The headlines read LOCAL WOMAN KILLED
IN BARROOM BRAWL! The letters were an
inch tall, reached all the way across
the front page. There was a photograph,
an old one. She looked so young, and a
bit shy. The clothes and the hairdo,
strange and out of style. They spelled
her name wrong, she hated to be called
Caroline. That was her pet peeve. It was
spelled right, Carolyn, in the obits on
page 6b. I suppose that's where it counts
anyway. Well, at least she made the front
page, the headlines no less! Always said
she was going to be famous someday, though
I don't think this was exactly what she had
in mind. When I finished reading all the
gory details I got down the high school
annual, not that I needed to, mind you!
I knew it all by heart. Five pages of
pictures, every award, every honor,
including most likely to succeed. There
were pictures of us hamming it up for
the camera as usual. After awhile I
closed the book, went into the kitchen
and made myself a "root beer float" the
rage in those days, and our favorite
Friday afternoon treat. As an afterthought,
I made one for her, and drank them both.
Carolyn never did loke to drink alone
Neither do I. Cheers! Old friend!!