Kansas Summer

An Old Friend

The summer of 1998 was the first summer I spent without Jenna before we started dating four years ago. Though my heart ached for her, I remembered Mr. Jackson's words. I would try to forget her. It would be difficult, but I would try. All the same, I wished fervently that she would return by some incredible miracle. I tried to call the Jackson's number for more news, but their phone service hadn't been restored since the storm a month ago. However, instead of Jenna, I had Morgan to look after.

As I had suspected, the country life had done Morgan well. She had gained weight and wasn't as thin as she had been when she lived with Nancy. Whether this had anything to do with the abuse, I had no idea. She also learned many unique skills from her new mom. Mrs. Andrews taught Morgan how to sew, how to mend clothes, how to garden, how to do laundry the country way, and also how to play the piano. Morgan caught onto these skills with incredible speed; in a week, she had sewed a beautiful black skirt for herself and a matching top as well. Her anxiety and depression also subsided, as did her nightmares about her stepmother. I think perhaps her new conversion to Christianity had helped end those. She had become strong in her faith and a leader in the local church, despite her short time living in Houghton. Other girls her age looked up to her as a role model, and she became very popular in town, but never flaunted her popularity in the slightest.

I would venture to say that Morgan's beauty increased by a great deal also. She took up running to balance her weight gain, keeping her body slim and healthy at the same time. She let the blonde dye grow out of her hair until it was a beautiful dark chocolate color. Her clothing changed to match the conservative nature of Houghton, and she used her old city clothes as fabric scraps, much to my amusement.

I kept myself busy by working out in the simple gym on campus, which was new to me; I had never seen a gym in my life growing up in Kansas. I also hooked up with some college students who were into Ultimate Frisbee. I taught them a lot about the game; most of them only played for fun, but after that summer, they could have been professionals, unfortunately, Houghton College was too small to have nationally ranked team.

I also helped the Saufleys move to their new home in Pennsylvania. I learned that the reason for their departure was that Mrs. Saufley's mother and father were growing old, and that she wanted to stay near them. She told me numerous stories about her and her husband's childhood, and how there were two bastard children in the family. I had to giggle at that. I could not imagine that this kind, gentle woman could be the descendant of an illegitimate scoundrel. She agreed with me, but insisted that it was the truth.

I loved my summer in Houghton almost much as I loved my summers in Goodland, but it still wasn't the same without my dad, Jenna, and daily trips to the lake. I decided one day in early August that Morgan had to join me in the tradition. I loaded some rods and tackle that Mr. Andrews furnished me in the back of my truck and whistled for Morgan.

“What do you want?” she asks.

“Come on, we're going to take a drive!” I tell her, motioning for her to get in. She hesitates.

“Can I get changed into some jeans first?”

“Of course you can.” When the door is closed, I bang my hand on the steering wheel, but laugh afterwards, remembering that Jenna would have been the same way.

“So where are we going, Colin?” my sister questions me incessantly.

“I don't know,” I tell her for the seventh time. “I'm driving until I come to a lake.”

“Why?”

I grin. “We are going fishing.”

Her face wrinkles. “Fishing?”