Crossroads Revisited Read Online Free PDF

passed away
unexpectedly and left three young kids behind. Maybe the pangs of remorse Rand
felt from his teacher’s death hit too close to home after losing his father at
such a young age.
    “Mr. Brennan!”
    “I’m sorry, sir, I missed the question.”
    “You missed my question about the
carotid artery and jugular venous drainage system because you were too busy
watching the meadowlarks outside, were you not?”
    “Guilty as charged, sir, and I
apologize.”
    “Are you aware of how many young men
would give their eye teeth to be occupying your desk, Mr. Brennan?”
    “Yes, Doctor McBride, I am.”
    “If you don’t want to be here, Brennan,
give up your chair to someone who does.”
    “Yes, sir. I mean, I do want to be here,
sir.”
    The doctor looked over his glasses. “See
me after class, Rand.”
    Oh, God, the King of Siam knew his first
name. There would be hell to pay for this if Frank or his mother found out.
    Rand made an attempt to sneak out the
door after class, hoping McBride had forgotten the incident, but no such luck.
“Mr. Brennan, you don’t plan to leave without seeing me, do you?”
    “No, sir, I planned to return after I
visited the restroom.”
    “The restroom will have to wait.” He
motioned him forward. “Have a seat, and we’ll attempt to get to the bottom of
what’s keeping you from your studies these days.”
    Rand slid into the chair, wilier than a
snake winding his way through a garden, acutely aware of the plug knocking
against his sensitive nerve endings.
    “Where do you live, Mr. Brennan?”
    “You mean in what part of Baltimore,
sir?”
    “No, I mean with whom do you reside?”
    Rand faltered on the words. “My mother,
Doctor McBride, why?”
    The doc gave him one of those
you-little-liar-looks before he spoke. “That’s strange. Yesterday, you left
your anatomy notebook on your desk, and today I stopped by the address listed
in your file. A woman answered the door, introduced herself as your mother.
When I asked to speak with you, she said you didn’t live there.”
    “Well, I do and I don’t.” Rand squirmed
in the chair. Between the plug and the man’s intense scrutiny, misery could be
labeled his best friend. “That is, I lived with my mother until-until several
months ago when I moved in with a friend.”
    “Hmm, well, your mother took the
notebook. Did you receive it?”
    “No, I did not, sir, but I haven’t seen
to my mother yet today.”
    “I suggest you contact her tonight and
retrieve your notebook.” He pushed the glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I
sensed she’s worried about you.”
    Rand’s heart thudded. “You did? Did you
tell her anything else, sir?”
    “Now what else would I tell her, that
you watch meadowlarks mate instead of participating in class? Hmm? Should I
have told her that?”
    “No, sir, she would be upset with me.”
    “As am I, young man.” His tone softened.
“Does your mother have a husband?  Perhaps I should speak to your father about
your latent distractions and boredom in class. I’m certain he’d want to know
how his money is being frittered away.”
    “Not anymore.”
    Flashbacks of his father rose behind his
eyelids, and tears surfaced. He fought them back and looked into McBride’s
eyes. “He died about six years ago, shot during a bank robbery.”
    The man stilled and studied him. “I’m
sorry to hear that, but I don’t think he’d be proud of your behavior these
days. Hear me well, Mr. Brennan, I won’t tolerate sloth. If you don’t plan to
be an active member of my class, I’ll be forced to ask you to withdraw.”
    “It won’t happen again…that thing with
the meadowlarks. I promise to improve. You can count on that, Doctor McBride.”
    “Good, do we have an understanding?”
    Rand nodded.
    “One more thing and you may leave. As
you know, I’m new to Johns Hopkins, and although I don’t personally know the
young men who recently died, what do