Chapter 1
The Diary, May 1966
I cannot believe that I have completed my third year at Mount Holyoke. The premed course that I am taking at the moment will end next year and I will transfer to Columbia University in New York. I already have spent two summers with the Peace Corps and would have this year, except that Penny Johnson is getting married at New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral and I am invited to the wedding. She is marrying one of the producers of show she’s in. It’s not a big part, just a dancer in the chorus line, but it’s something. His name is Philip Bowman. Big name in the business, so I am told.
So I will be spending the summer with my family at their home in Great Neck, New York. I am excited to see them. I have been living on my own for almost three years now and will look forward to visiting with them. My roommate and best friend, Rochelle Silver is coming with me.
It really reminds me of the last night we all spent together at Kellerman’s, the one night after the close of the season.
My sister, Lisa and I stayed to help clean up after the show while my father and mother made plans to return the next year.
I’ll never forget that summer. It was the summer that I lost my innocence, the summer of Kellerman’s and Johnny Castle. We had lost touch over the years with me going to college and the Peace Corps. Johnny was headed for New York, with Penny at his side. After the last show of the season, Mr. Kellerman had apologized to Johnny and asked him to come back next season, but the answer Johnny had given him was no. Two talent scouts had been in the audience and had approached Johnny with a deal. They had been watching that last dance on stage and his partner, but I had said that I wasn’t Johnny’s partner at all. That’s when I identified Penny as his partner.
But they already approached Penny and she had already told them that she would.
You know, I hadn’t thought about it until now. What happens if I run into Johnny at Penny’s wedding? Of course he’ll be there. The two of them are very close to one another.
I think I’ll worry about that when the time comes. Now I must start to pack because we will be leaving soon. Can’t wait to see New York again after three years.