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got to work, Hazel; I don’t think I can make it if it
doesn’t.”
    “You’ve got to make it, Tommy, you’re the
only friend I’ve got and I want you to last. You’d better give me
your school ring too.”
    “My ring?”
    “All the girls wear their guy’s ring. No one
will believe a word of it unless I have the evidence.”
    “Yes dear,” he grinned as he removed the ring
from his hand and gave it to her.
    “I’ll give it back after grad,” she whispered
softly.
    “Thanks honey.”
    “Tommy, I know that kissing me is pretty
tough on you,” giggled Hazel as they pulled into her driveway, “but
we’ll have to do it once in a while just for show.”
    “Tell the truth,” he grinned, “you liked
it.”
    “Jerk,” she muttered as she punched his
shoulder again. “Night sweetheart.”
    “Night lover,” he laughed gently. “See you at
school tomorrow?”
    “Come for me, we’ll walk together.”
    Somehow they made it work. Everybody accepted
the charade at face value, everybody except Walton Fillmore and he
kept his peace on the subject. Tommy came often for dinner and to
study, and Hazel was often in the Reid home as well. They exchanged
gifts at Christmas and even took dancing lessons together as well.
The local folk often spoke of what a handsome couple they made and
wanted to know when they would marry.
    It was the most peaceful year of school Hazel
had ever had. She and Tommy were like brother and sister and her
uncle had taken work in Alberta as soon as he was out of hospital.
It was with great hope for the future that Hazel Fillmore packed
her bags to take the train to Toronto. She had been accepted into U
of T and she had her student loan money in hand. She and Tommy had
said their goodbyes as he headed out for Vancouver and now it was
Hazel’s turn.
    “You’ve got a chance now, girl;” said Walton
Fillmore gently as he stood on the platform waiting to put his only
daughter on the train, “don’t waste it. Make sure it is right for
you.”
    “I will, Daddy,” she smiled softly, “I
promise.”
    “Send me a picture when you find what you’re
looking for.”
    “I will,” she promised. Suddenly she hurled
herself into his arms and hugged him fiercely. “Thank you for
understanding.” With that she stepped away from him and boarded the
train. Two days later Hazel Fillmore arrived in an alien world.

    On The Rock
     
    It was a clear day and Abby was actually
enjoying the view of the city as the plane circled St. John’s,
waiting for its turn to land. The three of days rest in the hotel
had done her a world of good and had given her time to think.
Abby’s entire life plan, complete with career ambitions as well as
the good marriage had just been blown apart. “Sometimes life wants
you to go in another direction Abby,” her grandmother had said many
times. “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.” Abby
couldn’t argue with that so she was now planning to cruise a bit
and wait for life to point her in the right direction.
    Abby smiled in spite of herself as the plane
descended through a clear blue sky and came to a smooth gentle
stop. She made her way through the airport, found a cart for her
baggage, and retrieved it from the carousel. Pushing the cart
through the doors, she hailed a cab and the driver quickly
installed the baggage in the trunk and Abby in the back seat.
“Where to Miss?” he asked, obviously awed by the rather dazzling
blonde.
    Abby sighed and thought for a moment. “I need
a descent hotel near shopping, banks, and car dealers,” she replied
in those sweet rich tones. “Where do you recommend?”
    “Well ma’am, that’s a tall order,” he replied
respectfully, “but there is one place we could try. It’s not a
hotel, but it is a B&B and it does have all the other
requirements.”
    “And it’s run by your mother?”
    “My nan actually,” he blushed. “How did you
know?”
    “I’ve lived in San Francisco for a time,”