The Road Not Taken

Chapter 16

June 24, 1973

The next morning, Sam went over to Carnegie Hall to practice for a few hours. He'd checked with the Hall managers and found that he could come in at 8:30 a.m. He'd had an early breakfast and walked over, marveling at the city, absolutely awake and active. However, he also noted that as much as it was an exciting place to visit, it was definitely not on his list of places he would like to live. Way too much noise and too little nature outside of Central Park.

While Sam practiced, Donna went over to Columbia to visit the physics department. Columbia was one of the universities she'd been considering to continue her doctorate after she graduated with her bachelor's the following spring. With only a year to complete, she was starting to look into where she would go.

Meanwhile, his mother and Katie decided to go to the Statue of Liberty for a tour. They both enjoyed the ferry ride which took them to the small island where the monument stood. Katie was a little concerned by the small size of the steps as they climbed to the top. Both she and Mrs. Beckett were excited to see the city from the crown of the statue but were sad that due to the deterioration of the statue, they could not climb into the torch. Both noted that it was a good thing that Sam was not with them this venue would not be the best location considering his fear of heights.

The group had decided to meet back at the hotel at noon for lunch and further sightseeing in the afternoon. When Sam arrived back to the hotel about eleven thirty, the desk clerk called him over. A message had been left for him. He opened the letter and found it was from Dr. LoNigro. He was asking to take the group out to dinner that night and had asked for Sam to call him. Sam wondered how Dr. LoNigro would have known which hotel and went up to the room to call him.

Sam dialed the local number and was surprised when the phone was answered directly instead of from a hotel. "May I speak with Dr. LoNigro, please?"

"This is he."

"Um. This is Sam Beckett returning your call, sir."

Dr. LoNigro's voice took on a excited edge. "Sam! It's been awhile. Donna Elesee had told me you'd be in New York City to play at Carnegie Hall when I met her this past spring. I called your home and your father told me where you and your family were staying."

Sam smiled as he mentioned, "Donna is with us as well."

"That's great! I really do want to have a chance to see you before the concert tomorrow night."

"Do you have tickets?"

"Absolutely. So, can you join me tonight? I know a nice Italian place I frequent when I come to New York City. Some of the best food around."

"That would be nice. I'd be remiss though if I didn't ask what the ladies should wear. Being with three I know they'll all want to know."

Dr. LoNigro laughed. "Yes. I can understand. Either a dress or nice pants suit would be fine for them. If its okay, I'll pick everyone up tonight at seven."

"That would be fine, sir. Looking forward to seeing you then."

"Same here, Sam. Until later." The connection clicked off.

By the time they had hung up, Sam heard a knock on the pass through door. He opened it ,finding Katie on the other side. He figured Donna would be back soon as well.

"Hi, Katie. Where's Mom? How was the Statue of Liberty?"

Katie gushed. "She went into our room to call Dad. Oh Sam, it was so great! We got to ride a ferry and then walk up to the top of the statue. We got to look out through her crown. It was really cool!" She stopped for a minute and look over at him, her face becoming serious. "But you wouldn't have liked it. It was pretty high up."

Sam smiled. Ever since he was nine years old, when he and Tom had been playing Tarzan in the barn, he'd been afraid of heights. He knew Katie was probably right about how much he would have enjoyed that particular sight. "Did you get to go into the torch?"

Katie's face fell. "No. I guess the statue is not in the best of shape. They don't allow anyone in the torch now."

"That's too bad. They ought to fix the statue. It's pretty important historically."

"Yeah."

His mother came out of the bedroom. "Hi Sam."

"Hi, Mom. How's Dad?"

"He's doing fine. He says one of the cows is sick. The vet should be out later today."

Sam looked thoughtful. "It's good he can get him today." They all turned to the door as the sound of the unlocking mechanism being accessed. Donna stepped in a second later.

Sam smiled. "Donna. You look happy."

"Hi Sam, Mrs. Beckett, Katie. Columbia was great. They have a great physics department."

Sam suddenly perked up even more. "Oh. Speaking of physics, Dr. LoNigro called. He's taking us all out to dinner tonight."

Thelma Beckett spoke up, "That's very nice of him."

Sam nodded. "I thought so, too. It will be wonderful to see him again."

They all took a few more minutes to freshen up before heading out for lunch. His mother had voiced an interest in seeing the NBC studios and Radio City Music Hall. Donna had said she like to see Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building. Katie wanted to see where Greenwich Village was since so many of the bands she liked had started there. They opted for sandwiches at a local deli suggested by the concierge and went off on their discovery tour of the city.

The day went well, with everyone getting to see what they wanted in the city. Katie really liked seeing the little stop animation characters from Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer special that aired every Christmas. The other sites were enjoyed as well.

They had held off the Empire State Building for last. Sam was going to remain at the bottom but Donna convinced him that if he stayed close to the elevators, he wouldn't even know he was that high up. They had to take two elevators; the first only got them half way up. As it was, it took quite some time to get to the top. When they reached the top, Sam didn't at first feel so bad. Donna was right that from the elevators, he didn't experience the numbing fear that gripped him when he was significantly above the ground. She asked if he could step to the beginning of the observation deck, not actually stepping to the edge but enough to have view of the city in the picture. Sam figured a couple of seconds wouldn't hurt too badly. He was wrong. The fear gripped him almost immediately and he was hard pressed to plant a smile on his face as the picture was taken. He quickly went back to the elevators and promised to meet the ladies down stairs.

They got back to the hotel about 5:30 p.m. and all spent some time getting ready for the evening. By seven'o'clock, Thelma had dressed in a nice green shirtwaist dress, Donna was in a red miniskirt and lightweight, black summer sweater, and Katie had changed into a tailored, blue and white checked hot pants outfit with large bell cuffs and a scooped neck. Sam noticed that the shorts weren't too short though, knowing his mother would never approve of Katie wearing anything too revealing. Sam himself was wearing a pair of beige slacks with white button down shirt and navy blue sports jacket. They headed down to the lobby.

Coming out of the elevator, Sam spotted Dr. LoNigro in the lobby. He steered the ladies towards him. Putting out his hand, Sam said, "Hello, Dr. LoNigro. Nice to see you again."

Dr. LoNigro took Sam's hand and shook it. "And you as well." He turned to Sam's Mother and sister. "Mrs. Beckett, it's been awhile. This can't be Katie?"

Thelma smiled. "Yes. She's grown quite a bit the last few years."

"I can see. Nice to see you, Katie." He turned to Donna. "Ah, Donna Elesee. A pleasure seeing you again as well."

"And you too, sir. I was glad you were at the physics conference earlier this year. I enjoyed speaking with you about your work at MIT."

"That was fun. I hope we can revisit that again tonight, but for now, we need to get to Luigi's. I have a taxi waiting."

They all headed outside. Katie sat up front with Sam, and Dr. LoNigro settled into the back with Donna and Mrs. Beckett. When they reached the restaurant, though, a shocking sight met their eyes.

Several police cruisers were outside the restaurant and there was police tape around the sidewalk. An ambulance was also in view. A young lady of about 30 years old was being lead in handcuffs out to one of the cruisers. Dr. LoNigro noticed the proprietor of the restaurant standing just outside the police tape and stepped out of the Taxi to see what was going on. He came back to the car a few minutes later, a bit shaken.

"What's happened?"

"Well, it seems that a local gangster was shot. Vincent Loggia. The woman being put into the police car was apparently the person who killed him." He turned to the cabdriver. "My friend suggested that since we're so close and it's getting a bit late to look around for a restaurant that the Italian place at Blake's Plaza is good and shouldn't need reservations. You know where that is?"

The cabby nodded. "Everyone knows about Blake's Plaza. It was built back in 1962. Pretty nice place but not like one of these neighborhood places."

"Well since Luigi's is out of the question now that will have to do."

They drove to the new location and stepped out. As suggested, getting a table was not too difficult. They'd been seated and Katie excused herself to go to the ladies room. It took her a few minutes to come out. When she did a tall blonde woman also left the restroom. Sam noticed that Katie kept looking over toward the woman as she walked back to her table.

"Who was that, Katie?"

"Oh, it was a modeling agent. She said I should call her, that I had a great 'look'"

Donna spoke up. "Those agents aren't to be trusted, Katie. There was one that came by Lawrence and had the same pitch. I hear it didn't work out too well for some of the girls who decided to leave school and model."

Katie wasn't so sure. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to call."

Thelma shook her head. "You'll do no such thing, young lady. You haven't even finished high school." She said it such that there would be no room for argument. Katie looked frustrated but knew that when her mother said something in that tone of voice, there was no arguing. The evening progressed on. The conversation covered the upcoming concert, the sightseeing, and overall general topics. They were finishing the main part of their meal when Donna brought up her Columbia visit.

"You liked the physics department there? While it's quite a good department, you should really come out to MIT and visit us as well."

Donna grinned. "I'd love to. Are you asking?"

"Yes. I was very impressed by you work at the conference. You have a great head for physics. Not quite as good as Sam's, but then I doubt anyone on this earth today has his potential."

Donna was shocked. She knew that Sam had a natural affinity for the subject, but to hear such a leading scientist state this about Sam was incredible. "He has that much potential?"

"Yes. The type of mind he has comes around once in a lifetime. Maybe once in several lifetimes. I'd figure his potential in the subject is right up there with Newton or Einstein."

Sam blushed. "I don't think it's that high, Dr. LoNigro."

Dr. LoNigro looked directly at the only male Beckett at the table, an intensity in his eyes. "Sam, I've known a lot of great physicists, taught a lot of great students. My graduate students are some of the brightest anywhere. You do have that potential. You know you could still pursue it. I've talked with some of your professors at Purdue. They concur."

Sam's eyebrows went up in surprise and wonder. "My agriculture profs? What would they know about physics?"

"No. I know you're taking some physics classes as well."

"I had a little extra time. And as electives, they were interesting."

"Sam. This is your calling. I still remember that time concept you spoke about back when your brother was alive. He wanted you to go to MIT."

Sam bristled. "Tom's gone. I have other things to take care of now. "

The ladies at the table had been watching this verbal banter going on. Finally Thelma spoke up. "Sam, your father and I have always said you should do what makes you happy."

Sam looked towards his mother. "Farming does make me happy, Mom. I love the farm, the cornfields, hunting pheasant in the fall. I love the smell of the newly turned ground, I even love the mooing of the cows. That is what makes me happy. Being home with my family."

Katie had been more interested in the dessert menu than the conversation at hand. "Hey, I've always heard about New York Cheesecake. Now we can get some and find out if it's as good as they say."

Sam latched onto Katie's change in direction. "Yeah, that does sound good. What do you think, Donna?"

Donna was looking at Sam with a strange look on her face. "Uh, yeah. That sounds nice." She turned back to Dr. LoNigro. "So Sam's throwing away a gift in physics?"

Dr. LoNigro answered her honestly. "I believe so, yes. But ultimately it is Sam's decision. Although I was hoping I might be able to get him to see it differently after taking the courses he has. I guess it's not going to happen."

"No sir, it won't. I will be going back to work on the family farm after graduation."

Dr. LoNigro nodded. "Well, you can't blame me for trying one last time, Sam. You really do have a gift." He turned to Donna. "I would really like for you to come up to MIT, Donna. As I say, I was very impressed by your work as well."

Donna smiled. "I would like that. We can discuss it later though."

For the rest of the meal the conversation turned back to mundane things. They got back to the hotel at eleven. Dr. LoNigro indicated to Donna that he was staying with a colleague from Columbia and he would give her a call the next morning.