On the plane, a man with graying hair helped Jorden put her carry-on in the overhead bin.

“Thank you.”

He winked and took his seat next to her. Not wanting to chat, she closed her eyes. Memories of her fight with Justin and her time with Alex last November flooded back.

***

Previous Year – November 1968

Throughout November, Jorden continued to see Justin on the weekends, and Alex during the week—but Thanksgiving weekend ended in disaster. On the drive back from Justin’s family’s home, she had a heated argument with him over Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in April. Justin was behind Governor Wallace’s ideologies whereas Jorden was pro-civil rights. The division was tearing them apart.

Jorden slept little Sunday night. She knew Justin was using his finals as an excuse to avoid seeing her. Two weeks seemed like a long time to be apart, especially before being separated by the Christmas holidays.

“Get up, you’re going to be late,” Madison shouted at Jorden for the third time.

Jorden bolted up and looked at the clock. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“What do you think I’m trying to do? You wouldn’t budge.”

Jorden dressed in seconds, pulled her hair up, twisted it into an attractive topknot, and secured it with a hairclip.

“How was Thanksgiving?” Madison asked.

“The weekend at Justin’s home was great, but the drive back was a disaster. Let’s talk tonight.” Jorden hurried out the door carrying a stack of her students’ papers.

Monday flew by. Jorden was glad she had prepared a week’s worth of lesson plans before the holiday weekend. After school she mounted the stairs to her apartment. The phone rang; she was surprised to hear Alex’s voice instead of Justin’s.

“Hi. I hoped I’d catch you at home. How about having an early dinner? I know its spur of the moment, but, at last I have some free time. What do you think?”

She didn’t know what to say. “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you until later in the week.”

“Should I call back, say Wednesday?” Alex responded.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m tired, but I’d enjoy dinner with you tonight. What’s the occasion?”

“No occasion. I’ve missed you. I know of a small French restaurant I think you might like. I can pick you up around five. Can you make it?”

“Sure. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t change; you haven’t given me much time.” Jorden checked out her school attire and decided it would do fine.

“Perfect. Now I can see the other side of you; just don’t bring your ruler.”