5

     "It must be a strain for you now."
     "When I was in school, like Bobby is now, I had a
desire to become a great surgeon or scientist, but I also
had a passion for her that I couldn't put out.  She wanted
all the fine things in life, and I followed the course to
get as much money as I could.  We married too soon.  Bobby's
mother was a very demanding woman in what she wanted and
what she wanted to be in the community.  It took a lot of
money, and I must admit that I have developed a taste for
the things that money can buy also.  When we did have plenty
of money I begin to enjoy it, but her attitude changed.  She
cooled toward physical life, and developed other interest.
I'm afraid her main interest became alcohol.
     I could see some of my class mates advancing in their
fields, like Doctor Cohen. I felt left behind in the world,
but when I talked to Doctor Cohen, he felt the same about
his life.  He hasn't had the financial rewards that I have
had and he felt that he had chosen the wrong path.  The
grass is always greener on the other side."
     Doctor Carpenter's tone became more serious as he
continued.  
     "I hope this is something that doesn't happen to you
and Bobby.  You strike me as the kind of woman who can live
life to the full.  Bobby has a long and grueling time ahead
of him.  I'll help him, of course, but being a doctor
doesn't automatically make you rich.  I would hate to see it
change you and keep Bobby back.  Don't get me wrong, Patty. 
I'm sure you and he are willing to make the sacrifices.  I
shouldn't judge this situation on my own mistakes.  I just
think you are the vibrant kind of woman Bobby should meet
when he has made it."
     "Oh, I know what it means to be a young doctor's wife. 
I'm quite ready to help him all the way."  The alcohol had
loosened Patty's tongue and better judgment enough for her
to continue.  "And besides, I don't think any one who has
made it would take me seriously."
     "You're very wrong there, Patty.  You're the kind of
woman that a man would love to take seriously."
     Patty did not respond, but sat starring at him.  Doctor
Carpenter returned the stare in silence.  He finally said,
"Do you have an interest in medical techniques?"
     "Everything interests me, but I'm afraid that I don't
have the background to understand the technical language."
     "Come into the library.  Perhaps I can show you
something that Doctor Cohen is working on.  I'll try to
explain what it means."
     When Patty stood the alcohol had a dizzying effect on
her and she felt quite light headed.  Her steps were very
unsteady as her high heels sank into the thick carpet.  By
the time they reached the library she was very unsteady. 
Doctor Carpenter steadied her with his arm around her, and
said, "Are you all right, Patty?"
     "I think I've had to much to drink.  I told you
drinking affects me."
     "Yes, I remember.  Set here on the sofa.  You'll feel
better."
     "You must think I'm just a foolish girl.  This room is
like you, powerful, strong, and masculine.  It makes me feel
so...so.. I am a foolish girl.  What were you going to show
me?"
     "You're not a girl, Patty.  You're a woman with all the
feelings and desires of a woman."
     Doctor Carpenter took his hand and turned her face
toward his and kissed her.  Patty responded passionately.
Their hands moved over each others bodies with a demanding
urgency.
     "Let me take you to your room."
     "No. I want it here in this room.  I want it now!  You
can do anything here."
     It was Patty who did everything.  Without the comforts
of the bed, the incongruous setting simulated the eroticism
of the sex.  The large leather sofa glistened with the
perspiration from the two nude bodies.  Patty lay on top of
the contented but exhausted doctor.  Patty brushed his hair
back and said, "You must think I'm mad, but something about
this room and you turned all the switches on.  I guess the
alcohol let me keep them on."
     "I really brought you in here to show you about
switches in the mind.  You know our whole life is responding
to electrical impulses from our senses to the mind.  Just
like with you, chemicals and impulses make up our entire
lives as we know them.  That's what Doctor Cohen is working
on."
     "Well, something worked on me.  It may have been
disastrous for my life, but I couldn't stop once I let it
take hold of me.  I feel upset that it happened, but I feel
so good."
     "I've never had such a good feeling in my life, Patty."
     Patty caressed his face and kissed him gently.  The
library door opened.
     "You whore!"
     Robert dashed across the room, jerked Patty up and
through her against the large desk.  He turned toward his
father and spat in his face.  He screamed, "I hate you
both!"
     Robert turned and ran from the room and up the stairs
to his own room.  The door slammed so hard that it shook the
solid house to its roots.  Patty lay weeping. She sobbed,
"Oh God! Oh God! What am I going to do?"
     Doctor Carpenter sat in a slump on the sofa.  His
punched belly sagged with the rest of him.  He looked as if
he had aged twenty years.  After a few minutes he wiped the
spit from his face and looked at Patty.
     "Are you hurt Patty?"
     "Just my life is broken.  The body is O.K.  Are you all
right?"
     "I'll be all right."
     "What about Robert?"
     "I'm sure he's in his room like a little boy.  Since he
was small he always ran there and pouted whenever he had
trouble.  He needs a little time to cool down.  I think it's
best that you go back to Bloomington now.  Don't worry. 
Everything will be all right.  Write down your phone number
and I'll call in the morning.  I'll have Kenneth drive you
back.  I'm sorry that I can't myself, but I have to attend
to Bobby and matters here."
     "Of course, I can go.  Are you sure you'll be all
right?"
     Doctor Carpenter was almost dressed by now.
     "Yes I'll be O.K.  Please get your things together as
quickly as possible and I'll talk to Kenneth."
     When Doctor Carpenter called Kenneth into the living
room, He had himself under complete control as if nothing
had happened.
     "What the hell happened that you brought Bobby back?"
     "The flight was canceled.  The plane didn't leave
Atlanta because of bad weather.  The next flight connecting
to Minneapolis isn't until nine this evening.  It was too
long a time to wait until then.  We did get reservation on
the later flight."
     "Do you know what happened here when Bobby returned?"
     "I assume there was some sort of disagreement between
Mr. Robert and his friend."
     "That is the understatement of the year.  I want you to
drive Miss Dombroski back to Bloomington as soon as she is
ready.  I think we need to let the situation cool down a
little.  I'm sure that we can work everything out, and by
Christmas life will look much brighter for all of us,
including you Kenneth.  Don't you agree?"
     The implied promise of an extra Christmas bonus was not
lost on Kenneth.  He had profited from his employer's
problems in the past.
     "I'm sure that everything will be fine by then sir.  I
shall do my best to be of any assistance that I can."
     Doctor Carpenter sat back in his chair and fixed his
gaze on the foyer.  To see him, you would have the
impression that he was sleeping with his eyes open.
Eventually Kenneth returned and said, "Miss Dombroski is
ready to leave sir."
     Kenneth took her bag to the car.  Patty turned to
Doctor Carpenter and said, "I don't know what to say. 
What's going to happen?"
     Patty started into the living room as she spoke. 
Doctor Carpenter did not rise from his chair.  He simply
said, "You must go now Patty. I'll get everything under
control.  I promise you I'll call you in the morning.  Don't
worry."
     "Oh, I know you can handle everything.  You're a strong
and determined man.  Just don't you forget that.  I'll talk
to you tomorrow."
     After Patty left, Doctor Carpenter sat motionless with
only the floor clock's tic-toc recording of time slipping
away to break the silence of the room.  Finally, as if
waking from a deep sleep, he made a barely audible mumble,
"Strong and determined...Hump!"
     He stood, took a deep sigh, and walked in a very
determined stride across the room, into the foyer, and up
the winding stairs to Robert's room.
     "Lecher!"  Was the response to his knock.  Doctor
Carpenter opened the unlocked door, entered and said, "No
doubt right."
     "I could kill you!"
     "That might solve all of my problems, but it would
multiply yours no matter what you think now."
     "How could you do it?  You know what she meant to me."
     "You mean how could we do it.  She and I, I mean.  I
admit I was a dirty old man acting like an adolescent. I
didn't rape her you know."
     "That's no excuse.  You got her drunk and took her in."
     "Believe what you want Bobby.  Whatever I say, I can't
changed what happened, nor can I change what you think of me
or what I think of myself.  I hope it will make both of us
grow up.  It's time you did, and long past time that I did."
     "You still think of me as a child you can maneuver,
don't you?"
     "You aren't a child Bobby.  You're in you last year of
medical school, and it's time that I gave you the chance to
be a man in every way.  I think it's time you get out of the
juvenile atmosphere you have been in on campus.  I'm going
to get you an apartment, and replace that old convertible of
yours.  You're a real man now, facing all of the problems of
an imperfect world populated with imperfect people.   You
need to take responsibility for yourself."
     "You're just trying to bribe me.  Just like you did
when I was a boy.  Give me a new toy, and everything will be
all right."
     "It's not a bribe.  It's allowing you to stand on your
own.  As for me, I am going to give up my foolishness and
act my age.  I promise you I'll be a good husband to your
mother.  If she had been the one who came into the library,
I think it would have finished her.  Despite all I have
done, I love her.  I am going to get her out of the clutched
of that leach dope pushing psychiatrist. I'm going to start
doing something for medicine, not just the bank account."
     "You get religion or something?  It's a little late
isn't it?"
     "Think what you like, Bobby, but this old fool is
changing his ways.  It took a shock, but that is that.  I
think you probably don't want to be around here or
Bloomington right now.  Go on to Minneapolis for the rest of
the weekend.  Your plane and room are booked.  When you get
back to Bloomington, I'll have put enough money in your bank
account there to get an apartment, a new car and for living
a proper life.  Use it or not as you see fit.  I hope by
Christmas this will all be behind us.  Come home then, and
you'll see some change in your mother.  It will take a long
time with her.  I can promise that I'm going to give it all
the time I have.  I hope that you care enough about her,
whatever you think of me, to give her a chance."
     Robert did not respond.  His father turned to the door
and said, "Don't make your mother pay for my mistakes. 
Don't you pay for them either."
     Robert made no appearance at dinner time.  Doctor
Carpenter had a few sandwiches and milk.  About eight
o'clock a taxi came for Robert.  Neither Robert nor his
father made any attempt to speak to each other before he
left.
     Early the next morning Patty awoke to her telephone's
insistent call.  She smiled at the sound of Doctor
Carpenter's voice.
     "I'm sorry to call you so early, but I didn't know your
plans for the day.  I wanted to be sure and talk to you.  I
regret what happened here yesterday, but there's nothing
either of us can do to change that.  I think Bobby will get
over it O.K.  I'm sure that you agree it would be wrong for
us to make a greater mistake by seeing each other again. 
I'm sending you something in the mail.  Please don't be
offended, it's something I want to do."
     "I do want to see you again.  What am I to do?  I need
to talk to you.  What did Robert say?"
     "Bobby is upset, but I'm sure everything will work out
for you.  Think about it.  There is really nothing we can do
for each other except make things worse.  I have to leave
for the hospital now.  You'll be O.K.  All the best."
     The phone was dead before Patty could say anything.
     "All the best....Shit!"
     For the next few days all of Patty's attempts to reach
Doctor Carpenter were frustrated by his office staff or
Kenneth.  Patty opened her mail.  There was a cashier's
check with no indication of the payer.
     "What does he think I am, a whore?"
     She looked at the zeros on the check.
     "Well, if I am a whore, I'm a very well-paid one."
     In the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas it
became clear to Patty that she had lost Robert, and his
father had no further interest in her.  All of Robert's
friends were polite, but cool to her.  At the best, they
treated her like she was still Robert's girl, and not to be
dated despite all of her signals of availability.  She
literally bumped into John Strut at the Student Union.  She
could tell that she had more of an impact on him than their
physical collision.  Three months later Strut was asking her
to marry him.
     After graduation, Strut joined his friend's father's
law firm.  R.C. Roberts was pleasantly surprised at the
solid domestic life Strut and Patty established over the
next ten years.  Strut had progressed in the law firm in the
corporate section.  He was an expert at making financial
plan presentations and prospectus for client's funding
projects.  John had become as much a project salesman to the
investment bankers as he was a good securities lawyer.  The
investment banking community was small in Indianapolis
compared to New York or Chicago, but for this reason he was
able to move up fast with the growing industrialization of
the area.
                       

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