Pilgrimage (The New World)
suit. Ross had become the first student from Rumley to ever receive an appointment to attend one of the military academies, so it was quite fitting that he be given the honor of a standing ovation. He graciously accepted the honor with a hint of blush in his cheeks, but was more gratified with the free apple pie a la mode that he had received from Mable at the diner the previous afternoon.
    With the graduation ceremony complete, many of the townspeople gathered for a large picnic on the football field, while others, such as Mable, needed to return to their jobs. Perhaps for the first time Robert realized that his little girl was growing up, as several different boys gathered around Jessica while Ross and Patty stood close by. Elizabeth reminded him that Patty would help look out for her in school, but that Jessica would be just fine because Ross had prepared her with some sage advice about many of the boys. The celebratory picnic was scheduled to go on for several hours in the hot Texas sun, but eventually the Martin and Wright families would slip away for a more private celebration.

 

     
     
    THE NEXT FEW weeks went by in a flash. Ross and Patty had joined most of the graduating class for a three day camping trip to Proctor Lake that began on the day after graduation, which was a journey of slightly less than one hundred miles to the north of Rumley. They had been there privately, or with a small group of friends, for camping several times in the past, and it was a place that Ross and Grandpa Hank had planned on visiting before he passed away.
    At the time of his death seven years prior, the dam was under construction to create the man-made lake, and the two of them couldn’t wait to try the fishing. Instead the memories of the campground by the lake belonged to Ross and Patty, and it would always hold a special place in their hearts as that was where they had both experienced physical love for the first time. Proctor Lake had also been the location of several deep conversations about plans for the future, including Patty’s hopes to attend the University of Maryland when she concluded her last year of high school.
    At least fifty people showed up for the after-graduation camping trip, with the majority of that number being represented by couples. It was somewhat like attending the senior prom wearing bathing suits instead of formal attire, but Ross and Patty had a wonderful time during what they knew would be the last days of innocent freedom with this group of people. One night while sitting on the beach stargazing, Ross made the comment to Patty that he wanted to go into space someday. The Apollo missions of the current day were making tremendous progress, and it would only be a matter of time before NASA fulfilled President Kennedy’s dream as put forth in his speech that Ross had listened to with Grandpa Hank in 1961.
    Upon their return to Rumley, Ross did all that he could with his few remaining days helping out around the ranch. He wanted to get Jessica set up correctly for life without him being around, and that meant doing as many heavy chores and repairs as possible. He saw very little of his father Robert during those days, and spent as much time with Patty as he could. Knowing how in love with Ross her daughter was, Elizabeth Wright gave them as much space as possible during those final days.
    Before he knew it, Ross was standing outside of the general store waiting for the bus to arrive. Many people had come to wish him a fond farewell, and he had plenty of snacks for the long bus ride from kindhearted souls such as Mable and Elizabeth. He shook his father’s hand while asking him to be patient with Jessica, then turned to her and hugged her tightly while lifting her off the ground as he had done so many times over the years. She giggled when he tickled her ribs, and then smiled as she wished her big brother a safe journey. Jessica had promised to keep the fishing pole and their grandfather’s American
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