Waiting to Believe Read Free Page A

Annie was like that. She bore a striking resemblance to her father and matched him in self-confidence. “Annie, Annie, you still seem too young to be going off to college!”
    â€œEighteen’s not so young, Mom. You did it, and you were only a couple years older than me when you married Dad.” Annie tried to be tender with her mother. It didn’t come easily, but she could afford to be generous now that she would be free.
    She had chosen Our Lady of Lourdes College, a small Illinois school with a reputation for turning out scholars. Best of all , Annie thought, it was too far away to come home on weekends .
    Rose picked up a stack of underwear, moving it from one spot on the bed to another. “Well, I’ll miss you. We’ve had our spats and all, but you’re a good girl, Annie. I really will miss you.”
    â€œOh, you’ve still got Kacey. She’s the one you rely on, anyway.” Rose’s mouth turned downward, almost in a pout.
    Before she could speak, Kenneth burst through the door, carrying three pieces of luggage. “Here’s your going-away present, honey! I don’t want you going off to college with your clothes in a paper sack, the way I did!” Hugs and smiles. And tears.
    Annie lifted the large Samsonsite, running her hand over its smooth, hard finish. “Thanks, Dad,” she said quietly, and then surprised herself by adding, “I’ll make you proud.”
    â€œYou already have, Annie.” He held out the smallest piece to her, letting his hand linger on hers for just a moment as she took it from him.

    Kenneth and Rose drove home from Illinois in silence. Their first child, off to college. The September sun beat down hot on the car as it sped along Highway 94. Kenneth glanced over at Rose, who stared out the window. “One down, five to go,” he finally said.
    â€œMmm,” Rose acknowledged. Then, after a moment, “Maybe Kacey won’t leave home. Maybe she’ll just stay.”
    Kenneth’s head snapped around to look at her. “Stay? Are you crazy? What would ever make you think she won’t go to college?”
    Rose continued to stare out at the fields. “Oh, I don’t know. She doesn’t talk much about what she wants.”
    â€œI’ll grant you that,” Kenneth said, “but she’s thinking. She’s always thinking. Just keeping it inside till the time comes.”

    â€œGreg’s starting to think about college.” Kenneth glanced at Kacey for a reaction. “S’pose you talk about that, though.” Father and daughter were bent under the hood of the station wagon. “Hand me that wrench,” he said. Kacey laid the tool in his hand. “You got this now? See how it’s done?”
    â€œDad! I know how to change a spark plug!”
    Kenneth stood upright and looked at her quizzically. “Since when do you take that tone?”
    â€œSorry,” Kacey said but couldn’t resist adding, “I just feel you’re after me all the time to talk about my plans.”
    Kenneth wiped his greasy hands on the rag from his hip pocket. “Well, you’re going to be a senior in another week. What’s wrong with asking you about your plans?”
    â€œNothing! There’s nothing wrong with it. I just don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know what my plans are ! I don’t have any plans!” Kacey threw up her arms, then folded them across her chest.
    â€œI don’t understand how that can be, Kathryn. You should be applying to colleges. You’ve got to make plans, or you won’t get in anywhere!” No response. “For God’s sake, girl! You must have a glimmer of what you want to be—a teacher? Librarian? A mechanic?”
    Tears sprang from Kacey’s eyes. “No! I don’t know! I’ll tell you when I know!”
    A dumbfounded father stood in the shadow of the garage, watching his best and