Flowersc781- Funny you mentioned that you would've freaked too. When I was typing that chapter, I was a little nervous and my cat rubbed on my leg…I nearly jumped out of my skin! LOL

Tygr Lily- Thanks, hope you keep reading and enjoy this update.

Prettypinkcheer5- I am so excited for you. I hope you did well on all your exams. And I am really happy that you're starting to like Craig and Kylah. What changed your mind? You were all for Bah.

Strangexbutxtrue- I've never been to Chicago. But I knew the story of Resurrection Mary because I enjoy folklore and ghost tales. I knew the story, but did some minor research to get the names and dates all correct.

Lia06- I sometimes scare easy. Weird things will scare me…like I have a fear of ghosts in mirrors, LOL.

Meadow567- Creepy…I agree. Can't wait till you post Jake's picture. It'll come in handy soon. About the Pens, this week there were some meetings about privately funding a new arena. My plan is better…we sell the Steelers and the money we get from that can build the new arena for the Pens. Then we tear down Heinz Field and put a big animal shelter in its place!

Just want to wish all my reviewers/readers Happy Holidays, whatever you celebrate. Hope everyone has a good holiday season and a happy new year. Peace and Love.

November 4, 1979
8:30 AM

I was sitting in my office when Craig walked in. I glanced up at him.

"I brought you some coffee before practice starts. You going to come down on the ice and watch the boys later?" Craig asked and handed me my mug full of black coffee.

"Yeah, I have my work caught up, and with the Harvard trip coming up and all." I said.

"Kylah, are you okay? You seem a little upset about something." Craig said.

I reached over and tossed down the newspaper in front of him. It was left open to where I had been reading. Craig read the headline and looked up at me.

"A Klan rally gone bad? Is this near your hometown?" he asked.

"It was an anti-Klan rally gone bad. And it's a few hours east of my hometown, but it's still my home state." I said.

"Do you know any of the people involved?" Craig asked.

I looked at the newspaper again. East of my home in North Carolina there had been a 'death to the Klan' rally. KKK members opened fire on the crowd and all hell broke loose.

"I don't think. I mean, I've looked at the pictures in the paper and don't recognize anybody. And I don't recall anybody in Qualla being involved with the Communists Workers Party. But it's so easy to drive a few hours for a rally, you know? And I do know who from home was involved with the KKK and wouldn't put it past them a bit to have driven a few hours to ruin a rally." I said.

"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" Craig asked.

"Not really. It's just one of those things. I mean on top of the fact that it's sad news…it happened in my home state……..it's hard to explain." I said. "You know, when I first got here, OC hated me because he thought all people from the south were racist."

"I wondered why OC acted weird about you early on." Craig said.

"He now knows that I am not….but I understand why he thought I was. I mean the south is trying to portray the image that we've changed, we're more accepting of other races, and everyone is created equal, and so on. But when something like this happens and the whole nation sees it happen…..that nice image is blown." I said.

"I don't know what to say. I would say I know how you feel, except I don't. Kylah I have heard your stories about the south during the Civil Rights movement and afterwards……you've seen some terrible things. Maybe you can take comfort in knowing that change takes time. Things in North Carolina and the south will get better, but not overnight. And bigotry never dies but can lessen over time." Craig said.

"I know. But to shoot people just for publicly saying what they believe….it seems so senseless." I said. "I've always been one to stand for what I believe in…these people were shot in the street for doing that…Right here in America!"

"Are you gonna be okay? I know this has you uneasy……but those people knew they were taking a risk, like you did when the Klan burned that cross on your lawn because you were going to prom with that Indian kid." Craig said.

I was startled. "The Klan didn't burn a cross in our yard because I went to prom with Yahto."

"You mentioned the Klan burned a cross in your yard because of prom?" Craig was confused.

"They did. Jake took a colored girl to prom with him. She was his friend from school and they wanted to go to prom as friends; she was a sweet girl. When Jake bought their tickets, that night a cross was burned in our yard and graffiti sprayed on his pick-up truck." I explained.

"What happened?" Craig asked.

"Police was called which was useless because the Sheriff in town is a Klan sympathizer. They asked around, nothing was ever done about it. Jake got his truck repainted. He still took Debbie to the prom; that was the colored girl. She looked beautiful, she wore a green dress. They had a lot of fun." I said.

"Jake was very brave." Craig said.

"No one knows this but me…..but Jake was so scared of someone trying to hurt him or Debbie the night of the prom that he snuck dad's pistol out of the gun case and carried it loaded under his clothes prom night." I said.

"Now I see more of why you're upset. I got to get to practice, you need anything?" Craig asked. I shook my head. "I'll see you on the ice."

5:00 PM

"Kylah, why didn't you come down to the ice after lunch?" Craig asked walking into my office. Practice had just ended.

"I've been on the phone most of the afternoon. There is something bad wrong going on in Iran." I said.

Craig sighed. "What else is new for the middle east?"

"I don't think this is the usual squabble among Arab nations…the media wire taps have been clogged all day. I am trying to get through to a network now." I said.

"Local media doesn't know?" Craig asked.

"No, that's why everything is messy. We just know something in Iran is going on and rumor is American are involved so everyone is calling anybody who might know." I explained.

"I am going to check on the team. Let me know what you find out. I'll be in the locker room when you're ready to leave." Craig said.

I stayed on the phone a few minutes further trying to get through. Every media outlet I had tried calling that afternoon was tied up.

"Yes, this is Kylah Jenkins, Team USA Hockey, Media Relations. I have been……yes I realize that whatever is going on in Iran isn't a sports story……because every media outlet I have tried contacting is jammed up with the Iran story. Just what is going on?...What do you mean you can't tell me, I'm in the media?...If it's a world event, it affects the international team and Olympics that I represent!" I said, tired of arguing with the network on the other end of the phone. "Fine, then let me put it to you this way, I represent the USA Hockey team that in a few months will be competing in the Olympics, and if you want interviews and stories about them then, you better start cooperating with me now!"

I was so angry that at that moment I would've tried to deny access to the team; I would've denied them access to press conferences. But the network gave in and told me what was going on. My blood turned cold and I thought I'd collapse.

I hung up the phone and went running down the hall to get to the boys locker room. I ran right in, not stopping to think that the boys would be in different states of undress.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry." I said, stopping and covering my eyes. "Where is Craig, this is important."

I heard several of the boys chuckle. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered a myth I heard about Italian men and realized Rizzo lived up to it. Amazing what thoughts can slip in while you're panicking.

"Coach Craig is in the back. Turn left and walk straight, you won't hit anything." Suter called out.

I followed his advice and keeping my eyes covered but my hands out, quickly walked to the back to find Craig.

"Craig? Where you at?" I called out.

"Right here. Are you okay?" I heard him say.

I looked up and Craig was standing with Doc, looking at an x-ray. I ran to him.

"Iranian students stormed the US embassy in Teheran today. That's what had the news wire jammed. They've practically destroyed the embassy and they've taken everyone hostage. 63 of them are American hostages. They led them out blindfolded and took them away." I said.

"Oh God, just what we needed." Craig said.

"Why would they attack an embassy?" Doc asked.

"The Ayatollah Khomeini asked his people to attack anything belonging to Israel or the United States." I answered. "Where is Herb?"

"He's gone home already. Will this be on the news tonight?" Craig asked.

"Yes, the major networks are getting the details together as best they can and announcing it to the American public." I said.

"What does President Carter have to say?" Craig asked.

"He is working on a plan of action; this is a very delicate situation. The cold war is raging and Iran doesn't like Russia, neither of them likes us and both of them have nuclear weapons." I said. "This could get a lot nastier before it's over."

"Does this affect the Olympics at all?" Doc asked.

"Not that I am aware of. Of course security will have to be tightened, but I don't see this affecting the games. I'll stay on top of everything as best I can." I said.

"Are you okay? You've had a long day." Craig asked.

"It has been a lot. Right now I just want to go home and watch the news and stay in contact with the media. Whatever happens I want to know and stay updated." I said.

"I'll take you back to the dorms." Craig said.

"If you find out anything new, call me." Doc said.

"I will." I told him and followed Craig out.

9:30 PM

I sat down on my couch. I was tired and starting to get a headache.

"Anything new?" Craig asked.

"No, the hostages have not been harmed. That is good news. The hostages are being held in a secret location, and Carter is working to negotiate their release, but the Iranians don't seem to be listening." I said.

"Just when things had started to calm down a bit." Craig said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am fine. I just hope the hostages are okay." I said.

"Worrying about it doesn't help them. Just pray……well you don't believe in God so…..wishing them the best and being hopeful is about all you can do." Craig said.

"I know, but it's hard not to worry. I fear they'll go through what Jake did while in captivity." I said.

"I know Jake is on your mind, but everything will work out." Craig said.

"He suffered so much while they had him. I don't want to think of other Americans going through that." I said.

"Kylah, clear your mind and quit thinking about it. Focus yourself on doing PR for the team, and getting ready for the holidays. Let President Carter and his cabinet worry about the hostages." Craig said.

"I'll try." I said.

"Come on, let's get out of this apartment and go do something to get your mind off bad things." Craig said.

"Where are we going?" I asked as Craig pulled me up off the couch.

"I don't know, we'll figure it out later. But you've had a bad day. No more thinking about the KKK, or Iranians, we're out of here to have fun." Craig said.