That evening and the next were living hells for Laura Norton. Jack arrived home at a little after six and acted just as he acted any other night. He had his cocktail before dinner and chatted about things at the office. He listened with interest and questioned Laura about her new job.
If she hadn't seen him with her own eyes, Laura would never have believed that he'd been making love to the seventeen-year-old daughter of their closest friends!
Every time she wanted to scream at him and throw Candy in his face, Laura dug her fingernails into her palms and forced herself to remain silent.
She was now certain that he had no idea that she had followed him to the boat. Jack Norton was playing the same game he had always played, completely unaware that his wife knew what was going on. And for now that was the way Laura wanted it! Her day would come.
Laura explained that she was bringing some of the children home during the day, just as she had the summer before.
"That's a great idea," Jack said. "I've been thinking about putting in an extra hour at the office this summer. It stays light so much later now and I might be able to get enough work done so that we can take a vacation later on."
Laura's nails dug into her palms. An extra hour fucking and sucking your teenage Candy! she thought to herself. You bastard!
"We haven't had a vacation in several years," Jack went on. "Maybe we can get away for a week or so in September."
"That would be nice," Laura said in as even a voice as she could.
"So maybe you could plan dinner for eight instead of seven every night," Jack suggested.
"Okay," Laura agreed quietly.
That night Laura watched television until she was certain that Jack was asleep. Only then did she trust herself to climb in bed beside him.
The first three days Laura brought a mixed group of young boys and girls home with her. She worked hard on appearing to be relaxed and at ease as she taught them how to get along in a strange house. She found that her patience with the young girls was marginal and Laura scolded herself for letting thoughts of Candy interfere with her work.
These particular girls were at that particularly difficult age of fifteen, and from several remarks Laura overheard between the girls in the bathroom, she gathered they were already sexually experienced.
Too bad my husband isn't here to teach you, Laura thought to herself, immediately regretting it.
By the fourth morning Laura was concerned about the children she was working with and expressed her anxiety to Carl Mersh.
"Maybe things have changed in the past year, Carl," she said in his office, "but the children I've been, working with bother me. They don't seem to give a damn. It's as if all of this is a big game to them."
"Didn't you find that last year, Laura?" Carl asked.
"No, not at all," Laura replied immediately. "But I was working with younger children then. Most of them were between nine and twelve…"
"And hadn't yet formed their attitudes and behavioral patterns," Carl sighed. "I know. And the foster homes know, too. We're having more and more trouble placing children who are over fourteen."
"And while we're talking," Laura said, "I might as well tell you that I'm sure that several of the fifteen-year-old girls are experienced sexually."
"I'd be surprised if they weren't, Laura," Carl laughed. "Not that I don't think it's a little premature, mind you. It's just that with everything else we have to do it's virtually impossible for us to regulate their sex lives, too."
"But…"
"And, I might add, recent studies show that incidence at that age isn't all that uncommon or harmful. I'm not condoning it, Laura," Carl added with a sigh. "I'm just being realistic and concentrating on what we can do."
"I see," Laura replied with a smile. She knew how hard he worked and she felt sorry for him.
"The other point you made, about attitude," Carl continued, "is well taken. I've seen this myself. I think that you're wasting your time on those teenagers, Laura. Their attitudes and behavioral patterns are already well formed. Where you were so effective was with younger children, and that's where you should be concentrating your efforts. I'll speak to McGrudder."
"Okay," Laura said.
They talked for a while and then Carl excused himself when his phone rang.
Laura didn't see McGrudder until the next morning.
"Hey, it's fine in theory what you and Mersh have in mind," the young psychologist said, "and I agree one hundred per cent. Our only problem is that we're really short of young children at the moment. We have two eight year olds, but they're both in the infirmary. I've lined up Joey Lind, he's twelve, and Donnie Mason, he's ten, for you today…"
The phone on McGrudder's desk rang and he spoke into it for several minutes, then hung up with a sigh.
"Strike Donnie Mason," McGrudder sighed. "That was George at the dorm and he put Donnie on report for refusing to make his bed this morning. So he's grounded today. You'll have to make do with Joey, unless you can't work in a one-on-one situation."
"I don't mind that at all," Laura responded sincerely. "Last summer, half of my sessions were what you call one-on-one. Sometimes it's even more effective."
"In my line," McGrudder said, "I much prefer one-on-one to the group session, but it isn't always practical. If I ever get the time, I'd love to monitor your work with the children. The reports we gathered were truly intriguing."
"Thank you," Laura smiled. "And I'd love to have you come along any time."
"If I ever get the time," McGrudder sighed. "That's my cross in life – no time for anything."
Laura went to the files and removed the folder on Joey Lind to study it before she took the child home.
Joey had been born and raised in Marysville, a small mountain community north of Sacramento. His family had been average middle class. He was an only child and his parents had died several months ago in a tragic automobile accident. At the time of their death they were his only family and Joey became a ward of the state.
The reports on the boy were generally good. He was attentive and seemed eager to please. He was a fair student at school, but seemed to lack interest in studies. While watching the Olympics on television, Joey had expressed an interest in diving. The case worker had noted this on his record. He was suspected of masturbating after the lights went off in the dorm, but to date no evidence had been produced to substantiate this suspicion. During the last month he had taken an interest in girls. Joey was a light eater and had to be encouraged to finish his meals.
Laura smiled to herself as she replaced the file and started for the dorm to pick up key. The reports hadn't changed that much in the last year, she told herself. Still the same old bullshit on paper to justify a job.