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Yes, Phil. It was a bold move, but you know broadcasting. Its a dog-eat-dog world, and I was a girl with ambition.
But shed tell Katie first. Nothing was quite perfect until she shared it with Kate.
This was the start of their dream.
The cherry trees in the Quad marked the passing of time better than any calendar. Pink and full of blossoms in the spring; lush and green in the warm, quiet days of summer; gloriously hued for the start of school; and now, bare on this November day in 1981.
For Kate, life was moving much too quickly. She was light-years away from the shy, quiet girl shed been on arrival. In her years at UW, shed learned to direct Rush Week skits, to organize and plan a dance for three hundred people, to chug a glass of beer and shoot a raw oyster, to work the room at a frat party and be comfortable around people she didnt know, to write edgy news stories with a hook and a splash, and to film that same story even if she was moving while it happened. Her journalism professors had graded her highly and told her repeatedly that she had a gift.
The problem, it seemed, was her heart. Unlike Tully, who could barrel forward and ask any question, Kate found it hard to intrude on peoples grief. More and more often lately, she held back on her own stories and edited Tullys instead.
She didnt have what it took to be a network news producer or a first-rate reporter. Every day, as she sat in her broadcast and communications classes, she was lying to herself.
She dreamed lately of other things, of going on to law school so that she could fight the injustices she reported on, or writing novels that made people see the world in a better, more positive light . . . or—and this was the most hidden dream of all—falling in love. But how could she tell Tully these things?
Tully, who had taken her hand all those years ago when no one else would, whod spun the gossamer dream of their lives as partners in TV news. How could she tell her best friend that she no longer shared their dream?
It should be easy to say. Theyd been girls all those years ago when theyd chosen to embark on their tandem life. In the years between then and now, the world had changed so much. The war in Vietnam had been lost, Nixon had resigned, Mount St. Helens had blown up, and cocaine had become the Chex mix for a new generation of partygoers. The U. S. hockey team had pulled off a miracle win at the Olympics and a B-rate actor was president. Dreams could hardly remain static in such uncertain times.
She simply had to stand up to Tully, for once, and tell her the truth, say, Those are your dreams, Tully, and Im proud of you, but Im not fourteen anymore and I cant follow you forever.
"Maybe today," she said aloud, dragging her backpack along beside her as she walked through the gray, foggy campus.
If only she really had a dream of her own, something to replace the twin-TV news stars. Tully might accept that; Kates vague, I dont know, wouldnt hold much water with Tropical Storm Tully.
On the edge of campus, she merged into the stream of kids and crossed the street, smiling and waving at friends as she passed them. At the sorority house, she went right to the living room, where girls sat packed like hot dogs on the sofas and chairs and on every patch of the celery-green carpet.
She tossed her backpack to the floor and found a spot on the floor between Charlotte and Mary Kay. "Has it started?"
About thirty people shushed her as the General Hospital theme music started. Lauras face filled the screen. She looked beautiful and dewy-eyed in a gorgeous white headdress. A collective sigh went around the room.
Then Luke appeared in his gray morning suit, smiling at his bride-to-be.
Just then, the sorority door banged open. "Kate!" Tully yelled, walking into the room.
"Ssshhh," everyone said at once.
Tully squatted behind Kate. "We need to talk. "
"Shh. Luke and Laura are getting married. You can tell me about your interview—you got it: congratulations—when its over. Now be quiet. "
"But—"
"Shhh. "
Tully sank to her knees, mumbling, "How can you all be so gaga over some skinny white guy with a bad perm? And hes a rapist. I think—"
"SHHH. "
Tully sighed dramatically and crossed her arms.
As soon as it was over and the music started up again, she popped to her feet. "Come on, Katie. We need to talk. " She grabbed Kates hand and led her away from the publicness of the TV room, through the halls, and down a flight of stairs to the sororitys dirty little secret: the smoking lounge. It was a tiny room, tucked behind the kitchen, with two love seats, a coffee table littered with full ashtrays, and air so thick and blue it hurt your eyes, even when no one was in the room. It was the place for after-party gossip and late-night laughter.
Kate hated it down here. The habit that had seemed so cool and defiant at thirteen was gross and stupid now. "So, tell me everything. You got the internship, right?"
Tully grinned. "I did. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Some weekends. Were on our way, Katie. Ill nail this job and by the time we graduate, Ill talk them into hiring you. Well be a team, just like we always said. "
Kate took a deep breath. Do it. Tell her. "You shouldnt be worrying about me, Tully. This is your day, your start. "
