Chapter 2: Out of the Nest, Into the Frying Pan

Because of their ages, siblings Matthew and Emmie Thomas were in a special situation. Matthew was entering Schuylkill High School in the same summer that his big sister had graduated. The pressure was on him, since Emmie had powered through her courses with a perfect 4.0 grade point average—and the faculty would be expecting similar performance from her younger brother.

Only in Pennsylvania: the campus name was pronounced “skoo kuhl hi skool.”

Emmie’s credentials had earned her admission and a partial scholarship to Drexel University downtown. This turned out to be an unexpected blessing for Ernie and Melissa.

Drexel required that 1st-year students live in on-campus dorms, unless they lived within a few miles of the campus and could commute. So, having Emmie live at Ernie’s saved a pile of money. And, very likely would cut down on the anti-academic distractions of dorm life.

She wasn’t an introvert, but a lot of people her own age just wore her out! She had a couple of close girlfriends to hang out with, and she had Daniel. Which was fortunate, because he kept away all the male pests that wanted to bother her, a constant problem.

Because Emmie wasn’t just smart, she was beautiful. At 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm), she stood out in any group. She wasn’t an exceptional athlete, but her long legs were a plus on the basketball court and for running on the track team.

And she was biracial, blending her father’s African-American looks with her mother’s Mediterranean heritage. Altogether, she drew attention wherever she went. Particularly from boys, and men. Sometimes, much older men. “Creeps!”

But this was where Daniel comes in, for his sun rises and sets only for Emmie. And standing 6 foot 6 inches (200 cm) with impressive muscle development, glowering, growling, and intimidation came easily. But secretly he is sweet-tempered and gentle. And when Emmie tickles him, he giggles like a small child!

For her part, just being wrapped in his burly arms is bliss.

It was time for the big move. Daniel loaded Emmie, her belongings, and three bags of groceries into his car and drove into the city.

At Ernie’s door, “Grandpa, I’d like you to meet Daniel Green, my boyfriend. Daniel, my grandfather, Ernesto Fontana.”

Ernie was not a tall man. Not for the first time, he was facing his granddaughter’s neck. And this guy’s nipples! “Welcome, please come in. Call me Ernie, please.” Seeing the groceries, “The kitchen is down that way.”

Emmie walked inside and cried out, “The hell! It’s an oven in here!”