Chapter 11: Meltdown

Penny sent details to family and friends of the time and location of the reception. It was noted that it was to be a wedding/graduation reception for Sheldon and Amy. Attached to the invite was an approved list of acceptable presents provided by the Bride and Groom. FYI: The cadaver will not be allowed in the building.

It was graduation day for Penny and attending the ceremony was Max, her Texas family, Sheldon, Amy, Phallon, Taylor, Leonard, Stephanie, Howard, Bernadette, Raj, Yvette and Stuart.

Unknown to Penny in attendance was Alice the server from Blind Expression and Max's mom and dad, Sky and Payton Angel along with their siblings Hunter and Solange.

Seated with her fellow graduates Penny searches for her friends within the audience. As she looks in their direction they turn on the flashlight app on their phones. She easily locates them. They are all grinning with love and pride for her. She felt blessed.

Penny was so proud of her accomplishment she really underestimated her potential. Never again will she let someone disparage her self worth.

As Penny walks onto the stage to receive her degree she was thinking how happy and proud her dad and family would be today. They would be yelling Cornhusker cheers, they would have started celebrated from the time they received her announcement. She felt her heart breaking.

Nebraska was devoid of her and her relatives she is the last and it hurts so much. With tears streaming down her face her last rational thought was that she needed to find a restroom before she breaks down in front of the assemblage. With tremendous will she proceeded to walk out of the ceremony towards the closest restroom.

Max, Meemaw, Phallon and Sheldon could tell that something was wrong. Phallon and Meemaw got up to check on Penny.

Meemaw found her in the ladies bathroom on the floor in a fetal position silently crying from intense all consuming agony. Phallon blanched she realized that this was the crisis and called Max.

"Max, don't alert the others but bring your medical bag to the women's restroom near area 107. Tell everyone to go to the address that Penny texted and she will meet them there."

Max arrived and immediately accessed the situation he knew she was thinking about her family. Penny told him she would be the first Bessey to have graduated college. He gave Penny a sedative and sat on the floor with her in his lap and rocked and cried with her along with Phallon and Meemaw.

Max spoke softly, "Penny, I am here, I love you, and you are not alone."

Phallon phoned her mom, who is also a psychologist, to come to the ladies restroom. When Mrs. Angel arrived Phallon ran to her and took a minute to cry on her shoulder.

"Penny is my friend I am to close. Mom please help her and us, I've kept you up to date on her progress."

Mrs. Angel kissed her daughter and looked at her son crying in empathy for this young woman's pain. There was no doubt in her mind that she was looking at her future daughter.

Everyone left for the reception except The Coopers, Leonard, Howard, Bernadette, Raj and Taylor. They stood outside the restroom while Phallon told them what was happening.

"Penny is having a crisis of grief likely triggered by her accomplishment today and her Nebraska family not being present. Max has given her a sedative. Meemaw, Mrs. Cooper and my mother who is also a psychologist are attending her."

"Penny told Meemaw and I weeks ago about the reception and we helped with the planning. This reception is very important to Penny. Please everyone go and we will meet you there shortly."

Meemaw and Phallon wanted to make sure Penny's wishes were carried out even if she couldn't be there. Meemaw told Mary, "I am going to the reception with Phallon to help cheer up Penny's friends and to ease their concern."

"I will stay with Penny and the Angels."

Everyone was surprised to see the Penny Blossom storefront located within a strip shopping area close to CAL-TECH. The store was roughly one thousand square feet had numerous Penny Blossom displays that were moved to the perimeters of the room. A buffet table was near the rear of the store. Phallon and Meemaw took over hosting the reception. Phallon stood on a raised platform near the entrance to speak.

"Hello everyone, Penny will not be joining us for the reception. As you all are aware, she lost her entire family a few months back and has been simply overwhelmed with grief missing them on a day that she looked forward to sharing with them."

Some in attendance were notably upset and there were a few tears.

"A degree was not the only surprise Penny had planned for you. Penny started to devote more time over the past year to her online Penny Blossom business. Thanks to Sheldon's business plan she was doing very well so she hired a couple of college students part-time."

"Due to the increase sales it turned into a full time business. She needed more space so she moved Penny Blossom's here. The store offers free Wi-Fi, has a study space for its employees, if you walk through the door on the right you will see the cyber cafe with meeting rooms for students and customers."

"Penny said she was inspired by her brothers Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Rajesh, they provided support, coffee and technical, friendship, and at times funds for her to achieve her goals. She was a self-centered mooching pain in the butt. In other words a little sister. She would not be here if it wasn't for their love and she wants them to know that she is paying it forward. Priya you want to take over from here?"

The guys stood with tears running down their face totally humbled.

Priya stepped up to the platform and said, "Hello everyone."

"Penny wanted to change Penny Blossom into a revenue generating nonprofit. All proceeds from Penny Blossom, less operating expenses, taxes, fees, and upgrades will go into a scholarship fund named for her family, the Bessey Cooper Lehora Scholarship Fund. Bessey is Penny's family name, Cooper her new family, and Lehora an anagram of Leonard, Howard and Rajesh."

Phallon stepped up an added, "The highlight of today is the celebration of the marriage of Drs. Sheldon and Amy Cooper."

"A video of the wedding ceremony is playing on loop in the cyber cafe. We all congratulate Drs. Cooper and wish them well. Everyone feel free to partake in the refreshments. Look around; Penny has expanded from hair clips to include various accessories. If you wish to learn more about the scholarship fund and/or become a donor brochures are available near the reception table."

As the invited guests mingled and congratulated the happy couple, Sheldon recognized Max and Penny's server, Alice from Blind Expression standing off to the side. He and Amy walked over to talk to her.

"Hello, we remember you from the restaurant."

"Hello, I had to show up and congratulate Penny. She stopped by the restaurant to make sure the manager didn't fire me for their behavior during dinner. She said she knew what it's like to struggle as a waitress. She had mentioned that she was graduating from USC as we were talking."

"At the ceremony I happened to see Max and he invited me to the reception. I am so excited because I am catching a flight later today to return to college. It all makes sense now."

Confused Amy asked, "What makes sense?"

"I received correspondence a couple of days after Penny and I spoke which named me as a recipient of the Bessey Cooper Lehora Scholarship. My tuition is paid in full with a little left over for miscellaneous expenses. I will be returning this semester since I am less than a week behind."

"That's great," Amy exclaimed.

"Like Penny I am without family. I am a product of the foster care system. My parents died when I was seventeen in an automobile accident. I only returned to California to help out my foster mother."

"Any way I need to leave to make sure I catch my flight to Nebraska. Please tell Penny I said thank you and that I will keep in touch."

Amy gave her a hug and said good luck and they would.

As discussion ensued the topic came around to Penny's love life and most were bought up to date that Max and Penny were dating. Meemaw hearing enough of the discussion took to the platform.

"Let me have your attention. It seems we are all discussing Max and Penny's relationship. Let's do this right and organize, Sheldon take over."

Sheldon ran next door to get the portable whiteboard.

Sheldon gleefully bellowed, "Let's establish assignments and teams."

"Howard you are in charge, of betting and odds,

Rajesh your area, planning dates,

Bernadette and Missy surveillance,

George enforcer,

Leonard communication,

Phallon damage control,

Amy scheduling."

"Everyone else is support personnel pick a team."

The jury was still out as far as Taylor and Phallon's family were concerned since they haven't met Penny but from what they are hearing she is a remarkable young lady. They were quite amused and decided to join the operation to look out for Max.

Taylor decided to work with Bernadette and Missy on surveillance. Max's dad, Payton choose bets, Solange choose scheduling and Hunter sided with the enforcer.

Meemaw suggested sharing relevant information about Penny and Max.

• Everyone yelled don't mention or imply the words Cornhusker or Hawkeye when they are together

• Penny hates to be awakened

• Max and Penny both love animals

• Max can sing

• Penny can't sing

• Max and Penny love sports caution remember item 1

• Penny can't cook

• Max can cook

• Penny has a shoe fetish and loves clothes

• Max is clueless regarding shoes and clothes

"Okay that's enough for now."

Meemaw leans down as Missy whispers in her ear.

"Missy suggested that we call them Manny in lieu of Max and Penny."

Everyone agreed.

Howard steps up, "We are taking bets on the day they realize they are in love, engagement, wedding date, and the next Hawkeye/Cornhusker."

Back at Max's…

Mrs. Angel and Mrs. Cooper are seated on the couch sipping tea.

"Mrs. Cooper how long have you known Penny?"

"Please call me Mary and a little over eight years."

"Please call me Sky. I could tell your family thinks highly of her."

Mary launches into a discussion on Sheldon's uniqueness and quirks and what Penny has done for him and the other three friends.

"Penny is not superficial she sees what's in your heart, she is kind and loving. Money and prestige will not phase her and she has a strict moral code regarding cheating. Penny has wormed her way into my heart. I consider her a daughter and will protect and fight all who wishes her ill."

"I can't wait to talk to her and get to know her better. She should be coming around soon. Max my baby boy had one goal growing up. He wanted to be a dad. He didn't want to be a policeman or firefighter it has always been a dad. He idolizes my husband and rightly so, Payton is a wonderful father."

"Max is very picky regarding the women he dates. He is thirty-four years old and according to him he wants a woman that will make him look at her like his dad looks at me. I recognized that look when he was caring for Penny."

Mary smiled and expounded, "I noticed Max's look, however Penny is her own worse enemy. "She insecure and may think she is interested in Max because she is so lonely or trying to get over her grief or heaven forbid a rebound relationship from Leonard her ex-fiancé. Penny would end the relationship rather than risk hurting Max with her insecurity even though she is in love with him."

"That is good information to know regarding her thought processes. I don't have any type of agenda regarding my son and his love life. My husband and I are there for guidance and an ear to listen but we want our children to freely choose loves path wherever that may lead."

Max is lying on his bed holding Penny thinking this feels so good and so right when he feels her stirring. Penny opens her eyes and looks around the unfamiliar room. She turns her head to see Max and relaxes slightly.

"What happened?"

Max told her what happened from the time she received her degree.

"I remember thinking about my family and losing it."

Max did not want her to go down that slope again so he tried a proven distraction.

"How did a Cornhusker get a degree when school ends at junior high?"

Penny smiled recognizing his tactic. Feeling closer to her Nebraska family she answered with all the gusto and passion her dad or any family member would use.

"That's because we move to a different building for high school. We do not stay in the same one room church that the Hawkeyes do."

"Oh yeah, do you know how we keep Cornhuskers out of our yard? We put up goal posts."

Max and Penny started yelling insults at each other until the mothers came in and asked, "What's going on?"

It just set them off again. As the mothers stood there looking and listening they were doing everything they could to hold back the laughter. Mary told Penny to come in the living room with her. As Penny walked past Max she said under her breathe, "insufferable ass."

Sky had to turn away to prevent herself from laughing in Max's face. Mary sat Penny on the couch and gave her a motherly hug. She asked if she was okay. Penny apologized and thanked her for her concern.

"My grief caught up with me and I lost it."

"I know your heavenly family is proud of you, as is your earthly family. By the way lets introduce you to Phallon and Max's mom."

Mrs. Angel and Max came out of his bedroom. Max handled the introductions like the proud son he was.

"Penny, I would like you to meet my mother Mrs. Sky Angel."

Penny noted that Mrs. Angel was of average height with gorgeous brown hair and eyes with an olive complexion. From pictures it appears that all the Angel siblings are carbon copies of their dad."

"Hello it's so nice to meet you. I apologize for the yelling."

Max replied there is no need to apologize.

"Let me clarify I was not apologizing for yelling at you only that your mother heard it."

Both mothers chuckled silently.

While Max was showing Penny were to freshen up, Mrs. Sky placed a call to Phallon to update her on the situation. She put the phone on speaker so Mary could hear.

"Wow, it sounds like a party," said Mrs. Angel.

Phallon responded you have no idea."

"Penny is awake and may come to the store within the next 30 minutes."

"That would be great. Meemaw, Priya, and I told everyone Penny's news. Now we are organizing a campaign to get Manny, Max and Penny, together."

"Can't wait to hear more."

Phallon expressed that the mothers should not mention Cornhusker or Hawkeye around Max or Penny they will lose their minds and get into a loud argument.

"Sorry sugar to late for that warning. It's calm at the moment. We will see you soon."

Phallon took to the platform and whistled loudly to get everyone's attention, which drove Sheldon nuts.

"Penny and Max will be here within 30 minutes. Hide the evidence of our conspiracy.

Penny, Mrs. Cooper, and Mrs. Angel got to know each other a little better while waiting for Max to change clothes.

Mary asked, "Penny how did she meet Phallon?"

"I needed help dealing with my problems with alcohol and depression last year and Phallon is our company's psychologist. We both have shoe fetishes and the rest is history."

"Snickerdoodle do you want to go to the store? Your friends are still there."

Penny smiled. "Yes, please."

As Penny entered the store she was given hugs and kisses. She was told by the guys how honored they were to be apart of the non-profit business and scholarship.

Penny was introduced to Phallon's partner Taylor who was gorgeous and to her delight had a shoe fetish also. The three were in heaven when it was discovered they wore the same shoe size. Hunter and Max looked just like their dad. They could be triplets except one was older. Solange was a sweetheart and her daughter was a fixture in uncle Max's arms.

Did her heart just flip while looking at the pair?

Mr. Angel was handsome, charming, and had a great sense of humor. Penny could see that he wore his love for his family for all to see. Her dad was the same she started to tear up until she heard Max.

"Why did the Nebraska Cornhuskers grad cover her ears? She was trying to hold a thought."

Everyone sucked in their breath and was thinking Max is nuts.

"Oh, oh, hears another one, what do you call a good-looking girl on the Nebraska campus? A visitor."

Everyone was chuckling to themselves but feared this could not be good.

Penny said as she was walking towards Max.

"How do you no that the toothbrush was invented in Iowa? If it was invented anywhere else it would be called a teethbrush."

"Why did the Iowa football team cross the road? Because it's easier than crossing the goal line."

Max gave his niece back to his sister and it was the verbal match of the century for all who witnessed and was entertained by the in your face passionate sparring between 5 feet 6 inch Penny and 6 feet 4 inch Max.