"No, of course not. What about clothing for tomorrow?" Nora asked her son.

"I'll jet over after school, grab some, and my toothbrush too. Okay?" He sounded anxious and so excited.

"Okay." Nora gave in gracefully. What other choice did she have?

"Great, Ma! See ya!" The phone went dead.

Nora set it down, but then as an afterthought picked up the phone again, dialing the Graham residence. Maris Graham answered. "Maris, Nora Buckley. J. J. just called. This isn't going to be a problem for you, is it? He can always come home."

"No, no," Maris Graham replied. "He can sleep in Peter's room. There are bunk beds there. Michael Collier is the director of admissions at State. I know J. J.'s gotten in without any difficulty, but I thought if Mike met J. J., he'd like him," she laughed. "What isn't to like? But I thought it might help J. J. get a better on-campus job, and maybe a bump in his scholarship money. I wish they could have met earlier, but Mike only gets down to see us once a year. He and John were at Princeton together."

"Well, fine, then," Nora replied. "And Maris, thanks so very much. You have been very kind to J. J., and we appreciate it."

"No problem. He's a good kid," came the response.

Nora had no sooner hung up the phone again when it rang once more. Her husband's voice came over the line.

"Don't you ever do anything but yak on the phone?" Jeff greeted her. "I've been trying to get you for hours."

Nora sighed. "Don't prevaricate, Jeff. I've been over at Rina's this morning. There were no messages." She pressed the caller ID. "You haven't called until just now, and I didn't get a beep. You must have dialed the wrong number. I was just on the phone with Maris Graham. J. J. is staying over there tonight. I wanted to make certain it was alright with Maris. What's up?"