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Badgers CHAPTER II -”DOUBLE DISAPPOINTMENT” 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 WHAT DO YOU THINK MOM ? WILL MAX SURVIVE ?

MOM I JUST DON’T KNOW - ONLY GOD KNOWS - THIS IS THE WORST THING I THINK I’VE EVER SEEN. MANDY WHERE DO WE GO - WHAT DO WE DO ?

MOM WELL ALL WE CAN DO IS PRAY FOR MAX - THAT IS IT - THE PHYSICIANS AND NURSES ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN WITH MAX - HE’S IN GOOD HANDS HERE IN WAUWATOSA. MANDY YOU MEAN MILWAUKEE. MOM NO IT’S ACTUALLY WAUWATOSA - BIG DIFFERENCE TO MILWAUKEE FOLKS. MANDY WELL ALL I CAN DO IS CRY RIGHT NOW - AND I GUESS PRAY.

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MOM WELL FATHER HALLORAN FROM JANESVILLE - ST. MARY’S PARISH IS ON HIS WAY - JUST SEEING HIM MAKES YOU PRAY. GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WITH HIM. MANDY SO WHAT DO WE DO - JUST STAY AT THE HOSPITAL ?

MOM WE’LL BE IN AND OUT. I HAVE A MOTEL ROOM INDEFINITELY AT THE HOLIDAY INN NEARBY. IT’S OK. MANDY WHAT ABOUT SCHOOL ?

MOM I GUESS YOU’LL JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS - I WOULD PUT SOME THINGS ON HOLD - LET YOUR VOLLEYBALL COACH AND PROFESSORS KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE REASONABLE. MANDY THIS COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A WORSE TIME. I HAVE LOTS OF TESTS AND I’M COMPETING FOR A STARTING POSITION ON THE TEAM. MOM I UNDERSTAND - BUT THERE NEVER IS A GOOD TIME FOR ANY THING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. MAX WILL PROBABLY BE YOUR SPOUSE SOME DAY. MANDY I GUESS - MOM WE’RE ONLY SOPHOMORES IN COLLEGE NO DECISIONS HAD BEEN MADE YET. MOM WELL I JUST ASSUMED YOU TWO WOULD GET ENGAGED THIS YEAR AND.......

MANDY MOM - I KNOW YOU AND DAD REALLY LIKED MAX - HE’S FROM JANESVILLE, HE’S PREMED, HE IS A NICE GOOD LOOKING GUY, HE’S A GOOD STUDENT ATHLETE - HE’S EVERYTHING I GUESS. MOM SO WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ?

MANDY I’M SAYING I WASN’T 100 % CERTAIN WE WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHER.

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MOM I CANNOT BELIEVE AT A TIME LIKE NOW - WELL YOU BRING UP SEPARATION OF YOU TWO. JUST CANNOT BELIEVE IT. MANDY YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND MOM !

MOM YES I DO - BAD DECISIONS I DO UNDERSTAND - YOU’LL NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS FIND ANYONE BETTER THAN MAX. MANDY WELL IT MAY BE MOOT - WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN HERE. MOM SO WERE YOU DATING UW GUYS ?

MANDY NO !

MOM THINKING ABOUT IT ?

MANDY WELL YES - MOM I’VE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER BOYFRIEND BESIDES MAX. I DON’T THINK IT’S SO GOOD OF AN IDEA FOR EITHER OF US TO NEVER EVER DATE ANOTHER PERSON OUR WHOLE LIVES - I KNOW YOU AND DAD WERE HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS AND ALL. MOM OK - I KIND OF UNDERSTAND. I GUESS. WHO KNOWS MAX MAY HAVE DUMPED YOU - BUT I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT HE WAS TOTALLY INFATUATED WITH YOU. I LIKE THAT. THE GUY WILL DEFINITELY STICK THEN. MANDY BUT IN MY MIND I’M IN COLLEGE, ACTIVE SORORITY, VOLLEYBALL, GUYS ALL OVER - I’M NOT GOING TO TOTALLY RESERVE MY LIFE FOR A SPECIFIC GUY. JUST WON’T. I NEEDED A BREAK. WE BOTH KNEW THIS DAY WOULD COME AND IF WE WERE MEANT TO BE - WELL IT WOULD BE. MOM IT’S AMAZING HOW ALL THESE NEW THOUGHTS FLOW FROM YOU SINCE YOU ARE A UW COED NOW. MANDY MOM - THIS STUFF IN NORMAL.

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MOM WELL LET’S JUST HUG AND PRAY AND HOPE THAT MAX WITH OR WITHOUT YOU MAKES IT THROUGH THIS DAY AND RECOVERS. HE NEEDS EVERYTHING HE CAN GET. MANDY THE DOCTORS WON’T ALLOW ANYONE BUT HIS MOM TO SEE HIM NOW - HE’S TOO CRITICAL - SO I THINK I’LL GO BACK TO THE MOTEL, MAKE SOME CALLS, AND CHECK THINGS OUT. MOM OK - I’LL CALL YOU ON YOUR CELL SHOULD ANYTHING HAPPEN. MANDY OK - I NEED TO CHECK UP WITH V-BALL AND MY CLASSES. I NOW HAVE AT LEAST ONE MAKE UP TEST IN PSYCHOLOGY. SEE YOU LATER. JAN HEY MANDY IS THAT YOU ?

MANDY YES IT IS - THINGS COULDN’T BE MUCH WORSE EXCEPT MAX IS ALIVE. JAN I ACTUALLY READ ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT ON THE INTERNET. SOUNDS AWFUL. MANDY IF MAX LIVES IT WILL BE AMAZING. AND IF HE DOES LIVE - HE MAY NOT BE NORMAL NEUROLOGICALLY. WE JUST DON’T KNOW. JAN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ?

MANDY OH THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM A VEGETATIVE STATE TO PARTIAL RECOVERY - HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WALK, TALK, COMMUNICATE, OR EVEN EAT BY HIMSELF. WE DON’T KNOW. JAN AND YOUR FAMILIES - HOW ARE THEY ?

MANDY TERRIBLE - THIS IS AWFUL - I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO US. MY MOTHER IS REALLY UPSET ALSO.

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JAN DID YOU TELL YOUR MOM ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS REGARDING MAX AND YOU TAKING A BREATHER ?

MANDY YES I DID JAN AND HOW DID THAT GO ?

MANDY NOT GOOD - I MEAN SHE BARELY UNDERSTOOD - THE TIMING WAS INCREDIBLY POOR. BUT HOW WAS ANYONE TO PREDICT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN ?

JAN YOU CANNOT PREDICT. YOU JUST DO YOUR BEST AND DEAL WITH ADVERSITY. MANDY I GUESS - I DON’T KNOW WHEN I’LL BE BACK TO THE DG HOUSE - WHAT DID THE COACH SAY ABOUT ME MISSING VOLLEYBALL ?

JAN SHE ‘LL CALL YOU TONIGHT AFTER THE GAME - SHE WASN’T HAPPY - BUT YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES. MANDY SHE WASN’T EVEN CONCERNED ?

JAN OH YES - BUT YOU KNOW HOW COACHES ARE - THEY ARE ALL IN A FIGHT FOR THEIR COACHING LIVES BIG TIME. MANDY I GUESS - BUT THIS IS REALLY HUMAN EMOTIONAL NEAR FAMILY TYPE STUFF. JAN SO MAX IS IN A COMA ?

MANDY YES - IT’S INDUCED TO KEEP BRAIN SWELLING DOWN AND ALLOW HIS BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD TO HEAL OR REST. I GUESS INFLAMMATION CAN REALLY CAUSE HAVOC IN THE BRAIN AFTER AN INJURY. JAN WOW - SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO - ANY PLANS ?

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MANDY NO - I’LL TALK TO ALEX - HE’LL GIVE ME THE LOW DOWN ON THE PROFESSORS - SEEMS THIS IS A GRAY AREA BECAUSE IT’S NOT DIRECTLY FAMILY - ONLY A KIND OF BOYFRIEND. JAN I’M CERTAIN THE PROFESSORS WILL UNDERSTAND - WE ARE FAIRLY LIBERAL HERE IN MADISON ON CAMPUS. MANDY MY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SEEMS LIKE BOOT CAMP - IT IS NOT LIBERAL - THAT IS A TOTAL MISCONCEPTION. THESE FOLKS ARE TRAINING TEACHERS - THEY ARE PRETTY RIGHT. JAN WELL LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP. MANDY OK - ANYTHING ELSE GOING ON ? FALL BALL COMING ALONG ? ANY NEW DATES HAPPENING ? WHAT ARE YOU DOING ? ASK ANYBODY ?

JAN ­ RAT RHO LANGDON NO NOT REALLY - LIFE GOES ON HERE AT F STREET. NOT MUCH UNUSUAL STUFF. QUIET WEEKEND AND BEGINNING OF WEEK SO FAR. MANDY WELL I’LL JUST CALL ALEX - AND GET THE SCOOP ON MY STUDIES. JAN SOUNDS GOOD - SEE YOU SOON.

MANDY ALEX - HEY HOW ARE YOU DOING ?

ALEX NO - IT’S HOW ARE YOU DOING ? HOW IS MAX ?

MANDY WELL IT LOOKS BAD NOW - BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. I REALLY DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE TONIGHT. ALEX OK - I FULLY UNDERSTAND. BUT I DO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.

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MANDY GOOD - I CAN USE SOME. ALEX WELL THE DEAN OF EDUCATION AND YOUR PROFESSORS SAID THEY WILL CALL YOU TOMORROW - WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOUR SCHEDULE TO MAKE UP TESTS/PAPERS/ WORK IS OK WITH THEM - THEY WANT YOU TO FINISH THE SEMESTER WITHOUT DROPPING ANY CLASSES OR HAVING INCOMPLETES. MANDY SOUNDS GOOD. ANY NEWS FROM ­FRAT RHO OR CAMPUS. ALEX I’M CERTAIN YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT JAN ?

MANDY NO WHAT ? I JUST TALKED TO HER ON THE PHONE - WHAT IS GOING ON ?

ALEX WELL A LONG TIME AGO WE MADE A PROMISE TO REVEAL ALL - A DIFFERENT TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP - REMEMBER ?

MANDY YES AND I’VE STUCK TO IT. ALEX WELL ACTUALLY THERE ARE TWO THINGS - ONE - JAN HAS A DATE TO THE FALL BALL WITH THE TENNIS GUY - RICK WELLER AND...........

MANDY NO WAY - YOU ARE WRONG ALEX - CANNOT BE - WE JUST TALKED AND SHE’S MY ROOMMATE AND DG SORORITY SISTER. MY GOD ! SO WHAT ELSE. ALEX AND TWO - REMEMBER CAROLYN THE KAPPA GAL ON THE V-BALL TEAM ?

MANDY YES - SHE’S A FRESHMAN RUNT FROM DUBUQUE. ALEX WELL DOWN AT THE KK AFTER THE GAME SATURDAY - SHE PLAYED PRETTY WELL SO I HEARD.........AND RUMOR HAS IT THE COACH SAID SHE WOULD START NEXT WEEK.

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MANDY NO WAY - SHE IS WORTHLESS - I HAVE WAY MORE DIGS, BLOCKS, PASSES, SPIKES, A HIGHER SERVING %, YOU NAME IT THAN THIS IOWAN. ALEX SETTLE DOWN - YOU ARE OVER REACTING. MANDY NO I’M NOT - WE PLAYED NORTHWESTERN - THEY ARE TOTALLY WORTHLESS. THEY COULDN’T EVEN FIND THE FIELD HOUSE LAST YEAR. AND FROM THERE THE NORTHWESTERN TEAM COULDN’T EVEN FIND THE ATHLETE’S DINING HALL UNDERNEATH CAMP RANDALL - EVEN WITH DIRECTIONS FROM THE FIELD HOUSE. THAT IS A WORTHLESS TEAM. ANYONE WOULD LOOK GOOD AGAINST THEM. ALEX I GUESS - IT’S JUST THE SMUT I’M HEARING AT THE KK. YOU KNOW HOW STUFF SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE. MANDY BUT JAN - WHAT HAPPENED - SHE DIDN’T LEVEL WITH ME - BUT OH WELL WE DID TALK ABOUT THIS GUY AND I SAID AFTER HE CALLED FOR HER TO CALL HIM BACK FOR ME - NOT DATE HIM. ALEX I THINK THEY ARE DESPERATE - BOTH OF THEM. MANDY WELL THAT IS JUST NEAT - I’VE BEEN GONE A LITTLE OVER A DAY AND MY ROOMMATE DATES MY POTENTIAL BOYFRIEND AND I LOSE MY STARTING POSITION TO A KAPPA - I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS. I’LL WEATHER THE STORM. ALEX YOU’LL JUST HAVE TO HANG TOUGH. HECK I’VE BEEN BACKUP QB FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS - I PLAY WHEN THE GAME IS DECIDED EITHER WAY AND THE STATS FOR THE STARTER ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO GET AN INVITE TO THE NFL COMBINE. MANDY I GUESS YOU FEEL UNWANTED. ALEX NO - MY TIME WILL COME - MAYBE NOT EVEN IN FOOTBALL I’M TRYING TO GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL IN MILWAUKEE. MANDY THAT IS COOL - LOFTY GOALS. GOOD FOR YOU.

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ALEX WELL ANYWAY - IF YOU ARE BACK AND DON’T HAVE A DATE WELL WE CAN GO AS FRIENDS. MANDY A DEAL - MY MOM WOULD ABSOLUTELY KILL ME IF SHE FOUND OUT - HECK I MAY NEED TO BE HERE WHEN MAX WAKES UP - IF HE EVER DOES. ANYWAY MY CELL IS GOING OFF - IT’S COACH.

COACH HEY MANDY - HOW ARE YOU DOING ?

MANDY OK I GUESS. COACH WELL NOT TO RECITE THE PROBLEM FOR YOU - I’M GIVING YOU A BREAK FROM THE STARTING LINEUP INDEFINITELY. I DON’T KNOW WHEN YOU’LL BE BACK - I’VE ARRANGED FOR YOU TO PRACTICE WITH THE ALVERNO COLLEGE IN MILWAUKEE IF YOU’LL BE THERE FOR A WHILE. THEIR COACH WAS REALLY UNDERSTANDING. MANDY THANKS COACH - AREN’T THEY D3.

COACH YES BUT THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD. IT’LL KEEP YOU IN TUNE IF YOU ARE OUT FOR A BIT. AND YOUR CLASSES ARE TAKEN CARE OF - I THINK YOU CAN DO THIS ON LINE TO KEEP UP AND MAKE CERTAIN YOU KEEP UP. I HOPE YOU CAN RETURN QUICKLY. MANDY WHO TOOK OVER MY STARTING POSITION COACH ?

COACH CAROLYN. BUT REST ASSURED - YOU MAY NOT START WHEN YOU RETURN - BUT YOU DEFINITELY WILL PLAY. CAROLYN PLAYED A GREAT GAME IN YOUR ABSENCE TODAY. LOTS OF GREAT SET UPS AND A FEW REALLY GOOD DIGS. MANDY WHO DO WE PLAY NEXT ?

COACH BORDER WAR WITH MINNESOTA - AND THEY ARE REALLY GOOD. WE ARE SETTING UP SOME NEW OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE TEAM FORMATIONS AND SCHEMES - WITH 10

SHIFTS - I’LL SEND YOU THE INFO ON THE INTERNET. HOPE MAX RECOVERS SOON. GOOD BYE. MANDY GOOD BYE.

JAN HEY MANDY IS THAT YOU ?

MANDY YES IT IS - JAN HOW COULD A FELLOW ROOMMATE AND DG SISTER PULL THIS ? I DON’T UNDERSTAND. JAN LET ME EXPLAIN......MANDY ARE YOU STILL THERE ?

END OF BADGERS II

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