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Badgers Chapter I - “COMPLICATIONS” TIME: FALL 2008 SETTING: MANDY, AN ATTRACTIVE ATHLETIC HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL RECRUIT FROM JANESVILLE CRAIG HIGH SCHOOL IN WISCONSIN BEGINS HER SECOND YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. SHE IS COMPETING FOR A STARTING STRIKER POSITION AGAINST A SENIOR. HER MAJOR IS ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND SHE HAS MOVED INTO THE DG ( DELTA GAMMA ) HOUSE ON CAMPUS. MANDY HAS A HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, MAX, WHO ATTENDS RIPON COLLEGE - AN HOUR AWAY. MANDY IS CATHOLIC, THOUGH SHE HAS STOPPED ATTENDING MASS, HAS CLOSE FRIENDS - ALEX - WHO IS A BACKUP QUARTERBACK ON THE UNIVERSITY TEAM AND JAN - HER TALKATIVE AND ATTRACTIVE SORORITY SISTER. FOLLOW ALONG AS THE TURBULENT YEAR OF A SORORITY GAL AND ATHLETE AT THE UW IS EXPOSED. THERE IS RARELY A DULL MOMENT AS ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC, AND GREEK COLLEGE LIFE IN MADISON, WISCONSIN IS OPENLY EXPOSED. MANDY I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT - WE HAVE THE NIGHT OFF FROM PRACTICE, MAX IS COMING DOWN FROM RIPON, AND THERE IS BEER AT THE PHI PSI HOUSE BEGINNING AT 3 IN THE AFTERNOON. ALEX WE FOOTBALL GUYS ONLY HAVE THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE KK DOWN THE STREET. MANDY WELL I HAVE A TEST TOMORROW - IN FACT AN EARLY BIG ONE - I CANNOT FAIL - OUR COACH SAYS WE ARE TOAST IF THAT HAPPENS - AND SHE VERY WELL MEANS IT. ALEX DO WHAT I DO - STUDY HARD UNTIL ABOUT 10 PM - THEN JOIN US - NO BIG DEAL - YOU CAN HAVE ONE AND STILL PASS THE TEST. MANDY YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND ALEX - I KNOW YOU ARE LIKE GENIUS - BUT I’M AT BEST AVERAGE - I DON’T BELONG HERE - THIS SCHOOL IS TOO TOUGH - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS RANKED #1 IN THE COUNTRY.

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ALEX BUT EDUCATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE NOT THAT BAD ACADEMICALLY. MANDY OH MY GOD - IT’S AWFUL - SO MUCH CLASS TIME AND MEMORIZATION. ALEX YOU’LL GET THROUGH IT - SO JUST COME ON DOWN TO THE KK AFTER YOU ARE DONE WITH STUDYING THURSDAY NIGHT. MANDY I’LL THINK ABOUT IT - DEPENDS ON HOW I DO ON THE PRACTICE TESTS. ALEX YOU GET PRACTICE TESTS IN EDUCATION SCHOOL ?

MANDY WELL NOT FORMALLY - WE HAVE AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF ALL PROFESSORS NOTES AND TESTS FROM PAST YEARS IN THE BASEMENT OF THE SORORITY. ALEX THAT IS TOTALLY COOL. MANDY MOST DORMS HAVE ZERO ANYTHING LIKE THIS - THAT’S WHY I MOVED IN HERE - HONESTLY WITHOUT SOME STREET SMARTS, I DON’T THINK I CAN GET THROUGH THIS SCHOOL IT’S A REAL BITCH. ALEX YOU SOUND TROUBLED - ANYTHING ELSE GOING ON MANDY ?

MANDY NO NOT REALLY - IT’S ONLY MAX.....

ALEX MAX FROM RIPON - YOU TWO STILL GOING STEADY ?

MANDY IT’S NOT FUNNY. WE MAY BREAK UP - BUT I STILL LIKE HIM. ALEX YOU WON’T ENJOY COLLEGE HANGING ONTO HIS COAT TAILS - HE’LL BE THERE IF IT’S MEANT TO BE.

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MANDY WELL MAX IS REALLY SMART - HE SETS THE CURVES AT RIPON - AND NOW THERE IS PRESSURE FROM MY PARENTS NOT TO EVER DUMP THIS FUTURE DOCTOR - YOU KNOW SECURITY. ALEX DO YOU LOVE THE GUY ?

MANDY PROBABLY - I DON’T KNOW - I MEAN WE’RE NOT MARRYING NOW - BUT WE HAVE A SORT OF COMMITMENT. ALEX BUT WHAT IF SOME REALLY HOT GUY COMES ALONG ?

MANDY IT’S ALREADY HAPPENED - THIS GUY FROM THE TENNIS TEAM - HE’S FROM CHICAGO - HE HAS ASKED ME OUT CONSTANTLY - HE IS CUTE, NICE, AVAILABLE, AND VERY PREPPY - WHICH I LIKE - HECK I MAY ASK HIM TO THE FALL BALL. ALEX WHAT ABOUT MAX - YOUR HIGH SCHOOL AND NOW COLLEGE HERO ?

MANDY I JUST DON’T KNOW ALEX. I JUST DON’T KNOW. ALEX WELL IF I WAS A GUY I’D CERTAINLY WANT TO KNOW IF MY GAL WAS DUMPING ME. MANDY I GUESS YOU ARE CORRECT. HECK I’D WANT TO ALSO KNOW - BUT FRANKLY I STILL CARE FOR MAX. ALEX DO YOU PLAN ON MARRYING HIM ?

MANDY WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT ALEX - I MEAN WE ARE ONLY SOPHOMORES IN COLLEGE - HE’S GOING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL - I’M GOING TO SOMEWHERE TO HOPEFULLY TEACH AND COACH. GIVE ME A BREAK. ALEX YES I KNOW IT MAY BE PRESUMPTUOUS. BUT A GUY HAS TO KNOW WHERE HIS GIRL STANDS - SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE YEARS LEFT TO GO BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENS - MAYBE YOU SHOULD ENJOY COLLEGE. 4

MANDY WELL EVERY GIRL THINKS ABOUT THIS STUFF MORE THAN YOU KNOW - MAX IS SECURITY - MY PARENTS ADORE HIM - SO I’M GOOD THERE. BUT NEITHER OF US REALLY WANT TO GET MARRIED - AT LEAST NOW. ALEX WELL THEN MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO BE HONEST WITH HIM - YOU BOTH KNEW THIS DAY WAS COMING. RIGHT ?

MANDY I’LL CALL HIM ON THE PHONE. ALEX NO - DRIVE UP TO RIPON. MANDY NO WAY. I CAN’T DO THAT - ALL I’D DO WAS CRY - SO WHAT IF THIS TENNIS GUY DOESN’T WANT TO GO TO THE BALL WITH ME ? THEN WHAT ?

ALEX WAIT A SECOND - SO YOU ARE BREAKING UP WITH YOUR LONG TERM RELIABLE BOYFRIEND - OK SO YOU CAN HMMMM....... GO OUT WITH A GUY WHO RECENTLY INTERESTS YOU ? COME ON !

MANDY NO YOU DON’T GET IT - IF THERE IS A BREAK - WE MUST DO IT NOW - NOT AT THE END OF OUR SENIOR YEAR. ALEX WELL THEN DRIVE TO RIPON - TELL YOUR MOM AND MOVE FORWARD. WHO KNOWS MAYBE HE WANTS THE SAME THING YOU DO - YOU NEVER KNOW. MANDY I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT - HIS EMAILS AND TEXTS ARE REALLY QUITE ELABORATE. ALEX HOW LONG DID YOU GO TOGETHER IN HIGH SCHOOL ?

MANDY THREE YEARS. WHAT DOES THAT MATTER ?

ALEX WELL - ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT YOU’RE INTO YOUR FIFTH YEAR OF DATING. THAT’S A TON. MANDY BUT WE ARE BABIES. 5

ALEX NOT ANYMORE - COLLEGE IS LIKE PRE ADULT - PRE LIFE STUFF - PRE THE REAL THING STUFF. MANDY SO YOU’RE TELLING ME I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. RIGHT ?

ALEX RIGHT - ABSOLUTELY FOR BOTH OF YOU. MANDY WELL...........

ALEX WELL MAKE A DECISION - TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL. YOU’VE GONE TOGETHER 45 DOG YEARS - IT’S ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. MANDY OK - I’LL GO TO RIPON SUNDAY . WE HAVE A LAUGHER GAME SATURDAY AGAINST NORTHWESTERN HERE IN THE AFTERNOON - MAX IS STUDYING FOR AN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY TEST. YOU’LL BE HERE FOR ME SUNDAY NIGHT WITH SOME BEERS ?

ALEX YES - BUT THINK ABOUT ALL THIS. DON’T DO STUFF BEHIND MAX’S BACK. MANDY I WILL - GOTTA GO. STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. SEE YOU SUNDAY NIGHT. JAN HEY MANDY - ALEX JUST CALLED. I HEARD YOUR PHONE GOING OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND FINALLY PICKED IT UP. IT WAS YOUR MOM - MAX WAS IN A BICYCLE ACCIDENT - IT WAS NOT GOOD - HE’S BEEN TRANSFERRED TO MILWAUKEE - MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN - ICU. MANDY OH MY GOD - HOW DID..........

JAN HE WAS HIT NEAR GREEN LAKE - ON THE ROAD BACK TO RIPON. HE’S ON A VENTILATOR AND HAVING DECOMPRESSIVE NEUROSURGERY. MAX HAS WHAT THEY CALL AN EPIDURAL HEMATOMA - HE COULD DIE - I THINK HE MAY BE OUT OF SURGERY BY NOW - THEY SAID IT WOULDN’T TAKE LONG - THEY TOOK HIM FROM THE ER TO CAT SCAN TO SURGERY VERY QUICK. 6

MANDY THEN I BETTER GO TO MILWAUKEE. JAN I’D CALL YOUR MOM FIRST. MANDY OK - I’LL GET HER ON THE PHONE. JAN SHE IS ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL WITH MAX’S PARENTS THEY PROBABLY ARE THERE BY NOW. MANDY WILL YOU COME WITH ME JAN ?

JAN I WOULD BUT I HAVE A CHEMISTRY TEST MYSELF AT O800 TOMORROW. I CANNOT SKIP THIS. IF IT WAS AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY - WELL I COULD GET OUT OF IT. MANDY SO WHAT DO I DO ?

JAN YOU GET IN YOUR CAR AND GET ON THE INTERSTATE TO MILWAUKEE - IT WILL ONLY TAKE 90 MINUTES FROM THE DG HOUSE. YOU NEED TO GO. MANDY MAYBE I’LL ASK ALEX TO GO WITH ME ?

JAN ARE YOU SURE THAT WOULDN’T LOOK FUNNY IN FRONT OF YOUR PARENTS ? I KNOW ALEX IS JUST A FRIEND...BUT HECK PARENTS DON’T SEE IT THAT WAY - NOT COOL TO TAKE ALEX. MANDY YOU ARE RIGHT - HECK - IF I WERE A PARENT I WOULD SAY FRIENDS ? RIGHT !

JAN SO WHAT ARE YOU TO DO THEN ?

MANDY JUST A SECOND - MY CELL IS GOING OFF - OH MY GOD IT’S THE TENNIS PLAYER - RICH WELLER. JAN THE CUTE ONE - OH MY GOD - WHAT A TIME TO CALL - LET ME TALK TO HIM - I’M REALLY AVAILABLE.

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MANDY OK - HERE GO AHEAD AND TALK TO HIM - IT WOULDN’T BE RIGHT FOR ME TO EVEN SPEAK WITH ANYONE BUT MAX RIGHT NOW. JAN OK - I CAN DEAL WITH HIM - I THINK HE’S PROBABLY LOOKING FOR A FALL FRAT DATE - YOU KNOW IT’S EASY FOR GUYS - THEY JUST HAVE TO CALL - WE CANNOT DO THAT EXCEPT ONE DAY A YEAR - OUR FALL BALL. MANDY WELL - BETWEEN YOU AND ME - HE IS CUTE. JAN WELL YOU WERE NOT GOING ANYWAY I PRESUME - SO THIS CALL TO YOU IS JUST WASTED AIR TIME. MANDY YOU KNOW I REALLY MUST CALL ALEX AND GET TO MILWAUKEE. SEE YOU IN A DAY OR TWO. CALL RICH BACK ON YOUR CELL - I’VE GOT TO GO. JAN DONE - I’LL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE DAYS. MANDY ALSO COULD YOU CALL THE VOLLEYBALL COACH AND LET HER KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON - HERE’S HER NUMBER - WE REALLY NEED TO CALL IF WE MISS ANYTHING - IT SOUNDS MORE EMERGENT IF YOU CALL JAN DONE - WHEN WILL YOU RETURN MANDY ?

MANDY I REALLY DON’T KNOW - THIS SOUNDS UGLY - I MAY BE GONE A WEEK. I’LL TEXT YOU TOMORROW MORNING AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS UP. JAN OH - REMEMBER TO CALL ALEX. NOT TO GO - JUST LET HIM KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON. HE IS A CLOSE FRIEND - EVEN IF HE’S A LOCAL.

ALEX YES MANDY - WHAT’S UP ?

MANDY WELL I HAVE SOME REALLY BAD NEWS AND I NEED A FAVOR. 8

ALEX SHOOT - I CAN HELP - IS IT TUTORING ?

MANDY NO - IT’S FAR WORSE THAN THAT - THOUGH I NEED TUTORING ALSO. ALEX SO WHAT IS IT ?

MANDY IT’S MAX - HE’S ALMOST DEAD. ALEX NO WAY !

MANDY YES - HE’S HAVING NEUROSURGERY TO REMOVE A BLOOD CLOT AROUND HIS BRAIN AS WE SPEAK. IT’S BAD - AND EVEN IF HE DOES LIVE - WELL HE MAY BE REALLY IMPAIRED. I’M ON MY WAY TO MILWAUKEE. ALEX WHAT HAPPENED ?

MANDY BAD BIKE ACCIDENT - MAJOR LEAGUE BAD ON THE ROAD FROM GREEN LAKE TO RIPON - I GUESS HE WAS HIT AND THROWN - AND EVEN WITH A HELMET HE RECEIVED A MAJOR HEAD INJURY. OUR PARENTS ARE THERE NOW AND I’M ON MY WAY TO MILWAUKEE. ALEX I’LL GO WITH YOU - I’LL PACK IMMEDIATELY. MANDY NO ALEX - I’VE TALKED TO JAN - IT WOULDN’T LOOK GOOD WITH ME SHOWING UP WITH ANOTHER GUY. YOU KNOW HOW PARENTS ARE. ALEX I GUESS - BUT ARE YOU IN SHAPE TO DRIVE ?

MANDY NO - BUT I’LL SURVIVE - ANYWAY - WE’LL ALL GET THROUGH THIS SOMEHOW. ALEX WHAT ABOUT SCHOOL AND VOLLEYBALL ?

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MANDY I’VE TAKEN CARE OF VOLLEYBALL - CAN YOU GO TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND LET THEM KNOW I WILL CALL THEM TOMORROW. I MAY NEED A LEAVE OF ABSENCE. ALEX CONSIDER IT DONE - MY GOD WHAT A TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I’LL PRAY FOR YOU - YOU’LL NEED IT ALONG WITH MAX. MANDY OK - I’M GETTING ON 94 - SO I’LL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE DAYS OR SO. ALEX DRIVE SLOW AND SAFE. MANDY GOODBYE. ALEX GOODBYE !

MANDY HEY MOM - IS THAT YOU - YOUR VOICE IS GARBLED A BIT HOW IS MAX ?

MOM I DON’T REALLY KNOW - HE’S BEEN PUT IN A COLD BARBITUATE COMA WHICH HIS PARENTS CONSENTED TO BY THE INTENSIVIST AND NEUROSURGEON - HE HAS WHAT THEY CALL AN ICP MONITOR AND HIS READINGS ARE REAL HIGH. BUT HE’S GETTING TREATED WITH SOME NEW MEDICATIONS. MANDY DID HE WAKE UP ?

MOM NO AND HE MAY NOT FOR A FEW DAYS. MANDY WOW - THIS IS REALLY BAD ISN’T IT ?

MOM IT’S AWFUL - WE ALL WELCOME YOUR COMING - IT WILL MAKE MAX’S PARENTS FEEL MUCH BETTER - THEY ARE NOT HANDLING THIS WELL NOW. I JUST DON’T KNOW - YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR US. NEVER.

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MANDY THAT IS FOR SURE - I WISH I HAD BEEN THERE TO HELP HIM BUT I’LL BE THERE IN A FEW MINUTES ANYWAY. MOM VERY GOOD - THE DOCTORS ARE COMING - I’VE GOT TO GO - SEE YOU IN A BIT - TAKE THE 45 EXIT. MANDY MY GOD - WHAT WILL I DO - WHAT A THING TO HAPPEN. DEAR LORD - I KNOW I’VE TOLD MY PARENTS I’VE ATTENDED MASS WEEKLY WHEN I HAVE NOT - BUT FORGIVE ME PLEASE ALLOW MAX TO RECOVER. PLEASE !

END OF BADGERs I

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