That, For Me, is You
by Marilyn
Chapter 5
Drew didn’t go to Seminary. He was rejected because his essay was “too creative”. To say I was devastated is an understatement. Our routine continued as it always had been. Only difference was I had more freedom while I was at school since he was no longer around every corner. But everyone knew he was boyfriend, there was no escaping that. Drew eventually made it into a local community college only to flunk out because of Spanish. I got a job in the town library, but he would often drop in and do his homework during my shift and then drive me home. I didn't see Robert during the next few months. We lived in the same town so I thought I would but it never happened.
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At the end of my junior year I began looking into colleges myself. I wanted to go out of state. There was no way I was going to stay home and commute because I’d end up marrying Drew. That is what everyone expected. Frankly I was tired of us. It wasn’t that I didn’t like him, just that I didn’t think he was someone I could share my most intimate thoughts and feelings with.
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Senior year was full of SATs, college essays and visits. I applied to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania and Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA.I was on the honor roll and had my driver’s license so I had gained some independence. My goal was to keep up my grades. I had a bad case of “Senioritis” I couldn’t wait to go away to college.
Just before Christmas break is when all the military recruiters start setting up shop outside the lunchroom at the High School. I never understood why they start that time of year, but that is when they start. Being a military history enthusiast I have respect for the armed forces so I always watched the recruiters through the cafeteria windows. That day my friends and I were exchanging gifts and I had to stop by my locker before lunch. Mr. S was the teacher monitoring the wing where my locker was and I stopped to talk to him for a few minutes before heading up to lunch. As I ascended the stairs leading to the relatively empty hallway outside the cafeteria, my arms full of presents, I noticed the Army recruiter at the table by the far entrance.
I mentioned to my friends it was “Army Day” as we exchanged gifts and Jennie mentioned they seemed to be multiplying as she pointed to a uniformed figure with the recruiter. To this day I can’t explain what it was I felt in that moment. But I can say that I recognized Robert the instant I saw him.
I was lucky Mr. B was the cafeteria monitor that day, because I ran out into the hall without so much as a word as to why I was leaving or where I was headed. I continued running towards Robert stopping just short of knocking him over. I stood there for a moment before blurting out…”You never told me.” He gave me a hug and stated simply “I did it for you.”