The Road Not Taken: Another Path

Chapter 9

August 8, 1972

Sam opened his eyes, seeing the familiar ceiling of his room in the Beckett homestead. He realized that he was happier today then he'd been in the past two years. Things were going so well. He'd finished his first year of college, his first collegiate season of basketball, and had found an incredible woman that he felt certain he was falling in love with.

Donna was the most wonderful person he'd ever known. She had a brilliant insight into physics and he was comfortable talking with her. The fact that she was knock-dead gorgeous on the outside as well didn't hurt matters one bit.

Since meeting on the double date in June, Sam and Donna had traded letters on a weekly basis if not more often. While phone contact was also a factor, they'd found that the calls tended to be rather long and therefore the long distance charges were high. In deference to their limited budgets, a first class stamp was the best deal. In addition, the ability to re-read the letters, savoring both the personal and academic issues, was a joy. Donna also imparted news about Lawrence, including the sad news that Dr. Gerald Byrant and Jamie Lee had married, apparently on the insistence of her father. About a month after the wedding, Jamie Lee had committed suicide and Dr. Bryant had lost his tenure. Even though both Maggie and she felt the man was a womanizing scum bucket, neither of them would've wished this situation on anyone.

When Sam had come home that Sunday night after meeting Donna, his mother had commented on the change. He'd looked more like the Sam she'd seen prior to Tom's death. It was as if his spirit had been set free from the confines he'd imposed on it.

She'd shaken her head at his description of the Saturday evening he'd spent with Donna, going over math proofs and discussing theories too esoteric for Thelma's tastes. Ever since Sam was five, he had enjoyed math. He'd been given a tutor by the school system, a hired student from the Math Department at Indiana State in Terre Haute. While Thelma and John insisted that Sam go through regular school for his socialization needs, they also recognized that his special gifts needed to be nurtured. Thus Sam had been exposed at an early age to ideas and concepts most children didn't even know existed nor would have cared about if they'd stumbled across the information.

As he approached adolescence, Sam would attend a seminar from time to time presented by a series of visiting professors at Indiana State. The first time he attended such an event, his hand had been ignored during the question and answer session afterwards. Sam had persisted and the professor had reluctantly allowed Sam to voice his question, expecting it to be trivial at best and wondering why a child of twelve was even in the room.

No one had ever made that error again. Sam's questions indicated an understanding of mathematics that could only be seen in the context of brilliance. Sam was not boastful or arrogant, but several of the professors seemed fearful of his knowledge, while others engaged him in deep theoretical discussions.

Seeing this joy, this engagement of his gifts had made his mother happy. Sam knew that his mother still questioned his stated fervor for the Agricultural course of study he was pursuing. She knew his bliss was elsewhere, somehow involved in that strange language of mathematics, of derivatives and integrals that she didn't understand. But she was willing to accept Sam's decision to choose the path of his own life.

Today was his 19th birthday. He got out of bed and pulled on his clothes. Birthday or not, he was home and he had chores to take care of. Heading down the stairs, he found his father heading out the door as well.

"Happy Birthday, Son."

"Thanks, Dad. Why don't you stay back at the house? Let me take care of the work."

"Sam, there isn't a day goes by that I don't work. You know that."

"Yeah, but you've been putting in some long hours, Dad. While I'm home, I can take some of the slack."

"I appreciate it, Son. I really do. But this is what I know and it's what I'm going to do. I'm glad you're here to help out though. Does make things go a bit easier."

"Ok. Let's get started."

Both father and son walked out together, heading to the barn. Sam felt his father's hand on his shoulder.

Later that morning, a call had come in from Donna. He wished she was with him in person but hearing her voice was the next best thing.

"Hi, Donna."

"Happy Birthday, Sam. Did my gift arrive?"

"Uh, I don't know. Let me ask Mom." He called for his mother and she walked out of the kitchen.

"Yes, Sam?" she asked while drying her hands on her apron.

"Did anything arrive from Donna?"

Thelma nodded. "Yes, a package arrived yesterday. I have it with the rest of your presents. To open after dinner."

"Ok, Mom. Thanks." Sam turned back to the phone. "Yes, Donna. It arrived. We usually open birthday gifts after dinner, but if you want me to open it now, I can."

"No, that's ok. Tonight is fine. Just give me a call tomorrow."

"OK." Sam turned a little more to the wall, his voice a bit softer and quieter. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, Sam. Oh, and I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your last letter. That whole concept about tying a person's personal timeline together was fascinating. How cool would that be, to travel within your own lifetime."

"Yeah…it was an idea I've thought about since I was a kid. Don't think I'll ever be able to do anything like that though. A farm isn't exactly the best place to experience theoretical physics research."

"I know. Well, I need to go. I don't think my mother will be too happy if I spend too much on phone bills this month."

"Ok, Donna. I'll write you again tonight. And I'll call you tomorrow."

"All right. Bye, Sam. Have a wonderful birthday."

Sam hung up the phone, a grin on his face. Katie came down the stairs.

"Sam, you look like a puppy-dog with that face."

Pulled out of his reverie, Sam answered with a confused, "Huh?" Then he realized what Katie had said. "Oh. No I don't."

Katie continued on, a teasing lilt to her voice. "Yes you do, like a love-sick puppy-dog."

"Yeah, well, at least I don't have my room plastered with all the latest pictures from Seventeen magazine like you do."

"Sam, most of those pictures are of guys. It would be pretty silly if you had them on your walls." Katie gave him a wicked grin.

"You know what I mean, Katie."

Thelma stepped in. "Truce, you two. Katie, this is your brother's birthday. Give him a break."

"Ok, Mom. Sam knows I'm just kidding around." Katie came up to Sam and gave him a hug. "Happy birthday, Sam."

Hugging her back he responded, "Thanks."

The rest of the day was just like any other day on the farm. There were still chores to do but Katie and Sam did manage to play a game of Horse under the basketball hoop. That night, Thelma made Sam's favorite meal for his birthday dinner. They had biscuits with homemade jam, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, peas, peach cobbler, and milk.

After dinner, Sam opened his presents, receiving the usual type of gifts from his family, a sweater from his folks and the Moody Blues Seventh Sojourn album from Katie. When he opened Donna's gift though, he was thrilled to find a framed picture of her for his room and a smaller picture for his wallet. He had asked for both in one of his letters.

"She's a beautiful girl, Sam," his father had commented.

"Yeah," answered Sam, as he put Donna's picture into his wallet. "Yeah, she's pretty special."

The rest of the evening was spent playing a game of Clue. Katie won when she figured out it was Col. Mustard in the Library with a rope. They all turned in after that.

Sam placed the picture of Donna on his nightstand. As Sam lay down before turning off the light, he gazed on Donnas smiling face and sighed contentedly. Sam felt that nothing could take away the joy he felt that very moment. He went to sleep dreaming of Donna.