Grace

FICTION

ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY

Credit must be given to my parents for one thing, and that is they know how to select a pretty and intelligent nurse. Shortly after moving into the richest and most secluded neighborhood in town I found myself vir- tually without a friend. My father had made a name for himself in his business and had prospered considerably. In order to present a higher status he moved us to Brighton Hills. The entire area was made up of older people who hadn't come into money until later in life. By that time what children they had were grown up and married. So, being a fifteen- year-old I had to find my own amusement.

I suppose it was my rather lax attitude of life that day that allowed my mini-bike to overpower me rather than the other way around. The iron fencing wouldn't give way as my knee did when we met at a fairly fast clip, so I involuntarily paid the hospital a visit to reset several bones.

About a week later I was allowed to go home with instructions to start mild exercises a few days later. It was then that I met Betty, my nurse, who was to be both my healer and supervisor during the day. She was 22 years old and very pretty compared to the nurses in the hospital. We got along extremely well right away, and time flew by quickly. When I began my exercises I didn't respond as I should have, as the thought of losing my friend and becoming lonely again prompted me to fake dif- ficulties. Then too, I had become fascinated by her bright and clean uni- form she wore daily. It didn't take long for Betty to see through my scheme but she mistakingly took my more than casual glances at her for a physical attraction.

For the next several days she shied away from me but still insisted that I follow the exercise schedule. The turning point was the morning

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