ababyofmyown."

    Foronce,Iuoodwhatanotherpersonwastryingtotellme.Withthemusicofacalliopeharmonizingwiththesoundofchildrenlaughinguhestars,Iaskedhertomarryme.

    WewaiteduntiltheendsemesterandweremarriedinMay1968atthesamechurchwhereHenryDayhadbeenbaptizedasaninfant.Standingatthealtar,Ifeltalmosthumanagain,andinourvowsexistedthepossibilityforahappyending.WhenwemarcheddowntheaisleIcouldsee,inthesmilingfacesofallourfriendsandfamily,anunsuspegjoyforMr.andMrs.HenryDay.Duringtheceremony,Ihalfexpectedthatwhenthedoubledoorsopehedaylighttherewouldbearetinueofgelingswaitingtotakemeaway.Ididmybesttetmypast,todismissthethoughtthatIwasafraud.

    Atthereception,mymotherandUncleCharliewerethefirsttogreetus,andtheyhadnotonlypaidforthepartybutevenmadeusagiftofahoneymooninEurope.WhilewewereawayinGermany,theywouldelopetogether,butthatafternoonitassingstraoseehimwhereBillDayshouldhavebeen.Nostalgiaformyfatherwasfleeting,forwewereleavingbehiandclaiminglife.Somuchwouldgeoverthefewyears.GeeKnollwouldleavetownafewweeksaftertheweddingtowanderacrossthetryforayear,andheendedupinSanFrancisco,runningasidewalkbistrowithanolderwomanfromSpain.WithnoCoverboys,Oscarwouldbuyajukeboxthatfall,aomerswouldstillflofordrinksandpopmusic.JimmyCummingstookmyoldjobbehindthebar.Evenmybabysistersweregrowingup.

    MaryandElizabethbroughttheirlatestboyfriends,acoupleoflong-hairedtwins,tothereception,andattheteroftheparty,UncleCharlieregaledthecrowdwithhislatestscheme."Thosehousesupontheridgeareonly