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When DeAnna got back to Michigan her mom had everything packed and ready to move up north. The apartment was empty except
for a few of their belongings. She had called Debbie Zellar and planned to stay with her and her husband Wayne until she could
get settled work wise. Debbie and Wayne were buying a house just outside of Germfask. The rest of the family still lived at
their dads on the other side of town. Her mom planned on leaving in a few days.
So Jerry and Sherry wanted to have one last little party before they left. Jerry had some mushrooms and that Sat nite
they ate them. It had been raining all day. But Jerry had suggested they go for a ride. The rain was pouring down so hard
they ran to his car and jumped in. They were all soak and wet. But they just laughed. They drove through the storm. Water
washed up on the windshield and they laughed the whole way.
"We sure are gonna miss you!" Jerry said.
"Yea, you've been my best friend!" Sherry said as she hugged DeAnna. DeAnna started to cry.
"Well, I'll miss you guys too. I just got to stop doing all these drugs though. It'll be good for me."
When they got back to the apartment they sat around the kitchen talk talking. Sherry had got up and went to the bathroom.
"You know I've always loved you, DeAnna!" Jerry said as he held her hand.
"Yes, I know. And I've loved you too. But like a brother."
"Yea, I thought so." He said as Sherry walked back into the room. They stayed up all night and when her mom
got home they started loading up the car.
"Well, the landlord won't have anything to complain about anymore!" Jerry said laughing.
"Yea, Great White Mother & Daughter is gone!" Rose said laughing too.
They finally had everything packed. They all hugged one another crying.
"You better write!" Sherry said as DeAnna got into the car.
"Yea! And me too!" Jerry said waving.
As they pulled away DeAnna watched as they stood there waving. Jerry really looked sad. She sure would miss those two!
"You, know I always wished you and Jerry would hook up. He would be good for you and a good job at the hospital."
Her mom said as she looked through her rear view mirror.
"I know mom. But I just didn't love him that way."
They feel silent as they drove down the road. Goodbye to Westland.
"Boy, you sure are looking good!" Rose said to Debbie as they all went inside.
"Thank you! So far married life agrees with me!" Debbie said. "Do you guys want some coffee, soda or something
to eat?"
"No, thanks! But I'd love to use your bathroom!" DeAnna said as she set her bag on the kitchen floor.
"Down the hall on the right!" Debbie said as she poured Rose a cup of coffee. They sat and talked for awhile.
Then brought in a few things they needed for the night.
"Me and Wayne have to work tomorrow but you can store your boxes you don't need right away in the garage." Debbie
said. "I'll see you guys tomorrow afternoon! Goodnight!"
"Goodnight!" DeAnna and Rose said together.
The next morning DeAnna and her mom had some coffee then got to unpacking the car. "I'm gonna go tomorrow into Newberry
job hunting. After we get this car unpacked and our room settled we'll go into town for a bite to eat."
"Good!" DeAnna said. She was hoping she'd see Steve.
That afternoon they rode into town and ate. There was no one around when they first got there. Just as they finished eating
Steve and Duane walked in. They got a order to go then came over and sat down with DeAnna and Rose.
"So how's everything been?" Steve asked looking at DeAnna.
"Oh, pretty good." DeAnna said. "How's everything been here? Do you's still have all the dogs?"
"Yes, we still have them all. Spoiled as always! Never made a team out of them. Everythings been the same here. Not
much has changed." Steve told her.
They all talked for awhile then her mom said it was time to go. DeAnna went to bed thinking of Steve and what he had said
in the letter. That was a few years back. She wondered if he still felt the same.
The next day Rose went into Newberry to look for work. DeAnna said she wanted to stay at Deb's. Her mom said for her to
enjoy the weekend Monday she would be signing her up for school. It was Sept and she only missed the first few days. So DeAnna
spent the day at Deb's alone. Judy came by and they walked into town like they always used to do.
Rose had found a job in Newberry and a room to stay in. DeAnna wanted to stay at Debbie's. Debbie and Wayne said it was
fine. So her mom moved into Newberry to work. She told Debbie she'd pay for DeAnna staying there.
As the days went by her and Judy hung out like always in school and at home. It was great having her little sister back!
She had wrote to Doug and he wrote her back. It was nice getting a letter from him. He said he really missed her and wished
she was there with him running through the mountains. God, he was sweet! She did miss him.
DeAnna was getting kinda restless though. She was so use to getting high everyday and Germfask was NOTHING like Detroit.
There wasn't much to do. And she was wondering if Steve would ever come around. DeAnna had heard if you took a Contact Cold
tablet and broke it in half and just ate the red ones you'd get a buzz. So her and Judy tried it. But nothing happened. They
even put toothpaste on their cigerattes but NOTHING! They just laughed at stupid they were being.
Finally one night she was Debbie and Wayne had gone to the movies. Manistique 60 miles away, where they went to school.
DeAnna was watching tv, you only got 3 stations if you were lucky! All the sudden there was a knock on the door. DeAnna went
to see who it was. It was Steve!
"Hi!" She said as she opened the door.
"Hi! Just thought I'd drop by and see what you were up to." Steve said as he walked in.
"Nothing much just watching tv and doing some homework." DeAnna said as she closed the door. They walked into
the front room and sat talking. He had long black hair and had such big muscles. He worked in the woods and you could tell.
Before she knew it he kissed her. They went into the bedroom to be alone. She hadn't been with anyone in so long it felt so
good. When he left that night he said he wanted to see her again. DeAnna went to bed dreaming of him.
They started seeing each other most every night. They'd go riding around sometimes drinking. DeAnna told Steve she didn't
want to be around his house though. Because of his dad. He knew why and said he wouldn't want her to be around him either.
Other nights she hung out with Judy. They'd hang out with friends riding all over drinking. Judy started seeing George.
Someone who just moved into town. So sometimes the four of them would go to the movies or bowling in Manistique. One night
they went to see the movie Jaws. DeAnna couldn't believe it! It was so scary. She told them she use to swim in the ocean in
Georgia.
As time went on DeAnna started going with Steve to his dads. It was kinda nice seeing Alan, Jimmy and Tony but she didn't
like seeing their dad. How she still hated him. She always stayed close to Steve when they were around there.
Then one weekend day they were out in the garage. His dad was painting cars on the side. He was spraying a car with paint
and her and Steve walked in.
"You know dad, I love DeAnna! And I'm telling you right now in front of her, if you ever lay another hand on her
again I'll kill you!" Steve said with a very angry look on his face. Steve was very big much bigger than his dad. He
arm wrestled guys all the time for a little extra cash. There was no one who could ever beat him. He said he wanted to get
into boxing someday. DeAnna knew he could take his dad down easy.
His dad stopped his painting and put the spray gun down. "I know. And I'm very sorry for what I did in the past.
It will not happen again." He said looking Steve in the eyes. Then looked at DeAnna. DeAnna just turned her head away.
She still couldn't stand to look at him. So much hate inside for him.
"Ok, now that that's settled we'll see you later." Steve said letting DeAnna walk out the door first following
right behind her.
"Thank you for doing that!" DeAnna said as Steve put his arm around her and they walked toward the car. She
was surprised he did that. AND THANKFUL TOO!!
"I don't want you being scared when you're around here. There's no reason for it anymore. I love you!" Steve
said as he reached over and kissed her.
DeAnna received a letter from Sheila. She had wrote to her telling her how Doug was really hurt because he hadn't heard
from her. DeAnna hated it but wrote back to Sheila telling her about Steve. Sheila called to Debbie's and was really mad with
DeAnna. She said she was sorry but she lived in Michigan now. Sheila hung up mad. DeAnna felt bad but what could she do now.
Debbie told DeAnna her and Wayne wanted to have a baby. And she wanted to use her room for the baby's room. So Steve asked
her to move in with him at his dad's. It was either that or move to Newberry, 60 miles north of them with her mom. DeAnna
wasn't sure at first. She was still scared of his dad even though Steve had stood up to him.
"You can just make sure you're never alone with him. To make yourself feel better. But I know he don't want to face
me. I mean it! I would kill him!" Steve told her as they were driving into town that evening.
"I know that. But it's just all so scary for me still. I guess I could make sure I'm never alone with him. I really
don't want to move to Newberry. I love you and want to be with you."
"Alright then it's settled. I'll talk with him tonite. And move you in this weekend."
"Ok! I love you!"
"I love you too!"
So that weekend DeAnna moved in with Steve. She hung with Judy when Steve wasn't around. And most the time Tony, Jimmy
and Alan was around. She didn't even see his dad around much with school and all. As time went on she began to feel comfortable
there.
DeAnna got a job at the Seney Wildlife Refuge. She rode with Dennis Shay who lived down the road. He said he didn't mind
picking her up. DeAnna told him she'd pay him for gas.
One day when the group was coming back in from out back banding the Canadian Geese the van driver stopped all the sudden.
He whispered to everyone to look and pointed out the window. There was a wolf swimming in from one of the islands where the
geese would nest. Probably just ate dinner. The all watched as he shook himself off on shore. DeAnna jumped up! It was one
of their dogs was her first thought! Then as he stopped shaking he looked up at them in the van. DeAnna sat back down. No!
That's a wolf she thought. God, he's so magnificent! They all watched as he ran into the woods.
That night DeAnna told Steve about the wolf. He smiled and gave her a kiss then held her tight! She laid there in his
arms remember the beauty of the wolf wild and free in the woods.
It wasn't long before she saved up $100 for a car. The car she bought was an old four door with a loud muffler and 4-speed
you had to find the gears on. But DeAnna didn't care! IT WAS HER FIRST CAR!!! She loved driving it into town on the way to
work and would down shift so everyone could hear her coming into town! Too cool, she thought!
A couple of years went by and DeAnna was pretty happy. Steve came home from work one day. "Look what I got!"
He yelled as he walked into the house.
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