tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26851056470723813672024-03-08T06:37:58.355-08:00Grandmas FireSide StoriesGrandmas FireSide Stories is a collection of writings from the heart of Ruth Lance to yours. Pull up a log and cozy next to the fire as Ms. Lance invites you into her FireSide tales. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04625220754998668849noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685105647072381367.post-30498754166965859932013-09-15T15:25:00.002-07:002013-09-15T15:25:55.035-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Note from Grandma</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hey everyone. Grandma here to give you yet another short story to cuddle around the fire with. Seeing as we our great country is yet again dealing with another potential war, I figured that this story would suit the mood of the nation. Cold weather is a brewing in and I hope everyone is getting their jackets out and enjoying the colors. Hope you enjoy the next story in Grandmas Fireside story collection.</span> <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 20pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></u></i></b> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 20pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></u></i></b> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 20pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Will There Be Peace"?<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">By Ruth A. Lance<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Prelude<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">************<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"Damn it......<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">move, move, move</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charlie
One......Charlie One!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Answer
me"!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He screamed into the night,
began to thrash and flail his arms against the unseen demons that chased him down
the corridors of his sleeping mind, and Julie Bell vaulted out of bed and away
from her husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had learned a very
painful lesson.....long ago......about trying to awaken him when he was in the
throes of one of these nightmares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was best to leave him alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually
he would come out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She plodded to the
kitchen, peering at the clock over the kitchen table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She moved to flip the switch that would begin the coffee brewing, with a
hand that shook slightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
never any more sleep for her after one of these episodes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny never <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">asked</i> her to stay up with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She just knew from experience she would never be able to leave him alone
with his memories…to let him suffer by himself.</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She had grown used to just
automatically having the coffee ready, and to sitting up with him.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie set out the coffee
cups and fixings, and thought of their son, Jasen, who would be up and around
in another three hours to get ready for school. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought it a blue eyed miracle that he was
capable of sleeping through the noise when his daddy had one of these
attacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he never awakened......was
never even aware the next day that anything untoward had occurred the night
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes she thought he could
sleep through <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>A thump from their
bedroom told Julie that Manny was awake at last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She heard his slow footsteps as he made his
way down the hallway, and turned to him when he came into the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Groggily, he muttered, "hi, babe".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went to him, gave him a soft kiss on the
cheek, told him to sit down and she'd get him a cuppa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Involuntarily, hers eyes rested briefly on
her husband's left arm before she turned away to retrieve the coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did not believe there was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ever</i> going to come a time when the sight
of it did not sicken and anger her, all at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a high price he had paid......such a
cold reception he had gotten from his own country, when he returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>She poured his coffee
and her own, and placed his before him......kissed his sweaty brow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He touched her right hand with his own briefly,
gave her a weak smile, and began to doctor the inky brew in his cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was going to be another long night.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chapter 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">***********<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>In high school she had
been Julie Delaney, and she had met Manny in her senior year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a dashing, handsome young
man......team captain of the varsity basketball team, and center forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had been a cheerleader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back then life had lain golden before them,
like a bright star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Manny had asked her out
the first time to go to a dance with him at the school, and she had happily
accepted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before long they were a
twosome, and voted the schools ‘most likely to stay together after school’
couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone was right.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Glibly, almost giddily,
their last year in school had spun by, and before they knew it they were
wearing their caps and gowns and attending their graduation ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The year was 1964.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been the hay- day years of Richie
Valley, Presley, and others like them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rock-n-roll was making its mark on the new generation, and predictably
driving parent’s nuts!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie had attended her
senior prom with Manny, had made the rounds with him to all the graduation
parties of their friends,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and they in turn attending hers
and Manny’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There had been a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">huge</i> beach party the week-end following
the senior’s graduation, and everybody that was anybody had been there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had partied with total abandon well past
midnight, Julie....for the first and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">only</i>
time in her life….getting absolutely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">plastered</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny had never left her side, even when she
puked her guts out later on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had just
held her poor, throbbing head, as she was convinced her very innards were going
to end up on the ground at her feet!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>It had seemed almost
anti-climatic......almost a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let down</i>...when
things had calmed back down after that last hectic week after graduation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie had found herself at loose ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">still</i>
pondering offers from several colleges for scholarships, she being a straight A
student.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, not really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">knowing </i>what decision to make yet,
because she <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">loved</i> Manny Bell with all
her heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truth be known, she secretly
hoped for an engagement ring that Christmas from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing that if he asked her to marry
him.....as she hoped he was going to.....she would forego college in a heartbeat!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>She had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tried</i> to tell herself how selfish she
was being, because she knew Manny, himself, had been offered a full basketball
scholarship from no less than three major universities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is......if the draft didn't
get him, first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The war in Nam had
escalated by then, and young men from all walks of life had found a draft
notice in their mailboxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several of
Manny's pal's had already been given notice, and Julie's nightly prayer was
that they would not call Manny up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
branches of the United States services had not wasted any time in the event of
Manny's friends.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A week after their graduation, the hated and dreaded official paper hadn’t
come via the post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far, at least,
Manny had been spared.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Christmas had of course come
around that year, and after sharing in a lovely dinner Julie's mom had put on,
Manny had asked Julie to go for a late night stroll with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The snow had been falling softly and serenely
around them, the street lights making it glisten like a zillion diamonds before
their eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With her hand in his, Manny
and Julie had walked slowly along, their boots making crunching noises in the
crisp night air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they reached the
park, Manny had swept the snow from one of the benches and they sat down, their
breath making puffy plumes of air in the silent night.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Manny had taken her hand
in his, looking into her eyes, and had told her how much he loved her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had, in fact, declared his love to her for
all eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, despite the snow on
the ground, he’d gotten down on one knee, and reached into his coat pocket.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From it he had pulled a small,
black box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie's heart had leapt in
her chest, as he had popped the lid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nestled within the black velvet, a lovely diamond ring winked up at
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny had removed it carefully from
its resting place and holding it, and Julie's heart, in his hands, he had asked
if she would marry him.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Tearfully she had told
him she would, and had slipped the glove off her left hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost reverently Manny had slipped the
glittering stone into place on her ring finger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It had been, without a single doubt, the most momentous moment in all of
Julie's life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny had then taken her into
his arms tenderly, and kissed her.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As they rose from their
seat on the bench, both growing cold in the night air....as they began to
stroll back towards home....Manny shattered the fragile glass bubble of Julie's
happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told her he had something
to tell her, and knew she would understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That, before they were married, before he could feel right in beginning
their lives together, there was something he knew in his heart he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">had</i> to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was when the man she loved with her
whole being.......the only one she knew she could <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ever</i> love........had dropped the bomb that exploded her world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny told her he had freely enlisted in the
Army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That he would be deployed in two
week's time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie had ranted,
begged, raved, even cursed at him.....but he would not be swayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Telling her it was his duty as an American,
and something he felt he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">had</i> to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had come to her house by then and he had
tried to take her into his arms, but she had rudely shoved him away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crying uncontrollably now, Julie had run for
her front door, slamming it shut behind her, leaving him standing there in the
frigid night air.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>For the next two weeks
he had called her every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Julie
had refused his calls......refused to speak to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ring he had given her still encircled her
finger......she would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> take it
off!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But her anger at him was so great within
her for what he had done.......ripping their whole world apart like
this.....she could not find the compassion in her heart to even speak to him.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>The morning he was due
to depart, Julie's mother had come into her bedroom where she slept, and had turned
on her bedside light, startling her awake. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bethann Delaney had tried to keep her mouth
shut, telling herself to stay out of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But she was fully aware that today was the day that Manny would be
shipped out to boot camp, and she was deeply ashamed of her daughter's
treatment of him over the last two weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A straight forward woman who usually spoke her mind, Mrs. Delaney did so
now, showing no mercy when she berated her daughter for how she had been
acting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Kevin Delaney, Julie's
father, had been standing silent in her doorway, but the look of contempt on
his face cut his daughter to the core of her being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Julie had been deeply hurt by it
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But her heart also told her that
her folks were right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny had done
what he felt he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">had</i> to do in all
consciousness, and she had made his life a living hell because of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that moment, Julie Delaney's self loathing
knew no bounds.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Tears had been shed on
her part, and typical of her parents they had moved to comfort her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, her mother had suggested that if she
were to see Manny off on the deportment train that was scheduled to leave the
station at eight o'clock, she had better get a move on!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When her folks had left,
Julie had flown around her room to get ready to leave, telling herself she
would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> be too late to say goodbye
to him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she had to break every speed
record known to mankind, she would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be </i>there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glancing briefly at the clock, she had seen
she had exactly one hour to departure time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie's small little
compact car had protested mightily as she had pushed it to the limits, and by
some miracle she had not been stopped for speeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a sliding skid she had screeched to a halt
in the depot's parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a flat
out run, knocking people rudely aside in her path, Julie had flown towards the
departure platform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had glanced only
once at her watch.......she had exactly ten minutes to go.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Frantically, her eyes
had searched the uniformed men crowding the platform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally she had seen Manny's dark head.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shoving through the men
clustered around her, not even hearing their remarks aimed at her, Julie had
bee lined towards him.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had his back to her, when she
said breathlessly, "Manny'?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>He had whipped around
then, her name on his lips, and had taken her swiftly into his strong
arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over and over again he kissed her
forehead, her cheeks, her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally,
sweetly, his lips had found her own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When he finally came up
for air, Julie's cheeks were flushed, and she laid a gentle, loving hand along
his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I'm so sorry,
Manny", she choked out, tears running down her cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Can you ever forgive me"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Softly he had looked
into her eyes, and said in almost a whisper, "your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">here</i>, sweetheart, that's all that matters".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>He had pulled her to him
again and was kissing her like she was his very life line, when a man's voice
had barked out for all the recruits to board the train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reluctantly he had let her go, and had
suddenly found himself jostled along in the tide of young men preparing to
board the train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His final words to her
had been, <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wait for me, Julie</i>"!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her reply had been lost in the noise around
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had watched, crying, as her
beloved had climbed aboard that hated train......bound to a hell he, nor she,
could even imagine!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chapter 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Manny's first few letters
home to her had actually been fairly upbeat, giving her hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would watch the mail carefully, every
day, for an envelope that would tell her it was from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would then cloister herself in her room,
greedily devouring every word he wrote to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His first letter had come exactly two weeks from his departure date,
from boot camp.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Dearest Julie,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Well....here I
am......in boot camp!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All my bunk mates
agree with me that our drill sergeant is a bastard, but we do as we're told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all
have learned not to get on his bad side!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A day of taking one of the old goat's 'marches' makes you learn <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">real</i> quick.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A five mile hike, in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">full</i> gear, tends to knock the stuffing
out of a man pretty fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">own</i> experience with this left me with
blister's on my feet the size of gulf balls, and aches and pains in places I
never knew existed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never pushed the
envelope with the old man again, let me tell you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>What passes for food
here sucks, but we're told to enjoy it while we can, that it’s worse once we're
actually 'out in the field'.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gee......can't <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wait</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which, my company is told is going to be
coming up soon.......as in another two weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then, it'll be the 'big time', I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of us are excited, but kinda <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">scared</i>,
too, you know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's a weird place to be.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Well, honey, guess if
I'm going to make the mail bag I better close this for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know that I dream of you every night, Julie.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your face is in front of me
constantly, in everything I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
get out of here, we're gonna have the biggest blow out wedding that little town
of ours has ever seen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then......look
out, baby!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cause I'm gonna love your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">socks</i> off!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Till then, sweetheart, love you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie had reread that
first letter at least ten times, till she could have recited it by heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had folded it up reverently back into its
envelope, storing it in a shoe box she had kept for that purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That very day she had written him back, then
rushed out to the post office in their small town to mail it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Devoutly she had reassured him of her love
for him, letting him know she was awaiting his return home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each letter from him had gone into the same
shoe box, to be kept for the rest of her life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>She had gotten exactly
one other letter from him, before Julie finally received the one she had been
dreading with all her heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dearest Sweetheart,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Well.....we're
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were deployed exactly three
days ago to this command post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems, at
least so far, this is to be where our company is to be stationed for the
duration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will try to describe it to
you, but I don't think there really are word's for how the living conditions
are here.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>For one thing, it rains <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">constantly</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We haven't seen the sun since we got
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bugs are as big as house flies,
and are as hungry for our blood as a lion is for meat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how much repellent you slather on
yourself, they seem to find an opening in your clothing to nail you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Then, there's the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so called</i> food!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no exaggeration when I tell you that
finding roaches in the food on your tray is common place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just pick them out, and eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The alternative is you die of
starvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, which is worse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, or the enemy doing you in?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>I find I'm almost afraid
to go to sleep at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Viet Cong
are everywhere here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its common place,
I'm finding, to hear shell explosions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They sound like their right on your doorstep, but my buddy here, Ryan,
tells me they can be as far as five miles away from our camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time one goes off, it jars me out of
the thin sleep I'm capable of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll
probably come home to you with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">severe</i>
bags under my eyes, (ha, ha)!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Listen</i> to me....complaining like an old woman!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm sorry, baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just shoot up a few prayers for me that this
will all be over soon, okay?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try not to
worry about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll be home soon,
honey.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love you with all my heart, <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie had gone about her
life as best she could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had, upon
her parents urging, finally accepted enrollment in their local college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had adamantly refused to 'go away' to
school anywhere, wanting to stay in their local hometown area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even then, she lived at home and attended classes
during the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evenings she worked as a
waitress in one of the local restaurants, to help out with living expenses at
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also tucked away a little
money every week in a savings account, towards her and Manny's wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Every single afternoon,
returning from school, she'd go immediately to the pile of mail her mother left
on the end table in the hallway by the front door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every single day, her heart sank when no
letter from Manny arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wrote to
him each evening, when she got off her shift at work, even though she was so
tired she could have dropped where she stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She kept her letters to him upbeat, talking about the small, every day
mundane things that happened in her life without him there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told him she was going to college,
now......taking up Social Work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That she
had elected to remain in their home town.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"I don't want to be
away at school somewhere, in another state, when you finally come home,
darling", she had written in this particular letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tears had trickled down her cheeks as she
wrote, a few splashing unheeded on the paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Trying to lighten her
mood, she had told him with no uncertain pride that she was pulling all A's,
and her profs were very proud of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rumor had gone around that she would be in running for the class
valedictorian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Wouldn't <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> be a hoot", she had said,
hoping to make him smile when he read it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie did not tell Manny
about a guy by the name of Bradley Renault, who had been pursuing her
relentlessly at college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had, of
course, rebuffed his every advancement......even told him she was engaged to a
guy who was in Nam and was not interested in him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Bradley was nothing if not persistent,
and all too often lately he would sit at her table with her during the lunch
period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never what you'd call
'pushed' himself on Julie, but he made her uncomfortable, nonetheless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She refused to examine the reason why too
closely.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>It had been a month
before Julie received the next letter from Manny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had almost given up hope he would write
to her again, it had been so long, even though she never ceased sending out a
letter every day to him.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie had snatched the
letter up off the end table that afternoon, and had bounded up the stairs to
her room to read it in private.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
heart in her throat, she had slit the envelope open with shaking hands, nearly
ripping the letter within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quickly she
tore the single page from its casing, and began to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She noticed, with fear, that there was a
definite shaky quality to the hand writing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dearest Darling,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sorry it has taken me so
long to answer you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have received
every one of your letters, and keep them at the bottom of my foot locker, where
they'll be safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you, darling, for writing
about home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">almost</i> feel like I'm there, for awhile, as I read them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, how I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">miss</i> everything back there, but none so much as you, honey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love you with all my heart, never forget
that!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must be nearing spring again
there......I can practically hear the birds singing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wish I was there to take a long walk with
you in the meadow, as we used to do, remember?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I close my eyes and concentrate hard enough, I can almost <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feel</i> your hand in mine.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't want to have to tell you
this, baby, but I know I must.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our unit got a not so nice
surprise yesterday, from our C.O.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their sending us to the front
line, tomorrow morning at first light.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not going to even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pretend</i> to be brave, and tell you I'm
not scared, because I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They've held
us back, until now, but the fighting has escalated up there and casualties on
our side have been heavy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They call the
enemy 'Charlie' here, and they are a crafty bunch of bastards!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every step one of our guys takes could be his
last.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won't go into it all,
sweetheart, it's too gruesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
suffice to say that the stories our C.O. told us.....to prepare us for what
we're going to face.....well, not one man jack among us didn't have the hairs
on the back of his neck standing up, and his guts going to water.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not trying to frighten you,
darling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just want to prepare you, if
anything should happen to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
instructed the Army to make you my beneficiary, in the event I don't come home.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God</i> I didn't have to write this to you, Julie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish with all my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">heart</i> that I was there with you.....<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">right now</i>......holding you in my arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love you so much, that at times I feel my
heart will literally <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">explode</i> inside
my chest!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please say some special prayers
for me....and my buddies....tonight, sweetheart, before you lay down to
sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray the Big Guy will be with us
tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll write you again when I
can.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All my love forever and always,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Crumpling
the letter to her heart, Julie had cried her heart out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, right then and there, she had gotten
down on her knees beside her bed, and had prayed for all she was worth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">begged</i>
God to bring her Manny home alive to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Never, in her young life, had Julie Delaney know such gut wrenching
despair!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Never </i>had the night looked so dark before the dawn.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chapter 3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As Julie had made her
way across campus to her next class, she noticed that the leaves were beginning
to show definite colors of the fall season again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been five months, now, since she had
heard from Manny last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five very long,
lonely months.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And yet steadfastly she had remained faithful to him, rebuking Bradley's
overtures towards her, writing Manny every single day......that is, up until
the last few weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Slowly, gradually, she
had found herself mailing only two or three letters a week off to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She excused herself by telling herself she
had final semester exams coming up.....needed to study hard for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Julie could have taken any <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">one</i>
of the tests with her eyes closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, she did not allow herself to examine her motives too closely.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As she had approached
the commons area outside the building that held her next class, she was not really
surprised when Bradley Renault fell into step beside her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheerily he had asked her to join him for a
cup of coffee before class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had
started to voice her usual decline of his invitation, but something had stopped
her today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small voice in her head
asked her 'what could it hurt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just</i> a cup of coffee!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn't like she was agreeing to run <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">away</i> with the guy'!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To Bradley's total delight, she had
agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had found his smile charming
as she walked beside him into the student lounge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another voice in her head had asked, 'perhaps
a bit <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">too</i> charming'?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had resolutely ignored it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>The half hour Julie had
spent with Bradley, sipping coffee, talking and laughing with him, seemed to
fly by too soon.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did, indeed, find him charming,
witty, fun to be with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His total
attention had been on her, as they sat together at a window table, the sunlight
streaming in to warm them. When at last she had happened to glance at the clock
on the wall, she had seen to her horror she had precisely five minutes to make
her class.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Grabbing up their books,
Bradley had left with Julie as she had gone on a fast walk back to the building
that housed her physiology class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside
its doors she had bid him a quick farewell, and gone running up the steps to
the double glass doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could feel
his eyes on her still, as she disappeared inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time since Manny had went away,
Julie did not feel the pull to glance down at his ring on her left hand.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>After her class, as was
his habit now, Bradley had been awaiting her appearance outside the building
when she came out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As had definitely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> been <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">her</i> habit, up till now, Julie did not gently send him on his way
with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, she allowed him to
walk with her as she made her way to her next class, the two of them picking up
their conversation where they'd left off earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was most <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">definitely</i> not lost on Bradley
Renault!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope soared in his heart, as he
leisurely strolled beside Julie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
thought that......given a little time......she might even consent to go on a
date with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he knew that was most
likely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">far</i> into the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He contented himself, for now, that she had
even agreed to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">walk</i> with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When Julie had gotten
home that afternoon, checking the mail as usual and finding no letter from
Manny, she had simply given a shrug and continued upstairs to her room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she entered her bedroom, unbidden,
Bradley Renault's face appeared in her mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As she changed her
school clothes for her work uniform, his face did not go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie allowed herself to critique his looks,
in comparison to Manny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whereas Manny
was darkly handsome, Bradley was fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Manny stood about five twelve.....Bradley, around six foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny's family had worked hard their whole
lives for their success......Bradley came from 'old money'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His future was secure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Julie had allowed herself to examine
Bradley's situation closely, she most likely would have come to the conclusion
that his 'station' in life was what had prevented the draft from taking him to
where Manny was now.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Her absent betrothed
tried to come into her mind, but Julie found herself, at that moment at least,
shutting that door firmly.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would not......<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could</i> not......examine herself too
closely right then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She only knew one
thing, that it had been nine lonely, heartbreaking months since Manny had gone
away.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since he had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">voluntarily</i> put himself in danger,
against her express wishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not
that she had any intentions of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cheating</i>
on Manny, but she found the attentions of another male welcome at this
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bradley had made her feel
special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, he was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">here</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Beside her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little innocent
flirtation did not mean she was setting out to hurt Manny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She mentally shoved away any guilt by telling
herself she could <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">easily</i> control
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Control the whole situation
with Bradley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just.....quite
simply....needed some company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides,
who said that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he</i> was not giving in to
any temptations 'over there'?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie glanced at the
bright diamond that winked at her from her finger, finding herself itching to
take it off, but she did not.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Ever so gradually, Julie
had found herself accepting Bradley's invitation's more and more to have coffee
or lunch with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She reasoned away her
acceptance of his overtures in the light that they were perfectly innocent
outings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In full view of the entire
student body, and everyone else who cared to look!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told herself that he was just a 'friend',
much as her female friends were on campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Julie did not let herself dwell on the fact that she sent Manny, at the
most, two letters a week, now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That they
were, in fact, extremely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">short</i>
letters.....more a 'duty' to him, than one lover writing to another.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>It really did not
surprise her, then, when she accepted Bradley's invitation to dinner and a
movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been, at this point,
eleven months since she had heard from Manny at all.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hurt, confused....even
angry......she had told Bradley she would be happy to go out with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so, it had begun.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Their 'affair' had
flowed along for two weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie's
mother and father had not hesitated to voice their objections to what they
called her 'unseemly behavior', but she had blithely ignored them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, she was doing nothing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wrong</i>, just enjoying the company of one
of her friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her folks, however, had
not been fooled by her casualness, and yet didn't know how to make their
daughter see how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wrong</i> she was in running
around with this other man when she was engaged to Manny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, no matter what they said, she went her
own way.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie had come home from
classes on a Tuesday, and had found her mother waiting for her at the door, a
deep frown on her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without a word
to her daughter, Bethann had simply thrust a battered, begrimed envelope into
Julie's hand, then spun on her heel and gone back to the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The letter had been from Manny......the first
in almost a year's time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finding her
heart cold in her chest, Julie had made her way upstairs to her room to read
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost nonchalantly she had slit the
envelope, pulling out its contents.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dearest, Dearest Darling,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must think I have dropped
off the face of the earth by now!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In so very many ways, I wish I
had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But let me first assure you I have
received every single <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">one</i> of your
letters, sweetheart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can understand,
when you did not hear back from me, that you didn't send as many as you used
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please believe me, my love, it was
nothing I could help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me explain.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I write this, Julie, I am
lying in a M.A.S.H. unit, in friendly territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or so they tell us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We've been shelled twice since I've been air
lifted here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I know you’re going to
be wondering what I'm talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Please bear with me, sweetheart, as I write this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is a little sloppy, you'll understand
more as I go along.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all, I have written you
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">every week</i> since the last letter you
got from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I </i>got <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yours</i>, for some reason nobody can explain to me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mine</i> to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> kept coming back here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even before everything happened, every letter I sent to you was
returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no explanation,
honey.....but, I'm sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only pray this one gets to
you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As to why I'm here in the
M.A.S.H. unit, the surgeon's here tell me I'm 'lucky to be alive'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lucky</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell, I don't blame the doc's here.......they
did everything they could. My mind can't wrap around what these guys go
through, Julie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Day in, day out, they do
nothing but try their best to patch up the ripped apart bodies that are plopped
in front of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> a hell, Julie, it's this…war…grown
men, mindlessly slaughtering each other for a cause that has become dim even in
the leader's minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goal… to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">win</i>, no matter the cost, no matter how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">many</i> of your own countrymen are lost, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just</i> so you win!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As to what happened to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our unit was, at that point, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">four months </i>on the front lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've gotta give credit where credit is due,
Julie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">None</i> of our guy's gave up.......<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never
once</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a determination God, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Himself,</i> would have admired, we fought
with everything in us. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day it happened, 'Charlie' caught us off
guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The area around us was supposed
to be 'secured', but from out of nowhere we were under a barrage of motor shell
fire, coming in from the distant hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our C.O. was barking orders, like we were ever going to be able to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hear</i> him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everybody was running for cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guys in our unit were aiming the big guns
in return fire, our tanks discharging their loads at the enemy continuously. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last thing I remember was
seeing the guy next to me actually blown in half, and his torso landing in my
lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll never forget his eyes, Julie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just sort of stared up at me in wounded
wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I crouched there, in my fox
hole, I realized it was my buddy, Ryan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't remember anything from
that point on, until I woke up here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
docs told me I had lost my left arm, from the elbow down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had taken some shell fragments in my right
leg, but they were actually miniscule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other than some cuts they had to stitch up, I was okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Okay</i>'?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had held my
friend's <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">upper body</i> in my lap, and
I'm supposed to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">okay</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honey, I'm sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shouldn't be unloading on you like
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's just so good to be able to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">talk</i> to you, even if it is only by mail.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I'm going to be coming
home to you less of a man than I thought, Julie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, nothing that has happened to me here in
this hell hole can <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ever</i> dim by love
for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just hope and pray you still
feel the same when you see me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which
will be soon, because the Army is discharging me this week to come home.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With My Heart In Your Hands,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love, Manny<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>The letter had been
dated the twelfth of October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie's
frantic gaze took in her calendar hanging on her wall. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny was due home in two days! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Chastising
herself.......<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hating</i> herself.....Julie
had then gone over her last conversation with Bradley earlier that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had asked her to go out with him that
night, and she had accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The few kisses they had shared
now burned like a branding iron on her cheating lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone had painted a scarlet 'S' on her
forehead, she could not have felt any worse.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Immediately, Julie ran
to the phone in her room and dialed Bradley's home number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hanging up, she ran over the possibilities of how to handle this
situation she had mired herself in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>'God.....what a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fool</i> I've
been', she berated herself, even as she looked up the number to the diner where
she worked.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Picking up the phone again,
Julie Delaney called in sick for the first time since she had begun working
there almost a year ago.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, grabbing up her purse and
car keys she ran from her room, down the stairs, and out to her little car
parked in the driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had not said
a word to her mother.....had not stopped to explain.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As Julie backed out of
the drive and drove away, Bethann Delaney did something she had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> done before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went up the stairs and entered her daughter's
room, unbidden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because something told
her that whatever had Julie so upset was in the contents of Manny's recent
letter to her, and this was one time that Bethann was bloody <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">well</i> going to snoop!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">abhorred</i>
her daughter's behavior over the last month or so.......running around with
this other fellow in college, while poor Manny was over there in Nam fighting
for his country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> time she had no qualms for invading
Julie's privacy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When Bethann Delaney
picked up Manny's letter and began to read, a sob tore out of her throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And....at that wrinkle in time, at
least......she found it was entirely possible to still love your own flesh and
blood, but intensely dislike them, too.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Frantically, Julie
searched every place she could <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">think</i>
of on campus that Bradley might be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
found no trace of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she asked
around if any of the other students had seen him, she received only negative
answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally she entered the student
lounge, retrieved a cup of cocoa from the counter, and sat herself down at a
window table.......until she realized it was the same table she and Bradley had
first sat down together at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abruptly,
she stood up and moved to a different one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As she sat sipping the
creamy chocolate liquid, Julie yelled at herself mentally once again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could she have been so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stupid</i>....so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">careless</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hadn't she known
full <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">well</i> what Bradley's feelings
were for her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer was, of course,
that yes, she had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using the excuse of
how lonely she had been just didn't wash any more, and she knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had pledged her love and life to Manny
Bell, and she had betrayed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was as
simple as that.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would find Bradley......somehow......before
tonight, and cancel her date with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tell him she never wanted to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i>
him again!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, when Manny came home in
two days time, she would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">force</i>
herself to find the courage to tell him the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She owed him that much, at the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he wanted nothing more to do with her, and
she found herself alone......well, it would be nothing more than she deserved.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Still stewing in her own
misery, she was, therefore, startled badly when she felt someone kiss her
cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerking her head up, fully
expecting to find Bradley standing there smiling at her......and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">equally </i>prepared to tell him to take a
hike......Julie was stunned to see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Manny
himself</i> standing there, grinning down at her!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Quickly, her eyes took
him in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was in full Army dress
uniform, medals pinned to his chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With a wrench of her heart, she saw that his left sleeve on his uniform
was pinned up at the elbow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerking her
eyes away from it, not wanting to embarrass him, she met his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a voice that trembled, Manny said softly,
"hello, beautiful".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"Manny", she
breathed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, she jumped up out of
the chair where she had been sitting and flew into his waiting arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His good arm wrapped itself tightly around
her waist, pulling her close to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
caring if God and everyone around them saw them, he took her mouth with his
own, kissed her long and sweetly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
at last he pulled away, Julie was horrified to see he was crying!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sudden guilt pierced her heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had he, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">somehow</i>,
found out already about Bradley?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Her eyes questioning
his, her coward's heart not finding the courage to ask him this question, Julie
instead laid a gentle hand along his cheek, and whispered, "Manny”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>He had given her a
crooked grin and said, "I'm sorry, sweetheart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't want to embarrass you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's just....God....there were times I
thought I'd never <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i> you again,
honey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To have you in front of me.....to
hold you in my arms again.....it's all I dreamed of, night and day".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Gently she put her arms
around his neck, drew him close.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Her eyes were closed to ward off her own tears as she whispered in his
ear, "I'm so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thankful</i> your home,
Manny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I missed you so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">much</i>"!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he kissed her cheek and held her closer
still, Julie happened to open her eyes and look over his shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her eyes met Bradley Renault's, dead on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave her a smirk, then turned on his heel
and left the lounge.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Obviously, Julie didn't
keep her date with Bradley that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She first took Manny home to see her parents, both the Delaney's
overjoyed to see him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bethann, in her usual
blunt style, commiserated with him over the loss of his arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Delaney hissed, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bethann</i>", to her, but Manny just chuckled
and said, "no, it's alright, sir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'd really much prefer that people don't feel they have to walk on egg
shells around me because of it".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Turning to Julie's mom, he said, "thank you, Mrs. Delaney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's been hard adjusting to it, but the docs
tell me I can be fitted with a prosthesis soon".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>After spending another
hour with the Delaney's, Manny asked if Julie would like to go out to dinner
with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happily she accepted, asking
him to give her an hour to get ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When Manny had gone and
Julie was in her room choosing what to wear, her mother, without preamble, came
in and softly shut the door behind her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Julie turned quickly around at the sound of the door, and the look on
her mother's face was daunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"Have you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bothered</i> to tell him, Julie", her
mother asked straight out.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Feigning ignorance to
her mother's question, Julie dropped her eyes to fiddle with the dress in her
hands, and asked, "what do you mean"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>In a voice of steel,
Bethann replied, "you know very <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">well</i>
what I mean, Julie Ann!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">told</i> Manny about the boy you've been
seeing in school"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie's ire was steadily
rising now, and she replied with anger in her voice, "that has been kind
of hard to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> so far, mom, considering
he's only been home for three hours and we haven't had two minutes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">alone </i>together"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Bethann's Irish temper
had been held in check admirably up till now, but her fair complexion tinged
pink and Julie was instantly contrite for how she'd spoken to her mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bethann, however, did not give Julie any
space to apologize.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"Now you listen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">here</i>, young lady", she began in a
firm voice, "there's no call for you to get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fresh</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you've been
doing......<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">behind Manny's back</i>.......is
nothing short of a disgrace!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He deserves better than that
from the woman he asked to marry him, Julie Ann!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And</i>.....whom
I might add......<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">happily agreed</i> to!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">least</i> you can do now, is tell him the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">truth</i>"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Before Julie could
reply, her mother turned on her heel and made for the bedroom door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spun to face her daughter one more time,
and said, "I'm sorry to say this, Julie, but if Manny never wanted to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i> you again, it would be nothing more
than you had coming to you"!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
Julie stood in stunned silence her mother left the room, her temper making her
unable to stop from slamming it shut behind her.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie's lower lip
trembled as she stared at her bedroom door, even though her heart told her she
had deserved her mom's wrath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
just that lately it seemed everyone was ganging up on her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they'd</i>
never made a mistake in their lives?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>True, hers had been of great magnitude, and she knew that she was going
to hurt Manny deeply when she confessed to him about her......what exactly
would you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">call</i> what had happened
between them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You couldn't really call
it an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">affair</i>.....they had never gone
beyond a chaste kiss or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alright</i>......a few more than that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to call it a 'fling' made it sound so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sordid</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Relationship made it sound too long term, like she and Bradley were
still together, and friendship really didn't cover it, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“What does it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">matter</i> what you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">call</i> it, Julie", she said aloud to herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wrong</i>,
as simple as that”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a heavy heart,
she prepared herself for her evening together with Manny.....quite possibly her
last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked down at the sparkling
diamond on her finger, and felt like Judas, himself.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chapter Four<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When Manny came by to
pick Julie up around seven, he stayed and talked with her folks for a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie allowed herself the luxury of looking
him over unobserved, as he was in conversation with her mom and dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>He was dressed again in
his civilian clothes, and looked very much as he had before he went into the
Army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, no......that wasn't strictly
true, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a strange,
almost wounded look about his eyes, now, a haunting in their depths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked a bit gaunt, telling Julie he had
lost weight while on his tour of duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
what he had described their eating conditions as being, she could understand <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As her eyes traveled over him, she winced once again at the sleeve of
his sport jacket pinned up on his left arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He now walked with an almost unnoticeable limp in his right leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wouldn't see it easily, unless you were
looking for it, but Julie knew him well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His chances, of course, of ever pursuing a basketball scholarship now blown
away like so much chafe on the wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
much he had given of himself....so little he would ever get back in return.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Eventually Manny asked
Julie if she were ready, telling her he had made reservations at Fredrico’s for
eight thirty and if they didn't want to lose their table they better get
going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of her wanted so very much
to be alone with him again......the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other</i>
half, however, didn't really want to face the music she knew was coming sooner
or later tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plastering a bright smile
on her face she told him yes, she was ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She refused to meet her folk's accusing eyes as they went out the door.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Manny had made their
reservations at the swankiest place in town, and Julie was glad she had dressed
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they came through the curtained
doorway, led by the Hostess, Manny didn't seem aware of the curious, outright
stares of other people when they looked at his arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie, however, was livid on his behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did people have nothing better
to do than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stare</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny wasn't a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">freak</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they wanted that,
let them go to a circus and pay to see a side show!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She found herself glaring at the idiots,
staring them down until they looked away, red faced.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>The woman led them to a
back table, where the ambiance was dim lighting and a burning candle in the
center of the table.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Manny seated Julie, then
himself, the hostess smiled at them and told them their server would be with
them shortly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When Julie looked back
from watching the girl depart, she found Manny's eyes on her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no smile on his lips, just a
strange, piercing look to his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tried
for a smile, and asked, "what"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>From out of left field,
he asked her, "care to tell me about it, babe"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Feigning ignorance, he
had so taken her by surprise with his question, she said lightly, "tell
you about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i>, Manny"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>An almost injured look
came over his face as he gently took her left hand in his right atop the
table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His gaze steady, he said,
"we promised we'd always be honest with each other, Julie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Promised no secrets, remember”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she nodded, he continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I.....I know about Bradley Renault,
Julie", he finished quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"When were you planning on telling me"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie's face lost its
color, as she stared at him in horror.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Manny......I", was all she could
squeak out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her look implored him to
understand without words, but she knew that was foolish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could</i>
he ever understand that his future bride had run around on him, while he, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">himself</i>, was putting his very life on
the line for his country?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deep shame
made her drop her eyes from his, and a sheen of tears filmed them, because she
knew very well she could have written to him....prepared him before hand for
what she had done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Begged his
forgiveness, but she had been too cowardly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Manny released her hand,
and put his fingers under her chin, making her look up at him again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"He came to see me today, Julie,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He told me he was in love with you, and that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you </i>felt the same about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He let me know, Julie, that he wasn't going to give you up so easily, in
his words, 'just because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> came
back, Bell' ”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took her hand once
again and said with evident pain in his voice, "all I want to know, honey,
is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> you love him"?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She jerked back slightly at his question, but
he kept her gaze locked to his as he said, "because, if you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i>, Julie, I really will
understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's a whole man, no parts
missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His family has
money......you'll never want for anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What I'm trying to say, honey, is I won't stand in your way if he is
what you really and truly want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'd
never do that, Julie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've too much pride
to try to force a woman to stay with me out of some misguided sense of
obligation".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie broke down crying,
right where she sat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting her hands
to her face she bolted up out of her chair and quite literally <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ran</i> from the restaurant, nearly knocking
an elderly couple off their feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
bolted through the door from the restaurant, her feet flying beneath her, even
as she heard Manny somewhere behind her pleading for her to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, she ran......ran until her breath was
gasping in her throat, until her legs finally gave out on her, and her feet
entangled themselves, and she went sprawling<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She heard the fabric of her dress rip at the
waist, felt the sting when her hands and knees were scrapped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She welcomed the pain......didn't think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything </i>could ever give her enough hurt
to wipe out the shame and humiliation she felt.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As she lay there on the
ground, great heaving sobs escaping her throat, she felt a gentle hand on her
shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny's voice, winded as much
as her own, said softly, "Julie?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are you okay, honey"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>His concern over
her......that he could actually still <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">care</i>...tore
her heart from her chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she
raised her head, he was kneeling beside her, worry writ across his handsome
face.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tears streaking unheeded down
her face, she reached trembling arms up to him and cried, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Manny</i>"!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without hesitation, he pulled her up into his
embrace with his good arm, holding her shaking form to him as he rocked her,
much like a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made quiet
shushing sounds, kissing the top of her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When she had finally quieted, he helped her to her feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she still kept her eyes cast down, he
did not force her to look at him again. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"I guess I handled
that very badly, Julie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's just I love
you with all my heart, and I only ever want your happiness, honey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even", and here his voice caught,
"if it means away from me".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie met his beautiful
eyes then, looked deeply into them.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, she found she had been
right about the haunted look in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She longed to wipe that look away......to reassure him she could never
love another man as she did him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so,
she said to him, "Manny, you’re the only man I've ever loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bradley Renault was a…
distraction".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, although she
knew this was going to hurt him, she determined she would not lie.....would not
try to cover up the truth of what she had done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Casting her eyes down to look at the ground, she said,
"I.....we......he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did</i> kiss me,
Manny….a few times".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked
back up at him quickly, and saw the pain she had inflicted with her words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, his eyes never left hers as she went
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"It meant nothing, Manny!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he took it to mean more, well, that's <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">his</i> problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, even if", and her voice broke
slightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cleared her throat and
forced the words out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Even</i> if it means you never want to see
me again, I'm telling you right now that there will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> be anything between Bradley Renault and me".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>He looked deeply into
her eyes.......must have seen the truth of her words in their depths, because a
crooked grin lifted his mouth, and he said shakily, "does this mean you
and I can begin to plan that big 'blow out' wedding"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Totally unable to
believe the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">depth</i> of this man's love
for her, Julie's eyes filled with tears once again, and throwing herself into
his arms, she cried, "oh, Manny.......what did I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ever</i> do to deserve you"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chapter 5<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"Girl, if you don't
get a move on, the shops will be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">closed</i>"!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie smiled at her mother's usual
impatience, grabbing up her purse and keys and descending the stairs quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Today was the day they
would be shopping for her wedding dress, and both women were in high
spirits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Julie came clamoring down
the stairs, she was grateful to see the happy light in her mom's eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gone was the condemning and shameful look she
had seen too much of lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Linking her
arm through her mom's, she laughingly pulled her towards the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bethann, however, stopped her just short of
the door, and pulled her daughter into a quick hug, kissing her cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her eyes told Julie all she needed to know,
and with a big smile, Julie opened the door and made a sweeping bow, escorting
her mother outside first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were both
laughing as they made their way to Julie's car.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Two dress shops and ten
dresses later, they had found 'the one'!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When her daughter stepped out of the dressing room, the attendant
smiling hugely as she fluffed the skirt here and there, Bethann Delaney's
breath caught in her throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her eyes
misted as she beheld her only child, looking like someone out of a fairy tale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She put one hand to her throat, as she stood
and slowly circled her daughter, taking in every detail of the gown.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>It was constructed of
white satin, the sleeves pushed off the shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a sweetheart neckline, which showed
just a hint of cleavage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dress
fitted closely to the waist, and from there flowed in billowing yards of the
same material.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire bodice was
overlaid with glittering sequins and tiny white pearls, the same pattern
studding the entire skirt. A train flowed out behind her, at least three feet
in length, with again the sequin and pearl pattern<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gracing its entire length and breadth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The back was cut low, to the small of the
waist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pert, white satin bow graced
the spot where the zipper ended on the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It, too, glittered in the lights of the store with the sequins and
pearls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"Darling, it’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beautiful</i>", said Mrs. Delaney to
her daughter, tears now running unashamedly down her cheeks.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie looked happily at
her reflection in the multiple mirrors.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Do you think so, mom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
you think Manny will like it"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Bethann sniffed, and said
almost gruffly, "well, if he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doesn't</i>,
he's blind as a bat"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>That did it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie's case of the jitters left her
immediately at her mom's remark, and she cracked up laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">salesgirl</i>
found herself chuckling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving her
mother a happy hug, Julie told the girl they would take the gown, still smiling
as she returned to the dressing room to change.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When she came back out
to where her mother sat waiting, Bethann said, "now, what of a head piece,
Julie"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Groaning, Julie realized
their shopping expedition was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">far</i>
from over!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she knew her mom......and
she <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did</i>.....no detail was too small
to be over looked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time they left
the shop, they not only had the dress and head piece.....but the blue garter,
(for something blue), the guest book, the cake knife, the bride and groom toast
glasses, Julie's shoes, and, finally, a mother-of-the-bride's dress for
Bethann.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie refused to let her eyes
fall on the check her mother wrote out at the end of it all!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When the two finally got
home that evening, Julie's dad was sitting in the living room, reading the
paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled at them when they came
through the door, leaden down in packages.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"So", he
quipped, "how poor am I, ladies"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Smiling at her husband,
Bethann said, "you don't want to know, honey, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trust</i> me"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>He chuckled in good
humor, then said, "so, does your poor old dad......left here <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all alone all afternoon</i>.....get to see
you model your dress, princess"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Laughing gaily, Julie
had hurried to kiss his cheek, and assured him he was going to be the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">first</i> to see it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then checked herself with, "well,
next to mom, of course".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As she grabbed up the
large boxes that held her dress and head piece, his humorous chuckle followed
her up the stairs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie's mother had
trailed her upstairs, and as she carefully changed into her wedding ensemble,
her mother did up the zipper, fastening the hook and eye that held the pretty
little bow in place at the top of the zipper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As Bethann carefully placed the elaborate headdress atop her daughter's
head, she did something that was so totally uncharacteristic of her, it took
Julie by surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Not meeting Julie's
eyes, fussing with the veil here and there, fluffing the skirt of the dress,
Bethann Delaney said quietly, <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I want to tell you I'm
sorry, Julie......for the way I spoke to you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not my place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is your life, and you should be free to
live it as you so choose".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"But, momma",
Julie said quickly, reverting to the name she had called her mother as a child,
"you were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">right</i>"!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning to face her mother, Julie said
softly, "I acted like a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fool</i>,
momma.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let my head be turned by a man
who was paying 'attention' to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know, now, it was because in my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">heart</i>
I was still so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">angry</i> at Manny for
choosing to go into the service, rather than staying home and marrying me right
away".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She let her gaze drop from
her mother's, as she finished, "I love Manny, momma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't deserve him.....but I'm going to make
him the best wife I can"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>A soft look came into
Julie's mother's eyes, and she put a gentle hand under her daughter's chin, so
she would meet her eyes again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a soft
voice, Bethann said, "I'm more than proud of you, Julie, and I love you
with all my heart". <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As her mother hugged
her, Julie said in a muffled voice against her shoulder, "I love you, too,
momma".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>The chapel bells rang
out loudly over their small town the day<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Manny Ralph Bell and Julie Ann Delaney were wed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sound carried near and far, telling
everyone the blessed day had finally arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The month was June, the year 1967.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The weather seemed made especially for them by the Angels in Heaven, so
fair was it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In ones, twos, groups and
couples, people filed into the big white church on the corner to witness a
marriage many had said would not be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, Manny and Julie had gone the gauntlet, proving the doubting
Thomas's wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>In her dressing room,
Julie was surrounded by women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her mom,
of course......but there was also her Maid of Honor, Tiffany, who was her best
friend, then her two other bridesmaids, Kathy and Brenda, also friends from
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her little five year old
neighbor, Cindy, was her flower girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
the women helped her dress, giggling when she slipped on the blue garter, she
thought of Manny's entourage in his own changing room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tommy, his good friend from school, was his Best
Man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His two other groomsmen were Frank
and Levi, two other pals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His ring
bearer was his sister's son, Emanuel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their wedding colors were deep blue and gray, and her bouquet picked
these colors up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny had chosen a white
tux, with a gray vest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flowers in
his lapel would be a deep blue flower with a white rose.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Now Tiffany had the
honor of placing Julie's head piece on her head, and everyone in the room
looked on in delight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She truly was a
vision, the long veil trailing to the floor in back, a single filmy shield of
the veil covering her face in the front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The crown of the head piece looked nothing short of royalty, picking up
the sequins and pearls from her gown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every way she turned, she glittered and shone in the lights.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie's mother came up
to her then and, as everyone watched, she took something from folded tissue
paper in her hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie's eyes widened
in wonder at what she saw, and then they flew to her mother's face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bethann's chin wobbled slightly, as she said
in a not so steady voice, "you've never seen these, darling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wore them at my wedding to your daddy, and
my mother wore them before me, and hers before her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've kept them for you, Julie, to wear on your
own wedding day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There yours now, to
keep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps, one day, your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">own</i> daughter will wear them".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Bethann turned Julie to
look in the mirror again, and moved around behind her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carefully, she draped the necklace in place
and fastened it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone in the room
gasped in shock!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For against Julie's
breast lay the most <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exquisite</i> diamond
creation Julie had ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tiny,
winking diamonds ran up the length of the chain to her shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The center of the piece was a solid cluster
of large and small diamonds, with one large one that dangled from the bottom in
a perfect tear drop shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bethann then
handed Julie the earrings, and she put them on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They, too, were a cluster of bright diamonds, with a smaller, lone
replica of the tear drop dangling from each one.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Her mom put her arm
around Julie's shoulder, gave her a squeeze, kissed her cheek gently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"This is your 'something old',
darling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take good care of them".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie found she could only nod her head as
she met her mother's eyes in the mirror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If she had tried to speak, she would have broken down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it was, her eyes were misting over.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Tiffany broke the
spell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving a sniff, she cleared her
throat and said, "although it certainly can't compete with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i>, Jules", and everyone
chuckled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grinning, she went on,
"but I wanted to give you your something borrowed".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As Julie turned around
to watch her friend, Tiffany moved to her purse lying on a bench in the
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She extricated a small blue box,
and from within its velvet lining she removed a very fine, gold link
chain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From it dangled one single charm,
a filigree heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she knelt at
Julie's feet, she told her to lift her skirts for a moment and fastened the
chain around her right ankle.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>As Julie turned her
ankle, admiring the bracelet, Tiffany said, "it was my graduation present
from my daddy, Jules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means the world
to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn't anybody else I'd
allow to borrow it but you".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
her friend stood up again, Julie hugged her warmly and said, "I'll take
very good care of it, Tif.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank
you".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Thus it was that Julie's
heart was full to bursting with the love she felt for the people in that
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had to grab the reins of her
emotions with both hands, therefore, when the music began that signaled her
attendants to begin their walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
heart took a leap in her chest........in just a little over an hour, she would
become Mrs. Manuel Ralph Bell!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie kissed her
mother's cheek and hugged her, as she was first to leave the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her dad's brother, Henry, escorted her mom to
her seat at the front of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then, one by one, her girls met the guy they would walk the aisle with,
and made their slow way to the altar to take their places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie had moved out of the room to meet her
father, who took her hands in his and told her that, next to her mother, he had
never in his life seen a more beautiful bride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Suddenly, the beginning strains of the well loved 'Wedding March' began
to fill the air of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Holding
out his left arm to her, her daddy asked, "ready, sweetheart"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her legs trembling, she smiled
nervously at him and nodded, slipping her arm through his.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When they appeared in
the doorway, no bride had ever had a more enthusiastic reception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ohh's and ahh's came from every side.....even
a few '<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wow's'!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie blushed prettily at their guests
responses, and then her eyes met and held Manny's, waiting for her at the
altar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the love in the world was
apparent in his gaze, and soon everyone else in the large church ceased to
exist for Julie but the man she was about to marry.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>She had almost made it
to the front on her daddy's arm...was, in fact, only two steps away from
Manny....when it happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chapter 6<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>The windows were open to
allow a cross breeze of the beautiful summer day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, from what sounded like it was
coming from directly underneath one of the windows, an explosion rent the
air!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The organist abruptly stopped
playing, actually throwing herself off her bench to the floor with a screech.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guests screamed, and Julie's father pulled
her down beside him to the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
the worst reaction came from Manny, himself.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Instantly, he had thrown
himself down on his stomach on the altar floor, and began screaming out orders
to imaginary fellow soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It's Charlie.......it's Charlie", </i>he
yelled, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">get down!<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damn it......<u>get down</u></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was true panic
within the church's body of people now, and they began to charge the doorway,
practically stampeding in their mindless flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the while, Pastor Sampson was trying to
yell over the noise to, “be calm, people!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's alright!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please.....be calm”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one paid him any heed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>There was now a crush of
bodies against the double doors of the church, and so mindless was their panic
that nobody could actually move enough to get out of the doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly Frank was wading in among the
guests, forcefully shoving them back, yelling at them to, 'get back!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damn it, get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">back</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stop</i> it, now'!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gradually the panic lessened,
and reason came back into the eyes of the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They looked around themselves as if stunned,
and one little girl was crying in her father's arms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>When they had quieted
except for the mumbled conversation, Levi came forward, shoving a man before
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a tight grip on the man's
arms from behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie had come out the
doorway from the front of the church with a now somewhat sheepish looking Manny
and her father, and when she saw who Levi held prisoner, she gasped, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bradley</i>"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>He said nothing in
return, just kept his eyes pinned on Manny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His look was murderous, his mouth curled into a horrid looking
sneer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Levi spoke up and said,
"this jerk off is the one who did it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thought it would be real cute to set off a firecracker under one of the
windows"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"Think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> your marrying, Julie", Bradley
spat out in contempt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Think what
you’re <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">life</i> is going to be like!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any little noise, and Mr. Wonderful here is
going to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">freak</i>"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Before anyone could move
or say anything in return, Julie quickly covered the distance between her and
Bradley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To everyone's surprise, (and if
the truth be told, their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">delight</i> as
well, but none so more than Manny, himself), she drew back and absolutely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">round housed</i> Bradley in the jaw!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The force of the blow actually snapped his
head back, almost hitting Levi behind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"Get this creep out of here", she hissed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Levi said, "you bet, honey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We've already called the cops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They'll be here any second".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Bradley's eyes were still
dazed looking as two officers came, took statements, and hauled him away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie looked down at her right hand......it
was swollen and red, and it hurt like the dickens!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny had come up to her side,
and he took the hand and kissed it, then whispered to her, "remind me to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> tick you off, beautiful"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Julie giggled, and the
tension was broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Sampson said
jovially, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">well</i>......a bit
unorthodox, I admit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, who's ready to
have a wedding"?!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>An hour later, Manny was
lifting Julie's veil reverently, and he took her in his arms and kissed her
deeply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wolf whistles and cat calls went
up, and when he finally released her, Julie's face was tinged a becoming
pink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they turned to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">finally</i> face their guests, Pastor
Sampson could not resist one last crack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Well</i>", he said happily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"It took some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doing</i>, but may I now have the privilege....<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">finally</i>....of introducing to you, Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Bell"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Thunderous clapping and
cheers went up from their guests, and Julie noticed her folks were both crying
happily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manny's own mother was weeping,
also, and his father looked suspiciously bright eyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the bride and groom led the procession
back down the aisle, Manny squeezed her hand gently and said, "we finally <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">made </i>it, sweetheart!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">finally</i>
mine, forever"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Her face shining
radiantly, Julie's smile was just for him. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>'Yes', she thought to herself,
'it's been a long, hard row to hoe,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but we finally made it'!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A Final Word<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*************<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Thus it was that Julie
now sat in her tidy little kitchen with her Manny, at three in the morning, both
of them sipping coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His bouts of these flash back's
were fewer now, although he would most likely never be rid of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julie understood......knew that no man who
had witnessed the horrors of a war like Nam could ever be expected to come out
of it unscathed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thanked her God
each and every day that He had brought Manny back alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though he had lost a limb, he was still
her Manny, his heart as big as all outdoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Now she took his good
hand in her own, and he raised his eyes questioningly to look at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grinning, she knew that now was the time to
spring her 'surprise' on him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>"I've got something
to tell you........<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">daddy</i>"!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first he looked puzzled, then realization
dawned in his eyes and they lit up like a Christmas tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"You mean your......your....", he
sputtered, pointing to her stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Laughing, she nodded, and asked, "are you happy, Manny"?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>In answer, he let out a
loud whoop and pulled her to her feet, then one armed he twirled her around a
couple of times, before setting her gently on her feet again, laughing all the
while.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally his eyes softened, and
he pulled her to him and kissed her.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the kiss had ended, he
gazed into her eyes and said, "have I told you lately how very much I love
you, Mrs. Bell'?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 0pt 4.5pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt .5in 5.5in; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Giggling, she said,
"only about three times a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
you can <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> tell me too often,
Manny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love you, too".<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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