The Freak Pt. 05 of 05

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There was a mob of people at the Harvard mixer the following night, and there were a few who either tried to cut in while we were dancing or who asked Barbara while we were seated. She was polite, but firm when she replied. "Thank you, but as you can see we are married so my answer has to be no." She stayed with me when I went for sodas and chips and, even though we'd had a good time, we left around 10:30, Kelly greeted us again, but without her buddy, Ginny, this time. We'd left her in the back yard with a bowl of water and the dog house I'd built in case of rain.

Barbara was laughing as we walked Kelly into the kitchen. "What's so funny, Mrs. French?"

"I was just thinking of all the opportunities I missed by going to a girls' school, but actually that did turn out pretty well, didn't it?" I agreed mightily, pulling Barbara into a long lingering kiss. "C'mon, Jack--blowing off all those guys has given me an idea." I laughed and Barbara soon joined me.

And so we began our college careers. Barbara was majoring in Business Management while I was studying Finance with a minor that turned out to be a second major in Business Administration. We were taking some of the same courses and even using the same text books so it made sense to work together. We spent at least an hour every day, alternating between meeting in the Lesley and Harvard libraries, and it paid tremendous benefits to Barbara. I had a straight-A average when we went home for Thanksgiving while Barbara was running a strong B+ to A-. We had a great three days with my family, but, truthfully, I thought that Carole was more interested in seeing Kelly than she was her brother. We did spend one day driving out to see the progress on our new home.

We returned three weeks later for Christmas, our trunk filled with suitcases, Kelly's bed, and presents for my family and the Gleason's. I was looking forward to seeing my best friend, Eli. He came over to the house three days before Christmas. After hugging Big C we walked into our room at the rear of the house. I wanted to know how he'd done at football. "Hard; it was really hard--a lot of work from the minute I showed up and it's not going to change much through the end of the year. They expect me to work out in the weight room for an hour every day and I have to do fitness and quickness drills, too. How're things at Harvard?"

"Well...they're not that intense. I took Barbara with me to the gym about twice a week during the summer. It might have been more if we hadn't been painting the interior of our house. Once school began I kept pretty busy with my studies, but I still found the time to work out a couple times a week. Barbara and I did a lot of running with our dog, too.

"I'm sure you understand that Harvard doesn't have midnight practice in front of thousands of rabid fans. Most of our practices there's nobody in the stands, although we did have a couple of hundred when we scrimmaged the varsity."

"I think I would have enjoyed that."

"It was a real rout, Eli," Barbara added. "Jack was all over the floor--shooting, passing, rebounding, and leading the fast break. You should have seen it."

Eli laughed and I joined him. I knew exactly what he was going to say. "I think I have, Barbara, for the past five years."

"Yeah, but I had to have a few harsh words with the coach who wanted me to stay in the low post."

"You're kidding!"

"I wish. Can you believe--he knew nothing about my high school career until I told him I was the best shooter, passer, rebounder, and defensive player he had. I told him to check with the AD and apparently he did, because the next day he had me all over the court. We've had three games so far and we've won them all, but we'll have our share of problems come January."

Christmas day was a lot of fun and we did attend Midnight Mass rather than cause a commotion. We even received Communion, but I couldn't wait to get out of the church hall. We had maintained contact with Lt. Flanagan who had been promoted to captain. Using the list the police had taken statements from hundreds of women who had been abused. In many cases the statute of limitations had passed. However, there were still plenty of allegations against the two nuns and their ignoble leader--Msgr. Moran. Statements from other nuns as well as the lay teachers meant that prison time was a certainty. Capt. Flanagan told us that a plea bargain was likely as both the District Attorney and the Cardinal--the local leader of the Catholic Church--wanted to limit the negative publicity as much as possible. Both sides just wanted the whole nasty mess to go away. However he also told us that the negotiations were proceeding very slowly.

We also spoke at length with Mr. Silverman. "For some stupid reason they think this is just going to go away, Jack," he told us. "But they're whistling in the dark. This has nothing to do with the criminal charges. I'm having at least one press conference every week and I see no reason to stop until we have a settlement or the case goes to court. They've thrown a few roadblocks up to keep us out of court, but public opinion is forcing the judge to act even if he is a devout Roman Catholic. Once I start my case he'll act because he IS a Roman Catholic. I already had more than 100 women deposed and I still have to do Barbara, our star witness."

I looked to Barbara. We both knew this day was coming and we had discussed it numerous times. I hated that Barbara would have to relive that horrible day, but she had repeatedly told me it was something she absolutely had to do. We set it up for the following afternoon.

Slowly and skillfully, Stan Silverman took Barbara through the day starting when the girls reacted to her ring to her decision to ask for it back. I could hardly breathe as she described how she was beaten and whipped. Finally, after almost two hours she was done. Stan thanked her and asked if we could return tomorrow afternoon to review the sworn statement and sign. Barbara was obviously drained as I led her out to the car. I put her into bed for a nap once we were home with my parents.

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I did very well in all my courses, but especially in Accounting 1. Unlike some of the huge lecture courses the professor asked for and expected her students to participate actively in class. It seemed that I either answered a question or contributed an opinion in every session and I was viewed as a leader by my fellow students. Then, in the first week of October, we had our first hour exam, receiving our corrected test papers in the following class.

I was approached by one of the other students as I left class. He introduced himself as Justin Akers and wanted to know if we could set up a study group. He explained that he'd received a 79 on the test and was sure that I'd done better. I did, scoring a perfect grade of 100. When he asked what dorm I was in I commented that I was a commuter. "You're can't be a local. You sound more like a New Yorker."

"Yeah, I am, but I'm married and I live now in Somerville about ten minutes away." We spoke for about ten minutes and I learned that he was from Smithtown about fifteen miles from my parents' bungalow and what would soon be our house. We did set up a study group, but the five of us--three guys and two girls--met in a room in the library Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons instead of a dorm. Our first meeting was interrupted when Barbara walked in. One of the girls started to tell her we were in a private group until I stopped her and introduced Barbara as my wife who was also taking accounting at Lesley. Barbara and I had the group to our house weekends before big tests. These sessions helped Barbara as much as they did the rest of us.

We'd been meeting about two weeks when Barbara asked how I would feel about setting up a blind date between Justin and Darla. "She's really feeling lonely and so far the only guys she's attracted have been real jerks. They take one look at her body and try immediately to grab her and worse. One of her dates actually pulled his cock out in the movie theater and wanted her to give him a blow job."

"Well...every guy wants a blow job, even me."

Barbara gave me a look that I'd come to dread. "That's not funny, Jack. So, what do you think?" I told her I'd give it a try and we spent a few minutes deciding on what kind of date we should propose. I saw Justin right after accounting class Monday morning.

"Justin...got a minute?" I continued when he said he did. "What are you doing Saturday night? Are you seeing anyone?"

"No, I've had a few dates, but nothing serious, why?"

"Barbara has this friend she'd like you to meet."

"Let me guess--she has a great personality."

"Actually, she does, but she's definitely not a dog. If anything I'd give her a ten, maybe even higher. She's a really good looking brunette with a killer body. It's her body that's the problem. She's had plenty of dating opportunities, but every guy immediately tries grabbing her tits and ass. I know for a fact that she's not a virgin...." And then I told him about her ex-boyfriend from high school. "She's a great person and down the road you'd probably be able to score with her. You'd just have to be patient." Then I explained what Barbara and I were thinking in terms of the date and he agreed. I told him I'd pick him up at his dorm at 5:30 Saturday afternoon.

Five minutes after getting him I pulled up and parked in front of Darla's dorm at Lesley. The three of us walked into the lobby and Barbara told the girl at the desk that we were there for Darla D'Angelo. I swear, I thought that Justin's eyes would jump out of his head when Darla walked down the stairs dressed in a tight off-white top and even tighter navy blue slacks. Barbara made the introduction. Darla greeted Justin then hugged Barbara and me. Two minutes later we were in the Olds on our way down Mass. Ave. into Boston. We were headed for the same seafood restaurant that Barbara and I had gone to back at Easter. Lobster is a sloppy meal, but Barbara and I weren't out to impress anyone. Justin ordered grilled scallops and Darla asked for deep fried calamari.

We talked about school--three business majors and one studying elementary education. I was surprised when told about everything Darla would have to learn just to teach young children. She told us that she couldn't wait for her student teaching experience during her senior year. Lesley arranged for teaching assistant opportunities one day a week and Darla told us how much she enjoyed working with her second grade class. I could see her enthusiasm. Justin hung on every word.

We enjoyed our salads and the dinners were excellent. Darla exclaimed her pleasure with the calamari, sharing a piece with Justin who returned the favor with a scallop. Barbara and I made good use of our lobster bibs, laughing at each other with our faces covered with butter sauce. We had a great time, leaving around 7:15 for a movie back in Cambridge.

That was the beginning of Justin's relationship with Darla and our close friendship with the couple. We had them to dinner several times and we went to several dances and parties with them as well. Both Barbara and Darla were subjects of keen attention from many of the males present. My physical size no doubt deterred at least some of the boys from hitting on my wife, but Justin was only five feet ten and was lucky to tilt the scales at 160 pounds.

Boys may have shown their interest, but Darla was deaf and blind to their charms. Her answer was the same every time--I'm flattered, but I only dance with my boyfriend. Once when a frustrated suitor threatened to beat Justin up she told him that would never work. "Just what I always wanted--a dumb oaf whose hands are bigger than his brain." Then she took Justin by the hand and led him away, kissing him hotly once they were beyond arm's length from the idiot.

We had more than two weeks off for the holiday break, but we had a lot to do at home so we planned to combine two important tasks into one long day. Tuesday night I told Mom that we'd be away all day. "Don't expect us for dinner. I don't know what will happen with Justin's family." The following morning--Wednesday, December 27, 1961--we were up early, around six, for our drive out to the bungalow. We had agreed to check on it while we also checked on our house's progress.

The bungalow looked exactly as we had left it with the exception of the dead field mouse that I removed and dumped out in the woods. After closing the bungalow we walked across the street and down the gentle hill to look at our new house in progress. We walked through the poured concrete basement and garage and up into the house itself. The house was framed with plywood on the outer walls and roof which looked to be half completed. Mark met us there to explain how the construction was proceeding. He expected the roof to be completed that week and once that was done real progress inside would follow. Barbara and I met with the plumber to select fixtures and faucet sets for the bathrooms and kitchen. Next was tile for both areas and, finally, the electrician for lighting fixtures throughout the house. We had already specified the windows and doors as well as the shingles for the roof.

Leaving at noon gave us time for a quick lunch at a hot dog wagon on our way to Smithtown where we would meet with Justin and his parents. He had explained that he was a late life surprise for his parents. His three sisters were twenty, twenty-two, and twenty-five years older. Some of their children--his nieces and nephews--were actually older than he was. His parents were in their sixties so we were not at all surprised when a silver-haired woman answered the door. "Hello...you must be Jack and Barbara. I'm Gloria, Justin's mother. Please come in." She hugged me and then Barbara before leading us to the palatial living room. "I'll let Martin know that you're here. Justin is out picking up our dry cleaning. He should be home soon. Here, let me take your coats." She opened a closet and hung them.

I met Justin's dad a few minutes later and then, in what I thought was a well planned and executed maneuver, Mrs. Akers took Barbara for a tour of the house while Mr. Akers showed me to his study, closing the door behind us. "I don't believe in beating around the bush, Jack. Justin's mother and I are extremely concerned about his relationship with this...."

"You mean, Darla?"

"Yes, he is obviously infatuated with her. She's all he talks about. It has to end. I can see no good coming from this relationship."

"Well, if you're looking to me or Barbara for help you're barking up the wrong tree. Darla is the best thing to happen to Justin, probably ever. We're in a study group for accounting. Before meeting her Justin would be best described as an uninspired student. He was earning C's mostly and occasionally a B-. Since meeting Darla he's been getting mostly A's. And, in case you think the feelings are one way, you're dead wrong. Darla is Barbara's best friend so we've been to parties and dances together. She could have her pick of guys, but she shoots all of them down for Justin. I know for a fact that they've seen each other every single day since we set them up on a blind date back in October and Darla sees to it that he studies his ass off."

"Well...I just don't want to see him knocking her kind up and having to get married."

"I think what you're trying to say is that you don't want him to get involved with an Italian even though she's Catholic just like Justin. Physically she has movie star beauty, but she's even more on the inside. If not for my wife I'd be thrilled to have someone even close to her, but she only has eyes for Justin. I think that I need to tell you a few things about me so you'll understand better." I began by moving his paperweight across the room into my hand and then back. I told him about being struck and how my brain was changed and, after about ten minutes, I told him about my flashes.

"Have you had any about Justin?"

"I have and you're going to be very proud of him. He's going to be a wizard of Wall Street."

He was almost sheepish when he asked, "What about...?"

"Oh yeah--she'll be by his side every step of the way. You know what they say about, 'behind every successful man....' Darla's studying elementary education. There's a lot more to it than you might think. She's going to be an incredible wife and an even better mother."

"Wall Street! I was hoping he'd take over my dealership. I own a very successful Buick-Cadillac dealership here in Smithtown."

We spoke for another ten minutes before we heard Justin and Barbara greeting each other outside. Mr. Akers thanked me for my insights and we went to join them. We talked about our new house and Mr. Akers asked how we could afford it. Barbara laughed as I tried to explain. That was Mr. Akers' cue to find Newsday, Long Island's newspaper. He explained that he liked to bet. "Nothing serious, you understand. I use this bookie I know."

"What would happen if you had a really good day and by that I do mean really good?"

"Nothing, as long as it was only one." Barbara and I laughed then I took the paper from his hands and marked my choices in pencil.

"Just don't get greedy. Bet two bucks at first and not more than ten on the exacta. Then you can take Mrs. Akers on that trip to Hawaii she's wanted for years. You'll be able to afford it." A few minutes later we heard him on the phone making his bets for tomorrow at Hialeah in Florida. Barbara and I stayed for dinner--delicious prime rib roast with potatoes baked in kosher salt--leaving around ten for the hour-long ride home.

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We returned to Somerville two days later even though classes wouldn't begin for more than a week. I had to attend a few basketball sessions--nothing formal, but still something I had to do to keep myself sharp for the games in January and February. In addition to Ivy League games we also played most of the universities in the Boston Area. That meant Northeastern, Boston U., MIT, Tufts, and Boston College. Of those I felt that we could easily handle all except B.C.

Of course, I had forgotten who I was playing with. Most of our players were decent--better than average--high school varsity types, but not All-County, and definitely not All-State or higher. I played my butt off every game just as I did in high school, but without the same results. For Harvard students their judgment with the ball was sometimes disastrous. Other than committing too many fouls there is nothing that ruins a game faster than turnovers. Some of my teammates acted as though the ball was contagious. They passed recklessly and fumbled too many passes out of bounds. Our records--freshman and varsity suffered greatly as a result. We lost more games during the first week back in class than I had in five years of high school. Unfortunately, my experiences in baseball followed the same pattern. I played well, but we still lost many more games than we won.

My last year of competition came while I was a grad student at Harvard Business School. Barbara and I had taken additional courses every summer, picking up almost an entire semester's work over the two summer sessions. Thus we were able to graduate in only three years. I had applied to a few outstanding business schools in addition to Harvard where I actually enrolled while I finished the final two courses for my Bachelor's degree.

Our house on the bluff in Shoreham was finished by June of our freshman year and we spent the first half of the summer furnishing it. We were rarely there with our busy times at school, but we knew it would get plenty of use once we had graduated. I never expressed any interest in playing in the NBA even though I knew that I was good enough. I had something else in mind.