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Book Three – A pampered, highly attractive, self- centered college girl wants excitement in her perceived boring life, bolstered by her endless string of boyfriend failures; the return of a lost letter thrusts her into an insidious involvement with the sadistic campus drug pusher, his activities, his followers; convictions the world is in chaos and her life in disorder become reinforced during her travels, as she is exposed to political crises and personal pain; returning home, she experiences the hidden ugliness of war, the continuing political upheaval while campus brutality seeps into the town.

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Fiction

Coming of Age

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Publié par	eBookIt.com
Date de parution	09 janvier 2023
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781456639907
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0200€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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FATE?
LUCK?
COINCIDENCE?

BOOK III
THE LEAP YEAR SERIES

RICHARD BLAND MILES
Copyright © May 2022
by Richard Bland Miles

All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy, recording, or by any information and storage retrieved system without the written permission of the author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are products of the author ’ s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Some events and incidents actually occurred but were enhanced or supplemented as needed. Names of some institutions and businesses were changed, others remained fixed.

Historical events, persons and data are accurately depicted. All merchandise and products are true to their time. Television shows are correctly sequenced. Recognizable persons, authors and their books, singers and their recordings are properly described.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

For the still beautiful Georgiann
who was at the core of some Coincidences
with some Luck and a little bit of Fate — a long, long time ago.
Memoriam

In memory of Aunt Georgia or “ Georgie, ” without whom, a lot of wonderful things in life would not have been possible. My uncle Charley.

In memory of my mother, Vera. My Omaha aunt and uncle — Virginia and Charley — their son and my wonderful cousin Patrick.

In memory of the Jesuits — Robert R. Lakas, S.J., William C. Doyle, S.J. and John Kavanaugh, S.J., all of whom provided positive guidance and unwavering support.
Acknowledgements

My reviewers and critics — John Gatschet, who provided his usual insightful suggestions, ideas and changes Kelli Blohm, who can still catch any of my errors while offering solid advice for changes.

Ari Shaban, his comments.

Gary Cox, University of Missouri Reference Archivist — for the 1968 maps, diagrams and suggestive historical articles.

My brother Forrest — for being what an older brother should be.
Author ’ s Notes

“ Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest. ”

“ A ‘ Classic ’ . A book which people praise and don ’ t read. ”

“ I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. ”

Mark Twain Tidbits of Wisdom

A dollar in 1968 = $8.40 in 2020
CONTENTS

PREFACE
NEW YEAR’S EVE — 1967
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY — 1969
JUNE
JULY
MAY — 1980
JULY — 1984
AUTHOR’S BIO
THE LEAP YEAR SERIES
PREFACE

LUCK can be defined as the success or failure of events apparently caused by chance, instead of one ’ s actions . COINCIDENCE is considered an extraordinary concurrence of incidents or circumstances without any apparent relationship. FATE is the development of events beyond a person ’ s control, determined by some vague entity, having the supernatural power of predetermination.
In 1968, almost all young males were hoping for either a stroke of luck or a series of coincidences or fate to somehow intervene — any one of them — for avoidance of being drafted into the Army. After one graduated college, student deferments were gone, regardless if one wanted to pursue graduate studies. If one already had a job, a career, there was a target on your back. It was open season on youth ’ s freedom and future. The alternative was to join the eventual thirty to sixty thousand and leave for Canada. President Johnson, McNamara, their cronies continued to escalate “ the war ” after the Gulf of Tonkin, providing its ongoing anxiety. Reinforcing those fears were the monthly horrors of assassinations, riots, even an American warship being commandeered by North Korea, all set against the intensifying and widening of the irrational , fool ’ s game melee in Viet Nam which television brought to the American people nightly. The “ discontent ” was not only in America; it was worldwide — Paris, Prague, Mexico City, other cities. The turning point of public sentiment came in February after Walter Cronkite ’ s comments of “ the war ” only could end in a stalemate. A growing number of “ oldsters, ” began to change their thinking and minds; this was not like World War II, even the Korean “ War ” . They became acutely aware when more boys from their neighborhoods, their offices and factories, their churches and synagogues came home in wooden boxes; no one able to provide an indisputable, definitive reason why. The year did end with the Apollo 8 astronauts being the first men to orbit the Moon, generating a note of hope and wishes for peace that Christmas. When they returned, the problems still remained, still mismanaged. In Nixon ’ s inaugural address, the American people were told about “ history ’ s greatest honor … is title of peacemaker … now beckons America … to lead the world at last out of the valley of turmoil ” . Yet over twenty thousand American troops were to be killed as the country waited for the coming promised Peace, four years into the future. Accordingly, the riots and demonstrations increasingly mounted in size, scope and intensity. The Gates Of Hell were now fully opened.
During this watershed year, a pampered, spoiled girl living a privileged life experiences acute testing of her intelligence, desires, character and strength of will.

Richard Bland Miles
May, 2022
NEW YEAR ’ S EVE — 1967

Mother knocked on my door, “ DeForrest, aren ’ t you ready yet? Our guests will be here very soon! ”
“ Be there in five … or so, Mother. ”
“ Angel, quit your pouting about perceiving your life as boring. You ’ re not in high school anymore! Please hurry up! ”
Now just to get a little blusher on. Some nice light pink lipstick and matching eye shadow. Probably cause Mother ’ s eyebrows to raise a bit. Heh heh! I know …… I ’ ll do my new false eyelashes too. First time I ’ ve ever used any kind of ‘ falsies ’ …… Heh heh!
After I finished my make-up, I went over to relax on my oversized, oh so comfortable left-arm chaise lounge, where I did my studying for high school with my antique, folding writing top. I kicked my shoes off, carefully arranged my black silk pants down to the foot rest — didn ’ t want them wrinkled. Then I leaned against the sloping arm and its rolled back, closed my eyes, to try to figure out why I thought Roger was only “ so-so ” .
Certainly he ’ s a lot of fun. Certainly a nice ’ 66 blue G TO. Certainly nice-looking. And certainly can get some good weed like two nights ago.
Been ‘ a couple ’ for only five days. Naturally, the dumb ass plays it fast by trying to feel me up. The number of guys that I have liked that much can be counted on one hand. He ’ s nowhere close to joining that exclusive club .
Will I ever meet someone like Rich and Aunt Danae both have? Someone I couldn ’ t live without. Someone who I could unquestionably depend on. Who needs me body, mind and soul. Someone I love so much that sometimes it hurts. That ’ s not pouting Mother … that ’ s called dreaming and wishing. Well, maybe it is … … only a little.
Oh well … … … … Tonight ’ s party will certainly be a helluva lot tamer than last night ’ s one. And certainly a ton more than last year ’ s New Year ’ s Eve.
Yesterday morning, Aunt Dani è le looked so beautiful in her Givenchy white suit, emerald green shell with that veiled white pill box for her wedding mass and vows. Mother, her matron of honor again, always looking her elegant best, in a Yves Saint Laurent dark navy wool suit with a deep scarlet silk blouse and matching short French lace mantilla.
Aunt Danae told everyone this has been the best year of her entire life . Graduated from Kansas University Law School in the spring, immediately returned to Ellis & Mullins to be their first female attorney, instantly fell deeply and passionately in love with ‘ her real true soul mate ’ … fianc é of five weeks and constant companion of only eleven weeks and now, her wonderful husband. Met Hank on her fateful forty-second birthday after the 10:30 Mass at St. Patrick ’ s during the annual Pancake breakfast. He had been back in town only one day when he met her. Says he hasn ’ t been right since.
From that morning they became virtually inseparable. Engaged at Thanksgiving. Married so quickly … Monsignor O’Reilly was concerned she might be pregnant. In typical Dani è le Richelieu style, she wished, ‘ Oh please God, let that be true. ’ Hee hee! Everyone teased her about robbing the cradle as Hank is eight and a half years younger. Regardless of their age difference, anyone can tell they are so deeply in love.
The wedding brunch at the Plaza III then the reception last night in the Hotel Lafayette ’ s Brandywine and Yorktown rooms, repeating last year ’ s venues. Oh, the most heavenly food with joyous and happy company. And more than a few toasts . Best man Tim … Hank ’ s younger brother … made a touching farewell toast. Before they left, Danae thanked Rich for giving her away. He simply remarked, ‘ Thank you for being my wonderful, incredible Aunt Dani è le. We love you ’ . And the three of us kissed goodbye.
But last year ’ s New Year ’ s Eve. Wow! That wonderful morning double ring wedding in St. Patrick ’ s Cathedral. Autumn never could choose between Jacqui and me for her Maid of Honor, so we both walked down the aisle together. Ha! Coincidentally, Rich wouldn ’ t choose a sole best man, so it was both Jack and Bart … The Three Musketeers!
Mick Hayden … great neighbor and my first date in Wyandotte, now pitching in the minor leagues, Art Garrison … Jake ’ s baseball roommate, Harold … ugh … were ushers.
Autumn looked absolutely gorgeous in that Venetian lace gown. She has already said I could borrow it. Great, so I ’ ve got the dress … now all I need is a guy. Rich told Autumn she was so beautiful. Oh damn, wasn ’ t she? So sta