Monday morning, things were buzzing with activity in the Kazan store.
Linda stood at one of the three counters, continually checking out groceries, answering the telephone, assisting customers, and, between it all, attempting to read the newspaper.
Back at the next counter, Ellis and his black assistant, Sammy Walker, were also busy.
"Be sure to cut off more fat than you did last time! My brother almost had a fit!"
The voice was that of Miriam Katz Mayer.
"How have you been?" Ellis asked. "I haven't seen you in ages!"
"I'm fine," Miriam replied.
"How's Heidi?"
"Funny you ask--when she first went to college, she begged and begged to come home. Now, it's all we can do to get her here!"
"So, life in New Orleans agrees with her!"
"Yeah, a bit too much," Miriam gasped.
"Well, this meat's tender as a mothers love, and I know you love Heidi!"
"Fifteen sixty five," said Linda, as she checked and totaled Miriam's groceries.
Miriam paid, collected her groceries, and left.
The telephone rang.
"Linda," said Josiphene Michael, "I hate to do this, but I'm sending one of the bagboys down to your store for a carton of Chesterfields. Mrs. McIntire--you know how she is--inisits on Chesterfields!"
"I'll have them ready!" Linda said.
Actually, the "competition" among stores in Cole was a "friendly competition." Most of the stores were owned by the Lebanese. If, for example, a certain store ran out of a product, they would feel free to call on another store and ask for that product. This was "one of those days."
At Cole High School, during the morning break, Bill and Karen met in front of the gymnasium.
"How are you feeling?" Bill asked.
"Just fine," Karen said. "I'm just scared, Bill, honey."
They grabbed hands and stood by a large oak tree. They hoped no one would pay any attention to them.
"I could hardly sleep last night," Bill said. "I kept dozing off, dreaming about this damn mess! I even felt like committing suicide, but knew I couldn't do that to you!"
"No," Karen desperately urged, "don't ever leave me! I need you now more than ever!"
"Good morning," chirped Valerie Black, passing the couple, neither of whom spoke. "Well, just don't speak!"
"What are we going to do, Karen?"
"We'll just have to run off sooner than we expected!"
"I wanted to wait until, at least, school is out!"
"That would be great!" Karen sarcastically said. "I would be the laughing stock of Cole High--me and my big stomach!"
Valerie, not far down the sidewalk from the couple, couldn't help overhearing the conversation. She stopped, and pretended to be digging through her purse, as the conversation continued.
"I just don't ever remember us going that far," Bill said. "I would have remembered."
"Oh, there have been plenty of times," Karen said. "Or, have you forgotten some of those parties at the Sampson Motel?"
"Those back rooms?"
"Yeah!"
Bill hung his head down.
"I have a feeling things will work out for us, Bill. After all, I'm not the first case of high school pregnancy in Cole!"
Valerie, shocked, dropped her purse. Without Bill or Karen noticing, Valerie picked up her belongings and walked on down the sidewalk.
"How are we going to tell our parents?" Bill asked. "I mean--mine are so industrious--so set on my being a good boy!"
"We won't have to say a damn thing. Once we get out of town, all our problems are over!"
"They'll be just beginning!" Bill snapped.
Later that day, Karen was in an all girl physical education class. On one side of the room sat Valerie Black, Six girls sat in each row. On the opposite sidee of the room sat Karen.
Karen's best friend, Sarah Hammer, sat directly behind her. At the same time Valerie passed a note to Joy barr, who sat behind her on her side of the room, Karen passed a note to Sarah.
Valerie's note read:
Joy. Meet me after school in my
car. I have some fascinating news
about a certain couple.
Needless to say, by Monday night it would be common gossip among Cole youth that Karen Ingram was pregnant.
However, Karen's note read:
Sarah. Please meet me after
school in front of the gym.
Bill won't get out of P. E.
until a few minutes after
that. I'm afraid I've told
Bill a horrible lie!
Karen didn't realize that Sarah would tell everyone what she pleased, when she pleased!
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