Fear not that which can destroy the body, but that which can destroy the soul...

"I give you . . .the class of 2010!"

A thousand cheers rose in the small square as hats were thrown into the sky, completing the tableau. Julie sprang from her seat with a smile none could match. Her face was wet with tears of joy as Tim descended from the stage into the crowd, searching for her. Their eyes met and he grinned wide, face glowing like an angel. He approached at a dash and lifted Julie off her feet in a tight hug.

"You did it sweetie! I’m so proud." She felt her words didn’t do enough justice so she hugged him harder still. Tim chuckled and kissed her head returning the intensity.

"Couldn’t have done it without you Mom," He said, eyes twinkling then faltering only for a second he added, "Or dad."

She gazed into his face smiling more still. "You know how proud he would be. You’ve done more than either of us could have imagined, and you are only just beginning." He soaked in her words with another smile and glanced up catching somebody’s eye.

They exchanged more words, Julie praising her son and feeling that nothing could make her happier, Tim receiving the praises and persisting in his "Imminent failure without you" speech.

Julie glanced around for the first time and watched as hundreds of parents congradulated their children with equal joy. She noticed a certain girl standing a ways behind Tim, sneaking looks every few seconds at him. She looked up at Tim with a new smile, "I think somebody is wanting to talk to you. How about I scoot to the house and make some lunch and you guys can come in a while?"

He grinned, "Sounds wonderful, mom. I’ll see you soon then?" He walked with a different "spring" in his step as he approached his girlfriend.

With a long last look at Tim, Julie turned and weaved through the crowd toward the parking lot.

She pulled out of the lot and onto the road, her mind on her son. Her joy could barely be kept in her without bursting forth. Every so often she wiped away more tears of happiness at the thought of how far Tim had come in so little time.

Her thoughts turned to John. It seemed as if it was just yesterday. . .

"Please? Just ONE more? Please!?" Timmy’s bedtime story had been more exciting than usual. He was eager to hear more.

John looked down with a twinkle in his eye and a broad smile on his face.
"Tomorrow night. Now it is time to rest." Timmy understood this as a sign that he was to stop asking questions but John didn’t move. Tim’s mind jumped this way and that way as a young mind does, suddenly bringing to memory something that had happened earlier that day.

"Hey dad...in school today, Mrs. Mayern asked us what we wanted to be when we grow up."

John looked down with a curious face. "And what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Timmy’s grin was larger than life. "A policeman just like you!" He announced it as if giving the winning answer to a question he knew better than anybody else.

John smiled a thoughtful and appreciative smile. "It doesn’t matter what you want to be son, no matter what you set your mind to, you can do. Don’t ever let anyone tell you different."

"Yes, sir."

John chuckled. It was these moments when he tried to be serious with his son, that his son understood and John loved him all the more for it.

"You’ll help me, wont’cha dad?" Tim grinned and gave John a knowing look.

"Of course son, of course."

Julie realized that she had been sitting in the driveway for nearly 10 minutes. She wiped her eyes again, and went into the house. Her mind was far from that of preparing an afternoon lunch. As she finished, she sat down to wait for Timmy and his girlfriend, Rachel.

Life was turning out far different from what she was expecting it to. A lump rose in her throat at the thought of John. She quickly swallowed it down and forced herself to think of the good things that had happened the last 8 years. Her mood was far more cheerful as a car door slammed outside.

The young couple entered, Tim looking as joyful as he had when Julie had left him. This made her feel even better. She hugged and kissed him, and did the same to Rachel. "Good to see you again sweetheart."

Rachel blushed and returned, "As it is always good to see you too Mrs. Bador."

Julie grinned. "Please, "mom" is much more suitable." She winked and realized she’d forgotten the lemonade. She entered the kitchen and took the lemonade from the refrigerator.

"Now, Timmy, I can’t let you make the lemonade, because I make it a special way." John’s eyes twinkled as they always did.

"You mean. . .like a secret recipe!?" Timmy’s eyes widened in admiration as his father laughed and turned away walking toward the kitchen.

"That’s right son, that’s right."

Julie stopped with her hand on the doorknob. She chuckled and grinned toward the ceiling. "I love you John," she murmered.  She opened the door to the living room, and walked through, a chapter of her life over. Another just begun.

Tim glanced up from the floor. His tear stained face showed no sign of wanting to cheer up. "Mom," he whispered, "Is it really worth it?"

Julie managed a smile and looked her son deep in the eyes. After an hour and a half long talk she'd realized the real problem Tim was dealing with: his father. John, a policeman on the local force had devoted much of his time to keeping the town they lived in safe. It was the night of September 16th six years ago, that he'd payed the dearest price for his service.

". . .and they lived happily ever after: The End!" Julie said the last words with a deep smile and Timmy grinned back, thoroughly impressed with the story she had managed to fabricate.

"You know mom," Timmy began, "You're almost as good as dad." Julie laughed and ruffled Tim's hair bidding him good night and clicking the lamp light off.

She entered the living room and decided to start reading her Bible to pass the time. She would stay up until John came home. He rarely worked the night shift, but when he did Julie made the effort to tell Tim a bed-time story, and wait for John to arrive back, usually around 1 am.

She read the book of Job, reflecting on the familiar story of a righteous man tested by God. She set the Bible down as the clock stretched passed twelve thirty. She began to doze off as one approached. then one fifteen. one thirty. one fourt---

knock, knock.

Julie jerked awake and looked up, unsure if what she heard had been real. She started from the chair when, knock, knock, knock.

Her muscles strained and she realized she was trembling as she looked through the eye hole in the door. A police officer. Not John. She swallowed and prayed a quick prayer while opening the door.

"Mrs. Bador?" The officer looked clearly shaken up and as though he clearly did not want to be here.

"Yes, that's me, what's wrong?" Julie's mind began racing at top speed imagining the horrible things that could have happened to John. Her worst were confirmed.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Bador, but your husband was shot while on duty tonight, and was taken to the hospital not long ago." His face retained it's graveness as Julie's hopes sank lower by the second. She offered a blank thanks and closed the door, springing into action.

"I'm sorry to call you this late Denise, but I need a favor. It's John. . he's---"

"Don't worry about it Julie, I'll be over in a minute. Go ahead." Julie put the phone on the hanger and threw her coat on while rushing out the door.

Three hours later her husband died in the hospital. Tim was ten. He still didn't understand why his relationship with his father was so cruely cut short.
"Of course it's worth it Timmy. He died to keep us safe. He died to keep others safe. We will see him again. If he were here now, you know he would want you to keep going on.

Tim's brow furrowed like it always did when he was deep in thought. He started to nod, which turned into a sigh. "Just wish...I just wish...we'd had more time." The tears came again, and this time he stood up, giving Julie a big hug, and started for the door.

"Where are you going sweetie?" Julie watched as Tim turned slowly with a new determination in his face.

"Visiting an old friend." Without another word, he left. Julie knew where he was going. She grabbed her own cell phone, donning a light jacket and set out for a walk of her own. Her eyes followed Tim's car as it pulled out of their road. She prayed for strength for the both of them, and set off in the other direction, in hopes of obtaining her own answers.

"You don't understand! Why won't you just let me do what I want?! Be who I want to be? AH!" Tim let out an exhasperated growl of frustration, throwing his arms up, and making his way back to his room not bothering to walk quietly. A door slammed shut and Julie winced. It was not often that her son of sixteen lost control and got in her face as he just had. His friends, she decided. His friends were the cause of this sudden change in behavior. She would talk to him when he cooled down. He was smart, and would hopefully listen and not ignore her. She resolved to putting music on.
    Standing up from the mohogany dining room table, Julie delicately walked to the stereo shuffling through the dozens of CD's lying around it. She found an unmarked CD and decided to put it in. Sound filled her ears. Music. Lovely music. She let out a half sigh: she knew this song. As if in a dream she turned and looked around.
    Her eyes moved from one end of the room to the other. A maroon red filled up the walls contrasted with dark stained wood bordering the room. A lighter shade on the wood floor brightened the room slightly. A rug in the middle of African design lay under the table of which eight could be seated with plenty of elbowroom in between.
    Her mind was filled with so many thoughts that it seemed there were none. Timmy. The room faded before her as her mind took her to a place she did not wish to leave. She was in the same room. Same red walls, same rug, same table.

    "Zooooom!!!" A small body flittered across the floor and ducked under the table. A younger Julie entered the room with a smile.

"Hey! I wonder where Timmy went? Hm...guess he'll miss dinner! I heard it was his favorite, Shepherd's Pie!" With an amused look she watched Timmy dive out from under the table and came up at "attention."

"I'm right here Mommy! See? Timmy, right here!" His smile was priceless and he didn't lose it as he dashed to his seat, right next to Julie's, and looked up in anticipation. She laughed and ruffled his hair, circumventing the table to go back to the kitchen.

"Daddy will be home any minute, better be on your best behavior cause he's had a real long day, okay sweetie?" Julie poked her head in from the kitchen checking to make sure Timmy understood.

"Of course Mom. I know. All he needs is a great big hug." There was that smile again. She smiled back and resumed preparations for dinner.
    Within the hour the table was set, the Shepherd's Pie was ready, and the door opened as John Bador walked into the house. "I'm home!!!" He always managed to have energy to release no matter how long his day was.

"Daddy!" Timmy ran from the kitchen into the living room and jumped into his father's open arms. Timmy hugged John real tight and asked him how his day was.

"Couldn't have been better, Tim. And the best part of all, I'm home to see my favorite kid in the world!" He winked and set Timmy down, ruffling his hair as Julie had done earlier. Timmy grinned from ear to ear and slowly walked back to the kitchen informing his mother that, "Daddy's home!!"
   
     "Mom, are you okay?" Julie shook her head as her mind returned to reality and to the room that lay before her, a little less bright than that day long ago. Tim stood in front of her, his face had found its old softness and caring look. She sniffled but quickly covered it with a cough.

"Of course Timmy, everything is fine. I was just listening to some music that's all." She smiled and watched him walk with uncertainty to the kitchen. "What do you want for supper? How about your favorite?" He couldn't help but smile as his eyes momentarily closed, undoubtedly remembering the times he'd devoured Shepherd's Pie and tried to get as many words out as possible with the food in his mouth.

"Sounds great, Mom. I'll go and get the stuff we need." He quickly checked the pantry and grabbed the keys, saying goodbye, as if nothing had happened between them nearly an hour ago, and dashed out the door. Julie stood at the threshold, watching her son slip into the car and drive away. He was himself again, it seemed. She counted her blessings, took in the sunset and warm summer night air, and closed the front door, while re-opening the one to her heart.

Sometimes life has turns that we don't expect. Turns we don't want. Turns we do want. In the end, no matter what we wanted or didn't want to happen that did: Life continues on winding down it's own path, throwing things our way confusing us even more.

What do we do about this? Well the logical thing would be to continue along with it. Let it take us on its journey; see where we end up. Then again, is that the right choice? Haven't we always been told to follow our hopes and dreams and wants no matter what anybody says, no matter what happens?

We make choices in our lives. Choices that have consequences, that have blessings, that have fuffilment, victory, and defeat. We can't take those choices we've made back. We reflect on them, we wonder why we made them, we hate ourselves for making them sometimes; but we can't do anything about it.

The choices people make around us: same same. We might not want them to make a certain choice. We may even give them another, or even another chance to make the choice you were hoping for. The choice you wanted them to make. But even so, when they make their choice, they can't take it back. And what do you do about it? You have to live with it and: continue living.

We live and learn. Experience: that is the teacher that truly teaches us the most.

HEY...people....(more specifically): Kaitlin, Amy, and Kayla!!!!!! How's everything going? I miss you guys already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( How sad.

ya...I'm not going to school tomorrow...so, I guess...we'll have to see each other when we "hang out during the summer", eh?

that's about it,

goodbye.

Moi, J'aime un femme. . .parce que, J'ai dans un situation qui Je ne lui aimez pas.

That's too bad.

The Colts one SuperBowl XLI.....good for them.

Here you go folks. Enjoy.....it doesn't have a name yet......

    Jack glanced in the rear-view-mirror, watching cars careen out of his way. His speedometer read 86. He loved the freedom of going so fast. It was short lived though, for the sirens brought him back to his senses. He looked ahead, and saw the spike strip being thrown out into the road. Explains the sudden disappearance of the cops, Jack quickly thought. He scanned the road ahead of him, calculating, and then making a decision.

                                                                        ----------

    Matt watched as the Mustang sped toward the road block. His eyes met the man inside, only for a moment. Watch'a ya gonna do? When they come for you? He added the last line in his train of thought, just for the pleasure of rapping this chase up.

    The spike strip was thrown out into the road but the car stayed on course. Straight toward the cars; and Matt. Matt drew his weapon and yelled out in warning.

    Suddenly the car swerved, as the man inside threw his wait to one side; Undoubtedly thinking that would help him get to that side of the road, Matt thought dryly. The silver paint on the car glinted, as if in glee, missing the spike strip by inches, and sped on through a narrow opening between the patrol vehicles; Taking a bumper with him. Matt was inside his car and completing a three-point turn by the time the '69 cleared the road block.

    He called into dispatch, requesting more back-up. A helicopter flew in above him; The chase was again under way.

Ok people of mindsay. I guess that I could post my story. But I'm going to do it like this. I'll post a littlte bit each weeek. and when I run out of story to post, I'll go on to a different one. There you have it...my first post will be sometime today....Enjoy it when you read it!