THE WINSLOW SAGA: 1981 - 1996

Names of Winslow residents have been changed.

[1994]

MAY 17, 1993 Continued Inside the office are three people, including Denise's supervisor, Barbara Harrison. Barbara asks, "Can I help you?" and Betty replies, "Yes, is Denise Gottlieb here?" One of the men in the office asks Carl, "Who are YOU?" (Carl has expected this reaction. He's run this scenario a few times in his head, putting himself in their shoes and always remembering that he is the stranger in the building and therefore must not appear too forward.) Betty Schultz leaves to go mind the store. Carl tells them who he is and why he's there. He also gives a little background information about himself (in the Navy, drove all the way from Mesa, been wanting to meet Denise a long time, etc. etc.), and shows them the Inquisitor article, all the while keeping his cool and holding in as much nervous excitement as he can. Exercising self-control and keeping calm pays off. He is soon able to put Barbara Harrison's mind at ease, as well as the other people in the office. Denise is in another part of the building while all this is going on, and one of the guys goes to tell her. 2:23 PM:-) The man returns to the office, escorting a young lady. He tells Carl, "Here she is!" Carl introduces himself to Denise and they shake hands. The next two hours fly by. Denise takes to Carl very well. She talks to him like she knows him, and this makes him very happy. Barbara Harrison makes photocopies of the Inquisitor for various people in the office. Barbara invites him over to the other part of the building, where cake and ice cream are being served. Denise partially colors in a drawing of a butterfly to give to him, and she signs it Denise Katherine Gottlieb. He doesn't give her the Opry tape; she says she likes rock, not country. 4:15 PM: Quitting time. Carl is sorry this day has to end. If not for a scheduled dinner date on May 18, he'd stay overnight at a motel. He finds an old video receipt on the floor of the Corsica and hastily writes down his name and address and gives it to Denise. she says, "Maybe we could go out for lunch sometime, and you could meet my mom." After Denise goes home, Carl walks back in the office beaming and tells Barbara Harrison what a great day this has been. 4:30 PM: He gets in the Corsica and returns to Schultz's, excitedly telling Betty about Denise and thanking her for her support. Then he heads back to Mesa, smiling and reflecting on a job well done. When he arrives home he tells his parents about the day's momentous events. He has never told them about Denise Gottlieb in all these years; this is the first they hear about her. That evening, he calls David Henry, whom he hasn't seen since 1989. David is not there, so he tells Jim Allen about the day's big event and asks him to tell David the news. Two days later his leave is over and he is obliged to return to San Diego. When some of his shipmates ask how his leave was, he replies with a one-word answer: "Historic."