The mountains were impressive, but we had those in Oregon. Mt. Hood and the Sisters look a lot more impressive than a range of mountains that were eve... higher.After Colorado, the ground flattened out. Lewis and Clark called it the Great American Desert. We did some tourist things in Kansas City and St. Louis. The temperature and humidity were both too high, but when we got to our destination in southern Wisconsin that seemed to go away. We were real close to Lake Michigan—just a few minutes. She stopped explaining then, and thanked me once again for buying that wonderful sewing machine for her.That Saturday night, Connie surprised me by calling me at home. She said that she was bored, and asked me if I could come over to take her out for a Coke or something. I drove over to get her, and then we went to a hamburger joint and ordered two Cokes and a large French fries. We sat inside the crowded restaurant, talking about school and other safe topics.Neither of us brought up anything. “I’ll see you here tomorrow. Don’t forget!” She wasted her words. I never forgot anything, thanks to a photographic memory I’d been cursed with and there was no way I’d forget my first on-campus contact with a genuine girl. I finished my work and packed up my backpack. I was back in the dorm an hour later, just in time to clean up before dinner.I had just returned from the bathroom when my roommate Rob walked in. “You will never believe who approached me in the library this afternoon,. "Does she, I mean, Katrina..." Dad cleared his throat, glancing at the girl."Katrina isn't just my slave, Daddy," I told him seriously. "I haven't told her everything yet, but we have no secrets." Uh, yeah. I noticed that uh, collar," Dad nodded and Mom smiled at us."I think it's lovely, dear." My mother stroked Katrina's arm."Thank you," the girl smiled and added after a second's pause, " ... Mom." That one word lit up my mother's face like you wouldn't believe."So, she doesn't know..." Dad.