[stylist] How could I improve this story?

[Ashley Bramlett]

Barbara,
Was this based on a real story? You went to school there. Was Zephyr a 
teacher and student there? I f I follow it right so far, you skipped time 
frames from when she was teaching to prior time when she was in love with 
Zach. It seems good so far. I'm finishing it tomorrow.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Barbara Hammel
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2012 12:14 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] How could I improve this story?

That classroom in the southeast corner of the basement was my first-grade
classroom in '73.  Actually it and the one on the southwest corner were used
as classrooms for quite some time.
Barbara




Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance. -- Carl Sandburg
-----Original Message----- 
From: Jacobson, Shawn D
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2012 7:14 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] How could I improve this story?

Barbara

I will definitely take a look at this and give you my comments for whatever
they're worth.

I did notice that the description of the classroom in the first long
paragraph seemed a little repetitive, kind of a data dump.

One other thing I was curious about, I thought that Rice Hall was the boys
dorm and didn't have classrooms after industrial arts moved to its own
building.  I do remember that you could leave the old industrial arts room
out the back to the playground; that I do remember.

I look forward to reading the story fully.

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Barbara Hammel
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 11:42 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: [stylist] How could I improve this story?

It’s a fairly well established fact here that I love writing poetry';
however, I do go in story mode when writer’s block assails me.  This is a
story I’ve been working on for a couple of years and am wondering what you
think of it.
Any tips for how I could improve it?
It’s a little over 69 kilobytes so would be kind of long to post, but here
goes.  I’ll attach it and put the text here.

ZEPHYR’S STORY



    CHAPTER ONE

  Zephyr Shepherd was nervous as she approached the main building of the
Iowa School for the Blind. Today was her first day as the new first-grade

teacher.

  After she clocked in, she headed through the tunnel to Rice Hall. It was a
rare, rainy August day so she was glad for the shelter.

  Arriving at her classroom, she put her raincoat on a hook behind her desk
and began to acquaint herself with the room. Her desk was to the left of the
entrance. To the right was a table and chairs. Down each side of the room
there were two rows of three desks. In the left back corner was another
table and chairs. In the right back corner was a piano and an open space. In
the middle of the room was a rectangular elevated platform. It contained
educational tools and toys. Opposite the door Zephyr had entered was an exit
out to the playground.

  Zephyr's classroom was located in the basement of the boys dorm, but most
of her pupils would come from the cottage. The cottage housed the youngest
children in the school, up to first-grade.

  When the bell rang, six little girls and six little boys came one after
another.

  Zephyr was distraught to discover that some of the children were being led
by others.

  When she got the children seated in their desks, she took the roll.

  "Now say `present' when I call your name," she explained.

  Each child responded as she called, "Carrie Anderson, Bailey Boyd,
Christian Curtis, Christopher Curtis, Autumn Davis, Cheyenne Evans, Jesse
Hammond, Paul Hammond, Lyric Jensen, Nicholas Morgan, Rachel Olsen, Leah
Olsen."

  Zephyr learned that all three sets of twins were, indeed, identical.

  Thus began her time of school with her twelve little scholars and Mrs. Ivy
Owens, her teacher aide.

  A week later, at lunch, she asked Ivy, "So why are these totally blind
children being led around by their partially sighted peers?"

  Ivy looked at her askance. "They may hurt themselves. Things get left in
hallways and on sidewalks. How else could they safely get around? They're
too young for canes."

  "No child is too young for a cane," said Zephyr.

  "They don't know how to use them properly," Ivy argued.

  "They don't need to," said Zephyr. "They just need to stick it in front of
them. They'd learn, in time, how to do it."

  Ivy humphed and went back to eating her lasagne.

  "I need to get out of our little corner and meet other people," said
Zephyr.

  "Faculty meeting is tomorrow," Ivy said. "You'll meet them then."

  "What worthless thing will we learn about?" asked Zephyr. She really liked
Ivy Owens and felt comfortable expressing herself openly.

  "Meaningful goals in the IEP," said Ivy.

  Zephyr sighed and finished her lunch. It would be a very boring time,
indeed.

  The next day Zephyr did not attend the faculty meeting. She was home with
a stomach bug.  A week later she decided to go to the staff lounge and eat
her lunch. Ivy was sick and she didn't want to eat alone.

  Zephyr found a spot at one of the two long tables and commenced to eat.

  "Are you the new first-grade teacher?" the woman to her left asked.

  "Yes. My name is Zephyr Shepherd. And to whom am I speaking?"

  "Libby Jones. I'm the school psychologist."

  "It's nice to meet you, Libby," said Zephyr.

  "How do you like our school so far?" Libby asked.

  "I enjoy it immensely," Zephyr replied. "My students are such charming
little souls."

  "I haven't seen you around yet. Have you met any other staff besides Ivy
and the dorm staff?"

  Zephyr shook her head. "I've been very busy getting my room in order and
running smoothly."

  "Well, Libby," said a newcomer to the table. "Zach's not here today to
ask."

  "Teresa, have you met the new first-grade teacher, Zephyr Shepherd?" asked
Libby, by way of introduction. "Zephyr, this is

Teresa Van Zee, the High School English teacher."

  "Hello, Teresa," said Zephyr.

  Teresa just mumbled something in return.

  "Why isn't Zach here?" asked Libby.

  "Sick, I guess," sighed Teresa.

  "Well, we'll just have to wait till he comes back to know," said Libby.

  "I'm the English teacher and I really should know who wrote _The
_Screwtape _Letters," Teresa pouted. "I told James I'd have the answer today
but the computers are down and I don't have time to go to the library."

  "It was Can. So. Lewis," said Zephyr. "That's one of my favorite books."

  Teresa looked at her funny. "It's a very strange book," was all she said.

  "If it's that strange," asked Libby, "why would Zach know who wrote it?"

  "He reads that kind of stuff," said Teresa. "He's into religious things. I
don't know, though, if he really believes it or if he's just fascinated with
it."

  "Who is Zach?" ventured Zephyr.

  "He's the Mobility teacher," said Libby.

  "Zachary Xavier," sighed Teresa. "He is single, cute and nice."

  Zephyr hoped her dismay didn't show.

  "All we single women have our eye on him," added Libby, "but he is so
aloof."

  "Maybe he really is gay like Angel thinks," whispered Teresa.

  Libby laughed. "I have gay friends. He doesn't act it."

  Zephyr said nothing. She was remembering a young man once asking if he
could ask her something. She had never heard the question.

  It was the first day of October when someone knocked on Zephyr's classroom
door. Zephyr was at the back table teaching a Braille lesson so Mrs. Owens
answered it.

  "Mrs. Owens," said a male voice that nearly made Zephyr's heart stop.
"I've come to see if the new teacher has any students showing readiness for
Mobility."

  When Zachary glanced around the room, Mrs. Owens caught the surprised
look.

  "Zephyr Shepherd," she said, quietly. "Do you know her?"

  "She and I went to college together," he said. "Tell her I'll stop by
after school today."

  Zephyr was grading worksheets after school when a knock sounded and
someone opened the door.

  She turned to face the visitor.

  "Hello, Zephyr," said Zachary. "How do you like our school?"

  "I used to go to school here," she laughed. "I still love it."

  He laughed, too. He had forgotten that her ghost, like so many others of
children past, still haunted every nook and cranny.

  "You are the best kept secret around here, Zachary," she said. "I didn't
know until a couple of weeks ago that you worked here."

  "I guess Mrs. Abercrombie had no need to discuss teachers with you."

  Zephyr looked surprised.

  "Yes, I do talk to the houseparents and she has mentioned you a time or
two."

  Zephyr laughed. "I'll bet more than that. You do know I was her baby?"

  "I do," he said. "I just can't believe that little girl I've heard so much
of around here was the same young lady I met in college. You were so shy,

then."

  "This was my second home," she said. "I knew these people. College was
scary."

  "So," he said, changing the subject, "did Mrs. Owens tell you I stopped
by?"

  "I have twelve students ready for you," she said. "I want canes in every
one of their hands."

  "But the partials can see well enough," he protested.

  "They are still blind or they wouldn't be attending our fair school," she
said.

  "They're not old enough to understand the proper technique," he objected.

  "They are old enough to know to keep it on the ground and to realize that
it could help them stay safe," she countered.

  "I'll compromise," he said. "I'll give canes to the totals within the
week."

  "All of them, Zachary," she said, firmly. "The partials have their limits.
Carrie almost fell down the stairs coming in from recess one cloudy day."

  "You drive a hard bargain, Zephie," he said.

  "Blind people should have canes. You can't make a child look blind when he
already does things that prove it without the blindness skills. Would you
rather see the Curtis twins walking all hunched over like they do or
straight up with canes in their hands?" she asked.

  "I see your point," he said, after considering for a few moments. "Twelve
canes will be tapping in this room by the end of next week. I suppose
they're all learning Braille, too."

  She nodded. "At least I'll try to help improve their chances for
employment and save many headaches."

  "The teachers above you will not see it your way," he said.

  "Then I'll tutor them after school," she replied.

  "Can I take you home, Zephyr?" he asked.

  "What would all the other single ladies say when you've been so cold
toward them?" she asked.

  "Who have you been talking to?" he asked.

  "Libby Jones and Teresa Van Zee," she said. "All the single ladies have an
eye on you."

  He laughed, wryly. "Those two go after every single guy. I have prayed for
the right girl to come along and here you are."

  "What do you mean, Zachary?" she asked.

  "There were others, but since I met you there has only been you," he said.
"I'm not trying to be funny or anything, Zephie. I'm being honest with you.
I can't say I've loved you because I don't really know you. I'm just saying
that I've felt if I knew you, you would be the one. Since I saw you today,
I've thanked God constantly for giving me a chance to find out."

  "So you do believe the things you read," Zephyr breathed. She, herself,
was silently thanking God for this miracle before her.

  "What do you mean?" he asked.

  "Teresa wondered if you believed the religious stuff you like to read or
if you were just fascinated with it," she explained.

  "Teresa and I don't agree on anything," he said.

  "Well," said Zephyr, "I really don't care what they say. I'll get my coat
and you can ask me the question you wanted to these years ago as you walk me
home."

  "So you still remember that?" he asked, incredulously.

  "It has plagued me since," she said.

  Even though it was still raining, the two enjoyed the camaraderie of
bygone days.

  "You only live a few blocks farther than I do," he commented as they
approached her apartment building.

  "Do you have plans for supper?" she asked.

  "Now don't be so forward and steal my line," he teased.

  Zephyr flushed with embarrassment.

  Zachary took her right hand between both of his. "Would you want to go out
for pizza tonight, Zephie?"

She smiled at him. "I'd love to, Zachary. Just give me a couple of minutes
and I'll be ready."

  As they were walking to the restaurant, Zachary casually remarked about
how nice it was to have someone use his whole name. "Too bad no one ever
cares enough to ask what one prefers to be called."

  "Yeah," she said, "I know someone who forever insists on calling me Zephie
when my name is Zephyr."

  He stopped and faced her. "Do you really dislike it? Why have you never
said so?"

  She laughed. "It isn't you. It's my neighbor guy. I think he may like me."

  "Would you rather I called you Zephyr from now on?" Zachary asked.

  "I'd rather _he did," she replied. "I like the way it sounds when you say
it."

  Zachary took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Which begs the question of
long ago, Zephyr. Is there ` special guy in your life."

  "Yes," she said, seriously.

  "Does he live in your hometown or back in DeKalb?" he asked.

  She shook her head.

  "So you've met him here in town?"

  She nodded again.

  "Do I know him?" he asked.

  She could contain herself no longer and burst out laughing.

  "I don't think it's funny," he said, indignantly.

  She laughed even harder. "You know him real well. His name is Zachary
Xavier."

  He joined her in laughter. "Then I don't suppose he'd mind that I'm taking
you out tonight. And I don't suppose he'd mind if I pursue a relationship
with you."

  "I suppose not," she said, without a trace of laughter now.

  "You suppose not?" he asked. "You mean you have doubts about beginning
something that could have begun years ago?"

  "Oh, I'm sure about us Zachary. I just wonder what others will think. It
will seem like love at first sight," she said.

  "Let them," he said.

  Zachary usually drove to school but he'd forgotten all about his car when
they left school yesterday, so the next morning he waited for Zephyr to pass
his street.

  "Hello, young lady," he said as she approached. "May I walk with you? My
car is up at the school."

  "Sir, you may," she smiled.

  "So I take it you must be in the NFB?" he asked.

  "Gee," she grinned, "how did you ever guess?"

  "I didn't think you were a fanatical person. When did you change?"

  She pondered the question. She had mulled this over for some time, trying
to figure out how would she answer that if asked. "Zachary," she finally
said, "it was our peers and their condescending attitude toward we blind
folks. They wanted to teach the poor blind children something but they
didn't want

them growing and becoming their equals."

  He sighed. "You do have a point there. But why must everyone with sight
loss be seen as blind?"

  "Zachary," she laughed, "look at the definitions we have. Legal blindness?
Functional blindness?"

  "But they can read well enough with magnification, and travel well enough.
Why must they look even more blind by using Braille or a cane?"

  "Well enough for who, Zachary?" she asked. "Well enough to reach minimal
requirements or well enough to truly be considered successful?"

  It was now his turn to ponder.

  When he had been silent for a while, Zephyr added. "Magnification or
Braille, headlamps and monoculars or a cane, whatever the device they still
look blind."

  "B, Zephyr," he finally said, "what about the vision they may have? Are
you suggesting they just stop using it."

  "You and I both know that's impossible, Zachary," she said. "Print is
everywhere. They'll learn to read it and they should have accommodations for
when they have to, but it shouldn't be the only means--besides audio--by
which they get information. Most of them could read Braille a whole lot
faster than they read print."

  "I'll give you that," he said. "But always using a cane when traveling?"

  "Would you rather they used their faulty vision to try navigating and
keeping themselves safe or using it to add to the information the cane is
giving?"

  "If you put it that way, I'd rather see them adding to the information,"
he said.

  "Zachary," she said, as they were approaching the school. "the NFB is not
full of fanatics. It's just full of blind people who have lived with
blindness. You

are--and have been taught by people who are--full of many misconceptions
about blindness because you approach it as something that can be fixed. The
blind person has a disability. Am I disabled because most of the world is
righthanded and I use my left?"

  Zachary sighed. "Zephie, you've turned my world upside in this short walk.
Would you care to join me again this evening for supper so we can talk some
more?"

  "Hi, Zach," called Teresa as she drove by.

  Zachary waved.

  "Sure," said Zephyr, suddenly feeling very insecure about Zachary.



    CHAPTER TWO

  "You must rate pretty high, Zephyr," said Teresa, that day at lunch. "You
just met Zach and he's walking to school with you?"

  "We're old friends," said Zephyr.

  "Oh?" said Teresa.

  Zephyr knew Teresa wanted her to elaborate but she chose to ignore her
unasked question. Instead, she busied herself shelling sunflower seeds.

  "So," said Teresa after a few minutes, "he didn't tell you he was seeing
someone already?"

  Zephyr was fairly certain she was lying but thought it might be fun to
play along. "We didn't get around to that subject."

  "Well, he is," she said, "and he doesn't know yet, but he's going to be a
father."

  "That's nice," said Zephyr, her stomach balling up in a knot. __Which one
is telling the _truth? she wondered. She believed Zachary last night but
after the way Teresa said hi to him this morning, she didn't know any more.

  Zachary had to cancel supper for that night he said, as he drove her home.

  "Zachary," she asked, hesitantly, when they were almost to her place,
"were you really speaking truthfully last night when you said you weren't
seeing anyone?"

  "Absolutely," he said.

  "Have you even dated any of the women at work?" she asked.

  "I have not," he said.

  "Am I correct in guessing that you're canceling tonight to meet with
Teresa?"

  "You are," he sighed.

  "And if you haven't dated any of the women from work," she began, "why
would you be meeting with her?"

  "I don't know," he said. "She's been interested in me since my first day.
I walked her home one night shortly thereafter but we had nothing in common
so I never pursued it."

  "And you've worked here for how long?"

  "Two years," he said, "and we walked that first autumn."

  "I see," she said.

  "Why are you so curious? Do you doubt my feelings toward you?"

  "Zachary, I had a feeling supper would be canceled tonight after what she
told me at lunch," said Zephyr. "Don't ask me to tell you what it is, but
you'll understand my concern after you talk to her."

  "She told you?" he asked.

  Zephyr nodded.

  "I see," he said. "Guess you know more than I do."

  "Yeah," she said, getting out of the car.

  "Call you later?" he asked.

  "If you want," she said and walked away.

  Zephyr had no sooner entered her apartment when there was a knock at her
door.

  "Zephie, it's Jeffy," her neighbor called.

  __Oh, why did Jeffrey think Jeffy and Zephie sounded so _cute? She
wondered. "I'm busy, Jeffrey. I don't have time," she called back.

  He opened her door. She gasped at his nerve. "You look so beautiful in
that shade of green," he said. "How did you know green was my favorite
color?"

  "I didn't invite you in, Jeffrey. Get out," she said. Zephyr was
frightened. How could she have forgotten to lock her door. Jeffrey had been
talking to her in a too familiar manner ever since she'd moved in in the
middle of August. It was her custom to lock her door at all times because
she was always afraid this would happen.

  "Come now, Zephie," he said, condescendingly, "haven't we been neighbors
long enough to share a meal together?"

  "I didn't invite you over. Go home," she said.

  "Oh, Zephie, it's lonely over there. I want some company," he said.

  "I don't. I've had a tough day," she said.

  "Maybe you could tell me about it while I give you a ba--"

  "Oh, no," interrupted Zephyr, reaching in her pocket for her cell phone.
"You will leave or I'll call the police."

  Jeff had just put his hand on her arm when another knock sounded.

  "Tell them to go away," he hissed.

  Before he could stop her she called, "Come in."

  Jeff leaped for the door to lock it but he wasn't fast enough.

  "Jeff," said her other neighbor. "Have you been drinking so much that
you've forgotten which is your apartment?"

  "Stephie," he said, "Jeffy will come see you later. Go home now."

  Stephanie came to him. She stood squarely in front of him, reached out and
slapped him in the face. "Zephyr isn't your kind of girl," she said. "Go
home yourself and sober up."

  When Stephanie closed the door behind him, she turned to Zephyr. "Are you
okay?"

  "No," cried Zephyr, bursting into tears. "I'm so glad you came when you
did."

  "I'm glad he wasn't smart enough to lock the door," said Stephanie.

  "I'll be looking for a new place to live as soon as possible," gulped
Zephyr.

  "Come to my place," coaxed Stephanie. "I just made a chicken casserole."

* * * * * *

  "Thank you, Stephanie. That was delicious," said Zephyr as she cuddled one
of Stephanie's babies. Just after Zephyr had moved in, Stephanie and her
husband had added a set of identical triplet girls to their family. "I
suppose I should go back to my place now. I gotta get lesson plans done."

  "Why not wait until Owen comes home. He can walk you back," said
Stephanie, handing her another newly-changed baby.

  "It's only a few steps," protested Zephyr.

  "Jeff meant to do you harm," said Stephanie. "I can't save you now that
the babies are up."

  Zephyr sat back, then, and enjoyed the squirming little bundles in her
arms until her cell phone rang.

  "Hi, Zephie."

  She cringed at the sound of that name even though she knew it wasn't
Jeffrey's voice. "Hi, Zachary."

  "I tried your apartment so you must be out?"

  "Just at my neighbor with the babies' place," she said.

  "Yeah, and speaking of babies--" he paused.

  "Was she telling the truth, after all, Zachary?" Zephyr held her breath
with dread.

  "Partly," he said.

  "Meaning?"

  "She is expecting somebody's baby," he said. "She desperately wants it to
be mine but knows it can't be."

  "Why did she tell me--"

  "She's jealous," he said. "She saw us at the pizza place last night."

  "But why did she--"

  "She has wanted to see my friendliness as flirting. She has imagined that
I'm interested in her," he said.

  "B, Zachary--"

  "You're the newcomer, Zephyr. You haven't been here long enough to know
me," he said.

  "You set her straight, I hope?" she asked.

  "I did," he replied.

  "So she's recanting her story?"

  "To me, yes. I don't know what she'll tell you," he said.

  Stephanie removed the sleeping babies from Zephyr's lap and whispered,
"Owen can take you home."

  "Why can't you walk home alone?" asked Zachary, hearing the whispered
words.

  "Did you forget to close or lock your door?" asked Owen.

  "Zephyr?" asked Zachary.

  "I locked it," she said.

* * * * * *

  When the police arrived, they found Jeffrey passed out drunk in Zephyr's
bedroom. Under much protest from Zephyr, Zachary slept on her couch that
night.

  The next morning while they were eating breakfast, Zephyr said, "I'm going
to look for a different place to live. Do you know if there are any secure
apartments? You know, where you have to unlock a main door to get in?"

  "It just so happens that there are empty apartments where I live," he
said.

  "I'm not sure that would--"

  "It's a big complex," he interrupted. "I live at one end. We could--"

  "I can get my own place, Zachary," she said, quietly.

  "Yeah," he sighed, "I forgot. Blindness doesn't mean incapable. If I want
help, I'll ask for it."

  "You say that like it's so terrible," she said.

  "No. In my head I know you're right," he said.

  "If I need your help, Zachary, I promise I'll ask."

  He took her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. "Will you at least let me go
with you to make sure things are as they say?"

  "Just promise you'll let me do the talking," she said. "I'm the one
looking, not you. And I'm blind not mute."

  "Deal," he said.

* * * * * *

  "I can't believe I could move in today," said Zephyr as they walked back
to her apartment.

  "Would yours let you out without giving them notice?" Zachary asked.

  "They said they'd make an exception. You know, they can't prove Jeffrey
broke in. I must have forgotten to lock the door," she sighed.

  "I understand how it could happen. Boy, I'll bet Stephanie's family will
miss you," he added.

  "They were moving to a house soon, any way," she replied.

  When they entered her apartment, Zachary turned to her, "Zephyr, I don't
feel comfortable with you walking alone, knowing Jeffrey could be lurking
somewhere. The police here offer a self-defense class. Would you be
interested in taking it?"

  Zephyr let out a sigh of relief. "When you started, I thought you were
going to say you'd always be my escort. Zachary, I'd be happy to take the
course. And I'd be okay with you making the arrangements, since you seem so
familiar with it."

  Before he left her apartment, the arrangements were made for her to take
the course. In fact, Zachary offered to drive her Monday night then go out
for supper afterward.

  Stephanie came over and for the rest of the day, they busily packed all
Zephyr's belongings.

  The next day Zephyr, Owen and Zachary loaded all her things into Owen's
van and moved her out. It took most of the day and four trips to move all
the furniture.

  Tuesday night Zephyr, Zachary and Stephanie cleaned the apartment so she
could turn in her keys the next day.

  While they were enjoying some cookies Stephanie had baked that day, they
heard a loud sound.

  Zachary jumped up from his chair.

  "Sit down, Zach," said Owen. "It's just Jeffrey. He has nothing better to
do than come home drunk after work. Happens a lot."

  "And does he often pay unwanted visits to his neighbors?" asked Zachary.

  "No," said Stephanie.

  "I'm glad you're all moving out, any way," said Zachary. "This is no kind
of environment for single women and small children. What does he have to do
to get kicked out? They'll not get renters if people know about him."

  "The manager is his sister," said Stephanie. "We've tried talking to her
but she feels sorry for him."

  "That's why she's letting me out of my lease," put in Zephyr. "She's
enabling him."

  "When are you moving out?" Zachary asked Owen.

  Suddenly there was a loud noise in what had been Zephyr's apartment.

  "How could you leave?" they heard Jeffrey roar in his slurred speech. "I
was just getting to know you." Then he began wailing in earnest.

  "Not soon enough," sighed Owen.

  "Is the house ready for you?" asked Zachary.

  "We're having it built," said Stephanie, "and it won't be done for a month
yet."

  "Bring the babies and stay with me," offered Zephyr. "I actually got a
two-bedroom apartment this time."

  "Owen can sleep at my place," offered Zachary, "and for a month we could
stand being crowded with your furniture."

  "We could take the bare necessities," suggested Zephyr, "and until the
house is ready we could live and eat at my place."

  "Since the babies are so small yet, we don't need any of the toys," said
Stephanie. "We could put all three in the same crib if we had to, also."

  "You could just let them sleep in their carriers," replied Owen.

  "Sure," she agreed, "then we could have a swing."

  "I haven't unpacked anything yet," said Zephyr, "so I could move some to
Zachary's, too, if I had to."

  "Start packing tomorrow," said Zachary, "and after work we'll help Owen
start hauling. I don't want you guys living here any longer than you have
to."

  Just as Zachary and Zephyr were about to leave, there was a loud knock at
the door.

  When Owen opened the door, Jeffrey pushed him aside and lunged for Zephyr.
The two of them crashed to the floor. Then Jeffrey promptly vomited.

  Owen and Zachary pulled him off. Then Zachary called the police. Stephanie
took a sobbing Zephyr into the bathroom and gave her a towel.

  "It's a good thing we're close to the same size," she said, handing Zephyr
some clean clothes. "Take a shower and put these on."



    CHAPTER THREE

  "Why didn't you tell me you knew Zach?" asked Teresa, one day at lunch
when they were alone.

  "Didn't figure it was important," said Zephyr.

  "I have been trying for two years to get him interested in me and just
when I think it's happening, you show up. You think it's not important?" she
ranted.

  "And I would've known all this how?" asked Zephyr.

  "You just shouldn't keep secrets," pouted Teresa.

  "I told you we were old friends," objected Zephyr.

  "But you didn't tell me the important part," Teresa almost whined.

  "You're acting like the high schoolers you teach," commented Zephyr.

  "If he was an old flame, you should have said so," hissed Teresa.

  "You are a coworker, not a confidante," said Zephyr and rose to leave. At
the door she turned back and added, "If Zachary had really wanted, he could
have chosen you."

  As Zephyr was straightening her room at the end of the day Libby knocked
at her classroom door.

  "Zephyr," she said, "do you have a minute?"

  Zephyr looked up from where she was seated on the floor organizing her
wooden blocks. "I do."

  Libby came over and leaned on the shelf by Zephyr. "So you and Zachary
used to be lovers years ago?" she asked.

  "No beating around the bush with you, is there?" sighed Zephyr and she
pushed the blocks away.

  "Were you?" Libby asked again.

  "We were not," said Zephyr. "From my perspective, he barely knew I
existed."

  "And yet, you come here and he falls head over heels in love," said Libby.

  "There must have been feelings in olden days," replied Zephyr.

  "Then here sits Teresa with a heart he has broken and a seed he has
planted."

  "He has planted no seed in Teresa," said Zephyr. "He is to be no one's
father who is conceived already."

  "And you know this, how?" asked Libby. "You can trust Zachary that much
when you've just reconnected with him?"

  "I do," said Zephyr with more confidence than she felt.

  "You either think you know him well enough to trust him, or you're a
fool," Libby said.

  Zephyr pulled the blocks back toward her and resumed her sorting.

  Libby pushed off from the shelf but had to grab it when it began to roll.
"I guess time will tell," she said.

  "Has Teresa had any boyfriends?" asked Zephyr.

  "Not really," admitted Libby. "Mostly just an on-again-off-again
relationship with a local businessman."

  "And this man is single?" asked Zephyr.

  "Yeah," sighed Libby, "but he's black."

  "And the problem with that would be?" asked Zephyr.

  "W-well, h-he--" stammered Libby.

  "I know who he is," said Zephyr. "He's a fine man. He's everything a girl
could want in a man. Teresa chooses well when the relationship is on-again.
But she'll only be able to deny he's the father until the baby comes, you
know."

  "I've encouraged her to have an abortion," said Libby.

  Zephyr's mouth dropped open. "Why?"

  "At least if it were a white kid no one would know who the father was so
it wouldn't be any big deal," explained Libby. "But since Thomas is the only
black man in town ..."

  "And what does Teresa say?" asked Zephyr.

  "She's still thinking about going through with giving birth," said Libby.
"Can you believe the nerve?"

  Zephyr's opinion of Teresa skyrocketed at that moment. "Oh, yes, I can.
And good for Teresa."

  "But surely she'll not think of marrying him!" exclaimed Libby.

  "And what's wrong with that?" asked Zephyr.

  Libby sighed heavily. "It's not his color, Zephyr, really," she said. "I
have nothing against black people." She sighed again.

  "Seeing's how you're two peas in a pod," ventured Zephyr "could it be that
you've been with Thomas, too?"

  "And others," added Libby. "At least Teresa's only had one."

  "And let me guess," said Zephyr, "you're pregnant, too."

  "Who's the psychologist here?" asked Libby.

  Zephyr put her box of blocks away and rose from the floor. "And it's
possible that you too could have a biracial child," she said.

  "Yeah, but I'm thinking about having an abortion, too," she said.

  "You'll regret it for the rest of your life," said Zephyr.

  "How do you know?" asked Libby, defensively.

  "You'll not be able to just walk away like they say," said Zephyr. "You'll
always wonder what sex it would have been, what interests would it have had,
what would it grow up to be."

  "Stop," cried Libby. "Don't make it harder than it is."

  "I want to, Libby," said Zephyr gently. "That little person deserves all
the chance to live it can get. If you don't want it, put it up for adoption.
I'm sure another woman would be more than happy to accept it as her own."

  "But then I'd never see it and always wonder because I know that it's
alive. How can I let someone else raise my baby?"

  "You won't see it ever if you kill it," said Zephyr, "but through open
adoption you could still see it or get pictures. It's whatever you work out
with the adoptive mother."

  "How do you know all this?" asked Libby. "I'm the one who should know this
stuff but I've not had a reason to."

  "My sister just adopted a baby," said Zephyr.

  "Well," said Libby, "I don't know. I'll have to think on it some."

  "Libby," said Zephyr, taking her courage in hand, "it would be pretty
selfish of you to sacrifice a life for your pride. If you decide to give it
up for adoption, you could always do the old thing of leaving town before
anyone knows and come back after you've given birth."

  "B, truthfully," said Libby, "if the baby is white, it won't even matter.
Everyone knows what I am. I have pride, I just have no

shame."

  "Poor Thomas," sighed Zephyr.

  "Poor Thomas!" scoffed Libby. "What about those of us who have to pay for
what he did."

  "It took two and you could have not even tempted yourself," said Zephyr.

  "Hey!" exclaimed Libby. "It's getting late and I have a date. I gotta go."

  "One more question, Libby," said Zephyr. She paused a long moment. "Does
Teresa know?"

  "She knows of the others but not him," said Libby. "He wanted something to
soothe his hurt after one of their quarrels and he doesn't drink. I
regretted it right away, though."

  "I see," said Zephyr, grabbing her coat to leave. "There are some things
that close friends just shouldn't share."

  "Here comes Zachary," said Libby. "Catch you later."



    CHAPTER FOUR

  The next day after school Zephyr was surprised when Teresa knocked at her
door.

  "What brings you to my neck of the woods," asked Zephyr.

  "Libby told me that she talked to you last night," said Teresa.

  "She did," said Zephyr after a long pause in which she had waited to see
if Teresa would continue.

  "She had no business telling you my business," said Teresa.

  "You're right about that," said Zephyr.

  "Libby's a bad counselor," confided Teresa. "She can't keep secrets."

  Zephyr didn't answer and quickly finished the worksheet she was grading.

  "Did she just talk about me or did she tell you her secrets, too?" asked
Teresa.

  "I'm not at liberty to say," said Zephyr.

  Teresa covered her face and began to cry. "How can I trust Thomas after
this?" she sobbed.

  "You played with him, Teresa," said Zephyr. "You may think he should have
known that you'd always come back. But he couldn't know that. He's not a
mind-reader."

  "But with my best friend?" asked Teresa.

  "Girls like Libby can get anything and can't pass up anything. They don't
think about others. It's all about what feels good now and feeling sorry
later," explained Zephyr.

  "So how can I trust Thomas again?" she asked.

  "Make up to him and never ever walk away again," said Zephyr. "Does he
know about the baby?"

  "No," sighed Teresa. "I don't know if I want to tell him. Zephyr, I don't
want him to feel obligated to marry me or something."

  "When the baby comes, he will know whose it is," Zephyr reminded her.

  "If I have it," said Teresa. "He and I have such fiery tempers that we'd
forever be fighting."

  "What do you fight about?" asked Zephyr.

  "Everything," sighed Teresa. "The only thing we agree on is--" she
hesitated.

  "How do you feel about him, Teresa?" asked Zephyr.

  "Oh," sighed Teresa. "Thomas is very special. If I really got down to it,
I would have to say that I really love him."

  "And how does he feel about you?"

  "He has wanted to marry me since our first date," admitted Teresa.

  "Then this baby would be no problem for him," said Zephyr. "I'd say he's
just been waiting for you to come around."

  "But if we fight all the time. How can he love anything besides my body?"
asked Teresa.

  "Thomas is pretty perceptive," said Zephyr. "You would be a very lucky
girl if you married him, Teresa."

  "Do you think so?" she asked. "But if Libby's baby is his--"

  "You and Thomas will need to work that out before you do anything," said
Zephyr.

  "Yeah," sighed Teresa. "I guess if Zachary won't have me, I'll have to
settle for Thomas."

  Zephyr laughed. "The best man to have is the one who'll have you," she
said.

  "If we can see eye to eye on anything," said Teresa, "I'd be happy to
spend the rest of my life with him."

  Zephyr pushed her chair back. "I'd suggest you make a date and talk
instead of--" She left the sentence unfinished.

  Teresa got up too and went to the door. Turning, she said, "Thanks,
Zephyr. I wish Libby hadn't come to you since you're not a friend, but I'm
glad she did. May I come and talk to you again?"

  "If you wish," said Zephyr, taking down her coat.

  Teresa's cell phone rang as they walked out the door and from her end of
the conversation Zephyr gathered that she was going to meet Thomas now. She
smiled to herself as she walked up the stairs that took her outside.



    CHAPTER FIVE

  "Zephie!"

  Zephyr's blood ran cold and she stopped dead in the middle of the
sidewalk.

  "I've finally caught you alone."

  Zephyr's knees began to shake and her palms to sweat as all thoughts but
terror fled her mind.

  "Come now, don't be afraid. I just want to talk to you."

  Zephyr snapped out of her stupor when he put his hand on her shoulder.

  "I have nothing to say to you, Jeffrey. Leave me alone,"

she said, backing away from him.

  "Zephyr," he pleaded and tried touching her again.

  Adrenaline filled Zephyr's body and instinctively she lashed out and
slugged him in the stomach. "We have nothing to say to each other," she
said. "No whining, no crying, neither begging nor pleading will help you. I
want nothing to do with you and _I will have _my way about it. I  don't care
how sexy you are. You're a drunk and I'll have nothing to do with that
lifestyle."

  "I see," he said, and started walking away.

  Suddenly he turned around, walked back and grabbed her by the forearms.
Putting his face so near hers that Zephyr could feel his breath on her skin,
he hissed, "Who wants a blind girl any way." When he let go of her, he
grabbed her cane away and threw it. "Find your way home, now, blindy."

  Zephyr didn't know what to do. She knew she could find the cane. It had
landed in the grass to her left but she didn't want to get her folding cane
from her bag because he'd probably throw it, too. She didn't even want to
take a step because, although she knew she was

perfectly safe, he'd probably say something childish like, "watch out for
the hole". She'd stop, of course, and he'd laugh. She had just decided to
reach for her phone--she wasn't sure if she'd call Zachary or the
police--when a familiar voice called from the direction of the Main
Building. Then she heard two sets of running feet, one toward her and the
other away from her.

  "Here, Zephyr." Zachary handed her her cane. Huge tears of relief welled
up in her eyes and then she was enfolded in the embrace of her savior.

  "Sometimes I wish he'd just do something illegal to get himself behind
bars," said Zephyr, drawing her sleeve across her eyes.

  Zachary lay his cheek on the top of her head. "No you don't, Zephyr,
because it's you he'll do it too."

  Zephyr sighed. "You're right, of course. But I don't want to live in fear
of him."

  Just then, out on G Avenue, they heard a tremendous crash.

  Zachary took off running, calling over his shoulder. "I'll go see if I can
help."

  Zephyr pulled out her phone and dialed 9-1-1.

  "There's been a car crash in front of the Braille School on G Avenue," she
said; and she headed for the street, too.

  "Someone else is already on the phone with someone there," said the
dispatcher.

  "I'll go then because I'm not right there," said Zephyr. "I just wanted to
make sure help was coming." She hung up her phone.

  Someone grabbed Zephyr and spun her around as she was about to descend the
steps down to the street level. Then she was drawn back toward the Main
Building by a firm grasp on her wrist.

  The person drew her up to the stairs leading into the building and gently
pushed her to sit down, then sat beside her. His arm went around her and he
lay his head on her shoulder. "Zephyr," he whispered, "it was Jeffrey. He
was delirious and I was afraid he'd see you."

  Zephyr was shaking all over. "What happened, Zachary?"

  "He wrapped his car around a tree and if he hadn't been drunk, he'd've
killed himself. Instead, he just knocked himself senseless for a bit then
came-to madder than a hornet."

  "Did he see me?" she whispered.

  Just then they heard two consecutive gunshots.

  Zachary jumped up. "Go inside, Zephyr. I'm going to see what happened,"
and he took off running.

  An ambulance siren began to wail as Zephyr entered the Main Building.

  "What's wrong, Zephyr?" asked Libby, coming around the corner to head out
the door.

  "There's been a car crash and a shooting in front of the school," Zephyr
said.

  "Zach, are you all right?" Libby asked when the front door opened.

  "Yeah, it's just that a police officer was shot at," he sighed.

  "Was he hit?" asked Zephyr.

  "No, but he shot the shooter and I think he may be dead," he said.

  "Who was it?" asked Libby.

  "Jeffrey Lang," he said.

  Zephyr covered her mouth in surprise. Her heart began to race and she
wanted to shout with glee.

  "Well," said Libby, "that would put the town out of one of its miseries
but who really likes to see anyone killed."

  Zephyr slipped out the front door while Zachary and Libby were talking,
and headed for her apartment.

  A vehicle stopped in the middle of the block just ahead of Zephyr. For a
moment she knew fear and stopped, unable to think what to do.

  "Zephyr," called Stephanie from the car.

  Zephyr relaxed and hurried up to the van.

  "Get in," said Stephanie. "We'll take you home."

  When they got to her building, Stephanie decided that, yes, she and the
girls would come in for supper. Owen was working late tonight.

  "I'm glad I put this big roast in the crockpot," Zephyr said, putting said
roast on a platter to cut it. Then she dished out the

carrots and potatoes. "How's the new house?"

  "It's finally starting to feel like home," said Stephanie. She was mixing
bottles for the triplets.

  "So," asked Zephyr, "you hear the recent news?"

  "Jeffrey got what's been coming to him for a long time," said Stephanie.
"Not even his sister is mourning too much."

  "You gotta admit, though," sighed Zephyr, "it was such a waste of a life."

  "He wasted his own life," said Stephanie.

  The two women sat down to eat before the babies cried for their food.

  "Where's Zachary tonight?" asked Stephanie.

  "He was talking to Libby when I left school," replied Zephyr. "He's
probably home by now."

  "I hear Libby's pregnant?" asked Stephanie.

  Zephyr nodded.

  "And Teresa's pregnant, too?"

  Zephyr nodded again.

  "Is there something in the water up there?" queried Stephanie. "You don't
have any secrets, do you, Zephyr?"

  Zephyr laughed. "Zachary hasn't even kissed me."

  The women finished eating and cleaned up their supper before settling down
to feed babies.

  Zephyr had just settled in her rocker with Grace and Faith when there was
a knock at the door.

  Stephanie had gone to the bathroom before she would feed Paige, so Zephyr
reluctantly rose to answer it.

  She had no free hand to open the door so quietly asked, "Who's there?" She
didn't want to startle the babies who seemed to be half dozing as they ate.

  "It's Zachary."

  "It's not locked," she said. "Come in."

  "Now this is a beautiful sight," he said. He gently touched each baby's
head. "Your accoutrements become you, my lady."

  Zephyr shyly smiled up at him. "Thank you, my lord."

  Stephanie came into the room, then, and the spell was broken.

  "Zachary," said Stephanie, "how are you."

  Zachary sat down on the couch and picked up Paige and her bottle and
Zephyr sat back in her chair.

  "Shoulda stopped home and grabbed a bite," he said. "Long days of walking
the busy streets of Vinton make a man hungry."

  "Want some roast, potatoes and carrots?" Stephanie asked.

  "Sure," he replied.

  "So you hear about Jeffrey?" he asked when Stephanie brought him a plate
of food.

  She nodded. "I feel more relief than sorrow about it, though," she sighed.

  "I think the whole town does," said Zachary.



    CHAPTER SIX

  After Stephanie left with her sleepy brood, Zachary and Zephyr sat in
silence for a while.

  Finally, Zephyr said, "Zachary, I feel like a free woman."

  "He terrorized you that much?" he asked.

  "Oh, I tried not to let him," she said, "but even after I knew he was
dead, I still panicked when Stephanie stopped her van in the middle of the
block."

  "Please tell me Jeffrey didn't do that!" exclaimed Zachary.

  "I'm not for sure," she said, "but I'm sure someone did it several times."

  "You never told me," he said.

  "I didn't want to worry you."

  Zachary left his chair, sat on the couch by her and took her hand.

  "Zachary, I don't want you fretting over me like I'm a child," she said,
but tears were threatening to fall.

  "I'm not thinking that at all," he said, stroking the back of her hand.
"I'm thinking how glad I am that I can put behind me the fears I've had
about what he'd do."

  Zephyr sighed.

  Zachary released her hand and put his arm around her. "All's well now,
though," he whispered and touched his lips to her hair.

  Just then the phone rang. Zephyr mentally shook herself then rose to
answer it.

  "Hi, Teresa," she said. "... yes, I was there. ... I know he was. ... You
did?"

  "Yes," said Teresa, "And he was very ashamed of his actions and apologized
profusely. And, yes, he knows Libby's pregnant, too."

  "Did you tell what you know?" asked Zephyr.

  Teresa sighed. "I did."

  "And?"

  "He was reserved, but I think he was okay with it," she said.

  "He does know it can only be his?"

  "Mine, yes, but he worried about what to do if Libby's is, too," replied
Teresa.

  "So?"

  Teresa shouted so loud that Zachary heard her. "He's gonna marry me next
month."

  "That's great," said Zephyr.

  "He says we'll adopt Libby's baby if it's his and she'll let us," added
Teresa. "I gotta go now."

  Zephyr put the phone back on its base and returned to the couch.

  "Teresa's getting married?" asked Zachary.

  Zephyr nodded.

  "Thomas Green?" asked Zachary.

  She nodded again.

  "So he's the father," said Zachary.

  "Yes," said Zephyr. "She couldn't have done better--since you wouldn't
have her."

  He laughed and drew her back into his arms. "And Libby's expecting, too?"

  "Yes," said Zephyr.

  "Well," sighed Zachary, "one never knows who hers is by."

  "Any chance it's yours?" teased Zephyr.

  He nibbled her ear. "I don't like girls with short hair," he murmured.
"And besides, I've not known woman, yet."

  Suddenly Zephyr felt sad.

  "Your countenance has fallen, my lady," said Zachary. "What did I say?"

  "Nothing," said Zephyr. "It's just that--that I can't say the same."

  Zachary leaned away from her. "I sure hope you can't!" he exclaimed in
mock horror.

  "I more-mean," stammered Zephyr.

  "So you've had other boyfriends," said Zachary. "So what?"

  Zephyr shook her head.

  "Then--"

  "College roommate's drunk boyfriend."

  "And--"

  "She was gone for the weekend and dropped him like a hot potato when she
found out," said Zephyr.

  "Wow!" he breathed. "I don't know what to say. What year were you?"

  "First semester freshman," she said.

  "Oh, Zephyr," he said and drew her to him again. "Would you like to tell
me about it?"

  Zephyr shakily rose from the couch and went to get a drink of water. When
she returned, she sat in her rocking chair.

  "Katrina was a Senior and she'd been dating Caiden since spring. The end
of September she went home for the weekend for a family something. I never
really liked Caiden. He always gave me the creeps. Even Katrina told him on
occasion to stop staring. She thought he stared because he'd never seen a
blind person but I don't know.

  "Someone propped a door to our floor

open because it was so hot. At 8:00 most of the girls were out and a knock
sounded on my door. I opened the door and Caiden pushed his way in, locked
the door and grabbed me in a bear-hug. That's when I knew he must be drunk.
He knew Katrina was gone so he had the opportunity to act upon the thoughts
I was pretty sure he had. And then I knew I was right." Zephyr covered her
face with her hands.

  "Are you okay, Zephie?" asked Zachary. "Are you sure you want to go on?"

  Zephyr's whole body was racked with sobs.

  "Come, Zephie," he said and gently pulled her from her chair. He drew her
to him and held her tightly.

  "My neighbor came home at 2:00 and heard me crying and called the police.
Later, she told me it was the kind of cry that told  her something was
wrong. He said he wouldn't hurt me if I undressed. He just wanted to know if
a blind girl looked the same. I was so scared that I did it because I knew
he had a temper when he was drunk. Then he forced me to the floor and felt
me up. He said I looked the same but wondered if I felt the same. The rest
of the time he took advantage of me. I don't know how many times he forced
himself on me."

  "Oh, Zephie," soothed Zachary, "I'm so sorry."

  Zephyr pulled her arms from her sides and put them around his neck.
__Zachary really is taller than _me, she thought. "But that was then,"

she finally managed to say through her tears. "Now that you're back in my
life, I'm ready to find out what love is all about."

  Suddenly, Zachary wasn't so sure he did. He pulled free of Zephyr's
embrace and went to the kitchen. "Mind if I pop some corn?"

  "Sure." Zephyr thought she could feel Zachary withdrawing.

  When the popcorn was done, they sat at the kitchen table.

  "That was too much for you, wasn't it, Zachary," Zephyr asked,
tentatively.

  There was a long pause before Zachary replied. "I'm ashamed of myself,
Zephyr. I thought I could handle anything because I've always been in love
with the thought of being in love with you. I never dreamed something as
horrible as this would factor into a relationship."

  "Do you wish to not see me any more?" she asked.

  There was another long pause. "What I really want to do," he began, then
paused again, "is to exchange those memories with gentle and loving
intimacy."

  Although Zephyr's body yearned for his touch, she said, "You'd not be able
to do that tonight. You're emotions are too raw and you'd be rougher than
you wish."

  "You're right," he sighed. "And besides, I've not even kissed you yet.
That would be so rude."

  "Deliciously naughty," she grinned, "but very rude, indeed."

  "And besides that," said Zachary, "I don't believe in sex before
marriage."

  Zephyr wished Caiden hadn't spoiled things for her. Although she hated
what he'd done, she knew what it was like now and sometimes she just craved
it. That's why she'd never had a boyfriend. She'd tried dating but none
truly wanted more than the pleasures of today. She wanted to ask how long it
would be before they married but knew that was rude, too.

  "Well," said Zachary in a gruff voice, "I suppose I should go now."

  "Yeah," Zephyr agreed.

  Zachary rose from the table and came to Zephyr's chair.

  "Walk me to the door," he said, taking her hand.

  She got to her feet and let him lead her. At the door, he took her in his
arms.

  When he whispered her name, she looked up. Gently he placed his lips on
hers.

  Zephyr's mind reeled. She had never known such tenderness in a kiss.

  Zachary lifted his head and whispered, "I love you, Zephyr Emma."

  Zephyr smiled. "You even remember my middle name."

  "It's such a beautiful name," he said, then added "and it belongs to a
beautiful woman."

  Zephyr stood on tiptoe and pulling him down, kissed his cheek. "And I love
you, Zachary Sage."

  Zachary gave her a quick squeeze then left.

  Zephyr locked the door then leaned against it, overwhelmed by the emotions
flowing through her. _Wow! she thought, __that was truly wonderful. I didn't
know real love would feel like _this.



    CHAPTER SEVEN

  As Christmas approached, things were hectic. Teresa and Thomas had gotten
married around Thanksgiving and the school was gearing up for its annual
Christmas program.

  Zephyr was putting together the reindeer hats for her children after
school when someone entered her room and plopped down at the table across
from her.

  "What's up, Libby?" asked Zephyr.

  "How'd you know it was me?" Libby asked.

  "You wear the same perfume all the time," Zephyr replied, "and you're the
only one moping around this year."

  "Yeah, well," sighed Libby.

  "What?" asked Zephyr.

  "You try being pregnant with a baby you don't know who the father is,"
said Libby.

  "I don't see your dates slowing down," commented Zephyr.

  "Why curtail the fun when the damage has been done?" asked Libby.

  Zephyr tried not to show her dismay. "So why mope around about it when
you've not changed anything?"

  Libby sighed. "Zephyr, I don't only not want this baby, but I hate it."

  "Have you started looking for potential parents for it?" asked Zephyr.

  "I couldn't care less if it died today," said Libby.

  "How far along are you?"

  "Same as Teresa," Libby said. "Our due dates are the same day ... end of
June."

  "So it's possible she could have `twins'," said Zephyr.

  Libby sighed again. "Don't remind me."

  "Look!" scolded Zephyr, "you're free of the baby if it's Thomas'. They
said they'd take it."

  "I still think I'll get rid of it," said Libby.

  Zephyr slammed down her scissors. "Elizabeth Jones!" she exclaimed, "you
are four months pregnant with a baby. It's not a fetus! It's not just `a
pregnancy'. It is a baby!"

  "It is a fetus until it's born," corrected Libby.

  "True," conceded Zephyr, "but it's a little person. Look at an
ultrasound."

  "Yeah, yeah," sighed Libby. "Been there, done that. It's a set of twins."

  "Well!" Zephyr couldn't conceal her amazement this time. "That must have
been a shock."

  "Teresa's having twins, too," said Libby.

  "You two really are two peas in a pod. Sure you're not long-lost twins?"
teased Zephyr.

  "How's Teresa gonna take care of four babies if--" Libby paused.

  "And if they're not, what will you do?"

  "You and Teresa and Thomas--and probably Zach--are the only ones who
know," she said.

  "And that would make aborting easier, how?" asked Zephyr.

  "Oh, Zephyr--" Libby began to cry, then.

  "I take it you're not showing yet," said Zephyr.

  "I'm barely beginning to," sobbed Libby.

  "Do you have an appointment?" asked Zephyr.

  "Tomorrow after school," Libby replied.

  Now it was Zephyr's turn to cry. "Two precious little babies that someone
would be glad to take into their home and heart."

  "Don't start on that again," said Libby, angrily.

  "I won't stop," cried Zephyr. "There are so many folks out there who can't
have children and would so love to and here you sit, willing to just throw
away someone's chance to have them."

  "Did you have an abortion, Zephyr?" asked Libby. "Is that why you're so
adamant that I don't?"

  "No," said Zephyr. "I lost a baby."

  "You? How?"

  "When I was nineteen," said Zephyr. "She was a product of rape. I carried
her 20 weeks. She got tangled in her cord. I held her in my hands. She was
so tiny."

  "Wow!" exclaimed Libby.

  There was a long silence between them before Libby spoke again. "But I
don't want to deal with stretch marks and labor pains. I'm tired of feeling
sick all the time. I'm tired of being tired."

  "I didn't like it either, considering--" said Zephyr. "But I knew it
wasn't her fault she began life."

  "It might not be their fault," said Libby, "but they'll ruin my life."

  "How?"

  "Whose gonna want someone with that baggage? How am I gonna find time for,
you know--"

  "You don't want them," reminded Zephyr. "Find a family who wants them,
then after you have them you can do whatever."

  "I don't _want to," said Libby.

  Zephyr picked up her work again. "I can't stop you from doing this," she
said, "but don't cry to me when their birthday rolls around and you're
looking at Teresa's kids and wondering what yours would be like. Every day
you see those precious babies you'll be ..."

  "I could move away," interrupted Libby.

  "And there you'll see another baby that will remind you," Zephyr gently
reminded her. "Babies are everywhere."

  "The father isn't Thomas," said Libby. "I knew I was pregnant already
when--"

  "I see," said Zephyr. "Do you know who it is, then?"

  "Jeffrey Lang," sighed Libby.

  "But he '' I mean ..." stammered Zephyr.

  "Yeah, well, he was a woman-chaser and I'm a man-chaser. It only takes one
time, you know. Labor Day weekend was a

marathon."

  "I see," said Zephyr. She didn't even want to know why Libby had played
with Teresa like that, then.

  "So I'd have to raise them alone--and I don't even want them."

  "Give them _away!" said Zephyr, forcefully. "Why do you see abortion as
the only way when adoption could

permanently fix things, too?"

  Libby sighed. "It's easier."

  "And easy is always best," stated Zephyr.

  "He wanted me to," said Libby.

  "And that makes it okay, too."

  "Well," said Libby. "Respecting the wishes of the dead and all that."

  "And what would the wishes be of the _two you're going kill?"

  Libby slammed her hands on the table. "Darn it, Zephyr! I don't want to be
talked out of it."

  "Then why are you here?" Zephyr asked, quietly.

  Libby sat in silence for a long time. "I don't know."

  Zephyr made another reindeer hat before she spoke. "I'll take them,
Libby."

  "But Jeffrey ..." Libby began.

  "If it will keep them alive, I'll take them," interrupted Zephyr.

  Libby rose from her chair. "I'll think about that, Zephyr." Then she left.

  Zephyr hurriedly finished her task then headed for home.

  Zachary was waiting when she arrived at her door. "Did you forget ..."
When he saw Zephyr's face he forgot all about

admonishing her for not remembering their date.

  He followed Zephyr into her apartment and waited for her to put her stuff
down and take off her wraps.

  As she headed for the kitchen, he caught her and drew her into his arms.

  "What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asked, softly.

  "Caiden planted a seed that didn't survive and now Libby wants an
abortion," she sobbed.

  Zachary led her to the couch and pulled her onto his lap. "Slow down, I
get the Libby part but ..."

  "Zachary, I lost a baby," she cried against his shoulder. "I was 20 weeks
pregnant when the cord entangled her. Her name was Breeze because she wasn't
a full-grown tiny tornado."

  "Oh, love," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'm so sorry." He
held her even tighter as she wept bitter tears.

  "She'd be five in February. Libby's twins are due near her due date."

  "Libby's having twins?" he asked.

  "If she doesn't kill them tomorrow," said Zephyr, trying to pull herself
back together.

  "But I thought Teresa ..."

  "Jeffrey was the babies' father," Zephyr interrupted. "He wanted her to
abort them."

  Zachary gently put her aside and pulled out his cell phone. "I'm going to
talk to her."

  Zephyr didn't object. She didn't feel like talking about it any more. She
got up and fled to her bedroom and shut the door.

  "Libby, it's Zachary," she heard through the door. Then she lay on her bed
and wept some more.

  A while later Zachary opened her door and came to sit on her bed. Putting
his hand on her back, he said, quietly, "Zephyr, honey?"

  "Yes, dear," she gulped.

  "It would be easier for you to adopt if you were married," he began.

  "I know ..." she said.

  "So why don't we get married so we can start the process," he interrupted.

  She jumped off the bed and backed up to the far wall. "What did you say?"

  Zachary came to stand in front of her. "Marry me and we'll adopt the
twins."

  "Don't tease, Zachary," she begged.

  "After the Christmas program next week," he said.

  "But we can't--"

  "I've made the arrangements. You can wear Stephanie's dress. We'll get
married in the auditorium and have the reception in the cafeteria. The
caterer Teresa and Thomas used can do it. Our pastor is free. All we need is
a guest list."

  "Oh, Zachary!" she gasped.

  "And a honeymoon trip to--"" he asked.

  "You pick," she said.

  "So you'll do it?" he asked.

  She smiled up at him and said, "But you haven't asked the question yet?"

  "Name the setting," he said. "Let's get our coats."

  It was snowing as they approached the Main Building of the Braille School.

  Zephyr perched on the ledge beside the stairs and Zachary stood beside
her. Taking her left hand in both of his, he said, "Lady Zephyr, wilt thou
marry me? I have loved thee since the first time I saw thee and I shall love
thee for the rest of my life."


  "Yes, my lord, I would be honored to be called thy wife."

  Lifting her from her perch he drew her into his arms and gently kissed her
lips.

  "I have no ring to give you this night," he said, "but we'll go look
tomorrow."

  Reaching into her pocket, Zephyr drew out a sapphire ring with diamond
chips on either side. "Might this ring do for now? Twas given to me by my
maternal grandmother."

  He gently lifted the ring from her palm to inspect it in the light. Then,
taking her left hand, he slid it onto her ring finger. "It's a perfect
engagement ring."

  "I've not worn it since the first week it was given to me two years ago."

  "Then none shall know but that I gave it to you," he said, then kissed her
again.

  "Let's go have pizza for supper," suggested Zephyr. "I'm starved."



    CHAPTER EIGHT

  Mrs. Owens took the children to rehearsal the next day because Zephyr was
doing the Olsen twins' IEPS via phone.

  When Zephyr walked back into the classroom, things were in an uproar.

  "But Mrs. Owens," Carrie was whining, "it's not fair and it's not right."

  "But Mr. Major is the music teacher and he's the one running the show,"
said Mrs. Owens.

  "I don't care," said Carrie and stomped her foot. "I'm glad Miss Shepherd
got me a cane and I'm going to use it."

  "What's this about?" asked Zephyr.

  "Mr. Major doesn't want any of the children to use canes in the program,"
Mrs. Owens explained.

  "He says the blind kids can hold onto the partials," said Lyric.

  "He said 'specially the reindeer shouldn't have canes," said Christopher.

  "Because he's worried we'll trip each other," added Christian.

  "He says we're too little for canes," said Carrie.

  "Okay," said Zephyr. "Let's get back to our work and we'll worry about
this at tomorrow's practice."

  The next day at practice, before Zephyr had a chance to talk to Mr. Major,
her children dutifully laid their canes at their seats. When it was their
turn, Carrie fell up the stairs. Christian almost fell off the front of the
stage and Christopher missed a step coming down and Jesse fell on him.

  "First-graders," barked Mr. Major, "I think you need more practice."

  "We'd do fine if you'd let us use our canes," cried Carrie.

  "Why do you want a cane so badly, Carrie?" Mr. Major asked. "You have
enough vision to get by. That thing just makes you look blind."

  "But I am blind, Mr. Major," protested Carrie. "I didn't miss the step on
purpose. I couldn't see it."

  "I didn't see the step either," piped up Christopher.

  "I didn't see the edge of the stage," said Christian.

  "I wouldn't have fallen on Christopher if I didn't _have to hang onto
him," said Jesse.

  "Mr. Major," said Zephyr. "My class of children will use their canes in
the program. I'd rather they stayed safe."

  "But it detracts from the program," he protested.

  "This is a school of blind children," said Zephyr. "Blind children use
canes in all situations to make up for their inability to see things."

  Mr. Major sighed deeply. "First-graders, get your canes and try it once
with them."

  When they performed flawlessly--even laying down their canes in unison--he
consented to let them have their canes.

* * *  * *

  After the program was performed, the first-graders and their families were
invited to stay for Zephyr's wedding. Although it was a couple hour wait,
they all stayed.

  As Zephyr started down the aisle, her mind ran back to the last time she'd
walked down this aisle in celebration. Last time her nerves were because she
was leaving behind her childhood, having no idea what the future would hold.
Now she was walking down the aisle, entering her future of marriage and
motherhood of twins.

  "Thou art so beautiful, my lady," whispered Zachary, when he met her at
the front.

  A wobbly smile met his compliment and tears stood in her eyes.

  When it was time to kiss the bride, Zachary lifted her veil, gently kissed
her lips and whispered "Thou hast made me the happiest man in the world."

  Then the tears flowed.

  "So where's the honeymoon?" asked Stephanie near the end of the reception.

  "It's a surprise," said Zephyr. "I've just been told to pack for warmth."

  "Are you flying?"

  "Yes," said Zephyr. "The plane leaves tomorrow morning."

  "So, is Zachary settled in your apartment?"

  "Most of his stuff is moved. We're finishing up after this."

* * * * * *

  Zephyr and Zachary had just set down the last load of stuff from Zachary's
apartment and had cleaned it. It was almost midnight and they had to be up
early to catch the plane.

  "Why don't I just sleep on the couch tonight, Zephie," said Zachary.

  Zephyr felt a pang of disappointment but had to admit it was a good idea.
They had a whole week ahead of them to spend alone.

  "So where is the airplane taking us?" she asked, trying to hold off
bedtime.

  "If I tell you, you'll not sleep," Zachary said, taking her by the hand
and leading her to her room. "Go to sleep now and we'll talk in the
morning."

  Zephyr didn't sleep much that night any way. She lay awake and prayed for
everyone she could think of, she thought of all the places

they might be flying, she wondered how her students' Christmases would be
and what they'd get for Christmas, she thought about the twins and

replayed all her memories of Zachary since she'd met him.

  "Zephyr." She nearly screamed with surprise when Zachary leaned over her
bed and called softly. "It's time to get up."

  "I must have finally gone to sleep," she said. "You scared me."

  "You'll have plenty of time for sleep later," he said, turning to leave.
"We have a plane to catch in three hours."

  An hour later, Owen was waiting when they came out, each with a suitcase
and their carry-on stuff.

  "So you ready for Antarctica, Zephyr?" he asked when Zachary and Zephyr
were settled in.

  "I don't know where we're going, Owen," Zephyr replied, "but I'm fairly
sure we're not going there."

  "You never know," he said.

  Zephyr wasn't really in the mood for joking. She'd never flown before and
was very nervous about it.

  "You doing okay?" Zachary asked, as they waited for the plane to take off.

  "Oh, Zachary," she whispered, on the verge of tears, "I'm so scared that
I'm afraid I've made myself feel so sick."

  He took her hand in his. "It will be just fine. Taking off in a plane is
somewhat like a car accelerating at a green light. It'll just go much
faster."

  "That wasn't so bad," sighed Zephyr as they were disembarking in St.
Louis. "but the turbulence was a little scary."

  "Now boarding, Flight 821, nonstop to Honolulu," blared the speaker and
startled Zephyr who was deep in thought.

  "That's us," said Zachary.

  Zephyr was speechless. With much trepidation she took Zachary's arm and
let him lead her down the concourse.

  "Zachary," she whispered, in near-panic, when they were settled. "Hawaii?
That's a long way."

  He patted her leg. "You'll do fine. I have the Dramamine if you need it."

  On the long flight, instead of watching the movies, they listened to music
or played card games. They also did sudokus and crossword puzzles.

  It seemed like no time till they were landing in Honolulu.

  "Here we are," said Zachary as he unlocked the hotel door. "Home for the
next ten days."

  "Whew!" said Zephyr, setting down her stuff. "I can't wait to change into
cooler clothes. It's hot in this sweatsuit."

  After they changed out of their winter clothes they decided to take a walk
down by the beach.

  "So, did you bring all the paperwork along?" Zephyr asked as they walked
barefoot through the shallow water along the beach.

  "Yes," said Zachary. "But we have plenty of time to do it. If we don't get
to it here, we can do some on the way home."

  "I'm glad we're going through an agency and not the state," said Zephyr.
"It's near to impossible to adopt through the state as a blind

person."





Barbara



Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance. -- Carl Sandburg
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