The Whittaker Saga

For Anna and Johnny, Carls presence is a welcome help. Farm hands are good, but having a family member you trust is better. Suddenly the two find themselves having the time to sit down in their rocking chairs just talking to each other. For Carl, the change of pace is welcome. The hard physical labour and time with the horses helps him forget - at least for the moment. Yes he still has nightmares at times, and is filled with guilt about leaving Chi behind, but as long as he keeps busy, lets his muscle work until they ache, he can push the dark thoughts to the back of his mind. And being around Anna and Johnny, sharing dinner outdoors after a full day of work and hearing them share stories from their own life, is its own reward as he tries to wrap his head around what he's been through. When he left solders that went to Vietnam were called baby-killers, spat on and abused. Now people tied yellow ribbons around trees and called for the return of POWs. What he cannot understand, is h...

Even though they have been away from home most of the summer, and really would prefer to just stay at home on the last day of vacation, Thomas and Betty still make the trip to Strangerville to see Arthur and Audie's new baby. Betty and Audie dotes on the baby in the bedroom, an adorable little girl, while the men talk in the living room. The kids are a lot less interested in a useless little baby. Michael and Carl play on the junglegym, and the three girls play hopscotch outside on the sidewalk. For Susan it's a bit unusual, but great fun, to have girls to play with - even if they are a bit younger than her. Before heading home, they eat in the garden while the children can't decide whether they want to eat or play. It's a good day, even if the Thomas and the family are all very tired when they return home. Barbara, however, is having a less fantastic day. Ever since the pill was approved by the FDA, she's been trying to stay on it, with only temporary success. The ...