“Who is this?” Rosy looked at a snapshot lying on the kitchen table. A teenaged girl with blue eyes and honey-colored, curly, shoulder-length hair smiled at her.
Seventeen-year-old Allan ambled into the kitchen. “That’s Julie. They took our pictures for the School Annual.”
“Did she give it to you?”
“Yeah, I – sort of – asked for it.” Allan rubbed his chin, a sign that he was a bit uneasy.
“She looks familiar,” said Rosy. “Is she new?”
“She moved from Oregon,” Allan answered, stirring his corn pops. “Her parents came from Germany. I like her, she’s smart.”
Rosy smiled. Her son had a girl friend. Great! She would keep it to herself and see what would develop.
A few days later curiosity got the better of her. “How is Julie?” she asked.
“Okay,” Allan volunteered.
“Have you gone out with her?”
“Just once. She’s pretty busy most of the time helping her mom. Her mom has heart problems.”
“Hm. Would you do me a favour? Ask Julie what her mom’s maiden name is and where she was born.”
Allan’s eyes got round. “Maiden name? What for?”
“Memories from long ago,” Rosy answered.
