I came to see you that time?" she whispered.
"It seemed so natural. I used to think I'd
like to be your first sweetheart. You were
such a funny kid!" She always kissed one as
if she were sadly and wisely sending one
away forever.

We said many goodbyes before I left Lin-
coln, but she never tried to hinder me or hold
me back. "You are going, but you haven't
gone yet, have you?" she used to say.

My Lincoln chapter closed abruptly. I went
home to my grandparents for a few weeks,
and afterward visited my relatives in Virginia
until I joined Cleric in Boston. I was then
nineteen years old.

[[332]]

p331 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p332w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p333

v?