Chapter 55: Clouds on the Horizon?

November 1, 1985, McKinley, Ohio

"How was your dinner last night?" Clarissa asked as we walked from our cars to the main building at McKinley Medical School.

"Doctor Gibbs gave me some good pointers, though some of what she said actually makes me a bit uncomfortable."

"What? I mean, if you don't mind saying it twice."

"She basically implied that not only is it OK to step on people to get ahead, but it's required."

"In what context?"

"Medical school, Internship, and Residency. Basically, the only way to ensure you end up where you want to be is to play for keeps and only look out for 'Number One'."

"I've heard that, too," Clarissa replied. "That to get the most sought-after specialties, you have to basically shove people out of the way to ensure you're first in line."

"You know my problem with that," I replied.

"It's totally counter to your personality. And to your calling as a deacon. But, and I say this advisedly, it's likely the only way to be true to what you feel is your calling to be an emergency medicine specialist."

"Which is the problem — my success effectively depends on knocking out the competition."

"You played competitive chess and practiced karate, right?"

"In karate, if you think about it, I was really only competing against myself because my gaining a belt didn't prevent anyone else from gaining one. In that sense, it was like our 4.0 averages at Taft — they didn't prevent anyone else from earning a 4.0."

"But chess?"

"I never had the 'killer instinct', which was probably part of why I wasn't able to progress beyond Class A."

"You got into medical school, which means someone else didn't," Clarissa countered. "And I daresay you don't have a problem with THAT."

"True," I admitted. "I guess the difference is that was a general kind of thing, whereas Doctor Gibbs is telling me that I need to shove others out of the way."

"And if that person is Melissa Bush?" Clarissa asked as I held the door open for her.

"I think someone else is going to push her out of the way," I replied. "But I get your point. I just don't like it."

"Well, none of US is competing against you, so it's not hurting your friends."

"Somebody needs to remember the parable of the Good Samaritan — 'Who, then, is my neighbor'?"

"I guess all I can say is ask your priest, but I think I agree that you have to assert yourself, even if it harms someone else's chances at achieving their goals. And I'll remind you that you didn't have a problem asserting your right to be in honors programs when Dean Parker wanted to replace you. Nor did you have a problem smacking down that idiot 'reverend' on campus. And you didn't turn down admission into Taft or McKinley Medical School."

"Point taken," I replied. "I will talk to Father Nicholas. Thanks, Lissa."

"You aren't nearly as much of a blockhead as you used to be, Petrovich! There is some hope for you yet!"

I laughed and shook my head as we got in line to get our coffee so we could survive another morning in class and the anatomy lab. It was all becoming routine, and our team was operating like a well-oiled machine. We had finished the lower extremities and were moving on to the pleural cavities and lungs. We'd yet to find any direct evidence of Caitlin's cancer, but I was sure we would once we examined her lungs.

That wouldn't happen during the day's lab, as we had to expose, identify, and note all the major anatomical landmarks from the manubrium to the 5th intercostal space, along with all the muscles and the relevant nerves, arteries, and veins. We ended the session just before the step where we'd remove Caitlin's sternum and headed for the showers, lunch, and, for Peter and me, the steam room.

Our afternoon Practice of Medicine course revolved around dealing with hospitals as an independent practitioner and how to go about gaining hospital privileges. Mainly, from what I could tell, it would matter more to obstetricians and cardiologists than anyone else, and I really wouldn't have to worry about it because I'd be on the hospital staff. And, like everything else we seemed to be learning in this class, paperwork ruled the day.

If there was one thing that had surprised me in the two months I'd been in medical school, it had been the mountains of paperwork involved in the practice of medicine. I'd seen the patient records room at both the pediatric practice and the emergency department, and for the first time in my life, realized that computers would be a huge help, though I suspected that a computer with memory banks and tapes sufficient to hold all the data would fill a warehouse, potentially rivaling the size of the records storage needed for the paper. That said, if computers could be made smaller and more powerful, like Elizaveta's Macintosh, then as much as I hated the things, they might actually prove very useful.

When class finally finished, I hurried home so that I could get Elizaveta and we could meet Clarissa, Abby, Lara, Jack, Mark, and Alyssa at the Chinese restaurant for dinner.

"Mike, are you OK with seeing To Live and Die in LA?" Jack asked after we placed our orders.

"I know it's rated 'R'," I replied, "which isn't a problem, per se, but do you know why?"

"According to my brother, who saw a sneak preview in LA last night, sex and violence. Basically the usual for an R-rated cop flick. The other option is Weird Science, which is 'PG'."

The waitress brought out tea.

"That's probably a better option," Alyssa said, once we'd all poured our tea.

"No problem," Jack replied. "Lara and I can see To Live and Die in L.A. another night."

"What?" Abby teased. "Nobody wants to see Invasion U.S.A. with Chuck Norris?"

"All action, no plot!" Mark declared. "At least Commando had SOME semblance of a plot!"

"Rocky IV will be out at the end of the month," Jack said.

"Thanks, no," I said, shaking my head. "There is such a thing as going too far. On the other hand, I'm looking forward to Young Sherlock Holmes."

"The previews for The Jewel of the Nile look pretty good," Clarissa said. "That's next month."

"There's a Chevy Chase movie coming out in December, too," Abby added. "Spies Like Us."

"Sounds like we'll have a good November and December at the theatre!" Lara declared.

Dinner was awesome, and we all enjoyed Weird Science, though it was a bit too 'campy' for my taste.

"The Breakfast Club was a WAY better John Hughes movie," Abby declared as we left the theatre. "And, honestly, so was Sixteen Candles."

"I agree on Sixteen Candles," I said. "If you remember, I didn't see The Breakfast Club because Elizaveta couldn't get into the theatre."

"A prime example of stupidity if there ever was one," Lara declared. "Even being emancipated, the law required I have a parent or legal guardian take ME to see R-rated movies! Think about this — it's legal for a sixteen-year-old in Ohio to have sex, but not legal for them to see a movie where sex is discussed and profanity is used, but no sex happens, and there is no nudity!"

"You mean in The Breakfast Club?" I asked.

"Exactly. The R-rating was for sexual references, suggestive material, and drug use because it involved teens."

I shook my head, "Because no teen would do anything sexual, make suggestive remarks, or use drugs if they hadn't seen it happen in the movies?"

"As I said," Lara replied. "A prime example of stupidity. Allegedly ratings are advisory and voluntary, but McKinley, like most places, has ordinances which make it an infraction for the teen and a potentially large fine for the theatre, so they follow the 'voluntary' guidelines."

"Voluntary, my ass!" Jack objected.

"And even dumber is that Elizaveta could mail-order a videotape!" Lara declared. "She could just send a check, and they'd send her the video without questions. Well, once it's available, which it probably will be next year."

"Ice cream?" Clarissa suggested.

"As if that's even a question!" Elizaveta exclaimed.

There were no objections, so we headed to Friendly's, rather than Yellen's, where we all ordered sundaes.

November 3, 1985, McKinley, Ohio

"How are things at your parents' house, Tasha?" I asked when what we were calling 'Dinner Club' gathered on Sunday afternoon.

"Not good. Sasha is refusing to even speak with Father Herman, and she isn't going to church. And she is absolutely talking to Timmy, which has my father seeing bright red."

"Tasha, do you remember me asking you if Sasha was pressured into marrying Yaroslav?" I asked. "Because it sure seems as if that might be the case."

"You mean the thing with Timmy?"

"Yes. Do you know what all was said when your dad and his attorney arranged for child support?"

"No. I have no idea what was discussed beyond that Timmy gave up parental rights."

"I wonder if Timmy was pressured, and then Sasha was presented with a 'perfect' solution with Yaroslav and was also basically pressured. Do you think she loves Timmy?"

"I have no clue! She isn't really talking to me. All I know is what my mom said when I spoke to her yesterday."

"What is your dad doing?" Serafima asked.

"There isn't much he can do, really. There's no way my mom would let him kick Sasha and Vika out of the house, even if he wanted to."

"So Sasha and Yaroslav will divorce?" Serafima asked.

Tasha shrugged, "I have no idea."

"I do not envy the situation in which Father Herman finds himself," I said. "Between my family and Tasha's family, he has serious trouble on his hands."

"I've heard he petitioned Bishop ARKADY to be reassigned," Tasha said.

"No gossip, please," I said. "Unless you know that for a fact, and you've been given permission to share it, we shouldn't discuss it."

"Without specifically speaking about that, being reassigned isn't canonical, is it?" Nik asked.

I shook my head, "No, it's not. Generally, a priest who is appointed as pastor, serves until he retires or reposes. But as with most things, the bishop can exercise «ekonomia». Oftentimes an assistant priest will be moved from a parish to become the pastor of another, but that usually only happens with recent seminary graduates."

"So, he could move, then, if the bishop chose to allow it?" Mark asked.

"If it was deemed to be in the best interest of the spiritual health of the community and the priest in question, yes."

"How far can «ekonomia» go?" Alyssa asked.

"In theory, the bishop has a free hand against the canons, but there are some things which would cause such a great scandal that they are never done, even if they're theoretically possible."

"Such as?"

"A clergyman remarrying," I replied. "A bishop, in theory, could allow it, but the ensuing scandal would rip apart the diocese, if not the archdiocese. It's basically an uncrossable line, even if the bishop chose to exercise extreme «ekonomia». Another uncrossable line would be elevating a married man to the episcopate, though, honestly, that might turn out to be a tempest in a teapot."

"You think that's OK?" Nik asked, aghast.

"It's not up to me to say whether it would be good or bad, but I do think there is scriptural and historical support for the idea. There is no support, anywhere I can find after the development of the priesthood as a stand-in for the bishop, for the notion that a priest can marry under any circumstances."

"And if a priest's wife dies?" Elias asked.

"Then he has to remain chaste or be laicized," I replied. "And that's true for deacons, too. I was granted «ekonomia» to marry only because I was a member of a minor order AND because His Grace extended that «ekonomia» before I was tonsured a reader."

"So, if God forbid..." Mark asked.

"Then I'd have to remain chaste," I smirked, "and as far away from the synod of bishops as possible!"

Tasha laughed, "You don't want to be a bishop?"

"Heaven forbid!" I said, shaking my head. "A nightmare for both me AND the flock!"

"Is that really a risk?" Alyssa asked.

"All celibate or chaste priests and deacons fear being elevated to the ranks of the episcopate. There are so few of them, that it's truly a risk unless we do what I said before and enthrone married men. But I'm not worried, because Elizaveta and I will be great-grandparents together!"

"Let's change subjects!" Serafima exclaimed. "Alyssa, how are your wedding plans coming along?"

"Not fast enough!" she giggled. "But we'll do the usual informal reception at church, then have a formal reception at the banquet hall on Elm."

"Are you inviting people from your old church?"

"Yes, but I can't imagine many of them will come to the ceremony; they'll just come to the reception."

"Whatever happened to that pastor Mike whipped in the debate?" Tasha asked.

"He was called to pastor a church in Rutherford — Community Bible Church," Alyssa replied.

"It's not too far from the hospital," I added. "It's on Finley, just past 2nd."

"That's just a block from the Rexall where my dad works," Tasha said. "I never even knew it was there because I never drove further west."

"How did he get that job after being embarrassed?" Nik asked.

"He had already accepted a temporary call there because the former pastor had retired due to bad health. He was basically going to fill in until they called someone, and they liked him. I guess the debate never came up."

Mark laughed, "Because he'd never mention it, and the elders at Faith Bible were very happy to have him just disappear!"

"I think that was universally true!" I chuckled. "Robby, Lee, and the rest of our friends on campus were happy to see him go, too. Unfortunately, the current pastor is haunting the campus now."

"Mike, you should tell them..." Elizaveta prompted.

I actually hadn't wanted to mention it, because there was no real need, but now I didn't have much choice. I considered saying nothing, but that would make Elizaveta look bad, and I could limit what was said to the bare facts. And I'd talk to Elizaveta later in the evening.

"I was assigned to a pediatric clinic where Doctor Frank Bush works," I said. "You can imagine how THAT went over. Fortunately, the medical school was able to swap assignments."

"Whoa!" Mark exclaimed. "I knew he was a doctor of some kind. What happened?"

"Nothing, really. He made it clear he wasn't interested in training me, and the medical school took care of it. No harm to either of us and actually a mild benefit for me."

"I still can't believe his son and his son's friends beat up Robby and Lee," Alyssa said with a frown.

"Fortunately, the problem is solved," I said. "Shall we play Uno or Trivial Pursuit?"

"Trivial Pursuit!" Tasha declared. "Couples!"

The rest of us agreed, and it was a close game, but Elizaveta and I won. When we finished, Elizaveta and Tasha finished preparing dinner. After we ate, Elizaveta, Serafima, and Alyssa cleaned up. Our friends left just before my study group arrived, so I had a chance to quickly speak to Elizaveta.

"Kitten, would you please not discuss things that happen during my training unless we agree in advance that it's OK?"

"Oh!" she gasped. "I'm sorry. I didn't think!"

"It's not a big deal, because I don't think it will do any harm in this case, but if it got back to Doctor Bush, he might complain."

"Mike, I'm SO sorry!"

I held out my arms, and she melted into them.

"I love you, Kitten, and everything is fine."

She sighed deeply, and I held her for about five minutes until we were interrupted by the arrival of my study group.

November 4, 1985, McKinley, Ohio

On Monday morning, just after I went inside after walking Elizaveta to her car, the phone rang.

"Mike Loucks."

"Mr. Loucks, this is Ed Lansing, an Assistant in the Harding County Prosecutor's office."

"What can I do for you?" I asked.

"I'd like you to come in and answer some questions, please."

"About?"

"Your father's relationship with a Miss Holly Vogel."

"I don't know anything other than the fact that he's living in her apartment and that my mom is divorcing him."

"We'd still like you to come in."

"Well, besides having no information, I'm a medical student, and I have to leave for class in a few minutes. I literally have no free time between class, my observation period in the hospital, and my study group. If you want to send someone to talk to me at lunch, I'd be happy to tell them what I just told you — I don't know anything at all beyond the fact that my dad is living with her, and my mom is divorcing him."

"I can get a subpoena if necessary."

"Then my response is I have nothing to say, and won't speak to you under any circumstances without an attorney present. You can work through my attorney, Fredrick Winston, in Rutherford. Please contact him directly."

"Mike, if I can call you that, don't you want to help your dad?"

"There's literally nothing I can say that I haven't said already. Threatening to subpoena me or whatever won't change the fact that I don't know anything more than the fact he's living with her and my mom is divorcing him. Now, I need to study, and then get to school."

"I'll call your attorney."

"Please do."

He disconnected the call, so I pressed the switchhook and dialed Holly's apartment. She answered and put my dad on the phone.

"Mike?"

"I thought you were cleared and going back to work," I said.