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Over the next few days, they developed a pattern. They'd work on wedding plans in the morning, meeting with caterers, bakers, a minister; in the afternoon, Sam would go to either the rec center on the South Side or work with the literacy program while Josie worked on her article.
Then, they'd meet back up for dinner, sometimes going out, sometimes staying in and cooking together.
Josie finished her first column on Thursday, a day early. She waited for Sam to come home, eager to let him read it. She jumped as she heard his key in the door.
"Hey, sweetie," he said as he kissed her lightly. "How's the writing going?"
"It's finished�I think it's pretty good�would you read it?"
Sam was honored by her request. "Of course, I'd read anything by my favorite writer!"
He sat down in front of her laptop and began reading.
Two weeks ago I wrote my first article for the Chicago Sun-Times. I think a few of you may have read it: Never Been Kissed. That story grew from my personal experiences as an undercover reporter at a local high school. I was sent there to gain insights into teenagers today. What I found, unexpectedly, was myself�and the love of my life.
I also found that high school students are not as one-dimensional as we adults try to make them, or indeed, as they try to make themselves. They have their cliques, their complex social structure, but to assume that they are defined completely by the group to which they belong is a terrible injustice.
So, over the next several weeks, I'll introduce you to some of the young men and women that I came to know during my time as a student at South Glen South High School. Today, you'll meet Aldys, one of the brains, who also happens to be beautiful, funny, and a survivor.
In coming weeks you'll meet Guy, the most popular boy in school who's surprisingly shy. Kirsten, Kristen, and Gibby, the most beautiful, most popular girls who's biggest fear is not missing a big sale, but adjusting to life without each other. Brett, the football star, who's won a scholarship to the University of Michigan. Matz, the baseball star, who just signed a minor league contract. David, another brain, who will probably be the next Bill Gates. Sera, who's opting for trade school. And Jeb, who hasn't decided what he's doing yet. I think that you'll find them all surprising. I hope that you'll come away with a greater appreciation of who they are as individuals. I assure you, they're all quite remarkable.
Aldys Wells, 17, graduated first in her class and delivered a touching valedictory speech. She was the first student to befriend me at South Glen South�
Josie had captured Aldys' spirit on paper. Her frankness�intelligence�humor�it was all there. So was the slight sadness that always seemed a part of her. He read about her determination to succeed, her grief over the loss of her mother, her deep love for her baby sister and her devastated father. Josie had uncovered not only Aldys' hopes and dreams for the future, she'd truly, candidly revealed who Aldys was. She was not just a nerdy teenager going off to college; she was a brave young woman on the verge of life.
"I'm so proud of you!" he said. "Teenagers in general are pretty misunderstood by most adults. If you capture the rest of them the way you've captured Aldys, you'll change the way people think."
"You really think so?"
"Yeah�I really do. You've got a pretty diverse group lined up."
"I wanted to get a cross-section, to really show people who these kids are."
Josie, her mother, and her bridesmaids (except Abby and Miranda) went to look at gowns the next day. Feeling sentimental, she took her rhinestone prom queen tiara with her.
"Can a veil be added to this?" she asked the saleslady, "I'd really like to use it."
"I think that is possible," said Serena with a slight Eastern European accent.
Josie tried on dozens of gowns in as many different styles. Nothing felt right, though.
Finally, Serena brought out a plain, ivory, matte satin gown. It had a tight, low-cut bodice, spaghetti straps and a full skirt. The only ornamentation was some lovely, scalloped lace around the bottom.
Josie stepped out of the dressing room. Janet Geller burst into tears. Her bridesmaids looked at her in awe.
"This is the one," she said softly.
"I never thought I'd like something so�plain," said Kirsten who was known as the most flamboyant of the trio.
"But it's perfect�" added Kristen.
"Mr. Coulson�I mean Sam�.won't know what hit him," gushed Gibby.
"It's lovely," said Aldys.
"Oh, Jos�" said Anita, dabbing tears from her eyes.
"Okay�can you have it by August 14th?" she asked hopefully.
"Since this one is the right size�and you're the first to try it on�we can just do the alterations�nothing to worry about. Anything for the 'Never Been Kissed' girl!"
"Now�for my bridesmaids�I thought maybe we could pick a color and they could choose individual styles�I was thinking lavender for the bridesmaids and the flower girl and silver for Anita?"
Surprisingly, they agreed. Josie already had an okay on the color from Abby and Miranda. They flipped through the racks, each searching for the perfect dress.
Josie watched, laughing as they rejected dress after dress. Finally, each had chosen the style that most suited her. They all looked beautiful. Tears prickled Josie's eyes.
"Mom�I can't believe this is really happening�"
"I know, baby, I know."
Before they left Josie got some catalogs to send to Miranda and Abby, so that they could let Serena know their preferences.
"See ya tonight, Mom�six o'clock," Josie called as she climbed into her LeSabre.
"Yes, dear�remember, we're just barbecuing�nothing fancy."
Josie had a funny feeling as they turned onto her parent's street. "Sam�something doesn't feel quite right�"
"You're just nervous about our parents meeting for the first time. I'm sure everything will be fine."
Sam pulled the jeep into the driveway. Holding hands they walked around the house to the backyard. It appeared to be empty.
"Mom? Dad? Rob?" Josie called.
"Surprise," yelled about a hundred of their closest family and friends.
Josie looked around. A banner hung on the back of the house. It read: Congratulations Sam and Josie.
It was an odd mixture of people.
Sam's family was there, minus his sister Abby.
Josie's family was there, too.
The Sun-Times staff was well represented. Anita, Gus, Cynthia, Merkin, Rhoda, George and even Rigfort were there, among others.
So was the faculty of South Glen South: Ms. Knox, Ms. Brown, Adam Christiansen, Coach Romano, Principal Kerdan and most of the rest of the teachers came.
There was also a large group of former students. The Denominators were there en force. Aldys and Guy were there together. The rest of the popular kids came, too: Gibby, Kirsten, Kristen, Tommy, and Jason. Brett and Sera. Even most of the baseball team was there.
Sam's friends, now Josie's, too, stood together: Jonathan and Joanna, Matt and Melissa, Andy and his sister Casey. Ty and Jennifer and their kids were with them.
Rob jumped up on a picnic bench and tapped on a glass to get everyone's attention. "We have a couple more surprises for Josie and for Sam, too."
"Okay, what have you wanted for like ever, but you didn't think it would ever happen?" came a voice from the shadows.
"Sheila?" Josie whispered. "Sheila!" she called out.
A figure ran towards her, enveloping her in a bear hug. "Hi, Josie."
Sheila had changed almost as much as Josie. No longer chubby, her body was all luxurious curves, a perfect hourglass figure. Her curly dark hair had been tamed into a short, tousled style. "Wow, you look great!"
"You, too! I wouldn't have recognized you if I hadn't seen you on the news." She turned to Sam, "Hi, I'm Sheila�obviously, you're Sam."
Sam grinned, taking an immediate liking to Josie's only friend from high school. "I've heard a lot about you," he said.
"I can't believe you're here�last I heard you were living in Denver doing a residency," said Josie.
"I am. After I saw you on the news, I called your Mom. I was going to call you�but she asked me to wait�thought this would be more fun."
"She was right," Sam chuckled.
"All right, all right�time for surprise number two," yelled Rob.
"After living with you for four years, I didn't think you would ever surprise me�I was wrong�" came Miranda's voice from the shadows.
A tall, slim redhead strutted over to Josie and hugged her. She looked more like a supermodel than a geneticist.
"Randi!?" said Josie, "You came all the way from D.C.?"
"'Course�I couldn't miss this party�and I do need to pick a bridesmaid's gown."
"Sam�this is Miranda�Randi�my college roommate."
"Pleased to meet you," he said. He leaned in closer and whispered, "The tattoo was an nice surprise."
Randi laughed. "Glad you like it," she whispered back.
"Does he have any brothers?" she whispered to Josie, her eyes twinkling.
"Two, actually�right over there," she said indicating Russ and Josh. "Oh�and there's Adam Christiansen, too�he's over there�he's a biology teacher at South Glen�I think you'll like him."
"What's all this whispering about?" Sam interrupted.
"Just girl talk," said Josie.
"Okay�" called Rob, "last surprise for the evening."
"Unca Sam�Aunt Josie," called Emma. Her small body impacted their legs. Sam bent down to pick her up.
"Emmie�did you fly here all by yourself from California?" Sam asked.
"'Course not, silly. Mommy 'n Daddy bringed me."
Abby and Bill Callahan stepped from the shadows.
"Two weekends in a row, Abb?" Sam asked.
"Gotta love those frequent flyer miles." She hugged Josie, then Sam. "Josie, this is my husband, Bill Callahan."
"Pleased to meet you," said Josie, extending her hand.
"He's the last person crazy enough�I mean brave enough�to marry into the Coulson clan."
"I'm sure we'll be great friends, then," Josie said. "So, Abby�Randi�I guess we can hit Serena's tomorrow and get your dresses taken care of�"
Abby laughed. "I still don't know how you're gonna get all of this done�it took me a year to plan my wedding�I wish I could be more help."
"I'm starting to wonder about that myself, but all that really matters is that we'll be together, forever," she said, smiling at Sam. She stood on tiptoes to kiss him lightly on the mouth.
Sam surprised her by pulling her close and kissing her deeply, passionately. Josie blushed a delightful shade of pink, which only made Sam kiss her again.
The crowd hooted. The clink of a spoon on glass finally got their attention.
Josie's father stood holding a glass of champagne. He motioned for Sam and Josie to come forward. Janet Geller pressed flutes of champagne into their hands. Tom Geller cleared his throat.
"We're here tonight to celebrate the engagement of our daughter, Josie to Sam Coulson. I can only imagine that most of you were as surprised as I was by this sudden turn of events. All I can say is that I have never seen Josie as happy as she's been these last two weeks. Josie, I've always been proud to have you for a daughter, but I'm delighted that you took a chance on love. Sam�it's obvious how much you love my daughter and how much she loves you. Welcome to the family, son."
Sam and Josie clinked glasses and sipped their champagne. "I'd like to say something," Sam said.
"By now all of you know the extremely unusual circumstances that brought Josie and I together. I'm sure some of you think it odd that we could go from student and teacher to engaged couple in less than a week. It is odd�and special. In some way we knew each other's heart without ever speaking a word of it. I was terrified when I realized that somehow I'd fallen for a student�determined to keep my feelings hidden until the time came that it would be appropriate�okay, legal�for me to share them. Then, at the prom, Josie revealed herself and I was devastated. I even tried to make myself hate her." He looked at her tenderly. "I couldn't do it though. Then, Josie gave me the most amazing, incredible gift�the greatest miracle of my life. I'm so fortunate. I found my soulmate and she wouldn't give up on us. She put her heart and soul on the line for me."
Tears shone in Josie's eyes as she spoke. "I never allowed myself to imagine that love would come for me. Those of you who know my past and the pain and humiliation I endured also know that I used that hurt to shut myself off from the world. I was alive, but not living. I watched life happen to other people. An unexpected opportunity forced me to confront my past and gave me a chance to change it. In the process I met Sam in the most unlikely of places and in the most uncomfortable of circumstances. Like he said, we seemed to have a way of communicating without words. I've never believed in love at first sight. But there it was in all its wonder. I once stood in Sam's classroom and read from As You Like It. Rosalind spoke of love like this: 'For your brother and my sister no sooner met but they look'd; no sooner look'd but they lov'd; no sooner lov'd but they sigh'd; no sooner sigh'd but they asked one another the reason; no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy: and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage, which they will climb incontinent, or else be incontinent before marriage. They are in the very wrath of love, and they will together. Clubs cannot part them.' That's how it is for us."
Sam bent and kissed her tenderly. He held up his glass. "To�Shakespeare�True Love�and Penguins!"
Josie took a sip and giggled. "To�Ferris wheels�sunsets�and thunderstorms."
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