by the next day.

The next day one of the college administrators
Mr. Armstrong
came to the Infirmary
to talk to me.
"Lynne", he said,
pulling up a chair by my bed
and taking my hand in his
"you fainted because you are anemic
malnourished
and exhausted.
So we are going to send you home to get some good food
and some rest."
You could have knocked me over with a feather!
"But I feel fine!"
I argued.
"If Doctor Lufton would let me get up
I could go back to class right now
no problem...."
but he was already out the door
and I heard him calling Daddy from Dr. Lufton's office
and then I heard the two of them talking
about how Daddy had said I couldn't come home
because of all the babies.

After a while they came back in my room
to tell me that Daddy wouldn't let me go home
and I couldn't stay at school
and I cried.

The next day Mr. Armstrong told me they found me a job
and a place to live
and for me to go pack my things
because he was taking me to my new place
so I went back to my dorm room
said goodbye to Annie
tried to keep myself from busting out
screaming and crying
got out my brown suitcase
packed up my clothes
and my lamp
and left college.

"Now, Lynne," Mr. Armstrong said
on the long ride into Rochester
"you get some good food in your belly
and good sleep at night
and save some money
and as soon as you're rested and well
give us a call and we'll come and get you again."

And that's how it happened that I spent my first night alone
ever in my life
at the YWCA
in a strange city.
It was scary.
I didn't hear Mom coughing
Daddy snoring
the babies fussing
or even Annie tossing and turning.
I only heard the terrified pounding of my heart.


Music Playing: Someone to Watch Over Me
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