Julie Goes to College

“Young at Heart”

Listen to Chapter 6, “Julie Goes to College”

The weeks passed quickly, bringing the late-summer heat wave then the falling leaves. And it put 600 miles between two girls who had been best friends since fifth grade.

“…and I had only been on campus ten days before a boy asked me for a date! Glen is a pre-med and wanted me to spend a weekend in the mountains at his parents’ cabin! But Bill surprised me on Saturday afternoon by driving up to the college, since I couldn’t go off campus yet. I even forgot to call Glen back to tell him no…” Sandra chuckled out loud.

“What is it, roommate?”

“Oh, Anna, it’s just a letter from my friend at home, Julie Scott. It’s only October, but it sounds like she’s really having a ball. No,” she muttered half to herself, “I don’t need to worry about her. I just hope things will work out for Bob and me.”

“…but the very night Glen disappeared, Larry asked me to the Wednesday night concert on campus. Man, Bill was really jealous when I told him, but I assured him that Larry is just a friend…”

“…I thought Allen’s phone call from San Margo was really something. Then when he sent the flowers for my    birthday, I could hardly believe it. Sandra, do you think maybe he really does still like me? Well, it’s way too late for him. He had his chance!”

Sandra hesitated to pick up the pen. Slowly she wrote, “Dear Julie, I guess you’re having a great time down there, aren’t you? Oh, I’m so mixed up I don’t know what to do! Bob wants to get married next summer, and I’m not even sure I’m in love with him. No, it’s not Kurt—I just don’t know. We’ve had some great times together—he does everything he can for me—I just don’t have the feelings I should have. I want to love him, really I do, but I hardly know him—we’ve been apart so long. And what should I take for my major? Daddy’s always plugged for the teacher idea, but I want to be a social worker—or maybe even Bob’s wife…”

And Julie wrote back, this time surprising even Sandra. “Sandra, I really have to tell you this. I just can’t wait until I see you at Christmas time. Bill Johnson is absolutely the most wonderful man in the world! He was so patient with me when Glen and Larry were trying to date me, and even when he knew Allen sent me the flowers for my birthday in October. I can’t wait to see you and tell you in person about what happened during Thanksgiving vacation when I went home to Riverdale. You know, Lena Johnson is becoming like a second mother to me…. Things will work out for you and Bob. He’s loved you deeply for over two years—even when he was supposedly dating me. Anyway, your decision about a major will come, too; magically, someday you’ll know exactly what you want…”

< After Julie’s Graduation | Christmas Vacation in Riverdale >