Autumn in Philadelphia Trilogy

Cory and Shawn's Miracle Soap: Conclusion

Cory sighed heavily as he raked leaves into a pile on the football field of John Adams High. He still had ten yards left to go, plus bagging the leaves and taking them to the trash. If that wasn't bad enough, it was a record hot October day.

He paused for a rest and leaned on the handle of the rake for support. He could see Shawn in the distance carrying several large trash bags to the dumpster. Shawn had a discouraged look on his face; similar to the one he had when his dad first left. Cory scratched his head. Shawn had been abnormally quiet since Miss Andrews left for New York and Cory wasn't sure why. His friend had been in no mood to discuss it when Cory tried to ask about it that morning. In time, he knew, Shawn would talk to him. Until then, Cory wished he could do something to make Shawn feel better.

A call from his dad would help, Cory thought. A surge of anger towards Chet Hunter swelled inside of him. Surely the man could have found a pay phone and called. So what if he didn't have the change for it? Mr. Turner wouldn't mind taking a collect call.

"Hey, kid!" Cory spun around, startled by the shout. Janitor Bud stood of the edge of the field. "This ain't no break time. Get back to work."

Cory sighed again and went back to his raking.

_______________________________________________________________________________

"Why do you have to bring this up every time we get together?" Jon pulled away from Katherine and got off the couch.

"Because," she said defensively. "I want a commitment from you."

"But marriage?" He paced the area by the front door. "Do you know what you're asking?"

This time Katherine jumped up in a huff. "Yes, Jonathan, I do actually. Why do you think marriage is so terrible, huh?"

"I never said that!" he snapped irritably. "Don't put words in my mouth. I'm just not ready to get married."

Katherine gave a irritated grunt. She didn't want to fight with him, but this was important to her and his resistance was frustrating.

"As long as we've been dating and you don't feel any inclination to get married?"

"First of all," Jon stopped his pacing and faced her. "A few months is not a long time. And secondly, maybe I don't feel any inclination to get married because you keep pressuring me!"

"Don't you love me?"

Jon felt a headache coming on. He put his hand to his forehead and tried to pull himself together. He had no desire to argue with Katherine, but this was getting to be too much for him to handle. Every time she came over lately, they ended up in the same argument that always ended the same way- with someone angrily storming out.

"We've been over this, Kat," he said tiredly.

"And you've never given me a straight answer," she shot back.

He sighed. That much was true. He supposed he owed her an honest answer.

"I don't know," he admitted, sounding defeated.

The hurt in her eyes bothered him.

"I care about you, Kat, I really do. But I just can't tell what you want hear right now."

Katherine nodded. "Will you ever?" Her chin began to quiver; she was close to tears.

"Yes," he said immediately. "Probably. I just...I need time, okay? Shawn's about all I can deal with right now. He comes first."

Katherine pursed her lips together. "Yes, I know."

"Don't say it that way, Kat. He needs me."

Katherine looked at him sharply. "So do I."