The girls arrived at Feeny's in about ten minutes, went up to the porch and
knocked on the front door. He answered their knock almost immediately and
came out on the front porch, where he had them sit down on some old wooden
deck chairs. Ever the educator, Feeny had decided it would be best to have
this conversation outside rather than let the two teenage girls into his
home un-chaperoned.
"Good afternoon ladies. Miss. Lawrence, before you start let me say that you don't have to tell me everything. I know that you and Mr. Matthews are no longer a couple, and I'm very sorry to hear it. Is that what you wanted to see me about?"
"Well, not really. Yes and No. Mr. Feeny, I don't know, it's just that, well, I, I, I went out today with a great guy and discovered that I am in love with Cory. I can't believe I'm telling you this!"
"It's quite all right. I think Miss. Lawrence that we need to talk in private for a minute. Could you excuse us Angela?"
The fact that he'd actually used her first name startled Angela. She knew that he must really feel that he needed to talk to Topanga alone to do that. So she excused herself and went next door to say hello to Amy, Alan, and Morgan. Once she was gone Mr. Feeny turned to Topanga with a serious expression on his face. "So Miss. Lawrence, you have realized that you are really in love with Mr. Matthews?"
"Yes, and I don't know what I'm going to do! It seems as if everyone I've ever known has only needed one shot at finding their true love, I have always felt that there is only one person out there for each of us. I can't understand how mine could not want to be with me! I'm so sorry Mr. Feeny, I should go. I didn't mean to take up your time." Topanga started to rise, but Feeny stopped her with a look.
"Miss. Lawrence, Topanga, sit down. I am going to tell you a story, and it's a story I've never told to anyone else. I am only telling you now because I think you need to hear it. You're wrong, there can be more than one true love for a person, and I know because I have had two true loves in my lifetime. My dear Kathy is one of them. The other is a young woman whom I met many years ago when I was just a little older than you. We were in college at the time, and I met her in my Freshman English course. We became the best of friends, and were just that for almost 3 years. Toward the end of that time we both realized that our friendship was turning into something more, something wonderful. We were falling in love. So we sealed the deal with a kiss and started dating. We were very happy with each other, but her family didn't approve of me, and her mother was very sick. The strain took a toll on her and our relationship. In the end she left me for another man her parents accepted. I was crushed, and I felt much as you do now, as if I'd never be able to find someone else. In my case it took many years, but I did find someone else, I found Kathy, and she is the best thing that ever happened to me. So Topanga you need to stop thinking that Cory is the only man for you. Just because you are in love with him and will always love him does not mean there cannot be room for someone else in your heart. This may be hard to believe right now but you have to try, you have to move on. This boy you saw today was just not the one, follow your instincts, but don't let them drag you down into despair."
Topanga sat dumbfounded, staring at her longtime teacher, mentor, and friend. To have Feeny open his heart like that to her was astounding, she knew that it had to have been hard for him to tell her those things. Feeny, for all his fatherly ways, did his best to keep his personal life separate and away from his students. She let what he'd said sink into her brain and attempted to absorb it. Feeny had been in love before and yet had met someone else! He still seemed to love this other woman very much and at the same time adore his wife Kathy! Topanga had attended Feeny's wedding and she saw him and his wife together frequently. She knew firsthand how in love they were with each other. As she reflected on all these things Topanga felt a small surge of hope. Mr. Feeny was one of the wisest, strongest men she knew. If he had been able to have two loves and if he thought that she could as well then it just might be possible.
"Do you really think I will find someone else?"
"Yes Miss. Lawrence, I do, and this leads me to something I have been wanting to talk to you about for quite some time. I have been looking over your grades, extracurriculars, and SAT scores. I think you should seriously consider applying to some Ivy League University's."
"Well, I thought about it but I decided against it because I wanted to be with Cory and he could never get into an Ivy League school."
"You are moving on Miss. Lawrence, and going to a university with other students who have your same level of academic skill and your same interests could help you socially as well as improve your future business prospects. I have heard you are interested in the law?"
"That's right."
"Well, I want you to check out Yale University. It has one of the top law programs in the county, and it's not to late to apply. With your grades and SAT's I really think you have a good chance of getting in. If you decide to go for it be assured that I will help you in whatever way I can."
Topanga was intrigued and flattered, but knew she was not ready to make that kind of a decision at that moment. "I will seriously consider it Mr. Feeny, thank you so much for your advice and support."
"Anytime Miss. Lawrence, Topanga." Feeny said with his Feeny smile. "Now here comes Angela, you two go have fun today."
"I'll try. Thanks again!" Topanga said, stepping off the porch and joining Angela on the sidewalk. They got into Angela's car together and drove back to her house, where they stayed up all night doing girl things and getting their mind off their crazy, mixed-up lives.
Chap. 14, Shawn FINALLY talks to Topanga coming soon. Review!!
"Good afternoon ladies. Miss. Lawrence, before you start let me say that you don't have to tell me everything. I know that you and Mr. Matthews are no longer a couple, and I'm very sorry to hear it. Is that what you wanted to see me about?"
"Well, not really. Yes and No. Mr. Feeny, I don't know, it's just that, well, I, I, I went out today with a great guy and discovered that I am in love with Cory. I can't believe I'm telling you this!"
"It's quite all right. I think Miss. Lawrence that we need to talk in private for a minute. Could you excuse us Angela?"
The fact that he'd actually used her first name startled Angela. She knew that he must really feel that he needed to talk to Topanga alone to do that. So she excused herself and went next door to say hello to Amy, Alan, and Morgan. Once she was gone Mr. Feeny turned to Topanga with a serious expression on his face. "So Miss. Lawrence, you have realized that you are really in love with Mr. Matthews?"
"Yes, and I don't know what I'm going to do! It seems as if everyone I've ever known has only needed one shot at finding their true love, I have always felt that there is only one person out there for each of us. I can't understand how mine could not want to be with me! I'm so sorry Mr. Feeny, I should go. I didn't mean to take up your time." Topanga started to rise, but Feeny stopped her with a look.
"Miss. Lawrence, Topanga, sit down. I am going to tell you a story, and it's a story I've never told to anyone else. I am only telling you now because I think you need to hear it. You're wrong, there can be more than one true love for a person, and I know because I have had two true loves in my lifetime. My dear Kathy is one of them. The other is a young woman whom I met many years ago when I was just a little older than you. We were in college at the time, and I met her in my Freshman English course. We became the best of friends, and were just that for almost 3 years. Toward the end of that time we both realized that our friendship was turning into something more, something wonderful. We were falling in love. So we sealed the deal with a kiss and started dating. We were very happy with each other, but her family didn't approve of me, and her mother was very sick. The strain took a toll on her and our relationship. In the end she left me for another man her parents accepted. I was crushed, and I felt much as you do now, as if I'd never be able to find someone else. In my case it took many years, but I did find someone else, I found Kathy, and she is the best thing that ever happened to me. So Topanga you need to stop thinking that Cory is the only man for you. Just because you are in love with him and will always love him does not mean there cannot be room for someone else in your heart. This may be hard to believe right now but you have to try, you have to move on. This boy you saw today was just not the one, follow your instincts, but don't let them drag you down into despair."
Topanga sat dumbfounded, staring at her longtime teacher, mentor, and friend. To have Feeny open his heart like that to her was astounding, she knew that it had to have been hard for him to tell her those things. Feeny, for all his fatherly ways, did his best to keep his personal life separate and away from his students. She let what he'd said sink into her brain and attempted to absorb it. Feeny had been in love before and yet had met someone else! He still seemed to love this other woman very much and at the same time adore his wife Kathy! Topanga had attended Feeny's wedding and she saw him and his wife together frequently. She knew firsthand how in love they were with each other. As she reflected on all these things Topanga felt a small surge of hope. Mr. Feeny was one of the wisest, strongest men she knew. If he had been able to have two loves and if he thought that she could as well then it just might be possible.
"Do you really think I will find someone else?"
"Yes Miss. Lawrence, I do, and this leads me to something I have been wanting to talk to you about for quite some time. I have been looking over your grades, extracurriculars, and SAT scores. I think you should seriously consider applying to some Ivy League University's."
"Well, I thought about it but I decided against it because I wanted to be with Cory and he could never get into an Ivy League school."
"You are moving on Miss. Lawrence, and going to a university with other students who have your same level of academic skill and your same interests could help you socially as well as improve your future business prospects. I have heard you are interested in the law?"
"That's right."
"Well, I want you to check out Yale University. It has one of the top law programs in the county, and it's not to late to apply. With your grades and SAT's I really think you have a good chance of getting in. If you decide to go for it be assured that I will help you in whatever way I can."
Topanga was intrigued and flattered, but knew she was not ready to make that kind of a decision at that moment. "I will seriously consider it Mr. Feeny, thank you so much for your advice and support."
"Anytime Miss. Lawrence, Topanga." Feeny said with his Feeny smile. "Now here comes Angela, you two go have fun today."
"I'll try. Thanks again!" Topanga said, stepping off the porch and joining Angela on the sidewalk. They got into Angela's car together and drove back to her house, where they stayed up all night doing girl things and getting their mind off their crazy, mixed-up lives.
Chap. 14, Shawn FINALLY talks to Topanga coming soon. Review!!