CHAPTER 1
Emotionally upset, her heart-strings taut, Irma Goodie said to her daughter, "Goodbye Veronica" but Veronica, at her first day at preschool, just waved and turned to find what interested her in her new environment. A year later there was a virtual replay of that scene when she began Elementary School.
Thereafter Veronica took herself off to Middle School and High School so the farewells were said at the front gate of the path leading to the front door of the Goodie's modest home in one of those nondescript suburbs. Veronica and her family lived in Deer Park, named after a facility that existed there forty years ago until housing expansion reached the deer park and the owner sold out to big dollars.
Like other mothers, Irma said goodbye to her daughter when she went off to sleepovers and for the first few hours really missed the chubby blue-eyed blonde. Veronica had two older brothers but she was the daughter Irma had wanted from about the age of nineteen. Another fourteen years later that dream came true. She made no secret of her preference and the boys accepted it because they had their sports-mad father Peter focused on them.
The family was at the train station to farewell daughter and sister the first time she went to college. Gary was home from military training while brother Phil had already returned to his college.
Gary hugged his sister, who was an inch taller and taking the shape of a noticeable woman. He whispered, "Watch those guys at college babe, some hunt in packs. Quickly pick a top-shelf guy and settle on him. That's my advice."
"At army base do you hunt in a pack?" she whispered and Gary looked away grinning, knowing there were no flies on his sister. She had a great brain and a great understanding of people.
Veronica's parents smiled at her, their faces a little tight.
Her mom began to weep when Peter said, "You know, this is the first time you've been away from us apart from summer camp."
"There's a first time for everything dad, as you know. Now you look after mom."
Tears really flowed as passengers received the last call to board and Veronica hugged Irma and kissed away some of the tears.
"Lovely mother of mine. I'm only an email away. You may email me every day if you wish."
"Goodbye Veronica," Irma sniffed, chest heaving. Stepping on the car Veronica turned and waved to her family, completed with a dazzling smile.
The train pulled out of Midway Station and Veronica's big adventure began.
Aspiring College, only ten years old and still under development, looked wonderful as Veronica entered the grounds. She was glad it looked so stylish because it would be her principal home for the next four years, With its white stucco walls and orange roof tiles set against a mountainous background, it looked more like a resort than an institute of learning.
The residence hall for freshmen to which Veronica had been assigned was three-levels and her accommodation was an apartment with two double rooms and shared bathroom. She'd applied to be roomed with student from a small southern city, liking the pleasant appearance of the short-haired brunette from her photo on the college's restricted website and their shared interests of reading, tennis, ice-hockey, skiing, movies and theater. Her name was Thelma White and their birthdays were a day apart.
When Veronica's request was posted Thelma had called her. They had a long chat and Thelma advised she'd be endorsing the request. Their preference was granted.
No one was in the apartment when Veronica arrived on opening day. She took her assigned bed and began unpacking. Two noisy young women burst into the room and announced they were the Lawson twins, Bess and Jade. Jade had green eyes while Bess's were hazel, which was useful in telling them apart although they always dressed differently.
They both hugged Veronica simultaneously in greeting and said simultaneously, "God you're beautiful."
"Oh my, what do we have here?" asked the brunette standing in the doorway.
The twins stood aside allowing Veronica to walk to the newcomer.
"Thelma?"
"Of course and I recognize you from your photo. Hi Veronica."
They hugged.
Over coffee there was a debate over Veronica's name.
"It's making a comeback but that doesn't mean it's modern."
"Jade don't be rude."
"It's okay Bess," Veronica smiled. "We ought to be able to talk frankly because we have to live together. What do you think Thelma?"
"I cringe at my own name sometimes because fortunately along came that film "Thelma and Louise' that liberated my name to some extent. We can't call you Ronnie, as Ronnie Goodie sounds a bit affected. What about Ronica?"
"Ronica. Hmmm. Well okay, but only while at college. Mom gave me the name Veronica because she loved it and I love my mom and I'm her Veronica."
"Well that's settled," said Thelma, already acting like the team captain. "What is the next item for discussion?"
"Appointment of a room leader," Veronica said. "I nominate Thelma."
"No way, I know nothing about leadership."
"Isn't that why you have committed to dorm living at college, to assist in your personal development?" Bess asked.
Even Jade looked in surprise at Bess making such a profound remark.
Jade then said, "I second the nomination of Thelma."
"I call for other nominations," Thelma said.
There were none.
"Oh crap," she sighed and they all laughed.
The new team leader looked at her watch. "Do we eat in here tonight or go to the café? Bookings at the café close in ten minutes."
"How do you know that?" Jade asked.
"Because unlike you she's read the handbook thoroughly," said her twin. "I'm for the café."
Veronica made the call and booked all four in for first sitting at the same table. "Do you guys drink? They serve beer and wine."
"How do you know that?" Jade asked and noticing the looks from the others, mimicked her sister perfectly and said, "Because unlike me she's read the handbook thoroughly."
By the time they went to dinner Veronica thought Thelma would emerge as a real team leader, Bess and she were the academics and what Jade lacked in awareness and possibly knife-edge intelligence of her sister she had a bright personality and appeared to be a born actress. So it came as no surprise to her to learn Jade would study at the school of visual and performing arts. She and Thelma, as she already knew, would pursue a masters in public administration and Bess said she'd seek a masters in education and then decide where to go from there.
At 7:30 next morning Veronica was down on the courts warming up for tennis, hoping someone would come along. She noticed a guy with unruly sandy hair in running gear taking a breather but ignored him.
Then along came a hairy guy with a racquet and he said, "Want a game?"
"Okay," Veronica said. "You serve."
"Usually I don't play with women. I play power tennis."
"That's fine," Veronica said, and returned to hitting against the backboard.
The guy, looking sulky, watched her play a few shots and said, "You're good. Let's play."
Well she'd been professionally coached since the age of seven so why wouldn't she be good, Veronica sniffed to herself.
Veronica served out the first game, winning 6-3, doing nothing spectacular.
"I'm just warming up," the guy said. "I'm John by the way."
"Hi John, "I've Ronica."
"What kind of name is that?"
"Probably something more unique than John."
He scowled and Veronica heard the guy up on the seats behind her laugh.
John doubled faulted and then sent a sizzler to bounce straight at Veronica's belly. She stepped away and rocketed it back at John's feet, beating him cleanly.
"You bitch," he gritted and tried harder but lost 4-6.
