Sarah Edmonds was just finishing her shift in the Intensive Care Unit at Bay City University hospital when she couldn’t help but notice the silent vigil of a worried husband. He had been there every minute that was possible since his wife, Victoria McKinnon, had been brought in following a terrible automobile accident. Sarah shook her head in awe at the sight of such devotion. Being single, Sarah had never known a love that appeared to be so true. She couldn’t help herself she had to do it, she walked into her room and softly laid her hand on his shoulder, "Mr. McKinnon, you really do need to get some rest. I will make sure that the nurse on duty will find you immediately if there is a change in your wife’s condition."
Jake looked up, his skin was pale and he had not slept in three days, "Thanks, but I am where I belong. Vicky will be scared to death when she wakes up, if she sees me, she’ll know everything’s okay." Jake stretched his arms out as far as they would reach, "I’m sorry, Sarah, but I just can’t leave her. I promised her...you know, I promised her."
Sarah watched as Jake seemed to leave the room, he seemed to be in another time, another place, "What did you promise her, Mr. McKinnon?" Sarah knew she shouldn’t become emotionally involved but the depth of love that this man held for this woman fascinated her.
After a few minutes, when he didn’t answer her question, Sarah started to leave. Just as she opened the door Jake said quietly, "I was born in Lassiter, Pennsylvania and I lived in that depressing town, until I turned 18. That’s when I decided to chase my destiny. My destiny of course, being Vicky Carson, also known as, Vicky Hudson, also known as, Vicky Frame, also known as, Victoria Harrison, also known as, Vicky McKinnon. Ahh, Mckinnon, I did say that she was my destiny, didn’t I?"
Sarah sat down entranced as if she were reading a terrific novel. Jake looked at her but Sarah knew that he didn’t see her, he was definitely somewhere else. Perhaps in that small town that he just mentioned.
Jake started to laugh, " I was not always certain that Vic was my destiny, though, I had as many changes of heart as Vicky has had name changes." Jake laughed out loud again and then seemed to go somewhere dark.
"But that’s in the past." Jake looked over at Sarah, he saw such compassion there and could not fathom why he felt so compelled to talk to her. Maybe it was because she was interested, he couldn’t tell, but he knew he just had to talk to someone about it. Someone who didn’t know already the history of Jake and Vicky.
"Sarah?" Startled from her reverie she smiled, "Yes".
"Do you remember the first time you fell in love?"
Sarah thought back as far as she could possibly remember, "Do movie star crushes count?"
Jake smiled, "Sure."
Sarah rolled her eyes and laughed, "Well, then I would have to say that my very first love was Donny Osmond."
Jake shook his head, "No. Don’t tell me that. That goody goody. Oh my, no wonder you were destined to be a nurse." Sarah smiled, it was the first time since his wife was brought in that she had seen any signs of life in him, "I know, I know ,pretty corny huh?"
Then he went there again to that place where all of this love lives, " I have loved Vicky since I was 6 years old. She was my first love." Sarah watched as Jake went deeper into that place, "My last love."
"I met her in the first grade. If I had only known what my life would be like I’m not sure that I would have shot spit balls at the back of her neck.....
Lassiter Elementary School 1971
"Ms. Simmons?" Vicky Carson screeched as loudly as she could.
"Yes, Vicky?" Ms. Simmons turned from the board exasperated at yet another outburst from the cute little blond girl in the third row.
"Someone just hit the back of my neck with a spitball!" She explained, with her nose all wrinkled up to show her displeasure.
Ms. Simmons shook her head in dismay. Vicky Carson was a smart girl, but already at 6 years old she showed a precociousness that was only going to cause her problems as she matured, "And do you know who shot it at you, Victoria?"
"You bet I know," Vicky said to herself as she shook her head from side to side to indicate that she did not. It’s that Jake McKinnon, he’s been doing it all week.
"Then I will thank you to not make anymore outbursts!" Miss Simmons turned immediately back to the board and continued writing the class' spelling assignment.
Vicky could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She hated for the teacher to be mad at her. Was it her fault that creep shot spitballs at her. Vicky turned around to look in the back of the room just in time to see Jake McKinnon wadding up another piece of paper. Jake looked up and noticed Vicky watching him and quickly put his ammunition away.
Just as Jake was putting away the evidence of the phantom bomber, Miss Simmons turned to address the class, "Victoria?!?"
Vicky turned with a start knocking her books onto the floor which resulted in a loud thud, "Yes ma'am?"
Fed up with the disturbances, Miss Simmons walked to her desk and opened the bottom drawer and pulled out the behavior ruler, "Come here, Victoria."
Vicky stood and walked up to the front of the class dreading what was going to happen next. The entire class froze in silence. They all knew what the behavior ruler meant. Miss Simmons looked at Vicky, "Victoria, I have had quite enough of your outbursts and blatant display of disinterest. Hold out your hand."
Vicky looked up at Miss Simmons trembling, "I promise, Miss Simmons, I’ll be good. Please don’t hit me. I promise."
Miss Simmon's heart was breaking, she hated to discipline the children but she also felt that it was a necessary part of teaching, "I am sorry, Victoria, but you do know the rules."
Vicky closed her eyes tightly and held out her hand. Miss Simmons drew back the ruler and with a considerable force brought down the ruler. Vicky heard the sound of the ruler hitting a hand but she didn’t feel the pain. She opened her eyes just in time to see Jake receive the second swat of the ruler. He winced in pain but smiled the entire time.
"Well, Mr. McKinnon, I hope that you have learned your lesson." Miss Simmons found it extremely difficult to keep a straight face. Jake McKinnon was an adorable boy but unfortunately, he was trouble with a capital T.
"Yes maam." Jake smiled as he turned and went back to his seat.
"You may be seated, Victoria." Miss Simmons returned to her desk and put the ruler back in the bottom drawer, "Open your readers please."
Vicky sat back down in her seat and leaned over to pull her reader from the shelf under the seat and glanced back at Jake, when he looked up at her, she stuck her tongue out at him."
Jake couldn’t believe it, after taking her swats that little brat thanks him by sticking out her tongue at him, "Boy, will I get her," Jake said to himself as he opened his reader.