Branded for Murder by Dick C. Waters Read Free Book Online Page B

too much going on right now. It was after noontime, the library was almost empty. The two girls were not there.
    I was about an hour into occupying my time when I saw the blonde come in the door. The sun was shining behind her and her friend, but I had committed her mannerisms to memory and knew it was her. I watched as they sat at their usual table. I had made the commitment to introduce myself today and I was going to go through with it.
    However, it was almost an hour since they sat down. I was aware my breathing was getting faster. Every once in a while I peeked over my book to look at her. Several times I thought she was looking over at me.
    I had just put my book down and gathered my courage when someone came running into the library.
    My first reaction was shock that he was yelling in the library. Then I realized what he was yelling about. “The president has been shot…the president has been shot!”
    My mind did not believe what I was hearing. I just sat there stunned. A few minutes later the librarian turned on her radio and turned up the volume. I went over to hear the news. The announcer was saying that President Kennedy and Governor Connolly were both shot while riding in a motorcade through Dallas just after noon there. Initial reports were that the President was rushed to a Dallas hospital and is in critical condition. There was an update coming in just a few minutes.
    I felt the emotion of the week and the news. I looked around at the others standing nearby. Everyone was either crying to themselves or sobbing outwardly. I noticed the blonde and her friend hugging each other and crying. They were just a few steps away. I was self conscious about crying, but I couldn’t help it. The loss of Jackie earlier this week and now the President being shot…were too much.
    Picking my head up, it looked like both of the girls were going to faint. They looked weak and the color looked drained from the blonde’s face. I rushed over, putting my arms around both of them. They turned to me and put their faces in my sweater. I held onto both while we all let our emotions flow.
    While we were huddled there, we heard the report that President Kennedy had indeed been killed. The librarian told us that they had turned on the television in one of the rooms and we should go and watch the news reports if we wanted to. We followed her back to the other room.
    We watched in horror as the motorcade and shooting was televised. It all happened so fast that it was hard to understand what was happening on the screen.
    Both of the girls still had their arms around my waist, and I had mine around their shoulders. All of the people in the room stared in disbelief at what had happened. Mrs. Kennedy’s coat showed the signs of the president’s blood. We stood silently, but I could feel the girl on my right start to buckle. I guided her to a chair. Her friend called to her.
     
    *.*.*
     
    “Lisa, Lisa this is Judy. I’m here, and this is…?”
    “Scott.”
    “Lisa, I’m here, Scott’s here, please don’t faint. We’re going to be okay. Lisa…Lisa, answer me. Scott thanks for helping. Let’s get her outside into the fresh air. Can you help me? Let’s guide her to the front door.”
    I lifted her up from the chair, putting my arm around her waist. Judy was on the other side. Together we guided her, but I mostly supported her until we got outside.
    As we were moving her, Judy looked over at me and whispered, “Scott thanks for being here. Thanks for helping.” I didn’t know what to say, but within less than a minute we were outside on one of the benches.
    Lisa’s eyes seemed elsewhere. “Judy, my name is Scott Tucker. I wanted to meet you both, but was too shy. I’m really sorry it took this event to have us meet.”
    She offered her hand and introduced herself, “Hello Scott, it’s nice to meet you too. I’m Judy Post and my friend is Lisa Anderson. We’re roommates at Chase.”
    I noticed the color was coming back into