17 October 1990 – cont.

After writing about each of my brothers and sisters, I feel like I have a special relationship – with its own special memories – with each of them.  I’ve grown up with them, saw their weaknesses and strengths, just as they’ve seen me at my worst and my best.  Of course, I’m not so naive that I don’t know we all have our secrets that we wouldn’t share with anyone, but I respect that just as I hope others will respect my secrecy.  After all, our worst enemies have often been each other.  But I will say this:  Never have I had a friend that I’ve cherished more than my family.  And there isn’t anything my family could do to make me stop loving them.  Maybe someday, when I’ve made a terrible mistake, they’ll return the compliment.

(What a bunch of Bull!  Disgusting! – date unknown)

So what else is there to write about?  Dreams.  I had a dream the other night that Susie & Addie Elko & her other friends had a super softball team, and that the guys – Bob, Jeff, etc. – were coaching it.  They had some secret that made their team better than the others.  One day, as they were playing and the guys were coaching, my cousin Jenny and I were standing on the side watching.  As is typical in my dreams, I had the power to float.  So Jenny & I began to float in the air by using our arms & legs to sort of “push” our way up.  And as is also typical in my dreams, things would float by in the air.  When we were above the game by about 20 feet, we saw beautiful swans slowly fly by.  They were made of porcelain and glistened in the sun.  Then more cream-colored swans went by, only these were made of something like marble.  Finally, very slowly, one huge swan floated by.  This one wasn’t alive like the others; it floated instead of flew.  And this one was made entirely of snow.  It passed within a foot of me, and I wanted to reach out and touch it, to prove that it was real, but I didn’t want to feel the freezing snow on my fingertips when it was such a warm day.  So I let it float past, like all the other swans.  And that’s all I can remember.

I’ve noticed that if I only get about 6 hours of sleep, my alarm will go off just at the tail end of a long and intriguing dream.  The only problem is I haven’t figured out how to remember them afterwards.  When I wake up, I remember them clearly for one fleeting second, then they are gone and all I have left to remember them by are the feelings they have stirred in me.  And those feelings often haunt me for the rest of the day.

In an eighth grade religion journal I once wrote that dreams were like movies, only you got to be the star.  I’ve always loved dreams.  To me they were a sort of entertainment.  I would control my dreams by thinking of something before I fell asleep.  Then I would dream the same dream night after night if I wanted to.  Rarely have I had a bad dream, and I don’t think I’ve ever had what you’d call a “real” nightmare.  Tonight I’m going to try to remember my dream so that I can write it down in the morning.  Good night!

Wednesday, 13 June 1990 11:38 P

Well, I graduated.  Toward the end of the year I was rushing, trying to get everything done.  Tuesday the 5th was officially my last day as a senior, but I had to come in Wednesday for 7th hour to make up my audit test for accounting.  Then Thursday was the graduation.  I was working – burning garbage, etc – up until time to get ready (I did take a nap in the afternoon – Mom’s orders – so I would be awake for the party).  Angie took her shower first, so I ran behind schedule.  I ended up going in Angie’s blue-with-white-flowers dress (in which Angie said I looked “top-heavy”), with wet hair, and with very little make-up.  Angie came with me early to get a good seat, but I forgot her ticket.  She called home for it, but ended up sneaking in without it.  During the practice that morning I sat in the front row, but as we lined up to go in people kept getting in front of me & Helen Petrovich (who kept lying and saying I looked beautiful).  When Sarah Thomas and Michele Stifler got there from band, it was situated so that only 2 of the 4 of us could sit in the front row.  Helen already said she wanted to sit by me, Sarah begged me to sit by her because she was nervous, and Michele told me I had to sit by her.  As it turned out, just as we were going in Michele pulled on my arm, so we sat in front, and Sarah and Helen sat at the other end of the second row.  I ended up sitting in the exact same seat Debbie sat in two years before me:  front row, last seat on the right.  I turned around during the ceremony and mouthed “I’m sorry” to Sarah.

During the ceremony, my name was pronounced 3 different ways.  One for high honors, one for Presidential Academic Fitness Awards, and one for when I got my diploma cover.  Only the last one, for the cover, was pronounced right – and that was because I had the speaker (Mr. Howell) for my English teacher.

Angie took pictures with the new disk camera Mom got me for Christmas, and none of the pictures turned out, so I’ll have to get a different camera for Spain.  Afterwards, the family went out to eat (Mom, Debbie, Angie, Joey, Tony, and Susie came) while I stayed for the party.  I had a red duffle bag full of a change of clothes, the camera, film, my yearbook, and anything else I might need.  I still had a while to wait before the party, so Susan Stafford let me go home with her to change.  I had always thought she was poor because she didn’t dress modern, she told stories about her junker car, she had to work a lot to take care of herself, and she often went without lunch because she didn’t have money; but when I got to her house (by the way, we drove in a new computerized van) I discovered they had just built it 4 years ago!  It was big and beautiful!  True, her car was a junker, though.

The graduation party lasted from 11:00 pm to 6 am.  The theme was “Back to the Future” because this is the year “Back to the Future” II and III came out (the movies).  They gave everyone Back to the Future shades (sunglasses) from Hardee’s, a Graduation T-shirt, a Jefferson High pencil, and treats like popcorn and hot chocolate mix — they put these things in everyone’s brown paper grocery bags that were serving as lockers.  During the party, I played Ping-Pong; played volleyball; watched Chris the Cop and Coach Drummond get dunked in the dunk tank; ate pizza, nachos, etc.; drank pop, milk, & other non-alcoholic drinks; danced; got myself caricatured; played in the casino (blackjack, mostly); won a calculator; danced a slow dance with a pervert (John Gorski); and basically had a great time.  I also saw Luis’s band perform with Mike Parker, a kid that graduated with Debbie two years ago.  I remember listening to him harmonizing in the cafeteria with some friends of his – he is great!  About that dance with Gorski – he came up & asked me to dance, but I told him no one else was dancing.  So he went and got someone else to dance with him.  By that time other people were on the floor, so I felt bad I refused him.  After that, another slow song came on and he walked away – I felt disappointed that he didn’t ask me again.  Then he came back and said I can’t refuse now, so I got up and we walked out to the floor.  We just danced slow for awhile – talking a little – then when the song seemed to drag on, he showed me the box step that his grandma showed him.  Then we started doing the tango and some fancy twirling, more lessons from his grandma.  He said we could do the lambada, but I said no thanks.  When the song ended, we just went our separate ways.

When Mom picked me up, I wasn’t tired at all.  Then when we got home we got in a small argument about something she said happened yesterday morning (the morning before) and I said happened that morning.  It took me a while to realize that a whole day had passed, and when I did, I became tired.  I slept into the afternoon.  For the rest of the time the whole family cleaned.  Dolly showed up.  The next day we cleaned some more and Gladys showed up.  Later Dale and his family came.  The next day, the tenth, was the day of my graduation party.  We went to church at St. Bart’s, and it was one of the wierdest St. Bart-masses I’ve ever been to.  There was a different priest, a different lector, a different song director, and a different pianist – all people I’ve never seen before in my life.  And in the middle of a reading, the lector was saying “…may be with you…,”  and almost the whole parish — who were obviously not paying attention — responded “And also with you!”

Then came the party.  It was okay, but nothing great.  The weather was great, though.  Hot, hot, hot!  And we had tons of food, so much that we still have lots of leftovers.  Sarah Thomas stopped in, and so did Marie F. and Ashley Ozmet (with Eddie and Rick).  Jim and Arlene were the only ones from Dad’s side that came; Martha and Lou were the only ones from Mom’s side that didn’t come.  Our whole family was there – I should’ve taken a picture.  After the party (which, incidentally, was partly for Ricky so that Mom’s side wouldn’t have to go to two parties), most everyone went home.  Jack had already left for his trailor home on his motorcycle.  I think only Gladys, Dolly, and Jarrett remained at our house.  By the way, the party was on Clearwater Island, from 2 to 5 officially, from 1:30 to 6:30 unofficially.  At 8:45, Jarrett, Debbie, Marie F., Angie, and I drove out to see Jack’s new farm.  He wasn’t there when we got there (somewhere near Brownville), so we drove to his trailor park in Milford.  There we talked and hung around for a while, while Jack phoned Mom, who was worried about us.  Apparently Patti had just shown up at our house with her fiancé Trevor(?) at 10:30 at night – and wanted directions to Jack’s farm so they could meet us.  It took Jack forever to explain because Patti has no sense of direction.

I had been sick since the last couple days of school, and my lungs were filled with mucus, so every time I laughed it sounded really funny.  For some reason I was in a really strange mood that night; I would sit quietly without making much noise for a long time, then the stupidest thing would set me off laughing.  The more I laughed, the worse it got, because I’d start laughing at my funny-sounding laugh (confusing, ain’t it?).

After Jack gave directions, we hopped in the car again (this time with Jack) and drove out to his farm.  On the way, we stopped & bought pop & brats.  Jack gave us a tour (the house was empty but messy), then we set up a tiny grill and started hay and twigs on fire.  It took a while, but we finally got it going good.  We set the brats on top and let them cook.  About this time, Patti and her boyfriend showed up.  I didn’t like him right away.  They went in the house to look around while we stayed by the fire.  Angie kept acting junior-highish, probably because Jack can be intimidating.  She sat in the car and slept a lot of the time.  Jack was as sure of himself and all-around perfect as he ever was, which isn’t necessarily bad.  I rather admired him.  Jarrett was his usual comical and kind self, sometimes acting as Jack’s shadow.  Debbie was a little quiet, but she did okay.  Marie acted almost to be Jack’s equal.  They both have similar characteristics:  mellow, little self-doubt, strong, can handle most situations.  I never really liked Marie that much.  It could be jealousy, but I don’t think so.

I was still in that strange mood.  I was only wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and by this time it was early morning, so I just sat huddled up leaning against the car, staring at the tiny fire.  I rarely said anything, and occasionally went into my laughing fits, which greatly amused everyone.  Jack and Patti kept thinking I had taken some sort of drug.

Patti.  I used to feel intimidated by her experience; now I feel sorry for her.  She’s got a bubbly personality, a funny laugh, and deep emotions.  She shares her innermost self generously and voluntarily.  But she doesn’t seem to ever want to grow up.  Her boyfriend (fiancé) is just as immature.  They look like they have a lot of fun together, but it’s obvious that neither is ready for marriage.  Jack told them right out that they’d be making a big mistake.

I said before that I didn’t like Trevor at sight – I don’t think anybody did.  He was wearing some heavy-metal T-shirt, and as soon as he got out of the car he got out a pack of cigarettes and began to tap it against his hand over-dramatically.  It was the kind of thing everyone noticed as an act of showing off.  Then, after he removed a cigarette, he rolled the pack up in his sleeve onto his shoulder.  He got out a plastic bottle of some strawberry-flavored alcoholic beverage and opened a can of beer.  He made some show-offy remark about having the bottle, a can of beer, and a cigarette all in one hand, saying it reminded him of himself two years ago.  By the way, he’s eighteen years old, and Patti’s nineteen.

Around one-thirty we all went home, the gritty taste of sanddogs (brats that fell into the dirt) in our mouths.  Patti and her boyfriend went back to Clayton, we dropped Jack off at his trailer home, and we headed straight home ourselves.  We crawled into our beds fully-clothed at a quarter to three.

The next few days were lazy days.  On Monday Dolly, Gladys, and Jarrett went home.  For the rest of the time up to now we didn’t do much more than watch video tapes on T.V. and eat leftovers from the party.  Today I did start my thank-you letters to all who sent or brought gifts.  I received $258.00 in cash and checks so far from people.  Tomorrow I’m going to get my hair cut professionally and will eat dinner at the Jones’ with all those from Jefferson going to Spain on Tuesday.  Actually, I should say I’m getting my hair cut and eating at the Jones’ today, because it’s now 3:07 am.  And I have to get to sleep; I’m developing a bad case of the hiccups.  Well, I think I got a lot done tonight, don’t you think?  Good night.

8 January 1990

It’s been over a year. I’m 18 years old. I have a little over a semester of school left before I graduate. In the summer I’ll spend 26 days in Spain. Then I’ll attend the university and study Elementary Education. I’ll become a grade-school teacher and marry sometime after graduation. I don’t know when yet because I haven’t met my fiancé yet, that I’m aware of. I would like to have kids and pets. I wonder if I will die before any of this happens. I’ll be flying to Spain, and the planes haven’t been working very well lately. They keep crashing or losing engines, sometimes both. All I ask is that I’m a good Christian when I do die. I definitely would not like to be put on a life-support system unless there’s a chance that someday I’ll be off it, or if God somehow suggests that I be put on one. Nurse is a very sick cat. Her gray hair is thin in spots, she has heavy dandruff (I hope that’s all it is), and she has hanging folds of fat. She is extremely old – 16 human years. She often throws up and never does more than walk slowly (unless she’s in grave danger). She usually sleeps in my room, but she has to stay out for a few days while I investigate why it smells like she pooped in here. I haven’t been doing so hot myself. Today was the first day back to school since Christmas vacation. I usually get to bed late and sleep during classes. Right now it’s 12:02 A.M. My room’s getting messy and I’m getting very lazy. I have to start doing housework. My muscles are becoming weak. I rarely do my homework at home. And there’s so much I have to do to prepare for Spain and college, I’m afraid I’ll be too ashamed of myself to marry. I haven’t been raised with the best habits and I’m not exactly pretty. On the other hand, I’m trying to do more things to improve my appearance, and hopefully I’ll remember this time to exercise, do my homework, and clean my room. I have to start acting like an adult. Barbara and Bob’s new baby is due the end of February, next month. They’re looking for a larger house than the one next door. Sarah was in her first Christmas program at their church. We (us kids) didn’t know until we were on our way to St. Bart’s for church. We all but made our mom go off on the highway and head for their church. As usual, she was adorable. We all have to be careful not to spoil her because almost everything she says is repeated and almost everything she does is talked about. Barbara and Bob were rather lucky they got such a well-behaved kid for their first child. She was never all that sloppy, and even though she does disobey sometimes and cries when things aren’t always the way she’d like them, she never was one of those terrible two-year-olds who got into everything and drove everyone crazy. She did color on the living room wall once, and got into my room while no one was looking; she smeared lipstick (“butter” she used to call it) all over her face and cut her finger with a razor blade. She once fell down the stairs almost from the top. She’s usually quiet around new people and when she’s in certain moods. She can stand there and stare at you silently as though she’s humoring you. Right now she’s really into London Bridges and Ring Around the Rosy. Mom and Debbie are becoming really concerned about Susie lately. I guess she’s been having nightmares. Debbie thinks she should see a psychiatrist but Mom can’t afford one. Joey gets violent all the time and Angie’s always sarcastically cruel to Joey. Sarah usually can’t come over because of the bad example we set. I always thank God for the family I have, but now that reality’s setting in, it gets depressing sometimes. I am so often thoughtless and self-centered, not thinking of others. I’m also what some would call a recluse. I stay at home almost all the time. I leave for school, babysitting, and every couple of weeks, shopping. I next to never go out with friends, or for social events. And the only person I regularly talk to on the phone is Michele, and usually she’s the one to call me. I’ve got to make some changes in my life, but once I start, it usually only lasts for a short while, then dies away. For example, a diary. Every so often, I say I’ll write in a diary. It’ll last for a few days, then I’ll forget and start a new one a few months later. Life is moving too fast. I’m no longer a carefree child, able to ignore important things. I no longer see myself, my family, my life, through just my eyes. I’m beginning to see it from the world’s. What used to be normal seems extremely abnormal and sometimes disgusting. All those times I’ve felt beautiful, yet people seemed to be humoring me. Now I know why. I probably seemed a very disillusioned child, one who should be protected. I wonder if I still am. I know I still am to some people. It’s now a quarter to one in the morning and with school and unfinished homework tomorrow, I’d better get to sleep. That’s another thing I never get right. Some nights I get as little as a few hours of sleep, and some nights I sleep on into nearly the afternoon. Very irregular. I can’t promise when I’ll write again, but maybe next time I won’t write so much.

-Jolie

By the way, I had a very nice Christmas, lots of great presents. I babysat all vacation, weekdays as well as weekends. I even babysat for the Rogers’ New Year’s Eve, but I called home at midnight to wish everyone a happy new year. I do hope it will be happy.

Wednesday, 15 February 1989 10:52 P

Today there was a donut sale, popcorn, nachos, AND ice cream; and I still don’t have change! After babysitting at the Peterson’s I got about 1/2 hour at home before I went to Barbara’s to babysit Sarah. I was there ’til 10:30. I could hear Mom yelling before I even set foot in the house. Apparently, Susie has 25 late assignments. She stays in for recess, and some boys are always picking on her. And the dumb teacher didn’t even tell Mom until today! She didn’t even know about the boys bothering her. St. Bart’s isn’t worth the money put into it. I pray Susie gets an attitude change, but I know how extremely difficult that can be in her position w/the understanding of a 9-yr-old.

Friday, 20 January 1989 1:18 A

Here’s my schedule for next semester:

1st hour – Spanish III
2nd hour – Recordkeeping
3rd hour – Chemistry
4th hour – Algebra II
5th hour – Tutoring Center
*Lunch*
6th hour – Typing II
7th hour – World Lit. II

I hate getting up early to catch the bus, but I do like watching the sun rise on my way to school. I think it’s terrible they make kids get up before the sun does. I babysat for the O’Malley’s tonight. Jason (who must be nearly 5) looks like a cruel person, but isn’t. And Kirsten (who’s about 2 1/2-3) will be quite pretty & outgoing when she’s older. She’s really well-behaved.

____________________________________

The last day of 1st semester of the ’88 – ’89 school year. I’m in 2nd period – English, with Miss Casey. She’s giving us our grades for 2nd quarter. We took the finals yesterday but the Scan-Tron machine didn’t work. I just found out I got an A! I thought I’d be lucky if I pulled a B! I hope all my teachers are that generous. Angie kept cutting on Joey this morning so finally I got sick of it & said, “Oh, shut up, you Fat Mouth!” Fat Mouth?! She stormed outside to wait for the bus. Would you believe I forgave her for last night? I’m a little upset at myself because I realize no matter what she does, I’m always going to forgive her and it doesn’t make a bit of difference to her. She probably just forgets she ever did anything & isn’t in the least remorseful. And I bet she’ll hold a grudge for weeks because I called her “Fat Mouth.” We have a Pep Assembly today, so that’ll be interesting. I told Debbie last night about something I did in 7th grade and she told Mom. Mom almost scolded me! For something I did 4 years ago! This is what I did: Setting – 7th grade classroom, St. Bart’s grade school. My teacher was Mrs. Green. We had a big project we were supposed to do, worth tons of points. I didn’t do it. A couple days after it was due, Mrs. Green asked me if I handed it in. I said yes. She said she doesn’t know where it could be. So she checked her desk while I checked mine. When we couldn’t find it (obviously) she decided to give me the points anyway, because, after all, it wasn’t my fault it got lost!

____________________________________

This is 3rd hour Chemistry. I’m getting better at it, ever since I got an A first semester.

____________________________________

This is 4th hour Algebra II. I don’t belong here; it’s too easy for me. Which reminds me; I have to see my counselor about a summer math course.

 

15 January 1989 11:21 P

I had to wash my phy ed clothes by hand tonight. We haven’t been to the laundromat in days (more like weeks). After church today I walked Susie around so she could sell her Brownie cookies. Then we all went to see Grandma at the nursing home. She was pretty tired & I don’t think she talked at all. Dale, Nancy, George, Jenny, and Trudy all came down, despite school & work tomorrow. We left around 4:30 & went to the Lerners. Mom went in for “a few minutes.” After 1/2 hour, Susie went in. A little later, Joey & Angie followed. I sat in the car complaining about things until I cried. At 1/4 to 6:00, we finally left & went to St. Bart’s, where they were having a Volunteer Appreciation Festival in the basement. There were hotdogs, nachos, & ice cream, & some name tag drawings. We won 4 prizes! What Luck! I cheered up.

9 January 1989 10:20 P

I finished my story, but I missed the bus going home because of it. I put it in the basket but I don’t think the teacher will see it until morning. Luckily, Susie had a Brownies meeting at St. Bart’s so I walked there. It was freezing and I didn’t have a hat, scarf, or mittens; only my coat. But it was a great walk and I praised Jesus as I walked on, smiling and marveling at the beauty of winter. The sky had every pastel color possible in it and there were clumps of small pine trees which contrasted the snow on it. Everything was so soft and defined. And tons of people saw my article & complimented me.

Wednesday, 21 December 1988, 10:37 PM

Dear Notepad,

As you can tell by the date, four more days until Christmas. Actually, three days and 1½ hours. And I have school tomorrow. I’m up to 9 L.M. Montgomery books and I renewed 3 from the public library. There’s a new one in the stores called Story Girl that looks real good. And there are 3 others that I know of that I haven’t checked out of the library yet. I see lost futures when I think of the talents I might have had as a kid but wasted. Art classes and Writing practice, Choir and Advanced Math courses. These were wasted and ruined in St. Bart’s. I got Sarah a 3-piece outfit: A yellow sweatshirt (with a pattern), a pair of jeans with rolled-up cuffs that match the pattern on the sweatshirt, and a jean jacket-vest (no sleaves). I also got Sarah a box of 8 large crayons for beginners. I got some small gifts for everyone else except the guys. I haven’t found anything for them yet. News flash: ¡Sarah’s getting hair! We sold 3 of McKensie’s puppies for $20.00 and gave the last one to Francis for Christmas. Not long after the 5 were born, one froze outside after it managed to climb out of the doghouse and couldn’t get back in. Her name (after she died) was Fern. I called her that because after we buried her between Bear and King, I put large ferns on her grave and decided every time I visit her in the warm months, I’d bring her a fern. Of the four left there were 3 boys and 1 girl. Susie’s was the girl and she was Tanya. She was brown (sort of light) and medium size. Angie’s was Bernard. He was one of the last to go. He got his name from his face, which looked like a St. Bernard’s. He was very big and was white, black, and brown. Mine was Gilbert (from Anne of Green Gables); he was the littlest and had diff. shades of brown on him (all shades were dirty brown) and he was a little darker than Tanya. Francis got Casey. We were all a little glad to see him go. He was a lot like Joey (probably because he was Joey’s dog). He was always getting into trouble. He broke our basement door and opened 2 of the presents under the Christmas tree (both were mine). He would go to the bathroom where ever he pleased and he would scratch and bite when you played with him. I must get to bed now (¡2 more days of school!). Until I write again: ¡Adiós!

¡Chiao!

¡Hasta luego!

¡Hasta pronto!

¡Hasta la vista!

¡Fue un placer!

‘Bye!

 

Friday, 2 December 1988

Dear Notepad,

Inspired by Emily Byrd Starr, I have decided to write to you. She didn’t write to her Notepad, but she did write. I am now 17. The day after Thanksgiving (November 24) we drew names for Christmas. I drew Sarah. She is the sweetest, most intelligent baby there could be. Yesterday Barbara and Sheila took Sarah & James out in their strollers for an hour walk. I was taking McKensie for a walk when I met them and we walked together. Just the way Sarah waved her mitted fingers at McKensie and said “Hi!” made me think of her as a genius. After a ways, I went back home with McKensie while they continued on. I thought it was scandalously cold. Sure enough, when they returned Sarah’s hands & cheeks were ice cold. Barbara sat on the couch with Sarah on her lap and a blanket wrapped around both for a few minutes. Then she had to go next door to her house to get chicken or something to put in our oven since they only have a microwave. I took her place on the couch (she asked me to, I did not steal it) and oh, did it feel nice to be able to comfort and protect a sad but sweet baby. Just imagine how I’ll feel when I begin to have my own kids! But I’m afraid this may cause me to be a terribly lenient mother. Hopefully I will learn how to discipline otherwise in the university when (and if) I go in a couple of years. I had to add the “and if” because it’s not up to me to decide my future, it’s up to Jesus. I definitely want to go, but any number of things may come up. Anyway, other things have happened lately. About a week ago I stepped on a nail. This was during Thanksgiving vacation and we were having a bonfire outside. A little earlier that night Jarrett went to pick up Jeff from work. We got a phone call from Jarrett the same minute I stepped on the nail. He was caught speeding. Worse yet, he has a suspended license here (he lives in Minnesota so he never thought of it). They arrested him and Mom, Jack, and Jeff bailed him out for around $500.00. My foot is still in the healing process & Jack and Jarrett went home Sunday while everyone (but me) was at church. They always leave then, probably so they don’t have to say good-bye. I stayed home because Mom wanted me to soak my foot for a couple of hours. I didn’t mind because it gave me a chance to read the Bible chapter from the night before that I missed because Aunt Gladys was sleeping in my room. I also read part of Emily of New Moon by Lucy Maud Montgomery. She is my favorite author right now. I’ve read 7 of her books so far: the first 6 from the Anne of Green Gables series and 1 from the Emily series (the book mentioned above). I have 5 more checked out from the library right now. Also happening recently was the theft of shop items (chainsaws, tool box, etc.) from our garage & Barbara & Bob’s kitchen. If you recall a certain letter to “Dear Jack” in which a lot is said about a Mr. Mike, we believed the items were stolen by a man who knew Mike and was just as bad if not worse. My mom trusted him like she trusted Mike. Tonight we found out that not only was it truly him, but that he had repainted & sold them. My mom put some sort of ad in the paper about our missing items and a man called and said Francis sold it (a chainsaw) to him. He says that if the police come in an unmarked car in ordinary clothing, he will tell them all sorts of goodies about Francis. He never gave us a number; all we know is his first name is Larry and he owns some store or bar or something. It’s now Saturday, so I better go to bed before I’ll never wake up.

Most Sincerely,

Jolie

P.S. Ever since I got straight A’s 1st quarter, I’ve been working hard to keep every single A. Some classes I’m not so sure, but in Math (Algebra II), I’m sure to get well over 100% (I’m still mad at St. Bart’s).

 

Sunday, 15 May 1988

This time I was a little nervous. It was Friday the 13th. After we drove, he told me to go in and get Father Bill and my Mom, so we could discuss my driving outside. I thought for sure that I failed because I sat for hours (it seemed) at some of the corners waiting for the cars to pass. Afterwards, I drove Mom, Angie, and Ashley Ozmet to Kosy Kitchen by Shopko & back. (We ate while we were there.)