The streets of Cambridge rattled with activity as the freshman class moved into their dorms. They were a bunch of eager young man ready to take on the challenges given to them as the Class of 58. It was truly a changing world as talk of secession came into the conversations of the finest parlors in Boston.
Charles had sent his son , Chandler to Harvard to prepare him to take over one of his growing department stores in New York. He had tried his best since Nora's death to take care of his only son. One day the Bing empire , would be his and Harvard would be the best place to prepare him for it.
The house servant carried in Chandler's trunks. He looked over at the other bed in the room and saw that his roommate had not arrived yet. He had gotten some sort of letter saying that his roommate was from Charleston and came from a large plantation. This fascinated him a little bit. Nora had relatives in Charlotte, so he was not completely unfamiliar with the South. Chandler had just broken up with a rather annoying girl from New York, so he was not looking for a girl. He went to Harvard with his mind totally focused on his studies. He took out a picture of Nora and set it on his nightstand. She was so beautiful and she died way too young. Forever she would have her blonde hair and red lips. This would be the memory of young Chandler, his mother's eternal beauty.
Chandler heard rustling down the hall. There seemed to be a large crowd coming toward the room. A young black man in a suit entered the dorm room, he was carrying a trunk. Following him was another also carrying a trunk. This has to be the guy from Charleston thought Chandler. After the trunks were delivered, some more people entered . There was a rather regal looking lady wearing a flowered hat and carrying a parasol. Her husband came next dressed in a suit.
A tall young man entered next, "Are you Chandler M. Bing of Boston?" he questioned.
"Why yes, and you are Russ?" he said.
"Actually it's Ross..Ross Geller of Charleston..pleased to make your acquaintance sir." he extended his hand. Mother , Father, this is my roommate." he said.
"What a handsome young man," smiled Judy Geller.
"Yes, you must meet our daughter, we have two children. Ross and my daughter, Monica Elaine." said Jack Geller.
As Chandler was talking to Jack, he slowly turned his head. When he looked around, he saw one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen. He saw a young girl with alabaster skin and raven colored hair. She was wearing a blue dress and carrying a light blue parasol to shield her from the noonday sun. Her eyes were similar to his own. She turned to him and smiled a sweet smile.
"How do you do sir? I am Ross's little sister, Monica, pleased to make your acquaintance," Monica extended her gloved hand out to Chandler's .
"Please don't think of me as being forward to ask if I could kiss the lady's hand." He said as he bend down and kissed Monica's tiny hand.
Monica did a tiny curtsy.
Another girl entered the room. Her hair was auburn and she wore an off the shoulder purple gown adorned with flowers. A simple gingham ribbon adorned her hair. She carried a lavender parasol. Immediately she ran over to Ross.
"So this is Harvard, well I am gonna miss you, Ross, honey, and I am so glad my daddy let me come to see you off . I mean, shoot you are gonna be my husband after all. Oh is this your roommate, allow me to introduce myself, Rachel Karen Green of Atlanta." She extended her hand in the hope she would get the same treatment from the stranger.
"Let me congratulate on your upcoming wedding." said Chandler as he quickly kissed Miss Rachel's hand. Ross cautiously looked on , then he grabbed Rachel's wrist.
"It is a shame that you will miss the Spring Cotillion this year, darlin. After all, I may not even go, after all every boy in the county will want to dance with me, but I will save all my dances for you." said Rachel.
Rachel couldn't have come across as a bigger flirt. Yet Ross was hopelessly smitten with this Southern belle. She went to only the finest schools in the South and her father was one of the biggest cotton importers in Georgia. Jack had hoped that this merger, so to speak would benefit both plantations.
Jack smiled, "Let's leave these two love birds alone to say good bye.Chandler, why don't you show Monica around Harvard Yard?" he smiled.
Chandler offered his arm to Monica and she walked out into the courtyard with him. He had never been enchanted by someone with such elegance and class. She may have been a Southern girl but she was not a flighty belle like Rachel.
"So do you have a beau?' he asked curiously.
"No I do not, I had one for a while , but he was way beyond his years so my father got rid of him. My father is very protective of me." she said.
"Well Miss Monica, you are quite the charmer and a true lady of the South. I would be very honored if the next time you are in Boston you would accompany me to dinner." Chandler said.
"Sir you are very bold, I am guessing you are not a true gentleman, after all you are from New York," she laughed.
"I may be a Yankee, but I do know beauty when I see it. Monica , please reconsider my offer." he said looking into her eyes.
Monica smiled at the handsome young Northerner. She wanted to go out with him, but her father and brother would not let them have an easy time. There was talk of the South's unhappiness with laws having to deal with slavery. Slavery was a way of life for the Gellers and the Greenes. Her dear mammy had washed and clothed her and Ross since they were babies. These people called abolitionists and Quakers were saying that blacks had the right to be free.
"Mr. Bing, I have reconsidered, I would love to accompany you to dinner on my next visit to Boston." Monica said as she waved her hanky at Chandler..