." Then she thought she would let him play his game while she bathed Amanda, and called out, "Amanda let's get you into the tub so you can get into your pajamas." Gina ran the bath and asked again, "Where's Duncan?"

"He's sleeping on the couch," Lisa called from her bed.

Gina went back downstairs as Amanda undressed for the bath and found Duncan's downy little head sticking out of a sleeping bag with his body sprawled out, his right foot dangling off the couch. He was drooling contentedly on his pillow, across from Brad who was stretched out on his recliner with his arms folded across his chest, snoring loudly.

Gina gently shook Brad awake; "You were supposed to have the kids in bed by 8:00. It's already 9:30. They have school tomorrow," she said with an annoyed look on her face nudging him again, "Carry Duncan upstairs," she whispered. Brad got up groggily and picked up one-year-old Duncan and carried him up to bed and went to bed himself. Gina followed him back upstairs to get everyone in bed.

"Come on Amanda let's get you out of the tub. It's getting late." She washed, rinsed and dried Amanda, struggling to get her damp body into her soft linen pajamas. Gina combed Amanda's wet hair into a tight ponytail twisting it into a swirl. "Let's brush your teeth honey," she said and proceeded to get Amanda's tooth brush from the brightly colored holder displaying six tooth brushes and brushed her first grader's teeth, with a rinse and a spit, Gina bent down to give Amanda a swift kiss on her chubby little cheek and sent her off to bed.

"Rob come in and brush your teeth already, it's 10:00!"

"Okay, okay," Rob, said, finally shutting down his video game.

Rob brushed his teeth as Gina pulled the plug from the tub drain.

"Good night honey," she said to Rob when he was finished brushing his teeth.

Gina rinsed the basin of toothpaste residue and said, "Good night everyone." Stepping into the boy's room she pulled the covers up over Rob making the sign of the cross on his forehead. She looked up at the top bunk where Duncan was sleeping soundly, "don't forget to say your prayers, Rob," she whispered and stepped across the hall to the girl's room. "Let's say our prayers girls," Gina said, as they started in unison: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep, and if I shall die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take. God bless, Mommy, Daddy, Rob, Amanda, Lisa, Duncan, Grandma, and Grandpa, all my aunts and uncles and all my cousins and Dear Lord, help to make me a good girl, Amen. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen." Gina finished the prayer by making the sign of the cross on each girl's forehead and giving them a kiss on the cheek. "Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite, I'll see you in the morning," Gina said as she pulled their door slightly ajar. "Good night Mommy, I love you!" the girls said in unison and then started in on "Pinch poke you owe me a coke, tap on blue you owe me two."

"That's enough girls, get some sleep," Gina said as she bent down and grabbed the dirty laundry that had accumulated at the top of the steps. She brought it down adding it to the mounting pile already sitting in the sunroom and quickly sorted the clothes and started a load of towels and then cleared the table. She wrapped up whatever was salvageable from the taco dinner, loaded the dishwasher, washed the pots and pans, and wiped down the table and counter tops. Then she went to the den, sat down at the computer and printed up her résumé. It took her a while to draft up a cover letter with salary requirements. She read and reread the letter until she was satisfied and printed up a copy. She then slipped the résumé and cover letter into an envelope addressed to Mr. Vladimir of Vladimir Electric.

Once that was done, she went to the living room, popped in her Denise Austin, Yoga VHS tape and started her workout, Salutations to the Sun. At the end of the tape there was a meditation exercise where you release your mind of all thoughts. She was breathing deeply when Mr. Vladimir appeared in her mind's eye. He grabbed her in a bear hug and wouldn't let go; the shock woke Gina from her meditative state. _What was that? Strange_ , she thought, but she just put it out of her mind as she checked the locks on the doors, turned off all the lights, put the last remaining glass in the dishwasher and set it to start, then proceeded up to bed at 12:30 a.m.

As she lay in bed waiting for sleep to come, she started thinking whether she had ever seen Mr. Vladimir before.

Gina remembered walking past him a few times while going to work, but always with her head down, sometimes she would say "Hi," but that was about it. He was always standing in a group of men. Groups of men, or men in general just made Gina nervous. That was it, she was just nervous, she thought as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next day Gina got the kids up, dressed and fed them breakfast and was out the door by 7:30 a.m. She dropped the three older children off at school and went to the office's rear entrance, hopped out of the van and taped her résumé to the door of Vladimir Electric. She drove back home to resume her chores for the day.

Duncan woke upon her arrival back home. She changed his diaper, fed him breakfast and settled him down with a juice box and turned on Sesame Street in the living room. Then she went to the laundry room and put the towels in the dryer, started a load of whites, cleared the table of breakfast dishes, unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher and went upstairs after a quick check on Duncan to make the beds. She gathered more laundry and brought it downstairs.

Brad was working in the den with both doors closed. She gave a quick look in on Duncan, who was contently playing with his toys as Ernie and Bert started singing, "Rubber Ducky you're the one..." She went to the dining room to attack the mounds of paper she had piling up. Her dining room table was her epicenter, where she operated her Avon Business, paid her household bills, and ran her various charity work, whether it was the woman's club, the CCW with the church, or the PTA, it all came with paper work.

She had a pile of paper accumulated from the past two days from the kid's school that she had to go through and sign. She also had to make sure they had all the proper supplies and see if there were any projects at school that were due. There were notes about collecting one hundred things for the 100th day of school. She marked her calendar. _300 things that I am going to have to come up with,_ Gina thought while shaking her head. Usually the day approached and Gina would scramble to find 100 things she had laying around the house. One time she took 100 safety pins and pinned them to a felt square, another time it was Q-tips in a zip lock bag. _As if I don't have enough to do,_ she thought and continued to work her way through the pile.

The teacher's at their grammar school always seem to hit the kids with family projects the first week of school, like a me box where you have to take the top of a shoe box and paste all the thing that your student likes to representation them, or collect brown paper grocery bags, which people rarely used anymore and tape them together to trace the outline of your student's body, then decorate it in some creative way to make hair, eyes, nose and mouth that somehow resembles your student and if that wasn't enough, you then had to write their autobiography within the silhouette replete with pictures.

There were also timelines, where you take pictures of your student's milestones, first tooth, first step, first birthday etc.... all leading up to that first day of school. There was always something to go through and take care of like the packages for class pictures that you had to preorder and write checks for, emergency forms, health forms, and compliant forms, after about an hour of sorting through the paper and putting it into their prospective piles it was time for lunch and Duncan's nap.

Gina taped the Pizza Hut book-it program logs alongside the children's class room reading logs onto the refrigerator so she wouldn't forget to have the children log their at home reading activity for the month. The children had to read twenty minutes a day, every day for the month, at the end of which they would receive a free personal size pan pizza. The children also had to log which books they read for the class log that the teacher also wanted to see at the end of every month.

Now the gym teacher at the school started an at home exercise log that the children had to perform twenty minutes of exercise per day and fill out the form with the date, time and the activity, i.e. jumping roping, climbing trees, raking leaves, etc.

Gina whipped up fish sticks, macaroni and cheese with peas and called out, "Brad come and eat," as she went to the living room to get Duncan. "Diaper change honey," she said with a smile as she changed Duncan's diaper, "Come on honey, time for lunch," she said as she scooped him off the floor and kissed his tummy, he let out a big belly laugh, "let's eat lunch, I'm hungry," Gina added as she picked him up in her arms and headed to the sunroom that was already set for lunch.

Brad sat down at the table deep in thought, while Gina coached Duncan to eat his food. Then Brad got a call and took it in the other room while Gina and Duncan finished their lunch.

After they ate their lunch, Gina took Duncan upstairs to read to him from three little golden books, The Billy Goats Gruff, The Three Bears, and finally, The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food, Duncan drifted off to sleep for his afternoon nap. Gina went back downstairs to clean up the kitchen mess, folded the towels, dried the whites and started a load of colors. She brought the towels upstairs and peaked in on Brad who was going over some files.

"Brad, it's a nice day, I'm going to walk to get the kids from school. Duncan is sleeping up stairs. You're not going anywhere right?" Gina asked.

"No, it should be alright," Brad said, not looking up from his paperwork. "Okay," she said as she left the house and journeyed out on her one-mile walk to the school.

Gina arrived about five minutes early. She loved the little grammar school and worked to raise money for the new colorful playground equipment that sat shinning in the sun while little toddlers waiting for their older siblings frolicked on the playground.

# Chapter 1-3

# PTA Sockhop

Rob, Gina's first born, started at the school just when a group of mothers had planned a coup d'état to take over the incumbent PTA that spent $2,000.00 on the annual teacher's appreciation luncheon at the end of every year.

The moms of the incumbent PTA were a tight group. Being new to the school Gina wanted to be involved, so she attended her first PTA meeting, while Rob was in Kindergarten. At the first monthly PTA meeting held in September, a time and location was announced for the planning committee being formed for the Teacher's Appreciation Luncheon. The planning started in September for the end of the year party. Of course Gina signed up and looked forward to getting to know all the women better.

She had just moved to Riverdale the previous spring and was finding it difficult to cultivate new friendships.

Two weeks later, Gina arrived at the modest home of Victoria, who was holding the meeting and welcomed her at the door. "Come in," Victoria motioned with her hand, "take a seat anywhere, we're still waiting for the other ladies to arrive."

The small home was smartly decorated in French country. One could barely walk through the overcrowded room with large dark oak wood tables accenting the mauve and blue floral print furniture. Candles flickered on the coffee and end tables in crystal votive cups, while sconces flickered on the walls creating a homey apple pie fragrance that was welcoming and inviting. The dining room table located in the same room offered a sumptuous variety of finger foods and snacks. "Have something to eat while you wait," Victoria added.

"No, I just ate dinner, but thank you. You have a lovely home," Gina said nervously as she took a seat with her pen and note pad in hand.

"Thank you," Victoria replied as she adjusted a dish on the table, "make yourself at home," she said interrupted by a knock on the door.

Next to arrive was Jenna, the Bree Van De Kamp of the group. She approached Gina with a smile and said, "I finally get to meet the infamous Gina!" extending her hand.

"Infamous!" Gina replied perplexed.

"Oh, I don't mean infamous, don't get me wrong, it's just that you live next door to my parents and I've heard so much about you."

Jenna's parents where very wealthy and their entire family were well known throughout the community.

"Well, you know there is another Gina that lives on that block and people are always confusing me with her," Gina said.

"Oh, you mean the one who sends her filthy kids out into the street at sunrise and won't allow them back home again until sunset? My mom feels so sorry for that Dylan; she feeds him all the time. What's wrong with that mother? She doesn't even feed her children or give them a bath. He's even out in the middle of winter just roaming the streets. It's criminal," Jenna replied.

Gina retorted, "That's what I'm talking about. I met a woman at the library, you know that storyteller with the finger puppets, Carolyn? She lives on the next block from me," Jenna shook her head in recognition. Gina continued, "Well, she had a total attitude toward me. I couldn't understand why and then I found out she was confusing me with the other Gina. I can't tell you how difficult it has been for me, but for the life of me I don't understand how you women, instead of helping her, just ostracize her, that's not helping anyone. If you think her kids are being abused or neglected, then either help her or call in the proper authorities."

Jenna just kind of swallowed hard and turned to the group that had arrived while they were conversing, "It's time to call this meeting to order," Jenna declared, bringing the room to order.

Everything Gina suggested or tried to take on was out voted or shooed away like some troublesome fly. Gina didn't know what to make of it, but it was obvious that these women were shutting her out and Gina couldn't seem to break in. She started to look at the elderly couple that lived next door differently from that time on, wondering what they told their daughter about her to illicit that type of response, _infamous indeed,_ Gina thought, but she was really too busy to get involved further anyway... _fine ladies do all the work yourself_ , she thought, but Gina did attend the extravaganza at the end of the year and she had to hand it to Jenna, she was talented.

The theme for the appreciation luncheon was a 50's sock hop. The invitations themselves were a work of art. Constructed out of black, red and white card stock, the invitation response card was a three dimensional Jukebox display printed in authentic script with song titles as responses. Let the good times Roll, by Shirley & Lee would be checked if you could attend, and Ain't that a Shame, by Fats Domino for regrets. Although, the card had other entries too, like Rock Around the Clock, by Bill Haley & His Comets and Don't be Cruel, by Elvis Presley, as little incentives to sway the guest's decision on whether to attend or not. The title theme was listed at the top; Grandview PTA Presents a 50's Sock Hop Appreciation Luncheon. The invitations were cute and impressive, the hours it took the committee to print them up and construct them was staggering. They were like wedding invitations with a response card and then a card to keep as a reminder of the date and time. The reminder card served as a name tag to be worn at the event, black card stock cut into a 45 record with a red center on the front displaying the name of the attendee and the back listed the time and location. There was even a stickpin included in the envelope. Jenna was talented and had an amazing skill for detail.

At the Hop, by Danny and The Juniors streamed through the amplifiers as Gina entered the cafetorium. The grammar school's combination cafeteria and gymnasium was transformed into a black, red and white fifties sock hop with larger than life black silhouettes on the walls, of rock and rollers, youthful dancers, and music notes.

The thirty tables that filled the gym were covered in red and white checkered table clothes adorned with record paper plates with key board napkins; old 45's were connected to the red and white carnations with black and white helium balloons in the center pieces and antique 45 records hung from the ceiling in varying degrees that created an intimate setting.

All the restaurants in Riverdale donated to the event and there were home made goods provided by the best bakers at the school. They had a cake that looked like a giant vinyl LP at the sweets table featuring Danny and the Juniors, At the Hop. There was an abundance of refreshments as well, but no alcohol was served.

In addition to the teachers, a select group of PTA moms, local police, firefighters and dignitaries, such as the village president were also invited and attended the event.

All the ladies throwing the bash were dressed in poodle skirts, tight sweaters, bobby socks, and Ked gym shoes with ponytails in their hair. Gina felt so left out and then she saw their husbands dressed up like greasers with hair slicked back, white t-shirts, blue jeans, converse high tops, and dark Ray Ban sunglasses. Gina wondered if Brad would have participated if called to action. Gina attended the meeting and wanted to be a part of it and yet they held her at arms length... _at least I was invited..._ Gina thought as she took her assigned seat in the back of the room.

That sock hop was Jenna's swan song, being her last year at the school. Her youngest was heading out to the Junior High to sixth grade in the fall. For the past fifteen years Jenna had developed quite a reputation and the turn out to this event was tremendous! 300 people would go to the luncheon to enjoy the sights, sounds, food and eventually the awards and recognition that the PTA dealt out during those two hours.

The luncheon was a great success and Gina watched the PTA moms and teachers receive their awards, gift certificates for local restaurants, and shopping malls, free passes to the local gym, theater and bowling alley. It seemed as if the whole community was involved and Gina was very impressed. She had always dreamed of being a part of a community ever since she was a young girl growing up on the mean streets of Chicago.

Here she felt she found her home. She loved the school, the teachers, the community and she really wanted to be a part of it. At least she was invited to the luncheon, she would have to be happy with that for the time being, there was still time to prove herself and be accepted by these ladies. She would do it in time, she thought, trying to brush off the slights she received from the entire process of the event. Gina sat imagining the awards she would receive for her work in the future.

#  Chapter 1-4

# The Other Gina

Shortly after the planning committee meeting in September, the infamous Gina N. the one with the reputation for neglecting her children, wrote Gina a letter and delivered it via her eldest son Dylan.

Gina invited the young boy in and introduced him to her children. The next thing you know they were running through her house, up and down the stairs while Gina read the letter.

The letter was very well written and included Gina N's phone number. The letter touched Gina; since she had moved to Riverdale the previous spring no one had really extended themselves to her in this way. _It figures the outcast would want to connect with me._ Gina thought as she dialed Gina N's number.

"Hi Gina, this is Gina from down the street..."

They developed a relationship via their phone conversations. Gina Nettles, the girl down the block, had a handsome husband and three children the same ages as Gina's own children, the oldest of which had very dark skin, hair and eyes, a stark contrast to his mother's ginger complexion and her husband's Nordic blond and blue eyed good looks. Their phone conversations eventually led to an invitation for Gina to visit Gina Nettles' home.

As Gina entered the modest ranch, she was greeted by thick humid stale cigarette stained air, a result of not having an exhaust system set up for the clothes dryer that appeared to be running in the other room. Two very large golden retrievers jumped up on Gina with enthusiastic barks. "Down Ginger, down Max!" Gina N. scolded.

The smell of stale cigarette smoke, mingled with wet dog hair and a non-descript moldy mildew smell assaulted Gina's respiratory system as she surveyed the L shaped living room and dining room in front of her.

The blue shag carpet, well at least Gina imagined that at one time it had been blue, had ground-in grubby black stains. The blue velour country styled couch was much the same. The coffee table in front of the couch was full of dirty food encrusted dishes with cigarette butts died out in the middle, glasses half filled with coke or beer floating as many cigarettes as they could fit, not to mention the over flowing ash trays with an assortment of candy wrappers, sticky lollipop and popsicle sticks, Q-tips and many brown and white filtered lipstick stained cigarette butts.

The coffee table was a collage of dirty dishes, opened mail, kid's schoolwork, crayons, pens, a few dirty socks and a pair of dingy off white men's jockey underwear. Gina tried not to react choosing the dining room table to her left that wasn't much better. Gina sat in something wet and when she grabbed the table to hoist herself up, her hand landed and stuck in some raspberry or strawberry jelly giving the appearance of blood. Gina lifted her hand with a grimace and stopped herself from gagging.

"Oh let me get you a rag," Gina N. said as she headed to the kitchen, which had newspapers, paper bags and dirty laundry on the floor, having retrieved a dishrag from the sink that was piled high with dirty dishes, Gina N. held up the rag that looked as if it had been used in a tar pit. "Here," she said handing the blackened rag to Gina.

Gina grabbed the rag while breathing in the noxious air wondering if she was going to be able to come out of this alive. The dining room table was piled similar to the coffee table and Gina N. didn't seem even remotely embarrassed asking, "Do you want some tea?"

How could you leave your house in this state when you know you are having company? Gina wondered if this Gina N. was completely clueless.

"Sure," Gina replied, and added, "How many pets do you have?"

"Well, there is Ginger and Max our Golden Retrievers, Molly our cat, Rex and Alexia our guinea pigs, Julie our parakeet and Harold our hamsters. Seven isn't it? Yeah, seven"

"Wow!" Gina said in reply.

There were sad little intricate cross-stitches framed, hanging skewed on the wall, and Gina N. had one in front of her that lay on top of the dishes and paper work where she had been sitting. The cross stitches were marred with stains from coffee and cigarette ash. An ashtray sat atop of it all with a cigarette burning.

One slip and there would be a fire for sure! Gina thought with alarm.

"So, I see you're making something there," Gina said picking up the hoop of needlework.

"I love cross stitching, sewing and knitting," Gina N. said with pride.

At that moment her youngest, one-year-old Benny' walked out from the bedroom wearing a sagging diaper, crying, "mommy, mommy," Gina N. swiftly picked up a pacifier from the garbage strewn floor by her feet and stuck the pacifier in her mouth, sucked it clean, held it up to the light then deftly popped the pacifier into her son's mouth as he continued to cry and grab her leg.

"Oh, honey, go back and play. Tiffany," she called.

Just then a strawberry blonde chubby cherub emerged from the same vicinity wearing a shirt that was too small to cover her protruding belly, and greyed Little Mermaid underpants, "take your brother into the bedroom and play with him," Gina N. insisted.

"All right," Tiffany said rubbing her dirty little face, smearing boogers back into her gnarled hair.

Gina felt like she was in a trailer park. These two children needed baths, and this house needed to be cleaned. It was terrible and made Gina very uncomfortable. She wanted to leave.

Gina rose from the table and said, "I can see that you are very busy. Why don't you have your kids come play at my house tomorrow? I'll make them lunch and dinner and then maybe you could catch up on your cleaning a little."

"That sounds wonderful. Thank you," Gina N. replied with an exuberant smile, "I could use the break."

Gina N.'s kids were great, albeit sloppy. Over the next few months Gina spent a lot of time showing them that we only eat at the table. When we are done eating we put our dishes in the dishwasher. We never eat in the living room. We always wash our hands before we eat so we don't get sick and after a meal so the whole house doesn't get sticky. Gina's daughter Lisa enjoyed being the leader of this is how we put our toys back. Everyone would eventually settle down to read stories. The Berenstain Bears and The Messy Room was a favorite.

As far as Gina N. getting her house cleaned during those hours when Gina watched her children, it didn't happen. Gina N. was too busy, cross stitching, knitting or making plans for the ladies of The Church Of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints to come over for a good old fashion canning party, where they would make apple, strawberry/rhubarb and grape jellies.

Gina couldn't understand how the ladies of her church could actually make food in that house that was like a garbage dump. Eventually, as Gina earned Gina N.'s trust; Gina just came clean with Gina N. and told her how everyone was talking about her and how they had threaten to call the authorities on her, which prompted Gina N. to take her kids out of the grammar school and start home schooling.

Gina just threw her hands up in disgust. Now the kids were probably in deeper trouble just sitting in that house day after day, but eventually Gina N. transferred her children to another grammar school nearby where she could have a fresh start. Gina N. resented Gina and their relationship became strained from that time on. Gina was only trying to help her, rather than sit around and gossip about her and cause her trouble. She really wanted to help her and didn't want to see her or anyone's children suffer. No good deed goes unpunished, Gina thought.

#  Chapter 1-5

# The Takeover

After the Sock Hop Appreciation Luncheon, the newer moms of the, (kindergarten, first and second graders), didn't like what they saw and started holding private meetings over the summer to air their grievances; they decided to have a revolt and overthrow the incumbent PTA members.

"How could these women spend the children's money on sock hops and gift certificates as awards for volunteerism," one mother said.

"That money could be used for anything, new computers, books or playground equipment," another added.

The leader of the new gang, Sue, whose husband was a lawyer, got the ball in motion. At the next school years PTA meeting the following September there was a hostile takeover leaving the expectant new PTA president in tears.

"We have all worked very hard. You women don't understand how hard we have worked for these past years while our children have attended this school," Jan the expectant PTA president said.

"Well, there's a new Sheriff in this town," Sue stated as the crowd became enthusiastic with applause, whoops and hollers.

At that year's fiscal end, Sue quietly apologized to the incumbent PTA stating, "I was new to the school, and didn't realize how much of their own money these moms put into all the events and activities and how they had so much donated. So, I am sorry for taking such a hard line, but I still think the time, energy and money are better spent on the children."

The subsequent appreciation luncheons dwindled down to a jug of apple cider and a box of Maurice Lenell cookies with the only awards being a scrolled computer printout wrapped in a tiny ribbon and applauses, no dignitaries or other community departments attended. There were no gift certificates, or catered food donated by the local restaurants.

Although the entire scene was thoroughly entertaining, Gina never really felt a part of the new group of mothers and she decided to use her volunteer time for things that directly involved her children. She worked in the school Learning Research Center with her children present, as a room mom for the classroom parties, and as picture lady teaching art to the children one day a month for her children's classes.

She decided to leave the politicking to the other moms who had to control things. Gina quickly tired of trying to fit in and fight with these ladies. The playground equipment that came from the money saved after getting rid of the appreciation luncheon sat as a shining example of all their hard work, but Jenna, Jan and all those other moms were gone. Their children moved on to the next grade, the middle school, and high school and out of the system.

On the playground Gina saw a mother she knew and called out, "Hi Barb, how's Joey doing in soccer?"

"Oh fine, he's been goalie for the last two games and he loves it."

"Too bad he and Rob aren't on the same team this year," Gina said thinking, there was even politics involved in the kids sporting teams, whether it was soccer, baseball, basketball or football, one year you were on the team in good standing with the coach and the next year you were shuffled out to a stranger's team, leaving you to question why? Many of the other children stayed together on the same team throughout their junior baseball, basketball, or soccer league career.

"Gina!" Liz shouted from across the way, greeting Gina with a big hug, "How are you?" "Fine," Gina replied in greeting.

There were the moms from the woman's club, their local Catholic church, the PTA, and moms of her children's classmates.

"Hey Gina," Pam called, "How about we get Rob and Kevin together this weekend?"

"Sorry, I can't, we have ballet in the morning and a soccer game at 2:00. I'll call you and see what we can set up."

"Okay honey." were the last words she heard, when the bell rang signifying the end of the school day, as the children started to pour out the three double doors. There was such a boundless energy accompanying all those kids running from the school to their parent's waiting arms.

Rob ran up and hugged Gina, "Hey Mom, are we walking home today?" he asked with great enthusiasm.

"Yes."

"Can we stop at the 7/11 for a snack?"

"Sure honey."

Next came Amanda and Lisa walking together holding hands. It was Lisa's job to wait for Amanda by the first grade door and help Amanda find their ride home.

"We're walking home today kids. Who has a heavy backpack?" Gina asked.

"I'm fine," they all chimed in as they started their walk home through the prairie path, stopping off at the Seven Eleven for Slurpee's.

## ***

"Take him." Brad demanded as Gina arrived home. Duncan woke up early from his nap and Brad wanted to get back to work.

The kids threw off their shoes, dropped their backpacks, scrambling into the living room as Rob turned on the TV.

"Wait guys, we have to go through your backpacks. Come back here. Amanda, we have to get your 'me box' started and Lisa we have your outline to complete. Rob you have your time line. Come on guys." Gina pleaded as she went into the living room and shut off the television, holding Duncan on her hip.

"You guys can watch TV later, let's get this stuff done," she said as she led the kids back to the sunroom. She put Duncan in his highchair and poured some Cheerios on the tray. One by one she went through each backpack and put the appropriate papers she had signed earlier in the day into their folders. Once that was accomplished she let Rob and Lisa watch television while she and Amanda made Amanda's me box.

# Chapter 1-6

# Opportunities

Later that day Gina's phone rang.

"Hello."

"Hey Gina, Mr. Vladimir here, I'm really interested in having you come work for me, but $12.00 an hour is a little steep."

Gina was in the middle of making dinner and just added the spaghetti to the boiling water and started the kitchen timer as she said, "As my résumé states, I'm qualified and experienced and it is only a part time job, so there are no benefits. It's not like you are paying for my insurance."

"I understand that, but I really can't afford to pay you $12.00 at this time, I was thinking more in the range of $9.00 an hour."

"Well, I'm making that now at the insurance office with a bonus of $5.00 with every policy signed and that works out to be $12.00 an hour. You will see that I am a very conscientious worker. I take my job very seriously and that I'm worth the $12.00 easily. Also working in the day, I'm going to have to provide day care for my youngest and in order for that to be feasible for me; I have to consider the cost of day care."

"I don't doubt that you are worth $12.00. How about we compromise? I'll give you $10.50 to start and if things work out after three months I'll give you a raise of $.50 and three months after that another raise of $.50 and after one year an additional $1.00."

Gina really needed the job and was thrilled with the $10.50. "Okay," she said hesitating a moment, "We'll give it a go on a temporary basis and see what happens."

"I'll need you to start this weekend, because my daughter Penny who has been running my office this summer is leaving for college. She'll be able to show you the office on Saturday and Sunday and you can officially start this Tuesday being that it is Labor Day weekend and of course I'll pay you for the weekend training period."

"Okay, what time do you want me to come in on Saturday?"

"9:00 a.m. should be fine. I'll talk to Penny, if that won't work I'll call you. Otherwise, plan on being at the office this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. sharp."

"Sounds great, I'll see you on Saturday."

Gina was so excited, she ran through the house to find Brad. "Brad! I didn't have a chance to tell you, but yesterday when I was leaving work, Vladimir from the space below ours asked us to come in and look at his office. He has this real cool office with a train model and surround sound system and he offered me a job and I got it! I got the job! I get $10.50 an hour to start with a raise of $.50 in three months and another $.50 three months after that and $1.00 six months after that!"

"Did you get that in writing?" Brad replied.

"No, but I trust him, why would he lie?"

"Get it in writing. Just write up a letter with the specifics and have him sign it," Brad insisted. "That way there will be no misunderstandings in the future."

"Well, okay. You'll have to take the girls to Ballet on Saturday. He wants me to start training at 9:00 a.m. The problem is I'll have to find someone to look after Duncan. It's just four hours; from 10 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. do you think you could watch him? I mean it's just lunch and then you can put him down for his nap and I should get home right around the time that he wakes up. And I'll still be here when the kids come home from school to make dinner and then head out to the insurance office."

"We'll see. I have a lot of work to do and I can't be here getting distracted," he replied.

"Well, maybe Terry can fit him in. I'll ask her if she has room for one more."

Gina grabbed the phone and called her neighbor. "Hi Terry, it's Gina."

"Hi Gina, how are you?"

"Fine. How are you?"

"Doing good, thanks for asking."

"I was just wondering if you would be able to watch Duncan for me. It won't be every day, but it will be from about 9:30 to 2:30?"

"Sure the more the merrier, I always say."

"Great, I'm supposed to start training this weekend so we'll see what Brad's schedule is like next week, sometimes he's home and other times he has meetings. How much do you charge?"

"I charge $2.00 an hour."

"Excellent. I'll be in touch. Thanks Terry, I'll talk to you soon."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye."

"Okay Brad she can do it. So, all you have to do is drop Duncan next door if you have any problems. Remember, she charges $2.00 an hour so that will cut into my hourly, let's try to use her sparingly."

"Great," he replied.

Gina returned to the kitchen to drain the over cooked pasta and started another batch.

# Chapter 1-7

# New Job

That night Gina went to work excited to share her news. "Hey, Patty, I got the job!" Gina said with enthusiasm and continued, "I'm so excited! I'm so glad that it's right downstairs. It really works out nice. I'll work there from 10:00 until 2:00 and I can still be home for my kids when they get home from school, make dinner and come in here."

"Well, congratulations!" Patty said with mocked enthusiasm, "I just don't know how you do it with four kids."

"You will see soon enough, with your wedding coming up this spring, it's only a matter of time before you will be having kids of your own."

"Oh, I don't know about that Gina. I haven't traveled enough for that. I want to travel and see the world before I have kids."

"Well don't wait too long or you never know," Gina warned.

"My Mom had me late in life and I'm an only child; I kind of like it," Patty mused.

"Yeah, my mother had me late in life too and I think it had the opposite effect on me, because I couldn't wait to go out and start a family of my own. I was just 21 years old when I had my first baby."

Patty shuddered at the thought, "I could not even imagine that. Being straddled with a baby at 21, sounds pretty serious to me."

"I had three kids by the time I was twenty five and then Duncan came three days before my thirtieth birthday."

"Whatever works for you honey," Patty said with disdain.

"I better get on these phones," Gina said as she grabbed her call list off the desk and proceeded to dial.

Moments later Patty slammed the phone down. "That woman was such a fucking bitch!" she roared, "I'm going to call her back, she can't get away with that, how does that work so you can disguise your phone number *69 or is it *67?" she asked as she proceeded to dial. "Hello is John there?" Patty asked in a sexy voice... "No! Oh, cuz he was supposed to meet me at the Holiday Inn and he's late!" she said as she slammed the phone down again.

"Patty, are you crazy? You can't prank the customers!"

"Well, she deserved it. Maybe that will teach her not to be so rude to people."

Gina just shook her head in disapproval and went back to work.

Gina seemed to sense that Mr. Vladimir was downstairs. On her break, Gina looked out the window and sure enough she saw Mr. Vladimir's van parked outside. She was so excited about her new opportunity and wondered if she might see him after work today...

### ***

Gina arrived at the office early Saturday morning. "You must be Gina!" Penny exclaimed as she opened the door. "Come in and meet Hans, and Enrick, they are just heading out to a job."

Gina shook hands with the two handsome young men thinking, _hot and handy._ They were incredibly handsome well-built young men with blonde hair and blue eyes and quite tall. The two brothers looked Nordic or Swedish she guessed from their names.

Hans grabbed Penny's keys off the desk and threw them to Enrick, who held them up so Penny couldn't reach them.

"Come on guys, I don't have time for this," Penny brayed.

"If you want your keys, you're going to have to get them," Enrick suggested, dangling the keys high over his 6 foot build.

Penny jumped up one, two, three times, her body brushing up against his at each attempt.

"Come on Enrick, give me my keys," Penny gushed.

With that Enrick threw the keys back to Hans and she ran over to try and retrieve them from him. Hans played a little slight of hand behind his back with the keys, left, right, left and then dangled them over his masculine physic as Penny started to jump up and down again. Finally having tired of the game, Hans threw the keys in the key bowl set out on the desk.

"Okay, we have to get going, better luck next time Henny Penny," Hans mocked with a wink at Penny and motioned Enrick to follow. "Nice to meet you Gina!" they both called out as they left the building.

Penny and Gina settled down to the computer. Penny showed Gina the SBT computer accounting system, accounts payable and receivable and how to process and print the checks.

"You have to understand, my father is crazy. He wants his mail presented in a certain way, right down to the placement of the paperclip. This is the key to his P.O. Box at the post office. You have to pick up the mail every day. You can open the mail, throw out any of the extra paper advertisements and clip the envelope to the bill in the left hand corner. You have to highlight, the due date, and the amount due. He wants to see every bill before you issue a check. Leave the bills in his inbox and when he has gone through them he will put them here in your inbox and then you can process the checks and send it out," Penny said and continued. "Yeah, my father is crazy, that's why I'm getting a degree in psychology."

Gina was perplexed by this statement and didn't know how to react. She just nodded her head as Penny continued. "If we weren't in counseling right now I would not even speak with him. He's just that crazy!"

"Well, the counseling is helping then." Gina said, not knowing how to react to navigate her way out of the conversation.

"He's always on me about the car and how much gas I use. Every time I take the car he wants an itinerary of where I'm going right down to what route I'm taking. Then he'll suggest different routes. Like if I want to go to the Mall to pick up my check, I work part time at the GAP; he'll say it's a waste of gas. He wants me to have at least three reasons for going in a certain direction. He'll tell me just pick up my check the next time I'm scheduled to work," Penny said as she stepped over to the back wall of high gloss almond colored file cabinets, "My father has a very meticulous filing system," she continued as she opened the file cabinets lining the back wall. "He only holds one year of bills, proposals and invoices in the file, he has another system at home for the older files. Once you issue the check, make a copy of the check and the bill, you have to staple them at a 90 degree angle; he wants the staple straight up and down with the edge of the paper, then make sure you lay the bill staple side down and alternate so the file lays flat and doesn't get all bunched up" she said as she showed all the files lining up in the cabinet.

"So, that's pretty much it for the bills. You will have to update the Electrician's Code handbook whenever new pages come in, you will have to remove the old pages and replace them with the new pages. He wants you to shred every piece of garbage in the shredder. He'll want you to dust, pick up and vacuum, keep the office neat. Take out the garbage every day. He is also very particular about his phone messages, he wants you to fill out every line in this form as best you can, make sure you ask all the questions and fill it out appropriately."

"Wow, your father is so organized, it will be a pleasure to work in such a well run office," Gina said sincerely.

"You call it organized? I call it crazy! He makes such a big deal out of everything, like, I'll be taking a shower and he'll shut the hot water off, right in the middle of it. He's nuts! He tells me I'm wasting hot water. He has timed it and believes that you should only spend ten minutes in the shower. So, if I go beyond ten minutes, off goes the hot water. Do you see my hair?" she said grabbing her chestnut hair in a ponytail. "I have very thick hair, it needs to be washed and conditioned and that takes time, and then I have to shave and he cuts me off right in the middle of it. He doesn't understand with his baldhead and beard that I have different needs. I can't wait to get out of here and away from him. We've been in counseling since I was seven years old. I wouldn't even speak to him if we weren't in counseling."

Gina sat in silence, listening.

"Then there's music. We have to listen to the oldie's, that's it! He won't let me listen to anything else. So, when we're together we have to listen to all that oldie's music."

Gina dismissed this, not knowing what to say and needing the job, she tried to consider the source. All this sounded like regular teenage angst and she rationalized the fact that Penny was open about her thoughts and feeling as a direct result of counseling.

"Which brings me to the sound system, you can listen to anything that is here in the cabinet," she said as she opened the cabinet to expose well over three hundred CDs, in alphabetical order, and another 50 or so cassette tapes. "He has cassettes and CDs, so feel free to listen to anything at all." She paused for a moment and then added, "He punched a hole in the drywall the other day, just because he was mad at my brother for listening to his music too loud, so never put the volume above a six, he believes the speakers are sensitive and doesn't want to blow them out."

"Wow!" Gina replied, feeling the conversation getting way too personal. "Temper is a curious thing. I guess that's why you're getting your degree. To make sense of it all," she added, shifting the conversation back to her.

"I know. I can't wait for school to start and to get out of this town," she said with youthful enthusiasm. "We are pretty much finished up here. So, you'll come tomorrow too?" Penny asked.

"Yeah, I have to get out to a soccer game at 2:00. So, yeah, I'll see you tomorrow."

With that Gina left the building got into her van to drive back home to gather up the family for Rob's soccer game at the local park. As she drove she tried to rationalize everything Penny said about her father. It was obvious Mr. Vladimir was anal retentive, but Gina tried to look at it as a good thing. His nature is what had him so organized and successful, these were good traits she mused as she drove, _it shouldn't interfere with our working relationship_. She decided to just keep things ultra professional at work figuring there shouldn't be a problem.

Rob's team won and the coach took the team out for ice cream at the Tasty Freeze, to Gina's chagrin, because it was just about dinner time. Saturday evening rituals consisted of dinner and Snick at Night. Weather permitting; Brad would build a fire in the fireplace after dinner while Gina made popcorn. The family would snuggle up on the couch, everyone fighting to sit next to Gina. Brad would sit solitaire in his recliner sometimes holding Duncan as they all watched, Nickelodeon's The Rug rats, Ren and Stimpy, finishing off the evening with Who's Afraid of the Dark and then it was time for baths and bed.

Gina woke early Sunday morning, "Brad honey, Brad," she said half awake, "You have to take the kids to CCD this morning. I have to go to work, I should be back in time for 12:00 Mass. Do you want to go to 12 o'clock mass with me or just take the kids to 10:00 o'clock Mass? Because we have to go grocery shopping for the week, especially if I'm going to be working two jobs all week and I have to get an Avon order out tomorrow morning, oh that's right it's Labor Day, but still I'll have to get it done today if we're going by your parent's tomorrow."

"Okay, Okay...I'll take the kids to 10:00 o'clock Mass." Brad replied as he rolled over and covered his head with a pillow.

Gina quickly showered and woke the kids to get ready for their CCD lessons. She got dressed and was out the door by 8:45 as the kids headed out for church with Brad.

Gina arrived at the office to find Mr. Vladimir who showed her in. "Penny has an eye doctor's appointment, she must be running late," he said without even looking at her. "You can work on the computer while you wait for her," he said as he gathered up his keys and a file.

"I was wondering," Gina hesitated a moment wondering if she was imposing, but it was too late she already started, "would you be able to fix lamps? I have these lamps that I love and I don't know if you do that kind of work?"

"I don't usually fix lamps. This is not a lamp repair store. I do electrical contracting for commercial and residential properties, but I guess I could fix your lamps sometime when we have a slow period," he said as he left the building.

_That was chilly,_ Gina thought as she turned on the computer in the bright sunny office and started to go over the notes she had, just to see if she had a handle on it. About 30 minutes later Gina was distracted by the sound of the door opening and slamming shut. Penny entered the office and stopped abruptly, dropping her purse on the carpet. She held her face in her hands and started crying.

"What's wrong?" Gina asked as she got up from her desk to approach her.

"My contact tore in my eye while I was driving."

"Oh my gosh! That's terrible," Gina consoled.

"That's why I was going to the eye doctor, my contact was all screwed up and I needed new ones because I'm leaving for college tonight. This cop pulled me over and gave me a ticket."

"Well, you shouldn't have been driving with that contact. You could have got into an accident. Don't you have glasses?" Gina asked.

Penny looked at Gina with a slight scowl and continued, "That cop was a fucking jerk!"

Gina was shocked by her language and proffered sympathy, "well, you're okay now. Don't worry. You're probably just nervous because you're leaving for college and everything. Don't worry. It will all work out," Gina added, thinking, _wow this girl seems emotionally unstable._

They settled down to work for about an hour when Penny realized that Gina had the system down pat. "Well, it looks like you know everything you need to know. I have to get running to pack and be on my way. It's not a moment too soon," Penny exclaimed.

"Okay, well, you take it easy. Be careful driving. I know when I get a ticket I always drive super cautious, at least for a little while anyway."

With that Penny handed Gina the keys to the office, "I'm so glad to be out of here," were her last words as they left the building.

Gina felt so grand on that wonderful sunny day. She understood the job and would be working there during the week while her children were at school. She liked the office and aside from the emotional outburst from Penny, she figured that girl would be off at college anyway. Gina admired Mr. Vladimir. He had his own business, with an efficient office and two handsome able body young men working at his side. She was happy to be affiliated with such a nice organization and good people. Still she wondered why Mr. Vladimir was so cold and unfriendly, she put it out of her head. She had too much to do with shopping, the Avon order and a visit to her in-laws the next day. She would also have to pack the summer clothes and take inventory on what the children had for the fall and winter season that was coming on fast.

# Chapter 1-8

# Communion

Weeks passed and Gina did her job. She got the kids off to school in the morning, picked up the mail at the post office, went into Vladimir Electric, opened the mail, placed it in his inbox as instructed, checked her inbox and proceeded accordingly. Then at 2:00 p.m. she would leave the office, run to the school to pick up the kids, take them home and prepare a snack and start to make dinner while going over the kid's home work. She would sit everyone down to dinner and then leave to go to the insurance office at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Lisa was going to make her first communion the following spring and some of the mothers of the communicants decided to have a private first communion mass for their girls. Lisa was friends with all the daughters of these women, so Gina was invited to the planning meeting held on Wednesday night at Trisha's house. Gina had to take off work to attend the meeting.

Gina pulled into the driveway of Trisha's house thinking this must have been one of the first houses in Riverdale. There was a two-story coach house in the back and a plaque by the front door distributed by the historical society claiming that Daniel Burnham designed the house in 1890.

Rachel and Joan were sitting on cushioned white wrought iron chairs in the multi colored stain glass windowed conservatory at Trisha's house when Gina arrived. "Would you like some tea?" Trisha asked laying her hand on the antique silver tea set.

"Sure," Gina replied.

Trisha lifted the tea pot off the kettle burner and poured the tea into a delicate hand painted porcelain china cup, asking, "Cream and sugar?"

"Yes, please."

Trisha brought the tea to the table where the ladies were sitting; inviting Gina to take a seat.

"You have a lovely home," Gina admitted.

"Thank you," Trisha humbly relinquished. "Shall we get started?"

"Yes," The ladies said in unison.

Trisha was heading up the meeting and already planned out the appropriate prayers, readings and music for the mass. Everyone was in agreement, since, it seemed to Gina, that no one had such a vested interest as Trisha did, so within fifteen minutes the meeting was essentially over and yet it persisted.

"Okay ladies, that's great. It looks like we have everything worked out. I'll show Father Gregory all the details and hopefully there won't be any objections."

"Well how could there be," Rachel spoke, "you have made such lovely arrangements. It's going to be a beautiful Mass."

"Yes, it will." added Joan, "Thank you so much for arranging all of this. To tell you the truth I wouldn't have known where to start."

"I hear that," Gina chimed in, "I'm really impressed with your knowledge of the mass."

"Well, I thought it was the least I could do. After all these girls will only make their first communions once and I wanted it to be special. Have you ladies found the dresses yet?"

Gina started thinking she was lost. She hadn't made her first communion and had a flashback to when she was seven.

### ***

The Lutheran Church had just decided to include the rite of First Holy Communion while Gina was in second grade. Before that date the Lutheran Church only had the Confirmation Ceremonies, which were a combination first communion and confirmation that was held when the student was in the eighth grade.

Gina arrived at the church basement cold and shaken after having walked over a mile alone on that cold dark January night. She quietly hung up her coat and took a seat at the table where kids were gathered with their parents. The people holding the meeting for the first communion just stared at her and continued on with the meeting. "We have a workbook for the children to complete by March 29, so that the children will be able to make their first communion before Easter Sunday." And then Phyllis, the proprietor of the meeting, looked over to Gina and asked, "Where are your parents?"

Gina just looked down and said, "Well my father works nights."

"Where is your mother?"

"Well," Gina said, still looking down, "She died."  
The other parents shared looks of concern, as the head parent Mrs. Moore spoke, "Well you have to have a parent with you if you want to attend this meeting."

"Isn't there anyone who can come with you to the meeting?" Phyllis asked.

"No." Gina said, "My Grandmother is too old to walk here and we don't have a car."

"Well that will never do," Mrs. Moore said looking at the other parents that gave nods in agreement.

"If your parents can't attend then you have to find yourself a sponsor. You can not come to these meetings alone," Phyllis stated.

Gina was so surprised by this. They shut her out and she had no alternative except to go home alone. Those people didn't care how she got there or how she was going to get back home. They just turned their heads and continued with their meeting. Gina cried on that lonely walk home and decided then and there that religion wasn't for her.

### ***

"Did you find a dress for Lisa," Trisha asked Gina bringing her back to the present.

"No to tell you the truth, I don't even know where to look. I just bought a suit for Rob at J.C. Penny's when he made his First Communion."

"Eleanor Peach is having a dress custom made for her daughter Lily. She has a French designer out of New York. It's very chic," Joan said.

"Well, I'm not going that far. Carson's or Marshall Fields should have something," Rachel added.

"All the dresses usually come out in January, so we'll have time to shop, but I was wondering, should the girls have matching dresses," Joan asked.

"That's impossible!" Trisha said, "Because Nina will be wearing my First Communion Dress, like my mother before me. My mother saved it for me and we are having alteration made for Nina."

"How lovely," Joan added, "Can we see it?"

"Sure I have it upstairs if you ladies would like to join me," she said as she led the ladies up the mahogany staircase covered in a Persian carpet with gold bars at each step holding it in place. They reached the first landing of the five-bedroom home, it had rich mahogany wainscoting and hand carved woodwork, framing the six panel doors with glass knobs. A large jeweled tone Persian rug covered the center of the high gloss wood floor. Trisha opened the attic door and the ladies climbed the twelve oak stairs to the attic.

The attic was like something right out of a Nancy Drew novel. The pointed arched dark wood beamed ceiling allowed enough room for the ladies to stand, the entire space was decked out in American Girl furniture and props. There was a beautiful Crystal Victorian Chandelier hanging in the middle of the space creating an intimate setting that shed a soft amber glow.

"Wow," the ladies expressed in unison. "I've never been up here before," Joan added,

"Neither have I," Rachel chimed in.

"Is that a complete collection of Nancy Drew?" Gina asked looking over to the bookshelf in the corner. "And First Edition too!"

"Yes! First edition," Trisha answered proudly.

The floor was covered in an expensive looking Persian carpet in jeweled tones of red, gold and green. In the middle of the room under the chandelier stood a dark mahogany child size table and four chairs set with child size china with silver place settings and linen napkins. There was even a child size china cabinet and teacart that held a tea set and other amenities.

"Wow, you and your girls must have fun up here!" Gina exclaimed.

"We do," Trisha admitted.

Next to the child size furniture was the American Girl furniture, almost an exact replica of the child size table and chairs with four American Girl Dolls sitting around the table that was set for tea. There also was a bedroom set up with a wardrobe full of clothes for the dolls.

"Where ever did you find this furniture?" Joan asked.

"My grandfather was a furniture maker and made all of this for my mother who passed it down to me."

"Lisa had described all of this to me, but I thought she was exaggerating," Gina added with a smile of disbelief.

There was an old Victorian dollhouse on a stand that had working electricity. It was the perfect height for a little girl of five. "What a beautiful family heirloom," Gina commented.

To the right stood a puppet stage with marionette harlequin dolls in Mardi Gras attire, of purple, green and gold.

In the other corner of this well-furnished attic was a large mahogany wardrobe with mirrored cabinet doors that lit up when Trisha opened it to reveal a beautiful silk and lace christening gown, a First communion dress, a Confirmation dress and Trisha wedding dress all wrapped and sealed in clear plastic garment bags.

"Tradition! My family is so proud of it!" Trisha added while she opened drawers above, below and to the left of the closet area to show the crowns, veils, gloves, silver teething rings and rattles that went with the garments all in air tight containers to prevent the natural yellowing and tarnishing that comes with age.

"This room is like a little girl's dream," Gina added admiring the dress, which was beautiful with little pearl and opalescent sequins in the bodice, lace over satin tea length skirt, long lace sleeves and a high neck, lace collar. "My grandmother had this made especially for my mother, so it will be so nice to see my daughter be the third generation to wear this dress. I think it would be impossible for us to find matching dresses, as this dress is one of a kind."

"It beautiful!" The ladies all commented.

"What if you had boys?" Joan asked perplexed by the proposition.

"We would just keep trying," Trisha added with a grin.

"Well I think it's safe to say, Nina will be the best dressed at this affair," Joan added.

"Well that is until you see Eleanor Peaches custom gown for Lily," Rachel snidely remarked.

"Holy Cow, how will I keep up with you ladies," Gina added.

"That's why I wanted to have a private ceremony, so that Nina can wear this more than once," Trisha admitted.

"Good plan," Joan added.

"Well, I have to get back to work, if I'm going to be able to pay for this event," Gina said, "If we are done here, I have to get going, but thank you so much for including me. I simply love your house and this, well, this attic is a must see on every mother's list. We should call Better Homes and Gardens and let them do a spread on this place."

"Oh stop. You're embarrassing me," Trisha said politely adding, "I'll walk you to the door."

"Bye Ladies," Gina said as she headed out the door.

Gina drove back to the insurance office wondering if this special little mass was going to end up back firing because Lisa might not feel that her dress was good enough, _wow,_ Gina thought as she drove, _that Trisha, and that house, geez it's enough to give you an inferiority complex._

# Chapter 1-9

# Work As Usual

Once Gina arrived back at the office she got to work quickly. Gina made calls to local residents who had teenage drivers to see if she could get them a better deal on their insurance. It helped that Gina was so involved in the community and could talk about the local church, the woman's club, the Indian guides and princesses, sports teams as well as the park district programs and local schools. "Hello, is Mr. or Mrs. Frankel in?"

"This is Mrs. Frankel."

"Hello June, my name is Gina and I'm calling from Bob Baker's office on Main Street. I see your son just received his license. How exciting! You must be proud."

"Yeah, he's been driving for two weeks."

"That's precisely why I'm calling. I wanted to see if I could save you some money on your car insurance. I see right now you have State Farm, is that correct?"

"Yes, we do."

"Well I'd like to set up an appointment with you to give you a quote on our insurance rates."

"I don't know. We've had State Farm for over 12 years now."

"Well that's okay, we would just like to give you a quote and see if we can give you the same coverage for less."

"Mmmm, I don't know. I'd have to talk it over with my husband."

"No problem, Hey, I'm just noticing your address, do you live right across from Madison Meadows Park?"

"Yes, we do."

"I'm a member of the Junior Woman's Club and we just raised the money for the new playground equipment in that park. We had the local children enter a contest to design the equipment and Buddy Ferguson won. I think he did a remarkable job really and my kids enjoy that park so much. Dan Streusel, the village president let us name the park as a thank you for raising all the money. Fran Snider, the owner of the Ace Hardware on Fifth Ave. came up with the name, 'Magic Meadows.' I love that park. Anyway, I just have a few questions for you. All I need is the make and the models of your cars and the name and ages of the drivers in your house. We will work up a quote and I'll have an agent call you within a few days."

"Oh, alright." The customer, June Frankel relinquished. Gina would then take down the information and leave it in her box for the Agent to handle. She was able to insinuate herself into these people's lives and set up appointments very easily throughout the community.

When Gina first started working at the insurance office, Bob Baker the owner, was always there. He had hired Gina and one other person to work the hours of 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Gina had set up five appointments on the first night. The other person quit, but Gina kept going. Bob went through four more people before he decided that Gina was all he needed. After a few weeks Bob, seeing how Gina worked, stopped coming in the office during the evening hours and it was just Gina and Patty. Patty was a beautiful young woman, but she didn't take her job seriously and would get angry with rude people.

Gina started at the insurance company the previous spring and was now working both jobs while taking care of her family. To date, the appointments she had set brought in over 100 policies signed, which came to a $500.00 bonus for her.

On Monday and Friday evenings Gina would work on Avon. Gina sold Avon for the last three years and developed a clientele of 100 women in her community. Every other week she delivered 100 catalogues throughout her town. On Sundays after the kids attended CCD and the family attended Church, she would make a beef roast or whole chicken and after dinner she would spend an hour calling around to see if anyone wanted anything from Avon. Every other Monday evening she would put in her order. Every other Friday evening, she would pack her orders and make her deliveries.

Saturdays were reserved for laundry, vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, mopping, and shopping for the week. Rob had soccer, and the girls had ballet so there would be games and practice for soccer and lessons for ballet to attend.

Gina was busy and never really had a moment to spare. Bob Baker called a meeting with Gina three weeks after she took the job at Vladimir Electric. Gina sat down at Mr. Baker's desk as he said, "I would like you to become an agent," he handed her a blue folder filled with information. "Classes start every third Saturday of the month. It's a six-week training course and at the end you will take two state board tests. I have all the confidence in the world that you will pass them with flying colors. And don't worry, I'll pay for the classes and the test fees which comes to $395.00." It slowly dawned on Gina that Mr. Baker could have offered her this position at the onset of hiring her, but he waited six months to offer her this position.

At that moment Patty stormed in the office yelling at the top of her lungs. "I'm not going to stand for this, you tell me I can't have my chair until I sign 100 policies, well I signed 100 policies, Gina didn't! She made appointments. I'm the one who signed the business. I went on the appointments and listened to these people. I walked into their grubby homes and drank their dank coffee. I'm not going to stand by and let you diminish my work as if it doesn't matter," she said, grabbing a bag hanging on the back of her chair as she stormed out the door as quickly as she came in.

"What was that?" Gina asked perplexed by the scene.

"That was what you call a temper tantrum. Look, just look over the materials and get back to me, classes start every third Saturday of the month. You could start this Saturday. If you wait, it will be another month before you can take the class. You could start the classes and become an agent within six weeks."

"Okay, I'll look over the material," Gina said.

"Look, no work tonight. Call my cell phone if you decide to take the class," he said, handing Gina his card, "I'll meet you at the office and issue the check for the class."

Gina went home and after careful consideration she decided to give two weeks notice.

***

"Kids don't forget your reading logs," Gina said after breakfast the next morning.

"I forgot to fill mine out," Rob said.

"Okay, well just fill it out now."

"I can't remember all the books I've read."

"Just put down anything, go upstairs and get your Goosebumps books and fill in the titles. You know that you read every day so just improvise."

"Argh!" Gina screamed, "I forgot the exercise log," Gina said as she was pulling the logs off of the refrigerator. "Lisa, help me. Fill out yours while I fill out Amanda's. I don't want to be late. Just remember we walked to the park, raked leaves, you guys played on your bikes, okay."

"Okay mom," Lisa said as she started to write down activities while looking at the calendar.

"Rob get down here we have to fill out your exercise log too," Gina called from the sunroom. "These teachers don't understand that they are just causing us undue stress," Gina said as she feverously wrote down whatever she could think of for the past month. "Brad, help me. Fill out Rob's exercise log while I do Amanda's. Brad!"

"What? I don't know what to write," Brad said.

"Just write skipped rope, raked leaves, rode bike, okay!"

Brad sat down and started writing.

# Chapter 1-10

# Change Of Seasons

October brought with it Halloween. Gina would decorate her house on October 1st every year by peppering ceramic orange pumpkins, white ghosts and black cats throughout their quaint little cape cod placing them on shelves and end tables transforming the house into a not too scary festive fall setting. On the mantel she used gauze and cotton to mimic cobwebs draping it across the 2' ceramic haunted house adorning the rest of the mantel with small bundles and bales of hay with miniature size pumpkins, ghosts and black cats. Years ago she had her own business, Home Interiors & Gifts that she opted out of during her pregnancy with Duncan. She was able to decorate her house for every occasion at cost.

When the kids were in preschool she had them in Library Story time and would take out all the books on the subject of any given holiday and then with her children she would try and perform every holiday ritual and tradition possible, from decorating the house with Indian corn, and gourds to baking squash. They took frequent trips to the local arboretum in the fall and drove out to Goebbert's Farm in Barrington for a traditional hayride through the apple orchards where they would then stop and fill a bushel basket with apples by climbing the ladders and picking the apples fresh from the tree.

Goebbert's had a wide array of family activities to enjoy like a good old-fashioned dunking for apples where the kids would have to hold their hands behind their back and dip their head in a barrel to try and retrieve an apple with their teeth. Goebbert's also had the best gourmet taffy apples and apple cider.

There was also a corn maze that the children could race through trying to get to the exit on the first try without getting lost, while creatures dressed in scary costume would pop out occasionally adding to the fun.

The family would usually end their visit by picking out their own pumpkins from a vast field of two square acres lined with pumpkins still on the vine for carving. They made their own scarecrows out of the bales of hay purchased at the farm that they put out on the lawn and would drink hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick the whole month long. She adorned the house with bells shaped like cats, ghost and pumpkins on every doorknob to ward off evil spirits that were said to walk the earth on all Hollows' Eve.

To make raking leaves fun, Gina had three great pumpkin bags on the lawn, one for each child to fill with leaves that she would later compost. The family would make a game out of raking leaves to see how much they would fit into the bag to make a great Pumpkin. The three maple trees on their property provided an abundance of leaves with delightful colors and the neighbors' elms and sycamores added nicely to the fray. Of course there were a lot of piles made just for the sheer joy of jumping in them and Duncan was so easy to bury in a pile of leaves; popping out to scare everyone. Gina lined the walkway with yellow, copper and burgundy mums, with luminaries constructed out of old coffee cans that Gina drilled with holes to create the shapes of witches, pumpkins and ghosts that were lit whenever special company arrived and of course on All Hallows Eve for the trick-or-treater's to enjoy.

# Chapter 1-11

# Indian Princesses And Guides

Brad was in the YMCA, Indian Princesses Hopi Tribe with the girls and Indian Guides, Seminole Tribe with Rob and occasionally they would have meetings in their home. When they held the meeting they would have to come up with a craft and snack for the tribe. Gina always did her best when entertaining and stayed true to the tribe in relation to culture and aesthetics.

This year they were signed up for the October meeting for the princesses. Gina decided for the craft the girls would make ankle bracelets on a leather strap with beads and bells that she purchased at Franks Nursery and Crafts. Gina went to the library and took out, Northern Traditional Dancer, by Evans & Reddick, and a cassette of Hopi Katrina Songs and six other songs by Hopi Chanters, Historical documentary collection recorded under the supervision of Dr. Jesse Walter Fewkes in Arizona 1924 / Edited by Charles Hofmann. Gina chose the Butterfly dance and practiced with Lisa and Amanda with the music before the meeting.

The night of the meeting the Indian Princesses with their fathers arrived at 6:00 PM and complimented Gina on her Halloween decorations. The meeting started with the sign of the buffalo, a hand sign that always quieted the children down because they concentrated on positioning their fingers, next was coming events, where they discussed the winter camp-out at the Museum of Natural History. The girls were so excited to spend the night in the Museum.

Then they started their crafts, which was very easy to do just stringing beads and bells in a circumference large enough for their ankles. After the craft the fathers were relegated to the living room while all the girls put on their ankle bracelets for the tribal dance. Gina, Lisa and Amanda taught the girls the moves of the dance. 15 minutes later they were ready for their performance. Gina pressed play on the cassette player as the nine little girls performed the butterfly dance for their fathers in the living room to the amazement of the fathers who enjoyed the performance.

After the dance, Gina passed around bowls of red and blue popcorn still on the cob that she microwaved giving the girls a unique treat that they washed down with apple cider while Lisa read, The Butterfly Dance by Gerald Dawavendewa so that the girls would all have a good understanding of the ritual they had just performed. The meeting ended on schedule and everyone left by 9:30 p.m.

There were always projects, meetings or outings to attend. Twice a year the Guides and Princesses would hold weekend camp outs. This year the family opted out of the Guides camping trip because it was on Columbus Day weekend and it just happened to be Duncan's birthday. Gina felt the family should be together, and that Brad and Rob shouldn't be off at a camp out.

# Chapter 1-12

# Family Vacation

Friday morning Gina went grocery shopping and packed food and clothes for the family. On the Friday evening of Columbus Day weekend, the family loaded up the van and listened to Disney's, Silly Songs which consisted of I'm My Own Grandpa, There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea and later singing their favorite at the top of their lungs, "Mares eat oats and Goats eat oats and little Lambs eat Ivy, a Kid will eat Ivy too, Wouldn't you," as they drove out to Birch Cliff Resort in Wisconsin Dells, stopping off at Culvers for dinner on the way.

They arrived at 7:00 p.m. Brad and Gina unloaded the van while the children scurried to the large communal campfire that was in the center of the camp ground and viewable from their cabin and joined the other families making S'mores. Once everything was unpacked and situated in their two-bedroom cabin Gina, Brad and Duncan joined everyone by the campfire to hear and tell scary stories while watching the stars twinkle overhead in this near virgin setting unaffected by light and noise pollution. When all was quiet they could hear the owls hooting in the distance and animals scurrying through the woods that surrounded the resort on all sides.

After breakfast the next morning Gina packed a picnic lunch and the family headed to Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin where they climbed the 500 foot bluffs to view the breathtaking panoramic array of fall foliage bursting in rich colors of red, gold and orange, on that beautiful crisp, sunny warm autumn day.

They found a nice spot at the top of the bluff to eat their sandwiches and drink their juice boxes providing sustenance for the traverse back down the trail. They took lots of pictures and Duncan proved to be quite a good little hiker. The fall foliage was stunning from the tops of the bluffs and the children loved climbing over all the huge boulders. On Saturday night, after dinner the family gathered around the communal campfire again and relaxed enjoying the solitude and the star filled sky that they couldn't see at home because of all the city lights.

After Mass at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, the family went to Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty, which was a family tradition and the only place one could find those delicious donuts. After breakfast the family took the duck tour and road down the Wisconsin River, crawling over sand bars, through Dell Creek and plunging into beautiful Lake Delton on that amazing amphibious adventure. After dinner at the cabin the family went up to the second floor game room that was above the utility room of the resort. The balcony off the game room supplied a view of the twenty cabins scattered in a woodland setting with the outdoor pool that was closed for the season and large communal campfire. The children played pinball and Ping-Pong while Brad and Gina had a game of pool, "best two out of three," Gina said after losing the first game.

Monday morning the family packed up their belongings and climbed back into the van stopping off at a bakery outlet to pick up a cake. They had to get back to celebrate Duncan's second birthday with the extended family, which fell on Columbus Day that year. The celebration consisted of a very weary family coming home unpacking their bags and ordering a Pizza. The Grandparents and Godparents met at the house for the celebration as the family sang, Happy Birthday, May the Dear Lord Bless You, ending with Sto Lats as Duncan finally blew out the three candles on his cake. The family enjoyed cake and coffee immediately following. Saving the best part for last, Duncan opened up his presents in the living room in front of a roaring fire.

# Chapter 1-13

# The Lunches

As usual, Gina went into work on Tuesday. Mr. Vladimir arrived at the office around noon and said, "Grab your coat. We are going to take a ride."

"What?" Gina asked as she grabbed her coat.

They walked out of the building together. "We're going to take a ride,' he said as

Gina got into his van and sat in the passenger's side.

"I saw Bob Baker the other day. I smiled and said, 'Hi.' He looked like he was beat, like the wind was out of his sail, like he just lost his best friend," Mr. Vladimir said as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"I haven't seen him in a while. You know I quit, right?" Gina said.

"Yeah, I think that's why he looked so beaten."

"Really? I don't think my leaving would have meant that much."

"Oh it did." He said as he pulled into the local hotdog stand. "I wanted to take you out to lunch to show you my appreciation for all the hard work you have been doing." He continued, as he parked the van.

"So, what happened with Mr. Baker and the Insurance company?" he asked as they entered the hotdog joint.

"Well, as you know I had been working there for six months. He hired me as a telemarketer to make calls and set appointment for families with young drivers," she said while they waited in line to place their orders.

"Yeah, so what happened?" He asked while he perused the menu.

"Well, I'm heavily involved in the community and so making calls just came naturally to me. I could connect with the people because they were all residents here in Riverdale. So, it was easy to set appointments and I was making good money I thought."

"You thought? What does that mean?" he asked as they stepped up to the counter to place their orders.

"Yeah, I'll have a beef with hot jardinière, large fry and a large coke," he said and looked at Gina to place her order. "I'll have a beef with sweet peppers, large fry and coke," she added.

"So, what happened, you thought you were making good money? What happened?" he asked as they stepped aside and waited for their order.

"By the time I started working for you, Patty had signed over 100 policies and that's great, I got $5.00 for each policy signed so that was a $500.00 bonus for me. But, once I started working for you, Mr. Baker had a meeting with me and asked me to take a class and some tests to become an agent," she said as their order arrived.

Mr. Vladimir grabbed the food tray and picked a table by the window. Gina grabbed napkins, straws and ketchup and followed him to the table.

"So, he asked you to be an agent. Wow, that's impressive."

"I guess. I don't know. I mean he said he would pay for my classes and for the tests and everything and while he was asking me, Patty stormed in the office and pitched a fit. I guess she was really upset that he was asking me to be an agent. I couldn't figure it out. The thing is, his lease is up this month and I knew he was moving his office to Carbondale and I don't want to travel to Carbondale. It's too far, I want to be near my children in case I get a call or there is an emergency, I mean I'm right here, just three blocks away."

Mr. Vladimir looked up from his meal and gave Gina a soft compassionate glance. Gina read his expression and was both nervous and pleased with his reaction.

"Ha!" Mr. Vladimir laughed, "See, Bob was grooming Patty to be an agent for the past two years, but she couldn't sign a single policy, she was a total dud. That's why he was looking for telemarketers to help out her business," he said as he wiped sweat that was forming on his brow.

"Are you alright?" Gina asked concerned.

"Yeah, it's just these hot peppers, they make me sweat."

"Are you sure you should be eating them?"

"Oh yeah, I love them. So, why didn't you want to become an agent?"

"It's everything really. First there is the traveling, and then the appointments, and taking the classes and the test. I'm just not interested in insurance. I just want a job that I can do and leave. My first priority is my children. I need to be there for them," she said taking the last bite of her sandwich.

Mr. Vladimir looked at Gina with such tender emotion that it made her feel uneasy as she continued, "Besides, I don't want to work for someone who would use people like that, he should have just asked me to be an agent in the first place, but of course I didn't want to be an agent anyway. Just think how much money Patty is making off my work; with the repeat business when they sign up again year after year."

"Hump," he mused and said, "Well Baker was sweating. I saw him the other day and when he caught sight of me he just hung his head," Mr. Vladimir said victoriously. Again Gina read his tone and was confused by his attitude, but was soon distracted when Mr. Vladimir said, "We better get back to the office." With that they cleared the table, threw out their garbage and left.

With the Halloween season in tow, Gina took advantage of coming to the office in the evenings. The meeting for the Fun Fair was held that afternoon so Gina came to work that evening and flipped on the sound system where a tape was already playing, since it was Frankie Valli's extended version of 'Oh What A Night,' one of Gina's favorite songs, she didn't bother to change it, but settled down at her desk singing while she worked, "Oh what a Night..." Gina always felt like she was being watched and was aware of the possibility of hidden cameras and so she always acted accordingly, right after the song finished there was a message from his family. Gina was out of reach of the cassette player so she couldn't stop the tape or turn it off and continued to listen to the tape. She felt a little guilty like she was intruding on their privacy, but the tape was there, already in the cassette player. Mr. Vladimir told her time and time again to listen to the music. The tape continued with his family singing Happy Birthday to him while he was on a trip to Colorado years ago.

At the end of the song his daughter Penny (she sounded like she was about seven at the time), said, "I hate you daddy." His wife chimed in with a pleasant voice, saying, "oh Penny that's not nice." giggling, "Think of something nice to say." Penny continued, "I hate you daddy, I hate you. I really do." Their voices coming through the surround sound system made Gina shiver a little.

"Okay," his wife continued still giggling, "I think we'll end the tape here." And that was it. Sign off, dead air, empty space.

Gina was amazed that his wife didn't omit the ending. It would have been simple to just rewind the tape a little. Then thinking back to her training with Penny, Gina remembered what Penny said about the counseling. Gina started thinking that it sounded like his wife was encouraging her daughter to say those things. Gina thought, _if I were making the same tape, I would instruct the children before the recording to say something nice and not just let it go wild. I wouldn't permit my daughter to say she hated her father, what would be the justification for such behavior._

It seemed rather passive aggressive of his wife to do that, like she was using her daughter to say what she was feeling. Perhaps Tonya didn't appreciate her husbands little Rail Road trips. How could you encourage your daughter to hate her father and why? Then she pictured Mr. Vladimir, alone in Colorado listening to the tape. How would that make him feel on his birthday? It was unnerving, and then Gina wondered why the tape was in the player at all, but Gina once again pushed those thoughts from her head and persisted to work.

Things were busy with the annual Fun Fair coming up. This year Gina headed the decorating committee and had to decorate the Gym of the local Middle school for the five hundred students and their families that would attend. It was great fun, but a lot of work.

Since she was no longer working at the insurance company she was able to attend the meetings. In addition to the Fun Fair decorations, she would have to figure out how to make the costumes for her children and work the room party at the local grammar school. She decided to be room mom for Rob's class since it was his last year at the grammar school. On Thursday when Gina arrived at work she found a red rose in a vase with a card leaning up against it. She opened the card and a hundred dollar bill slid out dropping on the desk below. Gina read the card:

A Special Friend:

There are times in our life

That we are lucky to meet

A person that makes a difference

In our lives with just a simple smile

Or going the extra mile

And that is what I've found in you

Wishing you a Happy Birthday

As only a special friend can do.

The card was signed Mikhail. _He remembered my Birthday!_ Gina thought, but felt a little uncomfortable with the gift.

Later that day Mr. Vladimir arrived and said, "I'm taking you out to lunch for your birthday."

"Oh. Thank you for the card and the gift, but that's enough. You don't have to take me out too."

"Nonsense!" He said, "Grab your coat."

The two drove over to the hot dog stand and ate their lunch.

That evening when Gina arrived home she was surprised to find a large bouquet of flowers in a deep green reusable glass vase from her Secret Pal in the woman's club.

"They were delivered this afternoon," Brad said.

The family ordered pizza and sang Happy Birthday. Rob bought Gina, skeleton earrings. "These are really nice," Gina said hugging Rob. "I'll wear them for Halloween." "That's what I was thinking," Rob said proudly.

Lisa and Amanda chipped in on a Where's Waldo coffee mug. "Thanks guys, this is so cool," Gina said as she looked at the mug.

"See if you can find Waldo," Lisa challenged.

"He's right there," Amanda pointed.

"That's not fair," Rob said. "The girls have been staring at that thing ever since they bought it."

"Oh it's fine," Gina said. "Thanks again everybody."

# Chapter 1-14

# Halloween

Rob wanted to be the character from Scream. Gina just picked that up at the store.

Lisa wanted to be a biker chick with her friend Casey. Gina bought some black pleather at the local fabric store and made Lisa a black vest, skirt and headband.

Amanda was Fievel from the American Tail. She was adorable, with an oversized blue pleather, black-rimmed cap. Gina had attached droopy mouse ears to the cap that she had fashioned from cutting out cardboard circles from one of her Avon boxes as a base. She then covered the circles with brown felt, making a smaller circle of grey and a tiny circle of pink via her glue gun. She attached the ears to a plastic crescent headband that fit nicely under the cap. She added an XXL belted red sweatshirt and attached a long leather shoelace for the mouse-tail. Gina colored in Amanda's little nose with eyeliner and drew whiskers on her chubby little cheeks.

Duncan was a baby dinosaur, a costume that had been used by all her children in the past.

That weekend Gina and the kids carved life size skeletons out of used white plastic one-gallon milk jugs fastening the parts together with wire. She stored the six skeletons in the garage until the day of the Fun Fair that she would later use to decorate the gym to mark the entrances, two bordering the main entrance, one for the cakewalk, the moonwalk, and two more by the prize booth. Next Gina and Rob and Lisa painted large signs in spooky fonts.

Gina had found the pattern for the skeletons a month ago in Family Circle magazine and started to save every milk jug they went through, which was about one a day. It took four jugs to make each skeleton. Then she submitted the instructions for the October's issue of the Junior Jotting for the local Woman's club, everyone loved it. It received attention at the state level, which impressed the Junior Woman's club president.

The Fun Fair had a costume judging contest so all the children wore their costumes to the fair. Nina won for best costume, she was dressed up as Sally from the movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas.

The Ryan's won the pumpkin decorating contest with their depiction of Jack Skellington, The Pumpkin King also from the movie, A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Lisa and Gina baked two trays of cupcakes for the cakewalk and Duncan won a plate full of Brownies. Lisa and Casey spent an hour in the moonwalk, and all the kids loved the carnival games. Rob had the most tickets winning 284, which he redeemed at the prize booth where he picked up a huge rubber snake. The family settled down to eat the pizza's they had preordered washing it down with icy cold coke.

It really was a great outing for the families of the school and one the new PTA moms kept, even though Jenna established it during her years at the school.

The principal dressed up as Wanda the Witch and sat on a bale of hay to take pictures with the students. Amanda took a picture with her never suspecting that she was the principal all along, but you couldn't fool the parents. Gina and her team designed the backdrop for the pictures consisting of a dark purple sky with a bright yellow moon covered in a thin cloud above a spooky black castle with bright yellow windows and bats flying overhead.

Gina was so glad to able to be a room parent for the Halloween room party the following week for Rob's class and watch the parade that the school had every year at lunchtime. All 500 students fully dressed in their costumes would leave the school building, and hold a parade for the parents that could attend. Most parents worked, but were able to take an extended lunch to drop by and see the kids. It was such fun to see the kids and take pictures, and home movies. After the parade the kids would get back to their classes for their room parties.

For Rob's class Gina worked the night before to prepare 24 small clay pots with a concoction of smashed up Oreo cookies, cool whip and chocolate pudding made to look like dirt with gummy worms slithering within and a plastic daisy sticking out of the top. Every party had to have an activity and a treat, so Gina made the treat while the other mom came up with the activity.

The kids had to put on blindfolds and stick their hands in plastic pumpkin buckets to guess what they were touching. There was cooked cold spaghetti that felt like cold clammy worms or veins, peeled grapes that felt like eyeballs, a damp course sponge for a brain, cornhusk silk for hair, soft flour tortilla coated lightly in oil for skin, and feed corn for teeth. The kids squealed and giggled from the experience, which was fun for everyone.

This year Halloween coincided with the school event so, after school Gina ran home with the kids for the trick-or-treaters and then went on their own trick-or-treating rampage. After trick or treating the kids spilled their bounty out on the living room floor to sort and trade with each other while Gina got the sloppy Joes set up in the sunroom.

Gina was just happy that she could pull it off, working, four kids and everything that entailed, Avon, volunteering; it was all a little much, but she was doing it. She was pulling it off. The kids were happy and she was happy to give them all the things that she had missed growing up.

Sometimes she would just sit in the window seat of her bedroom looking down at the lawn and the houses across the street and think, _yeah, this is how it is supposed to be, all is well, the kids have love and support from us, a cute little home. I'm room mom, we are part of the community, decorating the gym for the fun fair, attending the funfair, yes, she was giving her children the life she never had, with sports, sleep over's, Indian Princesses and guides. I'm doing it. I'm doing it._ She told herself repeatedly, but sometimes it was all a little too over stimulating.

Gina's hands would get numb as if the blood drained out of them, as the weather got colder it happened more frequently to her feet as well, something wasn't right, a friend had mentioned that it could be her heart and that she had better get it checked out, but there was no time to look into it. For soon there was Thanksgiving, and then Christmas to prepare for and that was a lot of work as well.

# Chapter 1-15

# Family Portait

Gina had to coordinate the family's matching Christmas outfits. Every year she took the family out shopping to buy the appropriate clothes that the children would wear for the family portrait. Usually she and Brad had something that they could use already in hand, but the children grew every year and so she would have to see, what she could hand down and what she had to buy.

This year Gina still fit into her black taffeta dress with scoop neck collar, puffed shoulders, leg of mutton sleeve, tight bodice and flared skirt covered in gold lame polka dots so the colors would be black gold and of course red.

Luckily she found dresses for the girls that matched but contrasted too. Lisa's dress was black velvet with red piping and Amanda's dress was red velvet with black piping outlining the neck, cap sleeves and just above the hemline of the skirt with a contrasting sash at the waistline to be worn with white tights and black patent leather Mary Janes.

Gina found a nice red and grey sweater vest for Rob to be worn over a white shirt and red bow tie with grey pants and matching grey dress shoes. Gina found the cutest little black mock tuxedo-jogging suit for Duncan, which would go nicely with his little black gym shoes. Brad wore his black suit with a grey dress shirt and red tie, tying the color scheme together.

With the outfits purchased, Gina then set up an appointment at the photography studio for the family portrait. Everyone had to have haircuts for the portrait, so Gina lined them up in the Sunroom and proceeded to cut and style everyone's hair. Cutting everyone's hair herself saved the family $100's that could be used for gifts for the children.

Once the family had their sitting, she had to wait a week for the proofs so she could order and purchase the pictures that would take another week or two to be processed. Once the portraits were picked up then Gina could send them out with the Christmas cards, so the whole process required a lot of planning and took about a month to accomplish.

The clothes she bought for the children would be used for Thanksgiving, assemblies, church and any holiday parties that they had to attend, so Gina made sure she got good use out of her investment.

# Chapter 1-16

# Thanksgiving

Mr. Vladimir started to make a habit out of coming into the office at a moments notice, telling Gina, "Grab your coat," to take her out to lunch. To avoid him, she started to come to the office more and more in the evenings.

During lunches with Mr. Vladimir she learned that he was a fan of Musical Star Streams that aired every Sunday night on WNUA. She and Brad had made a ritual out of setting the clock radio for one hour and falling to sleep with Musical Star Streams every Sunday night. Forest, the host, had a soothing voice and sometimes Gina thought it was kind of cool as she lay listening to the chants complimented by synthesizer tones, electronica, new wave, new age music, with all the rhythmic beats erupting into tribal chants that Mr. Vladimir was listening to it at the same time. She felt like they were connected. Vladimir would keep track of the play list and purchase CDs for them to listen to at the office. Gina became quite a fan of New Wave Music.

Gina also learned that Mr. Vladimir had been married 24 years and they were about to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary that following spring. His son was about to become an Eagle Scout, a title Mr. Vladimir had never achieved, but coveted for himself. He was very proud of his son. The family was taking a trip to Arizona for Thanksgiving with family and friends and would be gone for the four-day weekend.

The annual wrapping paper sale started at the school. Three kids came home with a package in their backpack. The children had to sell really expensive wrapping paper that was a PTA fundraiser. Gina couldn't imagine how this company had duped the PTA into facilitating this farce, because the paper was so expensive that no one could afford it or wanted to purchase it when they could get a 5 yard roll of wrapping paper at the dollar store, but the kids were excited about the competition hoping to win the little LD flash light if they had sold the most. Gina wasn't going to allow her children to go door to door with this stuff especially since the whole school was selling it. So she told the kids to bring it to grandma's house on Thanksgiving to ask the aunts and uncles if they wanted to buy some.

Luckily Brad's mother, Glenda always held Thanksgiving at her house so all Gina would have to do is make homemade cranberry sauce which was so easy to just boil some cranberries and let them cool in the fridge overnight and candied yams which just required peeling a few baked sweet potatoes and mashing them up with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. The family was dressed in their Christmas outfits and ready to go at 1:00 p.m.

They arrived at Brad's parent's home to find Mike, Brad's brother and his motley crew, consisting of two boy and three girls, his wife usually worked on the holidays because she received time and half compensation as an emergency room nurse, so Mike's kids looked like they just rolled out of bed with wrinkled stained clothes, hair sticking out in every direction and dirt under their finger nails which was always so pleasant if they got to the rolls first, or when sharing a bowl of chips where they double dipped causing Gina to shudder. "Mike, how's it going?" Gina asked giving him a hug in greeting.

The kids scurried off to start a game of hide and seek.

"Fine," he said as he broke from their embrace and retreated to the couch.

Gina looked over to the couch where the family laid about as the blare of sports casters announcing the plays engulfed the surroundings. "Brenda," Gina called to Brad's sister who was nursing a hangover, donning swollen heroin chic eyes smeared with black mascara from the night before clad in her comfy wrinkled sweatshirt and baggy jogging pants. "How are you?" Gina asked with a smile in greeting as she proceeded to hang her and her children's coats.

"Fine," Brenda said, without looking up from the television.

"Ellen, is Becky joining us today?" Gina asked trying to engage someone in conversation.

"Nope. She moved out," Ellen said from the recliner, filling her mouth with another handful of cashews without looking up from the television screen.

Frank was sitting in his chair and didn't get up either while Glenda wearing her ruffled apron over a black sweater and dress pants scurried around the kitchen. Gina immediately grabbed an apron hanging in the pantry to help Glenda with the meal.

"Here, I'll put the cranberry sauce in the fridge," Gina said as she reached into the cooler Brad had placed by the fridge. Brad had already joined the others on the couch in the living room.

"I'll set the table," Gina added after she had put the sweet potatoes on the kitchen table in between the two casseroles of stuffing and mashed potatoes. She then proceeded to the dining room that was attached to the living room divided by a sprawling plaster archway and looked in on the crowd of football fans as they watched the game. Gina listened to the occasional yell or shout of profanity depending on their team's progress as she set the table.

Just then Ken, Brad's cousin and Joel, his live-in companion arrived at the house unannounced. Ken was loud and obnoxious, yelling, "Go bears!" as the two threw their coats in the back bedroom and joined the others on the couch.

"Move over you fat ass!" Ken shouted at Brenda. Brenda obliged as Joel took a seat at the table Gina was trying to set.

"Oh," Glenda said with surprise from the intrusion of uninvited guests, but merely continued, "Make sure you make two more settings at the table. Stacey can sit with the children."

"Okay," Gina agreed thinking; Mike probably just told Ken and Joel to come over never mentioning it to Glenda or considering that he was putting everyone out. Only thinking of himself as always. Gina thought as she added a place setting to the children's table.

"TOUCHDOWN!" Ken shouted followed by hoots and hollers from the rest of the group. Ken grabbed Brad in a headlock screaming, "noggies," as he rubbed his knuckles across Brad's head then Ken jumped up and Joel immediately followed as they chest pounded each other, causing the others to get caught up in a frenzy of overhead hand slaps, whoops and hollers. Joel's beer spilled all over the floor.

"I'll get it!" Glenda said muttering under her breath, _these guys are..._ but stopped mid-sentence as she rushed to the kitchen for a towel.

Gina was so tired of these people, but her children liked their cousins so she muddled through. The children were currently involved in a game of hide and seek. She could see Duncan's little feet sticking out from under the dining room curtains while she set the table. Amanda was behind a chair where Frank sat in the living room. George and Henry were hiding by the coat rack in the entryway while Julie hid in the pantry, Lisa hid in the back bedroom as Rob searched the premises.

Gina called the family to the table as she lit the last orange taper housed in an ornate crystal candlestick. "Time to eat," she said as she rang the dinner bell.

The crew groggily got up from their positions and sat down at the table making sure to grab a spot where they could still see the television that ran during the meal. Ken grabbed the seat at the head of the table that should have been reserved for Frank, but no one said anything. Joel sat to his left making sure he could see the television as Glenda and Gina brought in the dishes to pass. Ellen and Frank carved the turkey in the kitchen and Brenda brought in the platter of white and dark meat. Ken grabbed the leg before Brenda could even put the platter down and Joel grabbed the other one never considering that someone else might want that piece.

"Oh, I forgot the stuffing," Glenda called from her place at the table, "Brenda can you grab it out of the microwave?"

"Sure," Brenda said as she retrieved the stuffing and took her place at the table that seated ten. The younger children sat at a small table set to the side. Frank opened a bottle of wine and everyone filled his or her glass as the bottle was passed. Gina stood and said, "I would like to make a toast." Frank hit his silver fork against the crystal goblet as Gina continued, "Here's to family. We are so lucky to be blessed with the company of loved ones during this Thanksgiving dinner. I am thankful that we are all here together to celebrate and that we are all in good health."

"Amen," Frank said as they all clinked their glasses together.

Ken screamed, "Who to," pausing for effect, "to you," slamming his glass into Joel's as wine splashed onto his plate and Glenda's white tablecloth.

Mike led the prayer: "Bless us oh Lord for these thy gifts which we are about to receive through thy bounty Christ our Lord, Amen. In the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, Amen." Everyone finished the prayer by making the sign of the cross and started to eat their meal.

"Rub a dub, dub, thanks for the grub," Ken added.

No one really spoke during the meal unless it was related to the game occasionally belting out a cheer or admonishment of defeat as the game continued the announcer's voice dominated the scene.

"God Damn those bucking Broncos!" Mike yelled.

"Shanahan did it again," Ellen added.

After dinner Gina got up and put her apron back on as she helped clear the plates and started to wash the dishes. Brenda and Ellen helped pack the food, setting aside a tray for each sibling. Then the family gathered again to have, pumpkin and cherry pies with coffee, two pies Gina hated so she opted out of the dessert counting the moments until she could leave.

"I almost forgot the wrapping paper. Kids get your packages and ask if anyone wants to buy wrapping paper," Gina said.

"Oh, we already bought wrapping paper from Henry, George and Julie," Glenda told her grandchildren.

Brenda and Ellen were not interested either so that was then end of that.

With that accomplished Gina called her children to grab their coats as she helped Duncan get into his and notice that the girls tights were dirty and torn and Rob's pants had blackened knees from crawling around, _why do I bother to dress them up for this crowd,_ Gina thought as they said their goodbyes.

"Can Julie spend the night," Lisa asked.

"Oh please," Amanda added.

"And George and Henry too," Rob added.

"I don't know," Gina winced.

Just then Mike walked up and said I already have their bags packed, I figured that they would want to sleep over.

"Okay," Gina agreed feeling pigeonholed. "Sure we'd love to have them sleep over. What time can you pick them up tomorrow?"

"Oh aren't they just going to spend the weekend?" Mike added, "Fran has to work all weekend."

"Okay." Gina said, "But I have so much to do this weekend and, I'll call you," she said as she left.

"What were Ken and Joel doing there?" Gina asked quietly sitting in the front passenger's seat while the children laughed and shouted from the back of the van.

"I don't know," Brad replied.

"Mike just doesn't consider anyone, and what about Aunt Julie and Uncle Robert shouldn't Ken have spent Thanksgiving with them?"

"I don't know. He hates his parents," Brad replied as he drove toward home.

"Geez, did you see the way Ken and Joel grabbed the legs not even considering anyone else?"

"Yeah."

"Not to mention how Ken just took your father's seat at the head of the table, what's wrong with these," Gina stopped herself from uttering the word, 'assholes' in front of her children and just decided to try and put it out of her mind.

Now she had three extra mouths to feed and take care of while trying to get her Christmas decorations up and her cards sent out. Gina, exhausted, got the kids set for bed and watched a movie on the couch to unwind.

# Chapter 1-17

# Christmas Decorating & Prep

The next morning, Brad set up the artificial tree while Gina took out all the dated ornaments that she had bought for the kids over the years. Letting the children hang their own ornaments.

"I love this one," Lisa exclaimed holding the little elf entitled Santa's Little Helper that attached to the string of lights already on the tree and lit up as if the elf hanging from his rope type swing was actually fixing the light on the tree.

"We don't have a tree," Julie said, "My mom thinks it's a waste of time and money."

"Yeah, she doesn't buy us gifts either," George said.

"Because you kids get enough from the relatives," they all chanted in unison.

"What about all the ornaments that I have bought for you over the years," Gina asked.

"She threw them out with our last Christmas tree three years ago," Henry said.

"Yeah, I remember her just hurling the whole tree with lights, decorations and everything out on the curb, saying that's the last tree this family will ever have," George added.

Gina was extremely agitated by these comments thinking, _for the last ten years I bought those kids dated hallmark ornaments for their first, second and third Christmases thinking that they would use them when they grew up and have wonderful memories possibly passing them down to their children._ She quickly calculated, three kids, $20.00 a piece, that's $60.00 dollars a year times ten. _That woman threw out $600.00 worth of ornaments._ Gina thought with disgust as she continued to hang the garland and stockings on the mantel.

She tried to make decorating the house an exciting event to enjoy with the children, but she didn't want to sacrifice everything looking as perfect as possible. So the kids put the ornaments on the tree while Gina made slight adjustments and soon the children lost interest and went back to their video games or television shows so Gina was left to finish decorating.

Gina taped white lights framing the large picture window and decorated the center of the window using white color forms of Christmas carolers singing by a church steeple with music notes rising from their head as snowflakes fell down upon them. She also used them on the giant mirror over the fireplace creating a scene of Santa's workshop with elves, reindeer, and snowflakes.

In the sunroom she had chunky country wood cut outs that she had bought at craft shows over the years. The one of a kind pieces were painted in country hews of barn red and hunter green in the shapes of houses, for Santa's workshop, a Reindeer Inn and the Elves Christmas tree farm. She set the shelves having to replace all the items that were already up there packing them carefully in boxes to be housed in the garage during the holiday season. Transforming the house for Christmas took over twenty hours, but Gina wanted to have everything perfect as she would have company over during the holiday season.

Every year they had an advent calendar that she purchased from Avon. It had twenty-four pockets and a little mouse to move as the days progressed to Christmas. There was also a Snowman from Home Interiors and Gifts that had little numbered stars to count down the days until Christmas and the children would fight over who was to do what, so Gina made sure every year that she had four different advent calendars. She would buy a calendar from Fannie May that everyday gave you a chocolate and lastly one that just revealed a little picture. So before breakfast every morning, the children would line up at their assigned posts to; move the mouse, figure out the correct number for the Snowman count down, open the door to reveal the surprise chocolate and open the glittery window of the Victorian house all leading up to opening the door of the house on Christmas day. The kids usually lost interest by St. Nicholas day. Gina had to have the stockings up in time for St. Nicholas's day on December 6th where she always had their stocking full of tiny toys, traditional fruit and Avon products. She also had to get the Christmas cards out.

The kids loved the four-day weekend and used the time to have friends over and visit friends too. So Gina used whatever time available to get those cards addressed, stamped and signed. She would send out over 100 cards to distant relatives and all the friends and acquaintances she had made along the way. She also sent them out to Brad's clients and to her best Avon customers as well as some of her closest friends in the woman's club, PTA and CCW. Gina would usually get 60% back on her investment, using the cards she received to decorate the curved archways of the front hall that separated the living room from the dining room.

# Chapter 1-18

# Pizza

After Thanksgiving, Gina worked sporadically, if she had something to do in the day, she would do it and come to work in the evenings and vice versa. Now that she was there in the evening Mr. Vladimir started to come in the evenings as well.

"Hey, Tonya made pizza tonight. I'll bring you back a piece. Don't leave until I get back," he said as he left the office. Gina finished her work and sat there waiting. The work was done and she wondered how long she would have to wait. While she waited she contemplated the ramifications if she just left. Would he turn up with pizza and be angry, but really this was too much for her. The work was done and she kept staring at the clock, " _five more minutes...five more minutes that's all I'll wait."_

He arrived, as steam was about to come out of Gina's ears. He carried in a whole pizza still on the tray wrapped in aluminum foil. "Sorry it took so long, everyone ate the first pizza, so I made Tonya make another one."

"What!" Gina exclaimed. "You didn't have to do that. Oh my gosh, poor Tonya," she added baffled.

"Well, I had promised you pizza and so I was going to bring you pizza."

Gina tried to keep her cool, but she was really upset.

He set the pizza down on the desk and when he pulled his hand from underneath it, there was a plate and napkins in his hand.

Gina grabbed the plate and opened the pizza. "This looks good," she said while she sat down to eat a piece. "I really have to get home though. Hey, do you remember those lamps? Any chance you could fit them in your schedule."

"We're a little busy right now, but soon," he said adding, "Just take the rest of the pizza home to your family, but bring back the pizza tray, it's the only one we have."

Gina came home apologizing to Brad for being so late. "I'm sorry Brad, Mr. Vladimir was in the office, he told me to wait for him, that he was going home for Pizza and that he was bringing me back a piece, and then it took forever because his family ate the whole pizza and he made Tonya make another one and well here it is. Have a slice. It's good."

Brad grabbed a piece of pizza, while Gina packed the rest away. She immediately sat down at the dining room table and wrote a thank you note to Tonya. Then she washed the tray and taped the note to the tray.

She decided not to come in the evenings anymore. The next day she arrived at work with the pizza tray and note attached in hand to find Mr. Vladimir was there too.

"Here's the tray," she said as she sat down at her desk. She was uncomfortable because she thought maybe he had the same idea to avoid her and now here she was.

"I can't believe how organized you are, is that a Thank you note?" he asked.

"Yes. I felt very bad for Tonya having to make a whole extra pizza." She said and went straight to work. Just then Mr. Vladimir's wife arrived. She entered through the door and was speaking in hushed tones. She didn't even acknowledge Gina when Gina greeted her from across the room at her desk.

The office was set up a little backwards, usually the office manager or receptionist would be the first person you would greet when you entered an office, but his desk was front and center when you entered the office. "Thanks for the pizza yesterday, it was delicious," Gina said, but she could tell right away that Tonya was upset. She didn't say anything to Gina. Mr. Vladimir and his wife were in some sort of staring contest, he just looked at Tonya, with what Gina could only assume was anger, this made Gina really uncomfortable, so she turned toward her computer to work and block them out.

A moment later Gina could see Tonya in her peripheral vision, backing out of the door, she just kept taking steps back, her face devoid of feelings, or perhaps fear? She backed up like a side stepping crab until she was gone. Then Gina started to wonder if maybe she had it wrong and he was dominating his wife. She didn't know. She didn't want to know. She tried to keep herself out of it. _I wonder what happened in Arizona?_ Gina thought.

Mr. Vladimir was a little embarrassed by the scene, and looked over at Gina whose eyes were glued to the computer screen and said, "Sorry about that. It turns out that Tonya put my parcel of land in Minnesota up for sale. I just found out and took it off the market."

"I didn't know you had land in Minnesota?"

"Yeah Tonya and I used to vacation there all the time before the kids," he said as he stood and unbuckled his jeans and continued speaking while tucking his lumber shirt into his pants. "We use to go up there camping. We even went after Penny was born, but we haven't been there in years and Tonya took it upon herself to put it up for sale without even asking me," he said with disdain.

_Did he really just unbuckle his pant in front of me?_ Gina thought, but replied, "Camping, that sounds cool. I've never really been camping before."

"It's beautiful. We used to go up there to see the Aurora Borealis. It's amazing being up there in complete and utter darkness, when out of the sky comes these amazing sheets of color, raining down on you from the heavens."

"Sounds wonderful, I had dreams of doing that when I was a kid, but life just seems to get in the way..." Gina trailed off deep in thought.

"Well, I'd be happy to take you and your family up there some time it really is a must see. That only compounds my anger at Tonya, that she would do that without consulting me," he said and hesitated a moment as if deep in thought as he continued _._

"Mark your calendar for December 18th. I'm having a Christmas party. Just meet me at my house at 6:00 p.m. sharp." Mr. Vladimir said.

"Do you want me to do anything, like make reservations?"

"No, I'll handle everything," he replied, "oh and no kids, I'm sure you could use a break from the kids, right?"

"Sure, no problem," Gina replied as she wrote the instructions in the calendar.

That night after dinner when Gina and Brad were getting ready for bed, she asked, "Brad, would you just unbuckle your trousers in your office in front of your secretary to tuck in your shirt?"

"No."

"Well Mr. Vladimir did today and I just wonder how I could tell him. I mean, what am I supposed to say?"

"Actually bringing it up opens the door for that conversation."

"What conversation?"

"Well, I just think if you talk about his opening his pants it's just an invitation to talk about him opening up his pants."

"Yeah, I guess, perhaps I'll just wait until he does it again and tell him it makes me uncomfortable. I'm not being a prude am I?"

"No, you're not being a prude," Brad said as he reached up and shut the nightstand light off.

# Chapter 1-19

# American Girl Dolls

Gina made plans with her friend Carlotta to go downtown to the American Girl Store on Michigan Avenue to buy Christmas gifts for their girls. Gina already knew the prices of the dolls and could barely afford to buy them. Lisa wanted Kit Kittredge the Great Depression Era doll and Amanda wanted Molly McIntire the WWII era doll each having its own storybook that cost $129.00. After combing through the catalogue for years, Lisa and Amanda were not getting any younger so Gina and Brad decided to bite the bullet and pay for these dolls, especially after Gina had explained to Brad what Trisha's house was like. "Brad the attic of this home was like any little girl's dream with its furniture and the dolls..." Gina understood how important that doll was to Lisa.

Gina and Carlotta drove downtown together in Gina's van. Carlotta had two girls of her own and was planning on doing Christmas right for once. Gina started getting stressed out walking through the store that was the size of some of the finest department stores. It housed furniture and accessories on three grand levels. Everything was so expensive, she wanted to buy it all for her girls but could only afford the two dolls.

There were little girls there dressed like the dolls that they held in their arms with their mothers who were also dressed in period costume appropriate to their daughter's doll waiting in line to have lunch in the black and white striped tea room of the American Girl Café. "Geez, these women took their girls out of school for this?" Gina asked Carlotta.

"They look like they're pre-school age," Carlotta noted. Gina started to wonder if her girls were too old for these dolls after all.

Carlotta and Gina got excited looking at the restaurant and made a reservation for December 27th, for ten people. Carlotta decided to include the girls' father and leave openings if the girls wanted to invite their friends. She also included Don so that he could pay for the event. "Don't worry honey. Don will pay for it. He'll be glad to," Carlotta said as she continued, "You can't just give the girls the dolls with no accessories. I have Don's card, let me get you a few more things."

"Oh Carlotta I can't."

"Can't what? Refuse? Leave it to me," Carlotta said as she walked up to the counter and started spewing out a string of orders to be delivered to their homes the following week. "Look, at least get the bunk bed so the girls can put their dolls to bed at night and pajamas, oh, and the table and chairs so they have something to do in the day, and a change of clothes for heaven sakes," Carlotta insisted.

"Okay," Gina acquiesced with stress mounting.

After shopping at the store the two women headed over to a Thai restaurant around the corner.

Carlotta had a way of drawing all the energy out of the room she entered. She was a beautiful woman who was used to being the center of attention and would zone out of the conversation posing for an admirer across the room she noticed in her peripheral vision. This irritated Gina as she tried to steer Carlotta back to the table.

They were seated in the center of the restaurant and one could sense the tension that exuded between them.

"Thank you so much Carlotta, the girls are going to love those accessories," Gina said.

"Just pay me back when you can," Carlotta said

Gina thought that was strange because Carlotta didn't pay for those pieces the infamous Don did, whoever he was, and now Gina was going to have to pay Carlotta back, _but Carlotta made it seem like it was a gift, how much do I owe her?_ Gina thought and then asked.

"So who is Don?"

"He's just a customer. He's a millionaire and he loves to do nice things for me."

"Wow, that's cool." Gina said, still not understanding and wondering what was really going on.

"So, what does he do?" Gina asked.

"He owns businesses?"

"What kind of businesses?"

"He owns like fifty businesses."

"What does that mean, he owns fifty businesses? What are they?

"Gina, I don't know. I don't care. He gave me his credit card and told me to have fun, okay? I know we'll have a lot of fun taking the girls out to the restaurant."

"How much was the final total?" Gina asked feeling very nervous thinking, _it all happened so fast. I thought she was just buying the items. I didn't know I had to pay her back._

Carlotta bent down in her bag to retrieve her receipt, "$1,654.25," Carlotta stated.

"Holy Cow!" Gina said amazed, "How much do I owe you?"

"We'll figure it out later. Look the girls will have a nice Christmas," Carlotta said.

"They sure will." Gina said, thinking, _man I never had such fine gifts as a child._ "Nothing like our Christmases growing up, huh?"

"What Christmases?" Carlotta asked taking a long swig of her Mai Tai.

Gina went home that night and poured through the catalogue listing the prices of each item, $125.00 for the yellow metal bunk bed, $25.00 for each outfit which came to $100.00, two sets of pajamas and a change of clothes for each doll, $68.00 for the table and chairs coming to a total of $293.00 plus tax and delivery. Gina shuddered at the thought including the dolls she had spent $553.00 on American Girl Dolls stuff and felt like she barely grazed the surface. The tax and delivery charge came to another $100.00. $653.00, Gina felt like she lost her mind, like temporary insanity had taken her over and caused her to do this.

"Brad, be sure to watch for a delivery coming this week from the American Girl Store. Just put it in the rafters of the garage so the girls won't see it."

"Okay. What did you get?"

"Oh, you'll see. Carlotta bought most of it. I have to pay her back."

"How much?"

"$393.00."

"What! Are you fucking crazy?"

"No, I told you about that doll. The girls have been looking through the catalogues for years and Nina has that whole set up at her house and Lisa really wanted one and I couldn't get one for Lisa without getting one for Amanda and as Carlotta pointed out, it's no fun to just have the doll with no change of clothes or bed or table or something for these dolls to do."

"Oh brother," Brad said in disgust.

"Look. It is what it is. Okay. Christmas is for kids' right? I want them to have good memories."

"Whatever." Brad said and reached up to shut off the nightstand lamp.

# Chapter 1-20

# Stability

The next day Gina went into work and Mr. Vladimir was there.

"Tonya broke her ankle last night, slipping down the icy stairs."

"Oh I'm so sorry," Gina said, "Is she alright?"

"Yeah she's alright, but I spent four hours in the emergency room."

"I'm so sorry. Tonight I'll make your family a lasagna and bring it over around six."

"You don't have to do that."

"It will be my pleasure. I was planning on making lasagna tonight anyway so I'll just double the recipe. I'm sure I'll have enough."

"Well thank you Gina. You are just so sweet."

"You're welcome and think nothing of it. Or maybe I should say, don't thank me yet. You haven't tasted it. What's your address?"

Mr. Vladimir chuckled, "I'm sure it's going to be delicious. We live just three blocks from you at the corner of Hines and Malory, at 423 S. Malory Glen." Gina wrote this down as he continued, "Hey, ah, Junior's Boy Scout Troupe is having a fundraiser this weekend would you like to bring the family out to a pancake breakfast being held at St Augustine's this Sunday.

"Sure." Gina replied, "How much are the tickets?"

"Don't worry, I'll buy the tickets."

After work Gina quickly picked up the children went through their homework and got started on the two trays of lasagna.

She pulled the first tray out of the oven and placed it on the stove to cool. The other she wrapped in foil and placed in a thermo case. She stacked the fresh salad and garlic bread over that and called out to Brad, "I'm going to drop off this lasagna I'll be back in five minutes," she said as she put on her coat and left through the side door.

Gina pulled the van into Mr. Vladimir's driveway and went to the backdoor to find the back steps covered in a thick sheet of ice, as if someone took a hose to it.

"Hey," Gina heard a call from the driveway. "Come to the front door," Mr. Vladimir insisted, as Gina turned to walk toward him. "Your backstairs are covered in ice, how did that happen?"

"I don't know. Probably the gutter leaked. That's how Tonya fell."

"Well you better get that checked out. That's a real hazard," Gina said, handing him the tray.

"I know. Poor Tonya. She's in the living room if you want to say hello?"

"No. Thank you. Tell her I hope she feels better and heals fast, but I've got to get back to the house and feed the kids," Gina said as she got back in her van.

Whoa that's weird. The stairs were covered in ice. So was the railing. Weird. Gina thought as she drove back home.

"Dinner," Gina called as she slipped off her coat and grabbed the plates out of the cupboard.

The family sat down to dinner as Gina said, "Mrs. Vladimir, my boss' wife, broke her ankle last night, so when you have time I would like you all to make her a get well card okay?" Gina asked.

"Okay mommy," Lisa replied excited.

"Can I make her a ninja turtle?" Rob asked.

"Of course dear," Gina answered.

"We can give them to her on Sunday because we are going to a special pancake breakfast at St. Augustine's."

"Yay!" The kids shouted in unison.

"Try to have them finished by Sunday okay?"

"How'd she break her ankle?" Brad asked.

"She slipped down the back stairs and ya' know I was just there to drop off the lasagna and the stairs were covered in ice."

"That's weird," Brad said and continued, "I wonder how that happened?"

"Yeah, I was wondering too. Mr. Vladimir said that it was probably a gutter leak, but the railings were also covered in ice. I'm talking thick ice."

"Well, there would have had to have been a major thaw where a great deal of snow melted and then a deep freeze. There really hasn't been that much snow but the temperature did drop two days ago. Hum," Brad sighed.

"That's what I was thinking, if that were the case. Everything, not just his back porch, would be covered in ice!" Gina said, "Can you please pass me the bread Rob?"

"Sure, mom," Rob said reaching for the basket.

# Chapter 1-21

# Mascot

Amanda had charge of the class mascot which was a stuffed teddy bear named Henry. Her task was to include Henry in everything that the family did for one week and then write a paper detailing Henry's stay with the family.

Each class always had a mascot to bring home and sometimes they were alive, like a mouse or hamster that the children would bring home and take care of, always to Gina's chagrin for fear that the animal would die on her watch. Luckily, Henry was just a stuffed animal, but the family had to make sure that they included pictures too.

"Remember this Saturday is the recycled ornament contest and the official kick off to the Holiday Walk. So you'll need to make ornaments on Saturday morning we're leaving at 12:00 so we can decorate the trees. Oh and Friday night is the elf workshop where you guys can do your Christmas shopping."

"Goody!" the kids shouted in unison.

"Well we are lucky to have Henry while there is a lot of stuff going on so you will have a nice paper Amanda. I think you should write about it every night so it won't be so difficult to do all at once."

"Okay mommy," was Amanda's sweet reply.

Friday night Gina took the kids to the elf's workshop. The cafetorium was bedazzled in an array of red, green, gold and silver tinseled garland. Booths filled with ticky-tacky happy-crappy kitsch items lined the outside walls.

The children had been saving their money from the chores they did around the house. Each child had about $10.00 to spend. Gina was trying to give them privacy so that they could buy their gifts when she saw one of the mother's of the communion committee, Joan arguing with her daughter in an embarrassing power struggle.

Joan had always been so aloof with Gina, snubbing her in church and never even saying hello in return of Gina's greetings. Gina had imagined that she just thought she was too good for her, but now witnessing this scene Gina wondered if the woman wasn't slightly off her rocker. "Give me that money!" Joan said through gritted teeth, "No!" The obstinate child replied. "I'm not going to say it again, give me that money now or you'll pay for it later!" The child, looking terrified gave in with an expression of utter defeat on her face.

Gina just looked away thinking, _it's none of my business, but where does that woman get off thinking she is too good for me_. Gina was glad not to be involved in such an embarrassing spectacle. Luckily the PTA had a wrapping station at the end of the line so that the kids had their gifts already wrapped and labeled when Gina rounded them up to go home.

"Wasn't it so nice of the PTA moms to put in all that work?" Gina asked on the ride home. _I wonder if Jenna started that too_ she thought _never having experienced anything like it._

"Yeah!" the kids replied, tired and over stimulated from the event after a long day and week of school.

Early Saturday morning after breakfast the kids sat around the table to make their ornaments for the Holiday Walk. Lisa made a snowman she had cut out of cardboard and decorated with glitter, Amanda made a mouse dressed like an elf, Rob made a Ninja Turtle and Gina helped Duncan make a candy cane.

"Don't forget to make cards for Mrs. Vladimir, while we have all our craft supplies out," Gina said as she headed up to take a shower and get dressed for the Holiday Walk.

After her shower, Gina quickly monitored the children getting dressed and they were out the door by 12:00 p.m. as planned. It was a bright crisp winter afternoon as the children became excited about the evening to come, they decorated the pine trees that boarder the Holiday Walk leading up to a structure where the children could visit with Santa and pet his reindeer.

"The reindeer hasn't arrived yet," Gina said as she fastened Duncan's cardboard candy cane to the tree. "Won't it be wonderful tonight when all the lights are on?"

"Yes it will!" Lisa replied excitedly, reminding Gina of Shirley Temple.

After decorating the trees with their ornaments, Gina and the kids delivered 100 Avon catalogues and went grocery shopping. Once home again, Gina started dinner and told the kids to do their homework if they had any because they had to go to the Holiday Walk tonight and tomorrow they were going to church, CCD and then for the pancake breakfast.

"Okay kids, let's clean up! Dinner will be ready in five minutes," Gina said as she started to cap the glue and sweep the glitter off of the table.

After dinner, the family arrived at the park all lit up now that it was dusk. The line to see Santa was long, but luckily there were toy soldiers on stilts making balloon animals, presented by the woman's club, hot chocolate presented by the juniors, hot apple cider presented by the Jaycees, roasted chestnuts presented by the local rotary club, and a blazing fire in the fire pit to keep everyone warm presented by the local fire department. They waited in line entertained and dazzled by all the recycled ornaments that adorned the trees.

Gina just breathed in, thinking, _how wonderful it is to be a part of this,_ saying _,_ "Kids, did you know that the money earned for the hot chocolate and cider is going to the local food pantry?"

The Village President dressed up as Santa, visiting with each child in turn. The kids enjoyed looking at all the children's ornaments hanging on the trees as they waited. Four high school senior choirs sang Christmas carols warming the atmosphere and bringing tears to Gina's eyes. Amanda made sure to get pictures of Henry by the trees, with Santa and with a cup of hot cocoa and of course with the reindeer.

The children always loved this event and the park looked spectacular, decorated with metal frames of red, white and green in the shapes of pine trees, snowmen, candy canes and Santa Clauses. The three dimensional frames stood over twenty feet tall and were laced with tiny multi colored Christmas lights that twinkled as one walked through the park.

After everyone had their turn with Santa and petted the reindeers for good luck, the family headed home.

# Chapter 1-22

# Pancake Breakfast

The next day the family went to the pancake breakfast right after their CCD lessons. Amanda was sure to bring Henry with her everywhere she went.

"Gina," Mr. Vladimir called from across the narthex. "I want you to meet my mother,"

Gina and her family walked over to a petite woman wearing a black hat, with netting across her face, a black fitted dress coat, nylons and sensible black heels.

"Hello, pleased to meet you," Mrs. Stone said in greeting, shaking everyone's hand.

Just then Gina's children presented Mrs. Vladimir with her Get Well Cards.

"Hope you feel better soon." Rob said.

"Get Well," Amanda added.

"How's your ankle?" Lisa asked.

"Oh fine, it's just going to take a few weeks to mend. Thank you so much," Mrs. Vladimir said sincerely. She bent down awkwardly holding her crutches to the side to hug the children.

Mrs. Stone looked over to her son and said with her thick Greek accent, "When are you going to give me another one of these? Always I wait for another one of these."

Mr. & Mrs. Vladimir looked so uncomfortable by the question posed, then Tonya said, "I wanted to have twelve children, but Mikhail only wanted two, one boy and one girl and he got his one boy and one girl." She said as the group headed down to the church basement to dine on the pancake breakfast.

"Are you going to be alright walking down these stairs," Gina asked as she took the cards out of Tonya's hand so that she could navigate the stairs.

"Sure," she said as she took it one step at a time.

Gina was wondering why Mrs. Stone asked that question about the kids. She was empathic, thinking it was strange considering that the couple were middle aged, not the time to have babies. Gina was only 32 and felt like she was finished with the business of having babies.

After the breakfast, Mr. Vladimir invited Gina and her husband to see his house. It was just a few blocks from their home. Gina put Duncan down for his nap with instruction for the children to call her the moment he woke up. She rattled off a few chores for the kids to complete and went to Mr. Vladimir's house.

# Chapter 1-23

# House Tour

Mr. Vladimir gave Gina and Brad a tour, starting with the garage that had a train painted on the door. He showed how he had a cement lined dug out in the floor of the garage so that he could work on his cars and trucks in a full standing position under them without lifting the vehicles off the ground. Gina was so impressed with his knowledge and accomplishments.

He built a greenhouse on the upper back floor. The sight of it struck Gina. She remembered seeing that greenhouse while she delivered her Avon catalogues always wondering who lived there, thinking she would like to get to know the person who built that greenhouse. She loved houseplants and at one time had seventy potted plants of her own. Now there she was working for the person who lived there. It felt a little strange having thought that for years, like a sort of destiny being fulfilled.

He brought them through the mudroom at the back of the house into the dark and unimpressive 1970's harvest gold, avocado appliances, dark wood cabinets with gothic silver hardware kitchen, and then further into the dining room devoid of furniture, which had a big hole in the ceiling. His wife laughed and said, "I've been trying to have him fix that for years. We have a beautiful dining room set in the garage that I would like to put in here when he is finished, one day," her voice trailed off as if in deep thought. He went on to explain that while he was working on the upstairs, he stepped through the joist and right through the ceiling. He was chuckling to himself as he recounted the story.

He explained how he converted the fireplace in the living room to recycle the heat through chambers he had installed on either side. The house was dark and devoid of color or ornamentation; a drab brown couch and two chairs sat unassumingly in the living room, under a beamed ceiling, while dark brown curtains covered the windows.

He went on to explain how he re-hung the original windows with cord. The house was built in 1923. He gave in-depth details on how he cut the side of the house off to remodel the downstairs bathroom. "In the middle of winter," his wife added, cringing and shaking her head, like she was disgusted with the whole ordeal. He explained that winter was his slow time at work and that was how he had to work on the house. When he had time, between jobs, during slow periods. He then led Brad and Gina to his bedroom, also dark and brown and the office, dark and brown. It was a typical Queen Anne layout on the first floor.

Then they went up the enclosed staircase where he had opened up the roof and added a second floor. It was like entering a completely different house. The top of the stairs had oak railings and skylights above allowing great daylight, saving on electricity, but of course the hall was lined with beautiful crystal sconces. The eastern exposure in the front of the house where the master bedroom was located had cathedral ceilings and skylights; the front wall was entirely windowed reaching to the ceiling, letting the sunshine in.

It was light, airy and expansive. Of course it had track lighting on the ceiling and sconces with beautiful crystal cups on the walls, bordering where the king size bed would go "eventually" he added. He turned on the lights full blast and then dimmed them down. He went on to explain how difficult it was to bow the dry wall to accommodate arched windows that lined the top of the wall. It was very impressive and beautiful. The room was unusable though, as it was covered in plastic and construction material, pieces of drywall and tools were scattered everywhere.

There was an alcove located on the opposite side of the room from the windows, with a beautiful intricate vanity table and mirror surrounded by Hollywood bulbs, again he turned on the lights and demonstrated the dimmer switch for day and evening lighting. Just off the alcove was the walk in closet, which also had great lighting. Gina couldn't imagine his wife using this vanity or the closet because she was a no frills type of woman, blue jeans, lumber shirt and parka with sensible shoes and still she tripped down the stairs and broke her ankle.

There were two doors off that alcove, the closet and the master bath. The master bath had a two person Jacuzzi tub surrounded by Italian marble, which they said they never used because it took all of the fifty gallon water heater tank to fill and then, "the water gets cold so fast," Tonya added, there were double sinks, sky lights, walk-in shower with jets coming from three sides with a temperature gauge. Flesh toned Italian marble lined the floors and the walls. It was beautiful. Gina imagined having plants all over. Above the Jacuzzi the wall was entirely block glass and the light was amazing. Then of course there was the lights he had installed, track lighting on the ceiling, sconce lighting surrounding the mirror, hanging halogen lights just over the Jacuzzi, and lights in the stand-in shower. Gina felt like she was learning all the innovative products of new construction. There was a heat lamp just outside the shower door. "It's like a spa in here," Gina commented. There were two doors to this bathroom, one from the bedroom, and the other leading back out into the hall.

He lead them to a cedar-lined closet for winter storage, it looked like a sauna and smelled of the fragrant wood. Then there was the kid's bathroom, average size and his son's room also average and unimpressive. Gina saw the big hole in the wall and asked what happened. Mr. Vladimir humbly volunteered that he punched it because he lost his temper. She was impressed by his honesty; his wife appeared embarrassed as he recounted the story.

At the end of the hall they reached the greenhouse which had counters and a sink with running water that was unused and filled with more construction material. He told them that this was an addition that he built onto the house, so that on the first level where they entered was the mudroom and he enclosed the steps going down into the basement as well. All Gina could say at the end of the tour was, "Where are you going to find the time to finish this?"

"Little by little," he responded.

Gina had to get home and take care of the laundry and chores for the week ahead. This little breakfast was turning into a daylong event. She was starting her exit good byes, while they made their way back downstairs. Mr. Vladimir went into the front hall closet and pulled out two fur coats. "Here, take these," he said and handed her the coats. She didn't take them, but looked at his wife who immediately responded, "They were his mother's, I will never use them, believe me. Please take them."

"Oh, but I couldn't take these. Is that a mink?" Gina asked.

"Yes, this is a mink and the other one is a Silver hair fox," Tonya replied.

"Oh they're much too expensive, I just couldn't. Can't you use them as throws in the living room? I think that they would be a nice touch draped over the couches with the natural stone fireplace and beamed ceilings it could give the room a lodge effect. I'm sure you could get a tailor to square them off and change the lining."

Just then Lakota, the family German Shepard jumped up on Gina, "Down Lakota," Mr. Vladimir commanded.

Gina felt bad not accepting these coats, but she would feel equally bad taking them. Then they gave her a bag of costumes that Mr. Vladimir's mother had made over the years for their kids. Gina got a distinct vibe that Tonya didn't like her mother-in-law at all. Why wouldn't she keep the costumes for her grandchildren, they were precious and handmade. Gina accepted the gift thinking she could use them for her children. Tonya said, "I have no use for them and I thought that you could use them. If you don't take them they are going to Good Will." Gina took the bag, thanking them profusely in the process as they left.

On the ride home, Gina commented to her husband, "Wow, it's beautiful and everything, but I couldn't stand to live like that. I mean when are they going to start living in their home? It's a construction site and look their daughter has already left for college." Still she was impressed with Mr. Vladimir and all he was accomplishing. _Yes, he was amazing and they didn't even see his basement with the train model._

# Chapter 1-24

# The Holidays Underway

Gina was glad that she had her membership to Sam's club from Brad's snack machine business where he had at a few snack and beverage machines at three local banks. She bought cases of hot cocoa, apple cider, candy canes and gift mugs, with rolls of multi colored cellophane and ribbon to take care of all the teachers, coaches and surprise guests. It seemed there was always someone who surprised them with a gift and Gina was ready to hand them a mug filled with goodies or cellophane filled with holiday soaps.

Brad's family picked names out of a hat so they were only responsible for buying for two people, but there were 6 nieces and 4 nephews, Gina's hands would go numb just thinking about it all.

During that week Gina had bought and wrapped all the gifts for the teachers at school, including the CCD instructors at church, the Ballet Mistress, and last but not least the soccer and basketball coaches. Avon really came in handy and purchasing her gifts through Avon brought up her sales.

Gina was the public relations chairman for the Junior Woman's Club and would have to cover all their events in the local newspapers. Letters to Santa was one such event, where kids could drop off their letters at the local library and then the women would meet at Sharon's house and write the replies. In most cases the women knew the children so the letters were all very personal which made it more fun.

"Does everyone have their letters ready?" Gina asked.

"Yes, Mommy!" Amanda said excitedly.

"I'll drop them off tomorrow on my way to work," Gina said taking the letters and putting them by her purse so she wouldn't forget them in the morning.

Gina dropped off the letters the next day, knowing that the meeting was at Sharon's house that night. _Just in the nick of time._ Gina thought as she went off to work. _I suppose I could have just taken them with me, but then I would have to decide who was going to reply. It's better this way._

That evening the ladies sat together and got those letters out while sipping cider and wiping their eyes occasionally to remove a tear brought about by some heartfelt response to one of the children's pleas.

"Oh my God! Listen to this," Marguerite said, "All I want for Christmas is for my dad to come back home. Please Santa, can you help me?"

"How are you going to respond to that?" Meg and the others wanted to know.

"Say that you will send prayers, more than that, we cannot promise," Julie added.

"Oh, I'll think of something," Marguerite replied as she set her mind to an appropriate response.

Three hours later the 75 letters sat addressed and ready to go. "I have to go to the post office in the morning, so I'll drop them off," Gina said as she left for the evening.

Gina left the letters in the car so the children wouldn't see them and came into the house to look over her calendar, so she would not get anything screwed up.

Tomorrow Marguerite, and Meg are coming over to decorate the wreath for the library. Saturday is Breakfast with Santa, two more weeks until the kids' Christmas vacation, Rob's room party on the Friday before and the office party on the 18th. _I sent out the press release for the breakfast with Santa, I have one more Avon order that will make it in time for Christmas delivery. I'll make calls tomorrow from work to see if I can increase my sales._

Gina rubbed her neck and put the calendar away thinking how glad she was to have a fax machine to facilitate her job. With the click of a button the newspapers received her release and her pieces were printed in the upcoming edition of four local newspapers. Membership was growing faster than it ever had in the woman's club history. Gina was very proud of her accomplishments and enjoyed the work.

The next day Gina dropped off the letters to Santa, picked up the mail and went to work. She took care of her inbox and made some calls, and picked up six more orders for Avon. The day flew by and soon she picked up the kids, ordered a pizza and cleared the dining room table so that the ladies could make the wreath for the Library.

After Dinner Meg and Marguerite arrived with their donation of bits and bobs to decorate the wreath. Gina chaired the Christmas Wreath Decorating Contest at the local library, where all the groups and organizations from the town would decorate a wreath and then place it in the library. The Rotary Club had won first place for this contest for the past twenty years, usually followed by the Garden club and third place was always a toss-up, the woman's club had never won.

The Club's theme for this year was, Use Your Gifts. The ladies decorated the wreath with shiny little packages. On the tags were words like, generosity, time, compassion, and support. The colors were silver and many shades of purple, creating a shiny tinsel effect.

"I'll drop the wreath off tomorrow," Meg promised as the ladies left for the evening.

# Chapter 1-25

# Broke Down

The next day Gina's van broke down. She walked two blocks to work to find Mr. Vladimir at his desk.

"My van just stalled and died by the park," she said.

"That's terrible are you okay?"

"Yeah, but I don't know what to do with the van, I mean it's just sitting there in the middle of the road."

"I'll call Jack from Jack's Mechanics and have him tow it over just around the corner," Mr. Vladimir said grabbing the phone as he dialed the number and made the arrangements.

"Thank you so much!" Gina exclaimed as she hung up her coat, "I'm so cold I wish we had a coffee machine or something. I could sure use a cup of coffee right now," she said as she rubbed her hands together to generate heat.

"I have an account with him so I'll just put it on my account and you can pay me when you can," he said as he grabbed his coat. "I'll go to the shop and see what they say about it."

"Gosh I hope it's not expensive," Gina said worriedly.

"Don't worry about a thing. I've got it all covered," he said as he left the building.

Gina was very grateful to him. It seemed like he took care of everything in contrast to her family's life that seemed a chaotic hot mess. Things never seemed situated, everything was a last minute helter-skelter put out the fire quick and there was always a fire sprouting up before them. They were constantly reacting, instead of planning and putting out fires it seemed at times with gasoline. She thought of the inner workings of his business and how Mr. Vladimir had a control of everything. It was so refreshing to Gina. She studied it and wondered how she could reorganize her life to be more in control. She longed for that control and stability in her own life, with her own family.

When it was time to leave, Gina hadn't heard anything about the van. She dialed Mr. Vladimir's number. "Vladimir Electric,"

"Hi Mr. Vladimir. It's Gina. Have you heard anything about my van?"

"It won't be ready until tomorrow night if that? They had to order a part."

"Oh gosh, I wasn't thinking and now I have to pick up my kids."

"No worries. I'll swing by and pick you up in five minutes and we'll pick up the kids together. And then tomorrow I can pick you up for work."

"Oh my gosh, well, thank you so much Mr. Vladimir. I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything just be ready in five," he said as he hung up the phone.

The next day Mr. Vladimir picked Gina and the children up and dropped them off at school. He was heading out to a job so he just dropped Gina off at work. "Thank you so much for doing this," Gina said as she was getting out of the van.

"No problem, I think the van will be ready later today, but if not I'll pick you up at 2:00, so we can get the kids."

"Okay, thanks again," Gina said as she walked up the steps.

Upon entering the office and taking off her coat, Gina was shocked to see that there was a small refrigerator, and next to that a cabinet of equal height, on top of it was an electric tea pot, coffee maker and a basket full of coffee, teas, and hot chocolate packets, there was milk in the fridge and a Hinckley Schmidt water cooler standing on the other side of the refrigerator. Gina was stunned, flattered and confused by his generosity. _How did he do this in one night and for me?_ She wondered.

"Good Afternoon, Vladimir Electric,"

"The van won't be ready until 6:00 so I'll pick you up at 2:00 p.m. and then we can get the kids."

"Okay," Gina said, "Did you find out how much it is going to cost?"

"Around $400.00 Jake said."

"Oh brother," Gina grimaced.

"I told you I got it. I'll see you at two," he said and disconnected.

Mr. Vladimir came to the office at 2:00 and honked his horn. Gina met him outside, "I forgot to mention earlier on the phone, but wow! You really outdid yourself with that refrigerator and coffee maker, Thank you so much," Gina said sincerely. "Think nothing of it," he said as they drove to the children's school to pick up the kids, then Mr. Vladimir drove them home.

"Thanks Mr. Vladimir," the kids said as they climbed out of the van.

"Yes, thank you." Gina added, "Should I pick up the van at 6:00 then?"

"Yeah, I'll come by and pick you up at 6:00 so we can go together."

"Okay," Gina said as she headed into the house.

She helped the kids with their homework and then got started on dinner. It was taco night, so she shredded the lettuce, sliced the tomatoes, and made guacamole while the ground beef sizzled on the stove.

"Dinner," she called out to the kids as everyone came bounding into the sunroom.

"Whoa! You guys must be hungry," Gina said.

"No we just love tacos," Rob admitted.

The family sat down and began assembling their tacos and making a huge mess in the process.

Gina was just wiping down the table when she heard Mr. Vladimir's horn, "Brad, I'm going to pick up the van, I'll be back in five minutes."

"How much is it?" Brad called from the den.

"I don't know, around $400.00, but Mr. Vladimir is paying for it so that we can pay him back when we can."

"Okay," Brad said as Gina left out of the side door.

_Thank God Mr. Vladimir paid for the Van,_ Gina thought as she left the house thinking about all the gifts she still had to purchase.

# Chapter 1-26

# The Keys

On Friday night the junior woman's club went Christmas Caroling with their families, while collecting for the local food Pantry. Five women from the club hosted the annual caroling night. Ten members with their families would meet, enjoy refreshments and the delightful decorations of their hostess, and then go out caroling on a three-block radius collecting donations as they went.

Gina went to Alice's house with Rob and Lisa. They hit a record that year collecting over twenty heavy bags of groceries mostly canned foods, and $900.00 in cash and checks.

The next day Gina collected the food and money from the other groups of carolers that had covered most of the town. With Rob and Lisa, she dropped off the food at the pantry as the three got busy serving meals for the local P.A.D.S. organization.

This was a good experience for the children Gina thought as the children got into conversations with some of the attendees as they cleared the tables and brought out the punch and coffee. On the ride to Breakfast with Santa they shared stories about the families that were there to eat.

"Did you meet that lady Clare and her two children, she said she was evicted from her apartment just last week," Rob said and then asked, "What does evicted mean?"

"It means that they couldn't pay their rent so they had to move out, but I'm really surprised that they were evicted in December, because I thought there was a moratorium on evictions in winter," Gina said thinking maybe Clare was an unreliable narrator.

"What's moratorium?" Rob asked.

"A moratorium is like a hold. It's a legal term meaning an emergency hold. So where a law usually stipulates that after 90 days of non-payment of rent the landlord can evict or remove the person from their residence or home, they have to hold it during the winter months. When the weather is cold landlords have to wait until the weather is nicer before they can kick people out. Can you imagine being that landlord, kicking out a single mom and her two children in the middle of winter and just before Christmas?"

"No," Rob said, "Talk about Scrooge Mc Duck."

"It's terrible," Lisa said. "Her kids were so cute. Little Johnny loved the cupcakes. And Melissa just stood in the corner with her teddy bear. Can we invite them for Christmas?"

"Please, mom," Rob added.

"We'll see," Gina said and then added, "It's so sad that they are homeless, but hopefully they will find something soon. That is why it is important to help people. Imagine if they didn't have the food pantry and P.A.D.S." Gina said as she drove down the snowy streets lined with Christmas lighted decorations on each little house.

"Look!" Lisa exclaimed, as they passed a house covered in lights comparable to the Griswold's house in the movie, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

"Wow," Rob exclaimed.

"It's beautiful!" Gina added as she pulled into the McDonald's parking lot.

"Are you ready for breakfast with Santa?" Gina asked as they piled out of the van. Brad had already arrived with Amanda and Duncan. Breakfast with Santa was held at the local McDonald's. Fanny's dad volunteered this year and dressed up in an antique costume that belong to his father who played Santa every year.

As Gina opened the door to let the kids in, she heard the most beautiful jingle coming from the corner. Santa sat holding a 200-year-old authentic set of antique sleigh bells. He would ring the bells at the end of each child's session heralding the next participant. After eating breakfast, the kids would hop on his lap and share their wishes and get a Polaroid picture to take home. The woman's club raised $500.00 from the event.

On Monday, the snow came down hard. Six inches were reported. Gina and Brad shoveled out their driveway and Gina drove the kids to school and headed to work.

Gina was the first to arrive at the back of the building around 7:45 a.m. to find that her spot was shoveled out. Only her spot in the entire parking lot and there was a path shoveled to the door to the office. Just inside the door was a shovel standing in a puddle of melted snow. _He came to the office early to shovel the walk for me so I wouldn't slip. It was obvious because the rest of the parking lot was full of snow._ Gina just took a deep breath thinking, _it's like being wrapped in a blanket. This man is taking care of me. She thought of the van repair bill, the coffee maker, now him shoveling the snow. It was so nice to be appreciated, honored, noticed and cared for_ , she stamped her feet on the carpet and headed through the warehouse into the office.

Later that day Mr. Vladimir came into the office and said, "Give me your keys. I have to move your van." She thought this was strange, but she gave him her keys and went back to work.

Fifteen minutes later Mr. Vladimir came back to the office and laid Gina's keys on her desk.

The next evening Gina had her junior's meeting. There was a secret pal system within the group that was exchanging gifts at their monthly meeting. It was so difficult to get out of the car carrying the gift through the parking lot and into the Twilight Commons without being seen by anyone. Many times members would enlist the help of other juniors to hide their identity. So Gina called to June who was just getting out of her car. "June can you carry this in for me?"

"Sure," June said and carried in the basket.

Gina had to surprise her secret pal, so she made up a basket using her Avon products. She purchase a bottle of bubbly (bubble bath that looked like champagne, with a Frankincense and Myrrh fragrance), red and green scented candles shaped like round ornaments that emitted a hot cocoa and apple spice fragrance, hand soaps in the shapes of a red Santa, white snowmen and green snowflakes with a peppermint scent, and a paperback copy of, The Choice, by Nicholas Sparks, with a large bottle of the latest perfume, Notorious, that was held in a limited edition Christmas tree decanter. It was a beautiful basket and difficult for Gina to part with, she included a little note:

Take a sumptuous bath

Bathe in the candlelight,

Breathe in the fragrance

And let Nicholas Sparks

Transport you on a journey

To keep love and hope

Alive!

Merry Christmas

Your Secret Pal

The December meeting was always great fun. At the beginning of the year women would sign up to host a meeting once a month. This years volunteers set up a sumptuous array of food and decorated the meeting room so that it was warm, festive and inviting. The gift table was full to overflowing and Janet dressed up like an elf to pass out all of the secret pals gifts to the members. The High School Choir came out to sing fully dressed in turn of the century garb and a sign up sheet was passed around for this month's craft night.

Gina received a 24" Victorian Santa Claus with white rabbit fur beard and hair, dressed in deep burgundy velvet with a burlap sack upon his back filled with Spanish moss and twigs, with a hemp sash at his waist trailing little silver bells at the tips carrying a wooded staff. Gina knew just where she was going to put this and thought her secret pal knew her quite well. She couldn't wait for the revealing party the following spring.

The next evening the craft night was held in the home of Marlene who would come up with crafts for the ladies of the club to do. She would have a sign-up sheet showing the finished project and if the ladies were interested, they would pay the nominal fee and go to Marlene's house to make the craft.

This month's craft was a quilt square suitable for hanging on the wall. Marlene would purchase all the material and have the items set up for the women to get started right away.

She had twenty places set up in her basement. At each place there was a 10" X 10" square of Owens Corning Styrofoam insulation, a quilt square pattern printed on tracing paper, an X-acto knife, and baskets of assorted calico fabric pre-cut into little triangle shapes in the center of the table and orange sticks. Marlene and her family had constructed the table out of a large sheet of plywood balanced on a few saw horses because as Marlene had stated, "Who has a table big enough for twenty woman."

The ladies would then carve the pattern Marlene made out of tracing paper using an X-acto knife. Once the board was carved, the ladies could choose from between a mauve and blue or green and pink calico print fabric that Marlene had precut. Then the ladies would have to press the edges in with an orange stick and press the fabric into the grooves made by the X-acto knife to create a light weight quilt square suitable for hanging.

"I'm going to give mine to my boss for Christmas," Gina said upon finishing the square. "Thank you so much Marlene for doing this. I can't believe all the work you put into this. You are amazing," Gina added.

"Oh, It's nothing," Marlene humbly acknowledge.

"How long did it take you to set all this up?" Gina asked.

"I had my daughters help me with the fabric. We just sat down last weekend and cut the fabric for two hours," Marlene said.

"Well, please extend my gratitude to your daughters," Gina said.

"Hear, hear," the other ladies chimed in.

"Even though it only cost $15.00 to make these, I saw them at a craft fair in Door County, Wisconsin, going for $45.00 dollars so keep that in mind," Marlene stated.

"That is so cool that you can just walk up and see an item and know how to make it. You are so talented."

"Thanks," Marlene said humbly.

# Chapter 1-27

# The Office Party

The winners of the Wreath decorating contest were announced a week before Christmas and to Gina's surprise the Junior Woman's Club won first place that year, leaving the Rotary Club to take the second place, followed by the Garden club. She proudly faxed a press release to the four local newspapers and called the Junior Woman's Club president Marcia, to tell her the good news.

The last week of school before Christmas break, Gina had to work Rob's class party. They decided to make ginger bread houses, but it would take too long to complete the entire project in one hour. Gina held a meeting in her home with two mothers from the class. Earlier that day Gina made a large batch of royal frosting that was the mortar of a gingerbread house.

The women sat down and using the royal frosting they attached graham crackers to single serving size milk cartons that the lunch ladies at the school had rinsed and saved as a favor to Gina. The 32 assembled ginger bread houses were carefully laid on the dining room table to dry.

"I'm going to need some help transporting these to the school," Gina realized looking at the table full of naked gingerbread houses.

"Yeah. They're so fragile. How are we going to carry them," Georgia wondered.

"I wonder if we can stack them in a large box," Melody added.

"Does anyone have any boxes like that?" Gina asked.

"Why can't we just carefully put them in a big garbage bag once they're dry," Georgia suggested.

"I don't want to risk them falling apart," Gina said.

"Okay, we're just going to have to get on the phone and have some more mom's help. If everyone carries five or six we'll just need three more moms to help us transport them," Gina said.

"Okay, I'll make the calls," Melody added.

"Good. Tell them to pick them up at my house by 11:00 a.m. so that they will be at the school in time for the party," Gina added and it was settled.

Gina still had to make 32-pastry bags filled with Royal frosting, which was easy to do using one-quart size zip lock bags. She filled each bag and sealed them. She also had to make up 32 bags of assorted hard candy and sugar coated gumdrops for the children to decorate the houses.

Friday, the day of the room party arrived and the moms came by and picked up six houses, each mom carefully carried them to the school and brought them up to the classroom during the children's lunch.

Gina passed out the supplies and stood at the front of the class instructing each child to cut ¼ inch off the corner of the pastry bag provided and the children were ready to go. All the children had a good time decorating the gingerbread houses with sugar covered gumdrops, peppermints, candy canes and assorted colorful hard candies.

Gina drove home with the children exhausted from the day's event knowing that this was the night of her office party. All the kids were so excited from the parties they had at school and the anticipations of the long awaited Christmas Day that was coming up next week.

When she arrived home, Gina jumped in the shower and started to get ready for the evening event. Glenda and Frank came to babysit and the kids enjoyed a special treat of pizza for dinner. The kids were so happy knowing that they had the next two weeks off of school and were already planning sleep overs and play dates with their friends.

Gina and Brad arrived at Mr. Vladimir's house at 6:00 p.m. sharp on December 18th. Mr. Vladimir pulled his van out of the garage and opened the side sliding door. Gina stood in her 3 inch black sequined heels, with black embellished rhinestones going up the ankle of her French cut nylons as the wind swept up her sequined dress and black sheared rabbit fur coat with fox trim. She shivered as the draft rose up her legs on that cold December day.

Brad started to get into the van when Mr. Vladimir said, "No, you ride up front with me."

Gina noticed that one of the seats had been removed from the middle of the van as Tonya came out of the house wearing corduroy black pants and a parka with sensible black shoes.

"How's your ankle doing?" Gina asked in greeting.

"Oh fine, I got the cast off and I figured I wouldn't wear the brace tonight, since we're just going to dinner. I don't plan on doing a lot of walking."

"You and Tonya can ride in the back," Mr. Vladimir insisted.

Gina got in first, thinking it would be easier for her to climb further in. She thought it was strange that he split them up and that they would sit in the back and not be able to hear what they were saying up front. She felt manipulated thinking _and we couldn't drive ourselves so we are going to be stuck there until the bitter end._ _Even if we want to leave, we will have no choice._ But there was something sort of romantic about how Mr. Vladimir had to control everything. It was like Gina could relax, because after all she was just along for the ride.

Tonya spoke of boiled lettuce that her mother-in-law made and the bell curve that she studied mostly with her eyes closed. Well, during the last part of the one-hour ride Mr. Vladimir insisted that she close her eyes to surprise her. She did this with an emotional detachment, without question, she just closed her eyes and continued speaking.

They arrived at the Mill Race Inn Restaurant; apparently this was a restaurant Tonya had always wanted to go to.

"Now, you can open your eyes," Mr. Vladimir said as they pulled up to the door. Tonya did and didn't seem too impressed. She did not express the slightest emotion. Gina was surprised that he didn't tell her and wanted to surprise her. She thought it was kind of nice.

They were the first of their party to arrive at the restaurant and were led to the cocktail lounge where they sat on deep plush purple sofas. The restaurant was all a sparkle with twinkling lights and shiny foil garland and glittery adornments. There were red and white poinsettias with glittery gold and silver stalks and white and red candles lit at each table and anywhere space would allow.

Gina watched as Mr. Vladimir put his arm around Tonya and gently rubbed her shoulder. Their eyes met, Mr. Vladimir held Gina in his gaze with a loving look of longing as he subtly licked his lips _._ Gina broke the gaze and looked away uncomfortable by the confrontation. He had a strange expression on his face as he looked at her. Gina nervously commented on the restaurant. "Wow, this is really beautiful. I've heard of this place. I can't believe we are actually here."

Tonya didn't seem to notice his touch as Mr. Vladimir said, "Tonya wanted to come here as long as I can remember, and I thought it was about time," he said, as the waitress arrived for their orders, "rum and coke with a lime," Gina ordered. "I'll have a beer, whatever is on tap will be fine," Brad added. "Two diet cokes," Mr. Vladimir chimed in and with that the waitress was on her way.

"This is the first time Bill has had a Christmas party for his company. The first time in 23 years," Tonya said, shaking her head while rolling her eyes up landing them straight on Gina.

"Oh, it so nice," Gina added with a smile.

The 100 year old restaurant was right on the river, one wall had plate glass windows exposing the view of the river with millions of twinkling Italian white lights covering the trees along its banks. It was breathtaking and festive. As the drink started to hit Gina she couldn't help but feel her good fortune. She was important to Mr. Vladimir. He treated her like she mattered. He was spending all this money on a wonderful Holiday party, she felt blessed, lucky.

Tonya said that Mr. Vladimir never had a Christmas party in all the years he owned the business. Gina was starting to toy with the idea that he was doing all of this to impress her, but then she swept those thoughts from her mind. It was ludicrous to think that he would go to that extreme to impress her, why? Gina always asked why, and if it didn't make sense to her way of thinking she dismissed it as paranoia or an active imagination.

Soon the other guests arrived. They met up with some of his business associates, Mr. Kincaid of Electric Supply, Mr. Lenard, a general contractor, then other suppliers and associates. Last to arrive were his son and daughter with the two young men Hans and Enrick. There were thirty in attendance.

They dined on a sumptuous dinner of prime rib and for dessert cherries jubilee and crème brûlée; the conversation was jovial and light. After dinner Mr. Vladimir passed out envelopes at the table. Gina's was a very tender card, which read, "Your van is paid for in full, $367.89 and starting January 1st your salary will increase to $12.50 an hour. Gina was so touched by his generous gift. She really felt like she mattered. It was such a nice feeling to be honored and appreciated. She didn't want to appear overly grateful considering everyone was opening envelopes. She looked over to Mr. Vladimir and his wife and mouthed the words, "Thank you," from across the table with a warm smile, which was returned by both of them.

The drive home was uneventful as Gina sat thinking about all she had yet to do.

# Chapter 1-28

# Holidays

The big thing for Gina was to be Santa Claus for her children, their ages ten, eight, six and two years old. Gina charged the gifts on her credit card, because they never had available cash and tucked them away waiting to be wrapped and put under the tree.

Gina and the girls took a day to bake. Christmas music filled the air as the girls put on their aprons and got to work. First they made a double batch of Nestle Toll House Cookies. Soon the house was filled with the lovely aroma of chocolate chip cookies. After they cleaned up that mess, they spread wax paper out and started to roll the dough for ginger bread men with white smiley faces, cuffs and anklets with red hot buttons down the front. And finally, hours later Gina finished off 4-dozen sugar cookies in the shapes of Christmas trees, Santa Clauses, and Snowmen. Duncan helped with all the red, green and chocolate sprinkles. Once the cookies were cooled Gina packed them up in little festive tins and had the children deliver them to the neighbors on both sides and two across the street.

The Christmas cards were sent out weeks ago and all her orders were filled with Avon.

She was doing it all, but her house looked like a cyclone had run through it. The kid's toys and school paraphernalia would scatter around the house to say nothing of the meals she would prepare and clean up. Then there was the laundry that she would have to wash, dry and fold. The dining room stored all the paper work for the school, woman's club, Avon orders, PTA, CCD and household bills. She had to get that all cleaned up for Christmas Eve.

Brad was still trying to get his business off the ground as a commercial loan broker. He was a CPA by trade and would work these deals on the side until he decided to do it full time. Unfortunately, it was feast or famine, and there were always bills lurking over their heads, but Christmas had to go on. It had to happen.

When you're Santa Clause there are no excuses. The pressure was always mounting.

Their small 1,800 square foot cape cod, with no basement was filled beyond capacity. There was a living room with a fireplace, dining room, and front hall with a closet, galley kitchen and a sunroom. The sunroom was the room everyone entered, where she did laundry and had their meals, and the children did their homework or school projects and next to the sunroom there was an office/den that was filled with an oversize desk for her husband's business with one wall of built-in bookcases. The three small bedrooms upstairs barely contained them, but they managed, even though it looked rather untidy at times.

With the holidays in progress there was Gina's extended family and her husband's extended family to buy gifts for and wrap, and parties to attend. She was amazed that she found time to breathe. Her hands and feet continued to go numb at times from the cold, turning white and sometimes turning purplish black. She had to find time to get that checked out too.

# Chapter 1-29

# Christmas Eve Prep

Christmas Eve arrived. Gina held Christmas Eve in her home every year since she moved in to her home seven years ago. "Brad you are going to have to pick up Appy and my Dad. Let me call them to make sure they are ready."

Gina grabbed the phone and dialed her father. "Hi Dad. Brad will be at your house by 1:00 so can you meet him outside, because he has to pick up Appy too."

"Yeah, I'll be there." Edward said and hung up.

Gina then called her sister, Apolonia. "Hi Appy. Brad has to pick up dad so he should be at your house by 1:30 p.m."

"Well, okay. But I can't stay long. I've got a lot of stuff to do. Will he be able to give me a ride home at about 5:00 p.m.?"

"Rob is playing his violin at the 4:00 p.m. mass so we won't be back from that until about 5:30 p.m. I told you this Appy. What do you have to do on Christmas Eve?"

"I have a ton of stuff to clean up around this condo."

"You're not going to be cleaning on Christmas Eve, are you? I have it planned out that after mass we'll have the jumbo shrimp and then it takes time to set everything up. So I'll serve the mushroom soup and salad with garlic rolls. Of course, there will be herring both cream and wine sauce, my traditional shrimp mold and a smoked salmon to eat as snacks while we wait for the pierogi and salmon that I have to broil and fry. We probably won't eat dinner until 6:30 p.m. and then there's dessert and of course all the kids will want to open presents. And so I don't think Brad will be able to drive you home until like 10:00 p.m. That is what we discussed Appy, remember?"

"Tell Brad not to pick me up. I'm just going to stay home."

"Oh Appy, you don't want to be home alone on Christmas Eve. Come, you'll have a good time. I made a nice Wassail for us to all have a toast. And you don't want to miss Rob's performance at the church do you?"

"You got any beer?"

"Yes, Appy, I have beer. We have a case of Heinekens and Stroh's."

"10:00 p.m. is just too late."

"Why don't you call Ana and maybe you can spend the night at her house. I thought that was what you were going to do anyway. Dad is spending the night here. This way Brad won't have to leave to drive you all the way back to the city. I thought this was all worked out weeks ago. Remember?"

"I already talked to Ana and I am not spending the night."

"Okay, well maybe Ben could give you a ride home earlier. Call Ana. Brad will be by your house at 1:30 p.m., Okay?"

"Okay."

"Good, I'll see you then," Gina said and hung up the phone and turned to Brad and said, "I can't believe her. I've got four kids to take care of, a dinner to plan, 30 guests arriving and I've got to beg her to come over so that she isn't alone on Christmas, and she's got to give me a hard time about everything."

"I'm telling you we should just leave her home and let her think about it. I mean we are planning a party," Brad said.

"I know and I need your help and you are going to be gone for two hours chauffeuring them around and they don't even appreciate it. She acts like it's some big inconvenience for her to be picked up and brought here to celebrate Christmas. Sorry for the great inconvenience," Gina said sarcastically.

"Yeah, that way she doesn't have to thank you, because after all, we all know we should be thanking her, right? We should thank her for the gift of her presence."

"Right. Well thank you honey," Gina said giving Brad a big hug.

"Any way we have to get Appy out of that condo at least for a day. I have tried so many times to help her. Last summer I went over there to help her clean up. Her bed was piled three feet high with clothes she bought, the price tags still attached. The dining room had boxes piled to the ceiling with gifts and miscellaneous items that she had purchased over the years. I don't know why she can't just give it away like she intended when she bought it? I spent two hours just clearing her coffee table filled with magazines and mail going back well over six months...it was like an archeology dig. And..."

"I know. I know!" Brad interrupted as he put on his coat.

# Chapter 1-30

# Agnes Is Not Coming

Meanwhile, Gina set up her magazines of five CD's consisting of Bing Crosby's Merry Christmas Album, Nat King Cole's, The Christmas Song, The Ventures Christmas Album, Ella Fitzgerald's, Ella Wishes you a Swinging Christmas ending with the Trans- Siberian Orchestra Christmas/Sarajevo to play while she ran through the house like a maniac, cleaning up, clearing the tables, cooking the soup, and getting the glassware out of the China cabinet for the presentation of the buffet.

The doorbell rang as Gina was coring the apples she was going to use in the centerpiece.

Gina went to the door to find Anastasia. "Hi," She said, giving Ana a hug while taking her coat and hanging it up in the closet. Ana had brought in four big shopping bags.

"Here, let's just put the bags in the den out of the way," Gina suggested asking, "Where's Ben and Agnes?"

"They're not coming."

"What do you mean, they're not coming."

"Just like I said, they are not coming and I don't want to talk about it."

"But I have all this food, what happened?"

"I told you I don't want to talk about it, so can we just leave it alone."

"Okay," Gina said and backed away, by this time the kids came running down the stairs, "Aunt Annie! Aunt Annie!' they shouted in unison.

Ana went upstairs to play with the children while Gina continued to work. Gina grabbed the phone and called Agnes.

"Hello."

"Hello Agnes. What's going on?"

"I don't even want to talk about it. Your sister! I just can't take it anymore. I can't be put between the two of you."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Anastasia just pitched a fit over here like she always does every time I buy your kids gifts. She has to see them first. Then she has to decide if she wants to give them to your kids, because God knows she won't be upstaged."

"Oh, so you guys had a fight."

"I'll say we had a fight. We've been having this fight ever since she married my son and I can't take it anymore. That's why I'm not coming over. I'm not putting up with this anymore."

"Oh, but Agnes, I have all this food and I made your favorite, a Harvey Wall banger cake for dessert."

"Send a piece home with Ana. No forget it. I won't be having her causing more problems over that too."

"Then you and Ben aren't going to come tonight?"

"No, we are not."

"Oh." Gina said disappointed, "I'll miss you. Look, feel free to come if you change your mind. We're going to the 4:00 o'clock mass and we'll be back here around 5:30 for appetizers, and dinner will be at 6:30."

Brad arrived about twenty minutes later with Edward and Appy. They plopped themselves on the couch and turned on the television.

Gina quickly and quietly explained the problem to Brad who just shrugged his shoulders.

# Chapter 1-31

# The Dinner

"My mom and dad are going to the church at 3:00 to save us seats, but we better get moving."

"Okay," Gina said as she went upstairs to get the children dressed. They wore their Christmas outfits and looked very handsome as they headed out the door at 3:30 with Anastasia who wouldn't miss her God Child, Rob's violin performance at the church. Edward and Appy opted out of going to the performance choosing to just stay on the couch watching television, eating chips and drinking beer.

Rob's violin performance was very touching and Gina was very proud that his name appeared in the program.

The family fought their way out of the parking lot of the church, much to Gina's chagrin, "Man these people don't go to church all year, but Christmas time they just have to go and crowd the place," Gina said with disgust.

They arrived back home and Gina put on her CD's to help create the mood while she set everything up. Edward who had changed into his Santa Suit and Appy immediately chimed in, "Hey we were watching a Godzilla movie."

"Do you want me to tell you how it ends? Interact with the company," Gina scolded, "It's Christmas!" Gina said to their disappointed looks.

Gina then went to the kitchen to try and get everything out on the table for the family. Frank was grabbing the shrimp before Gina had a chance to get it on the platter. "Please Frank, can't you wait until I have everything out?"

"What? What's the matter," he said in a huff and stormed off to the living room.

The music stopped.

"What happened to the music?" Gina called from the kitchen.

"I want to watch T.V." Frank demanded from the living room.

Just then the doorbell rang and Gina could hear Mike and his five children arrive. George and Henry made a beeline to the kitchen and started grabbing at the shrimp. "Wash your hands boys and please wait until I have everything out." Gina said with aggravation.

After thawing out the shrimp, Gina put the platter on the table and started to empty the jars of pickled herring into their glass ornate bowls when Mike came to the table grabbing the shrimp. "Can you please wait until I have everything out? I will call you when it is ready," Gina said shaking her head wondering if she was being too strict.

Carlotta and her girls Tiffany and Michelle arrived at the same time Gina's Brother Dmitry arrived with his wife, Sandra and their two children Erica and Eric. Brad ushered the company in while Gina got the bread sticks out of the oven and placed them on the table and went back to the kitchen to stir the soup and start the salmon.

"I want you to meet Nick," Carlotta said entering the kitchen with her new boyfriend.

"Nice to meet you," Gina said extending her hand in greeting.

Gina felt self-conscious as Carlotta looked like she just stepped off the cover of a magazine. She was wearing an expensive dress with an intricate shawl, "You look beautiful!" Gina said giving her a kiss on the cheek in greeting, "Oh! Let me see that shawl," Gina said admiring the design, "I love that hair piece!" Gina exclaimed examining her hair that was done up in a bun held together with an antique comb with tiny gems sparkling throughout, her nails were painted and she had on high heels. Her makeup was flawless and she looked beautiful.

Gina in contrast was exhausted and looked the part. She didn't have any time to put on make-up or do her nails, her hands were chapped and her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail because she was preparing food and too busy getting the dinner ready. She was wearing an oversized, what one would consider, ugly Christmas sweater with a knitted gaudy Christmas tree with gifts underneath over black leggings and bulky black socks.

Meanwhile, Henry and George snuck into the dining room and grabbed the breadsticks and hid under the table eating five breadsticks each.

Gina set out the wassail and began to pour and hand out the punch glasses to everyone. Once everyone had their glass in hand, Gina made a toast, "I am so happy that you were all able to brave the weather and join us here this evening. I want to wish all of you the Merriest Christmas and an even happier New Year," Gina said as everyone clicked their glasses to the toast and chimed in with a, "Merry Christmas!"

Gina immediately went back into the kitchen as her guests mingled. She placed the salad she prepared earlier in the day on the table and saw that half the breadsticks were gone and said, "What happened to all the breadsticks that we are supposed to have with the soup and salad?"

Just then she could hear the giggling of George and Henry from under the table and she bent down and said, "Those bread stick were for everyone. Now there are not enough to go around." She shook her head and stood erect calling everyone to the table.

Brad set out T.V. trays around the living room and in his office so people could sit where ever they could find a seat. Everyone filled his or her plates with salad, "Hey, where's the garlic dressing?" Frank asked.

"OH!" Gina grimaced, "I forgot the garlic dressing."

"What the fun," Frank yelled, "and threw his plate down on the table."

"Now, now, Frank," Glenda consoled, "Just have some ranch dressing."

"The soup is in the kitchen, but I'm afraid the boys already ate the breadsticks," Gina added as she checked on the salmon in the oven and turned the pierogis that were frying in the pan.

"Is this made of cream?" Carlotta asked as Gina poured the soup into the tureen.

"No." Gina said.

"Well, what is it made of?"

"I just take fresh mushrooms and dice them and put them in water to boil with fresh cracked black pepper and finely diced garlic and onion. I continually stir them with a whisk until the ingredients melt down into the water creating a sauce, then I add more larger pieces of mushroom letting them simmer for hours on the stove. I use ten different species of mushroom, crimini, portabella, shitake, porcini, oyster, white button mushroom etc." Gina said in exasperation, do you want me to give you the recipe?"

"Oh, sure," Carlotta said, ladling out a serving into a bowl.

"Okay, I'll have it ready for you when we go to the American Girl Café," she said, then quickly looked around not wanting to spoil the surprise for the girls.

"Wow, Gina everything is so nice!" Dmitry said, "I love the smoked salmon."

"Salmon!" Gina screamed and went to the stove and pulled out the fillet from the oven. "Thank you for reminding me," Gina said with a sigh, "That was close," She said as she flaked the fish with a fork to check for doneness, "Perfect," she added.

Gina quickly cleared the table of the salad and empty dishes from the smoked salmon and shrimp, "I didn't even get a piece," Gina said out loud and then admonished herself for vocalizing her disappointment.

She then transferred the salmon to a platter and put it out on the table with the three casserole dishes of pierogis and a large serving bowl of roasted mixed vegetables consisting of yellow squash, zucchini, carrots and asparagus. "Second course everyone," she called from the kitchen as everyone gathered back at the table to fill their plates.

"Where's the sour cream?" Frank yelled.

"Oh Frank, I used it all in the cucumbers and sour cream there in the bowl, scoop some out," Gina said getting quite aggravated.

"Who ever heard of potato pierogis with no sour cream?" Frank mumbled under his breath.

"Oh Frank, just stop," Glenda chided.

# Chapter 1-32

# Wrap Up

After dinner Gina was finally able to sit down, although the kitchen was atrocious, the thought of standing one more minute was unbearable. "Dad why don't you hand out all the presents to the children," Gina called.

"Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas," Edward chimed in as he finally became animated and rose from his seat in the corner. He handed out the gifts wearing his bright red Santa suit and hat, making sure each child gave him a kiss in return. Gina just rolled her eyes at the sight wondering if she should allow this to happen.

"Well now, that beard really comes in handy," Carlotta announced, everyone noticed how much Edward looked like the real Santa Clause as he passed out the presents and lingered in the kisses from the children with each gift he gave out.

Edward stood up tall after the presents were passed around and proudly stroked his beard saying, "I've been growing it for ten years. Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!"

Everyone just looked toward the children as the unwrapping began; Edward retreated back to his corner. The children were allowed to open one gift each from their grandparents, and of course Gina had gifts for all the children. So one by one the kids opened their gifts.

After the presents were opened, Gina noticed her dad off in the corner with his arms folded across his chest not interacting with anyone. Gina shook her head in annoyance.

"Hey guys, I have a surprise for you," Gina called, grabbing the large red basket off of the top of the hutch. Gina held up little snack size zip lock bags wrapped in red and green ribbon that she had made earlier in the week filled with uncooked oatmeal and multi colored glitter. "Who wants to feed the reindeer?"

The children jumped up from their seats, but Henry said, "I want to make sure the reindeers come to my house too."

"Don't worry. I have extra bags for everyone, so you can sprinkle some reindeer food at your house too," Gina said proudly, glad she thought of it and foresaw the trouble that she might get into, as everyone got up out of their seats, the children put on their coats and gleefully ran outside to spread the lawn with the mixture to ensure that Santa and his eight tiny reindeer could clearly see their house. "Look, you guys you can watch them out the window," Gina said as everyone moved over to gaze out of her picture window. Gina dimmed the lights so that everyone had a clear view. She had such a strong sense of pride as she watch the children frolic on the lawn while Bing Crosby's; Have Your Self A Merry Little Christmas flowed from the speakers. She had created this evening for everyone to enjoy and it was perfect. "Merry Christmas!"

While the children ran around outside Gina cleared the table and put out the Harvey Wall Banger Cake she baked the day before with a large assortment of fresh baked cookies she had prepared the week before and the large Christmas Decorated tin of popcorn and Maurice Lenell Cookies that Glenda had brought.

Cookies and milk were laid out for Santa as the fire died down in the fireplace. "Mommy, don't forget Santa's pipe. He left it last year," Lisa exclaimed.

"Thanks for reminding me Lisa," Gina said as she grabbed the pipe out of the china cabinet and laid it near the cookies and milk. "Is everyone ready to hear a story?"

"Yes!" The kids all happily replied. "Then go upstairs and get on your pajamas and we'll read a story before bed," Gina said as she started to gather the wrapping paper strewn on the floor.

Everyone sat in the living room enjoying their hot cocoa or wassail as they waited for the story time to begin. Sandra and Carlotta were as thick as thieves as they quietly sat dissing the crowd as Ana and Appy enjoyed visiting with the children, the rest sat gazing at a show on the television making subtle comments.

The children ran up the stairs and hurriedly got out of their clothes, throwing them in heaps wherever they landed and quickly got into their matching red pajamas. "Brush your teeth," Gina called up the stairs as she tidied the living room and loaded the dishwasher. Lisa helped Duncan after she changed herself and they all crowded around the sink in the bathroom fighting for sink time as they brushed their teeth.

The children bounded down the stairs and all four snuggled on the couch waiting for their story. "Okay, are we ready?" Gina asked as she sat down in the middle of her children while the other children sat on the floor at her feet as she read, Clement Clarke Moore's, The Night Before Christmas while everyone looked on, Edward still sat with his arms folded across his chest pouting.

"Well now that story time is over, I think it is time we all say good night, so you guys will be asleep before Santa comes."

Everyone took that as their cue to get their coats and gather their belongings.

"Thanks for coming," Gina said as she hugged Carlotta and her two beautiful daughters, "I hope you had a nice time."

"We did and thank you for having us," Carlotta said zipping up her boot.

"Nice to meet you Nick," Gina said offering a hug to Nick who accepted saying, "Thank you, we had a wonderful time."

"Merry Christmas," Gina said as she hugged Dmitry and his wife and kids.

"Thank you so much for the reindeer food," Eric said.

"And, and?" Sandra prodded.

"Oh and for the presents too."

"You're welcome Eric," Gina said with a smile.

"Merry Christmas, Auntie Gina," Erica said hugging her aunt.

"Well I just hope everyone had a good time," Gina said, "Hey where's Mike and the kids?"

"They left already," Brad said.

"But they didn't even say good bye?"

"What are you going to do," Brad said.

"When did they leave? Gosh I didn't even notice."

"It was right after the reindeer feed, Mike figured they already had their coats on and he left."

"Wow without even saying good bye. Humph," Gina sighed.

"So did you have a good time?" Gina asked turning to her father.

"It was alright, I guess," Edward said with a scowl.

_I'm not going to let him get to me._ Gina thought as she called her children to go up to bed.

"Good night Anastasia and Apolonia," Gina called on her way up the stairs.

"Good night and Merry Christmas!" The sisters called from the side door as they were leaving.

Gina tucked her children into bed as they said their prayers and she wished them 'visions of sugar plums to dance through their heads.' She quietly picked up their clothes inspecting them for stains as she hung them up so that they wouldn't be wrinkled and the kids could put them on again for the large family party tomorrow. Gina brought down bedding and made up the couch for her father as he changed for bed in the guest bathroom.

"So you didn't have a nice time?" Gina asked her father.

"It was okay."

"Did you like the food?"

"It was okay."

Gina just rolled her eyes and headed into the kitchen to tackle the mess while Brad drove Anastasia and Appy to Anastasia's house two towns over. Gina proceeded to wash the glassware that she couldn't put in the dishwasher and scrubbed pots and pans, packed up the left overs, wiped down all the tables and counter tops, as Brad walked in the door. "Can you put away the folding tables and clean up the bar?" Gina asked.

Brad said nothing but took off his coat and started to fold up the television trays and put them away.

Once the children were asleep, Gina quietly crept up the stairs to the cubby hole closet off her bedroom and started wrapping the twenty gifts she had bought and hid for her children

She also had a bag of stocking stuffers to fill their stocking. She quietly brought the gifts down the stairs and placed them under the tree. She filled the stocking with a few surprises for Brad too and then took pictures of her work for her photo album, because lord knew ten minutes after the children woke up there would be no recognizing the place.

She quickly remembered the pipe and replaced it with a pair of old reading glasses and tucked the pipe away in the China cabinet in the dining room for next year. It was now 1:30 a.m. as an exhausted Gina woke Brad who was sleeping on the recliner. Luckily he had eaten the cookies so one less thing to do. "Come on. Let's go to bed," Gina insisted, as Edward snored loudly on the couch, the weary couple went up the stairs to finally get some sleep.

"God, I feel like I just ran a marathon or something," Gina said as she noticed how tight her joints were, trying to get into her pajamas. "Good night, honey," Gina said and kissed Brad on the forehead, but he was already snoring. Gina lay quietly as her heels throbbed in pain.

# Chapter 1-33

# Christmas Morning

6:00 am like a trumpet's horn in the Army at sunrise or the charge to battle, the children bounded into Gina's bedroom with shouts of, "wake-up, wake-up, wake-up...Christmas is here! Merry Christmas Mommy! Merry Christmas Daddy!"

"Oh, Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas," Gina groggily replied and added, "Wait just one minute for your dad to make some coffee."

"No!" they all shouted in unison. "We want to open presents," they demanded working their way into a chant, of "Presents, Presents, Presents," escalating in volume with every word.

"Alright, alright already. Come on Brad, let's do this," Gina said as she grabbed her robe and started to get out of bed. "What!" Brad shouted... shocked awake.

"Go make the coffee while I get things situated with the presents," Gina said as she made her way down stairs without an ounce of the enthusiasm that the kids had.

She sat everyone down on the couch and started to sort the gifts, Edward was already awake and sitting in the recliner, ready to observe the scene. Gina was glad to have her father there so he could enjoy the holidays through the eyes of her children.

Gina never had Christmas's like this when she was young. There was no family gathered by the hearth, she laughed to herself, there wasn't even a hearth with stockings hung by the fire. She didn't play violin or any instrument for that matter.

There were no grandparents or aunts, uncles and cousins coming to celebrate the holidays. There was no going to church, no sprinkling the lawn with oatmeal and glitter and there was never a big pile of presents under the tree. No, she was giving her children all the things she missed.

"Mommy! Look!" Lisa exclaimed pointing to the side table where the milk and cookies were laid. "Santa forgot his glasses this time!"

"Oh my, it appears he did, well I'll just wrap them up with the Christmas decoration for next year sweetie," Gina said with a knowing smile.

"Okay, I know how everyone wants to open all their gifts but let's do this nice and open one at a time so we can take pictures. Duncan can go first," Gina said.

Duncan went for the 2' X 3' package in front of him as he ripped off the paper he discovered a Toy Story, Toy Box and as he open the lid he found all the toys from the movie, a Mr. Potato head, Lincoln logs, a piggy bank, and of course Woody and Buzz Light Year. Duncan was delighted and when he pulled out the Toy Story movie, Rob quickly snatched it out of his hands opened it and inserted it into the VCR.

Next Amanda, also choosing the largest box, opened her American Girl doll Molly McIntire. Once Lisa saw Amanda's gift she knew what her gift was and started to open it with sheer delight to discover Kit Kittredge.

Brad brought in the coffee as Rob was opening his Sega Genesis. Gina started to perk up a little after downing that first cup of coffee and went to the kitchen to grab another.

After everyone opened gifts, Gina made pancakes from scratch with bacon and fresh squeezed orange juice while the kids played with their new toys.

Everyone sat around the table eating their pancakes and talking about their presents.

"Good pancakes Dad?" Gina asked her father.

"They're alright."

"No, they are delicious," Rob said.

"Thank you Rob," Gina said thinking maybe my dad could learn something from Rob.

"Thank you for the wonderful breakfast," Amanda added.

"Yes, thank you mommy," Lisa chimed in.

"Oh you are welcome kids," Gina smiled proudly.

Once they were done eating, Gina said, "Hey guys we have to get ready to go to grandma's house, we are wearing the clothes that we wore yesterday. I need you guys to take quick showers. Lisa and Amanda I need to do your hair. So Lisa you're first, go jump in the shower quick and I'll be up to do your hair." Gina said and started to clean up the breakfast dishes.

"Brad can you drive my dad over to Anastasia?"

"Sure," Brad said and looked over at Edward, "Are you ready?"

"Let me get my coat and my bag," Edward said as he got up to get his coat.

"Merry Christmas, Dad," Gina said giving him a hug.

"Yeah, Merry Christmas," he said hugging her back.

Gina headed upstairs to get her and the children ready for the big party.

"You guys look so cute!" Gina exclaimed as she handed them their winter coats to get into the van. It was already 3:00 p.m. by the time they were ready to go.

# Chapter 1-34

# Half Empty/Half Full

Brad's family was huge, close and traditional. Every year the aunts and uncles would take turns and hold Christmas at their respective houses for everyone to attend. This year was at Gina's in-laws and each family that attended had to bring a dish to pass and a bottle of booze.

There were probably sixty people in attendance. Mike's kids were as always looking like ragamuffins that just stepped out of a Dickens' novel. Unfortunately, Brenda, Ellen and Mike were their usual ornery selves and just shunned Gina, as always. Luckily there were other people around to buffer these attitudes, so Gina just did her best to ignore them. Still she always wondered what was up with them and why they treated her this way, but she wasn't getting any answers wondering so she decided to just put it away and move forward.

"We have to get a picture of the family by the tree," Aunt Alice announced.

Gina and Brad assembled themselves in front of the tree with their children as the camera bulbs flashed. Then there had to be pictures of all the girls, all the boys, the siblings of each family and each generation.

"Gladys," Gina called hugging her in greeting.

"How are you?"

"Fine thanks. How are you?"

"Doing well. You look great. Was Santa good to you?"

"You know he was," Gladys said with a smile.

"Hi Guys," Gina said to Gladys' three children. "Hi. Merry Christmas," they all said in unison. They were adorable in their matching Christmas outfits.

"Merry Christmas! You guys get cuter every time I see you," Gina said giving them all hugs.

"Do you need a drink?" Brad asked coming up to kiss his cousin.

"Sure, I could use a diet coke."

"One diet Coke coming up." Brad said as he headed over to the bar to get her a drink.

"How is Chad?" Gina asked in a conspirator tone.

"About the same." Gladys said with a sad smile.

Gina gave Gladys a hug as Brad brought her a drink and Gina whispered in her ear, "Don't forget to put the presents in the red sack in the back bedroom."

"Thanks," Gladys said breaking from their hug, "I'll go do that now."

"Time to eat," Ken called as the family gathered in the kitchen for the buffet of fried chicken, sliced roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy with a scores of other dishes made by the family. Michelle made her famous corn bread casserole and of course there was a plethora of pierogis made by the family restaurant started by babcia over fifty years ago that Uncle Jack now owned.

"This is really good," Joel commented sitting at the dining room table.

"Yes, Glenda where did you get this from?" Alexia asked.

"It's Lee and Eddies catering," Glenda acknowledged.

"Love the potato pierogis, Uncle Jack," Brad called out.

"Yes," everyone agreed looking to Uncle Jack who smiled humbly.

After dinner Uncle Jack came in dressed as Santa saying "Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" The children were delighted and ran to him as he handed out the presents their parents brought with them and put in the red satchel provided in the back bedroom. Soon the children lost interest in Santa as they opened their gifts and Uncle Jack was able to slip out of the room and his costume, coming back to join the party unnoticed by them.

Alexia and her husband were in from California with their almost two-year-old daughter. "She's beautiful," Gina said as she looked at little Julie handing her a gift that she had bought for her. Julie opened the gift and threw the Disney 101 Dalmatian on the floor as she ran off to play with other children.

"Oh well," Gina said, "It's a back pack so she can wear it."

"Oh." Alexia said, "Maybe I could cut off the straps."

"That would defeat the purpose _,"_ Gina offered, "It's a backpack. Maybe she'll like it when she gets older. It said, 2 and up, so I thought she would like it." Gina added picking up the little stuffed dog that could hold items in its body with a Velcro opening just below the neck.

There goes another $25 buck down the drain, Gina thought.

"Time to sing Christmas songs!" Ken announced handing out the sheet music to everyone as the family sat around and sang 15 Christmas songs. Uncle Jack's voice rose above everyone in perfect pitch and tone, bringing the evening to a close.

As Gina and Brad were saying their good byes to the family, Mike's wife Fran arrived wearing her scrubs to Gina's chagrin. "Fran couldn't you change your clothes?" Gina asked in a crisp kind of whisper under her breath.

"Hey, I just did a double shift at the hospital," Fran replied angrily.

"But Fran, there are elderly people here. Aren't you worried that you are going to get them sick. Just think of all the germs and disease you are going to expose them to," Gina said as she was leaving.

"Can Henry and George spend the night?" Rob asked.

"And Julie too?" Lisa insisted.

"I suppose they already have their bags packed?" Gina said looking to Fran.

"You know it," Fran replied.

"I guess," Gina added looking to Brad.

"Okay kids let's go," Brad said as they all headed out to the van. Brad put in the Disney's Favorite Christmas songs, Ten Joyful Tunes to brighten your holiday into the cassette player as the family pulled away to drive home singing, "Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus, Right down Santa Claus lane..."

Gina turned to Brad in the van and said, "Isn't it enough that Fran gave Lisa that rotavirus that left her in the hospital for three days, when she was just two years old? She's a nurse for goodness sake. She should know better than to wear those scrubs outside of the hospital isn't there some sort of rule about that, don't they have HAZMAT bags for that? You know she is just playing the martyr! Oh look how poor Fran has to work on Christmas. It's her choice, so she can get that time and a half that she is always bragging about, but she doesn't have to expose everyone at the party with those germs. Your Aunts and Uncles are elderly and susceptible to those germs, talk about passive aggressive, that woman is a witch."

"Yeah," Brad replied as he drove.

When they arrived back home that evening at 9:00 p.m., they were tired and unloaded another pile of gifts into their overcrowded home. Everyone was exhausted, over stimulated and needed to go to bed.

As Gina went upstairs she found the bathtub water running, it was plugged and running; the tub was half full. The water was hot with steam vapors rising up!

They had been gone for six hours at least. _How could this have happened_? She knew she didn't leave the tub faucet running and even if any of them did, the tub would have been overflowing after six hours considering the stream of water through the faucet. It also would have run out of hot water.

Who did this?

How did this happen?

Gina called to Brad and showed him the tub, even though she knew it could not have been any of them. "We couldn't have left the water on, it would have overflowed," she said in exasperation.

"It's nothing. We must have left it running," Brad said with a yawn and headed to the bedroom.

"No Brad! We didn't. Aren't you the least bit concerned?"

"What can I say? I know I didn't leave it on," Brad said.

"Kids," Gina called as the kids came bounding up the stairs, "Did any of you leave the tub running?" Gina asked pointing to the tub.

"No mommy!" They all said.

Gina shook her head in disbelief, "Well at least the tub didn't overflow, that would have been a real mess. Rob, you and the boys go out to the garage and get the sleeping bags and set them up in the living room, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy." Rob said as he and the boys bounded back down the stairs.

"Julie, you can sleep with the girls. We'll push the two beds together and sleep sideways Let's get our teeth brushed and get some sleep, we've had a big day."

"Okay," the girls said in unison.

"Wow, Santa was sure good to you guys. Henry spread the reindeer food and everything, but there was no visit from Santa," Julie said sadly.

Gina's heart melted as she looked at little Julie. She was speechless wondering how to change the subject. "Julie do you like French toast?"

"It's okay."

"Well tomorrow I'm going to make a big batch of French toast with bacon and fresh squeezed orange juice. Won't that be fun?

"Yes!" Lisa shouted and then Amanda and Julie got caught up in her enthusiasm.

"Okay then brush your teeth so we can get to bed," Gina said and closed the bathroom door so they could get ready for bed.

She got their sleepy children settled in bed and started to think about the day Mr. Vladimir asked for her keys.

She looked around her disheveled home and wondered if he had been there. The living room was full of toys, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons ripped and strewn everywhere.

She looked at her bedroom, where she spent Christmas Eve wrapping the children's gifts that she kept in the dormer closet. There was paper, tape, boxes, dirty laundry and an unmade bed. _Was he here_? The whole house was a catastrophe from the Christmas rush.

She began to wonder, _why he would do this_?

She wondered what he would think of her. If he would understand all the work she was doing or if he would just think she was a slob.

She walked through the rooms of her house eyeing it with a different perspective.

She was proud of how she decorated her home. It was warm and cozy, but so overcrowded.

She was embarrassed and felt naked, like someone had trespassed on her soul.

She felt violated, wondering if he had gone through her things, her drawers, and her underwear.

Whoever was in the house, they seemed to want to let them know that they had been there.

Why would they be so obvious, by leaving the tub running?

If it wasn't him, who was it?

Who would have come into her house on Christmas day?

Someone had been in her house. Someone wanted to let her know they were in her house.

Nothing seemed to be missing. They didn't steal. The doors were locked. No one broke in. They had to have a key. All her doors had deadbolts on them. One key fit every door.

Whoever was in her house, just turned on the tub faucet? They turned on the hot water and plugged the tub and just left.

What if we hadn't arrived when we did and the tub overflowed? What kind of crazy thing was that to do? We would have had a real mess on our hands. She had no proof that he had her key only a suspicion from that day. None of it made sense. She tried to imagine him with his family, what excuse would he give his family for leaving them on Christmas day so he could come over to her house? What excuse would anyone have for that matter? She thought and continued to think. In the end, life just keeps rushing by and she had to move on.

She soon forgot, or at least put it out of her mind. She decided she would try to note any change in her boss's behavior. In the end she racked it up to ghosts, or she thought _maybe we must have left the tub running_. _None of it made sense, but you just have to put it out of your mind._ Life has a way of superseding these thoughts.

The next day Gina wanted to speak with Agnes to get to the bottom of all this non-sense of Christmas Eve, but Anastasia answered the phone and said that Agnes didn't want to talk. Gina wasn't even sure if Ana let Agnes know she was calling and decided to call Agnes when Ana went back to work.

The family had one week to go for their Christmas vacation so Gina spent the next week taking the kids out to movies and driving them to play dates. Gina and the girls met Carlotta at the American Girl Café where they had a very nice lunch, with the dolls, but the infamous Don was a no show. Gina was disappointed because she had wanted to meet this, "International Man Of Mystery."

New Year's Eve consisted of watching Dick Clark on ABC with their children and ten of their little friends whose parents needed a sitter so they could go out on the town. _A Disney's New Years Eve!_ Gina thought. She was glad that Dick Clark was in New York so the ball drop at 11:00 p.m. their time and she could get these kids to bed.

END OF BOOK I

Continue reading, bonus chapter and acknowledgements.

### ELECTRIC

### BOOK II

### The Consummation

### Bonus Chapter

# Chapter 2-1

# The New Year

Gina started back working daytime hours in the New Year. She had turned this 20-hour a week job into 10 hours a week. She was that efficient and felt that is why her boss gave her the raise.

There were five magazine subscriptions coming to the office that Gina made into piles for the past three months finally asking, "Why do you have subscriptions to Vogue, Mademoiselle, In Style, Cosmopolitan and People?"

Mr. Vladimir shook his head and told Gina that is what his previous employee had done, read magazines all day. She even charged the subscription to his business. He was glad to be rid of her, he had said, as he left to go to a job.

Gina called Agnes again from the office, "Hello Agnes."

"What do you want?"

"What do you mean, 'what do I want?" Gina asked.

"I mean, what do you want? I told you, I don't want to talk to you anymore and I mean it. I can't be put in the middle of you and your sister anymore. Now stop bothering me!" Agnes said as she slammed the phone down.

What the fuck? Gina thought as she replaced the phone on its receiver. What did I do? What could I have possibly done to get this type of response or more importantly what does she think I've done.

Gina called Appy, "Hello Appy."

"Is this going to be long," Appy snarled.

"No." Gina stammered but continued, "I was just wondering what was going on with Agnes. I mean you were there at their house on Christmas. What is going on?"

"I don't know. I guess Agnes is just sick of your shit. Maybe she tired of you constantly calling her with your problems."

"What? What problems? I don't constantly call her."

"Well I don't know what it is. Why don't you just leave her alone? Look, I don't have time for this crap," Appy said as she hung up the phone.

Gina was devastated. Agnes was like the mother she never had and she loved her. No matter how Gina looked at it she could find no reason for this behavior and felt that someone must have been lying to Agnes, because Gina could find nothing that she did or said to illicit this type of response. Gina just told herself, _God knows. God knows everything and he knows that I didn't do anything wrong. So I must leave it in God's hands._

In the following week Gina took all of her Christmas decorations down after the epiphany and proceeded to decorate the house for Valentine's Day. She had a beautiful and bountiful collection of antique Victorian cards that she had collected over the years. She used these with a collection of red heart shaped boxes, ceramic cupids, red lace doily hearts and red and white roses with red and white votive candles to add charm and warmth to their little cape cod.

The baseball season was just around the corner and Rob had to sell, The World's finest chocolate bars and take pre-orders for chocolate bunnies. Gina sold some chocolate to Mr. Vladimir.

The girls came home with a packet from the ballet studio asking for donation via ad space in the brochure for their up coming spring performance. Gina brought the brochure to the January Juniors meeting and they bought a half page ad, Gina also sold a half page ad to Mr. Vladimir and a full-page ad to Bob Baker.

The second week in January Gina had to attend a meeting at the school for her second grade daughter. Lisa was a very mature child and went through adolescent problems in preschool. Gina had to meet with a social worker that told her that Lisa seemed depressed and asked if there was anything going on at home. Gina explained how they were busy, with work, her husband's business and the kids. They ended up having an in-depth discussion about Gina's childhood, how her mother died when she was five and doing a comparison and contrast to her daughter's life.

Gina didn't understand what this lady was gunning for; here this counselor was all of twenty-two years old, fresh out of school. What did she know about raising children? No one knows until they start doing it. Everyone has an opinion of how it should be done, but life doesn't work out nice and neat like a television show. People get by on a lick and a promise, a hope and a prayer. You're just lucky to survive sometimes. She felt like she was defending herself and for what?

Of course the meeting had to end. The counselor had other people to see, she had to have something to do to warrant a salary. What was the point of bringing up all this old rubbish, exposing all these old wounds, only to be shoved back out into her life? 40 Minutes of intense interrogation and then, Gina was left to switch gears and go back to the present as if this session never happened.

Gina left the school shaken and upset. She felt very vulnerable, she wondered what the counselor had written down and if there would be any further ramifications from this counseling session.

As soon as she got to her car she started crying. Her life seemed out of control. She didn't have a rulebook. She just did what she could every day to survive. She got the kids off to school with breakfast and good clean clothes. She was home for them in the afternoon. She made them dinner, made sure their homework was done. She worked on school projects with them. She was a room mother. She volunteered at the school. The kids were in Indian Guides, Indian Princesses and sports. She took them on nature walks, to local parks, family vacations and Church on Sunday. They brushed their teeth, took a bath every night and she read them stories. They had clean beds, and a family that loved them. What more could she do.

When she arrived at work she was surprise to see Mr. Vladimir there. He was the last person she wanted to see in this condition. She had to go to work. There was no choice. She walked in and started working when he asked, "So, how did it go at school? Is your daughter alright?"

# About the Author:

Carly Compass has a Bachelors Degree in Writing and English from Elmhurst College, hoping her books sales will pay off her student loans.

She is an avid reader, reviewer and a member in good standing of Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Tau Delta International Honors Societies.

Her poetry and prose are published in: the Prairie Light Review, Black Widows, Web of Poetry, and the Middle Western Voice.

Her first series, Electric was published in the fall of 2014 with critical acclaim and five star reviews across the board.

She became a best selling author when Book 4 came out to the waiting arms of her readers in April of 2015.

Books 1, 2, 3 are also available in a discounted combination set. All books read well as stand alone, but you'll want to read every word and leave no page unturned.

She completed The Electric Series in 2017 and is about to publish a collection of short stories, About Love, About Life, About Family, due out in the fall of 2017.

# Questions for Discussion:

Is Gina Parrot an average American housewife?

Does the character seem realistic or is she a literary device?

In what ways do you think the author might be making a statement with the name Gina Parrot?

With a name like Gina Parrot, is the character mimicking the role of wife and mother in America?

In what ways do you think American Society leads women into their roles as wives and mothers?

How much does religion influence women in America?

Are standard religions sexist in any way?

How is Christianity or The Catholic faith influencing Gina Parrot and her decision-making?

In what ways do you think Gina might be headed for trouble?

Does Brad Parrot seem like the average American husband?

Is there a reason the author limits Brad Parrots involvement?

How would you characterize Brad Parrot, from what you've read so far?

Would you consider the Parrot and Vladimir Families functional or dysfunctional?

In what way would you consider their families functional or dysfunctional?

Continue reading, Electric, The Consummation, Book 2, to find the answers to these questions and more.

# Contact

Thank you for reading Electric, The Beginning, Book I.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Gina and the cast of characters in Middle America and that it whets your appetite to finish the series.

Electric, The Consummation Book II

Electric, The Resolution, Book III

Electric, The Aftermath, Book IV

Electric, The Holidays, Book V

Electric, The Finale, Book VI

It would be most helpful if you can leave a review.

Subscribe to my blog to get current updates at: http://www.carlycompass.com

Feel free to connect on Facebook and like my author page.

Where ever you are and what ever you are doing, make it a great day.

With heartfelt thanks and appreciation,

Carly Compass

Write to me: Carly.compass@gmail.com

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