seconds, they had reached the top. They both laughed and gasped for breath.
“I won, I won!” Rose proclaimed, feeling victorious.
“That’s only because you had a head start,” Lionel laughed. He glanced around. “I guess we look like a couple of idiots. I don’t think people our age are supposed to race in public. We look like a couple of kids running wild all over town.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Rose said, still catching her breath.
Rose smoothed her skirt to get rid of the wrinkles which had developed on the fabric after the race. The night before, a maid had taken all of her clothes except for her pajamas. She had washed and ironed each article of clothing, even the socks and underwear. Rose’s clothes felt fresh and new after her endless hours of travel.
They walked a little ways more. Several times Lionel suggested they get a cab, but Rose always protested, stating that she enjoyed the fresh air. Reluctantly, Lionel would agree each time to continue walking.
“So, what were you studying at… where was it you said you went to school? Dartmouth?” Rose asked.
“Yes, Dartmouth,” Lionel replied. “I’m was studying history and journalism.”
“History?” Rose said with a smile. “Then you must love coming to London!”
“Oh, yes, I do,” Lionel agreed. “I can’t get enough of it. I love the architecture, and I especially love all the museums. Walking the streets of London is almost like visiting a living museum.”
“I’ll bet it’s hard for you to leave after the summertime,” Rose suggested.
“Yes, it sure is. For Julie, too. She hates being apart from our parents. But when we leave this time, I’ll take her back to Sarah Lawrence. Then I’ll come back here to London since I’m done with school. I’m thinking of law school eventually, but I’ll probably just stay here in London for a year and work with my dad.”
“That’s nice that you work with him. Did you stay really busy with your studies in college?” Rose asked.
“Yes and no,” Lionel replied. “My classes took up a lot of my time, but I also do some writing for a national history journal. I still do the writing in my spare time.”
“So why do you do that?” Rose asked, curious.
“Oh, I just enjoy writing about history. And I make a decent income doing it. I don’t want to be dependent on my parents financially at my age.”
“Really?” Rose asked. “I guess I’ve never really thought about that sort of thing. So all the money you spend is your own?”
“All the money? I hope that I don’t spend too much,” Lionel said with a laugh. “But yes. My parents pay a small amount for my college tuition, and I pay for everything else. They do give Julie money, though. And she has no objections to accepting every penny of it.” He smiled.
“No, I’m sure she doesn’t,” Rose agreed, chuckling. “Julie certainly loves to go shopping. I’ve heard her talk about shopping like a hundred times.”
“Oh, yes, she does love to shop,” Lionel agreed. “But she really does have a kind heart. Every summer she volunteers at the hospital near by parents’ house. She’s studying to be a nurse, you know.”
“Oh, really? Does she work there every day?”
“No, usually two or three days a week. She likes working at the hospital. I think she really enjoys helping people. This will actually be the third summer that she has volunteered over there.”
“Well, good for her.”
They walked down tree lined streets beside a park. The dark colored lampposts were elegant, like something out of an old movie. To Rose, London had a more classic style than New York.
They continued to walk and Rose became more anxious. What will my birth mother say to me when she answers the door? What will she do? Rose’s thoughts were making her feel nauseous. She swayed in her nervousness as they waited to cross the street. When the light changed, Rose shook her head and walked with caution across.
“Well, here we are!”
“I won, I won!” Rose proclaimed, feeling victorious.
“That’s only because you had a head start,” Lionel laughed. He glanced around. “I guess we look like a couple of idiots. I don’t think people our age are supposed to race in public. We look like a couple of kids running wild all over town.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Rose said, still catching her breath.
Rose smoothed her skirt to get rid of the wrinkles which had developed on the fabric after the race. The night before, a maid had taken all of her clothes except for her pajamas. She had washed and ironed each article of clothing, even the socks and underwear. Rose’s clothes felt fresh and new after her endless hours of travel.
They walked a little ways more. Several times Lionel suggested they get a cab, but Rose always protested, stating that she enjoyed the fresh air. Reluctantly, Lionel would agree each time to continue walking.
“So, what were you studying at… where was it you said you went to school? Dartmouth?” Rose asked.
“Yes, Dartmouth,” Lionel replied. “I’m was studying history and journalism.”
“History?” Rose said with a smile. “Then you must love coming to London!”
“Oh, yes, I do,” Lionel agreed. “I can’t get enough of it. I love the architecture, and I especially love all the museums. Walking the streets of London is almost like visiting a living museum.”
“I’ll bet it’s hard for you to leave after the summertime,” Rose suggested.
“Yes, it sure is. For Julie, too. She hates being apart from our parents. But when we leave this time, I’ll take her back to Sarah Lawrence. Then I’ll come back here to London since I’m done with school. I’m thinking of law school eventually, but I’ll probably just stay here in London for a year and work with my dad.”
“That’s nice that you work with him. Did you stay really busy with your studies in college?” Rose asked.
“Yes and no,” Lionel replied. “My classes took up a lot of my time, but I also do some writing for a national history journal. I still do the writing in my spare time.”
“So why do you do that?” Rose asked, curious.
“Oh, I just enjoy writing about history. And I make a decent income doing it. I don’t want to be dependent on my parents financially at my age.”
“Really?” Rose asked. “I guess I’ve never really thought about that sort of thing. So all the money you spend is your own?”
“All the money? I hope that I don’t spend too much,” Lionel said with a laugh. “But yes. My parents pay a small amount for my college tuition, and I pay for everything else. They do give Julie money, though. And she has no objections to accepting every penny of it.” He smiled.
“No, I’m sure she doesn’t,” Rose agreed, chuckling. “Julie certainly loves to go shopping. I’ve heard her talk about shopping like a hundred times.”
“Oh, yes, she does love to shop,” Lionel agreed. “But she really does have a kind heart. Every summer she volunteers at the hospital near by parents’ house. She’s studying to be a nurse, you know.”
“Oh, really? Does she work there every day?”
“No, usually two or three days a week. She likes working at the hospital. I think she really enjoys helping people. This will actually be the third summer that she has volunteered over there.”
“Well, good for her.”
They walked down tree lined streets beside a park. The dark colored lampposts were elegant, like something out of an old movie. To Rose, London had a more classic style than New York.
They continued to walk and Rose became more anxious. What will my birth mother say to me when she answers the door? What will she do? Rose’s thoughts were making her feel nauseous. She swayed in her nervousness as they waited to cross the street. When the light changed, Rose shook her head and walked with caution across.
“Well, here we are!”
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