STOLEN CHANCES - PART TWO

Tea was right about one thing. Todd's hatred of Lincoln Westlake stemmed from more than the judge's occupation. It was personal. Todd and Judge Westlake had a history together that few people knew about. It was a history that began before Todd could even remember.

Todd first met Lincoln Westlake years ago in Chicago when he was merely a toddler. Todd's mother and Lincoln's wife were volunteers together. Lincoln's young daughter, Michelle was a regular playmate of Todd's. Lincoln, however, did not approve of Todd Manning as a possible peer for his daughter. Lincoln had married into wealth to work his way from poverty up the social ladder. But he didn't feel that the middle class Mannings were of the same stature as the Westlakes. In his opinion, Todd Manning just wasn't good enough for his little girl.

Despite his objections, Michelle and Todd continued to grow up together, remaining the best of friends throughout the years. They were friends in elementary school and in middle school. But for high school, Michelle's parents sent her away to a boarding school. Todd was sad and lonely. He had just lost his best friend. And he felt like it was his fault he'd lost her. If she hadn't come by that day for his birthday with that cake, she'd still be in town. His father didn't like seeing Michelle there with that day. He destroyed the birthday cake she brought, insulted the young girl and kicked her out the house. Hearing about the incident, the judge decided to end the friendship once and for all and sent Michelle away to a boarding school to keep her away from Todd and his family. After that day, Todd was never the same.

That was the day Todd tried to kill Peter. Peter was an abusive man, but Todd was used to it. He had seen it all his life. Before she left, Todd would see his mother receiving the abuse. But after she left, Todd was the target. He dealt with it the best way he could, but on that day, it was too much for him. That was the day the abuse moved to a whole new level. That was the day
Peter raped Todd.

Life as Todd knew it was over. His mother had left. His best friend was sent away. His innocence was taken away. Everything got to be too much for Todd. He started to get in a little trouble as a way to rebel. Nothing big. Just small pranks here and there. But he always had football as his outlet. It was the only way to keep his mind off of his dysfunctional home life with an abusive father.

Luckily, Todd had a positive male role model in his football coach, Sam Rappaport. Soon after meeting Todd, Sam noticed how troubled and tormented the young man was. He did all he could to take Todd under his wing and guide him, but it wasn't enough. There was only so much he could do. Peter Manning is the person Todd has to go home to every night. Years had passed, but he was still abusive and Todd still got into trouble. And the problems soon began to extend into the classroom. His grades were slipping and he risked being disqualified from playing football. Sam knew that being on the football team was all that was keeping Todd together and he knew that getting into a good college would be the only way Todd could escape Peter. Todd managed to pass his junior year on his own, but Sam arranged for a tutor to help Todd catch up on his school work during the summer. However Todd was proud and stubborn and didn't like that idea too much.

As summer started, Todd tried to spend as much time away from Peter as possible. "Maybe that tutoring thing won't be as bad as it seems. At least I'll be away from home most of the time," Todd thought to himself. So, he decided to go ahead and meet his tutor.

Todd had arrived a little early for the meeting, so he sat down and started to read a magazine. Pretty soon, he hears a familiar voice asking if he's ready to begin with the lessons. Todd looks up and finds himself staring at a beautiful stranger. Yet, her eyes were so familiar to him. Then she smiled, and the smile was one that he had known his whole life. Finally she spoke again and said, "Hello, Todd. I thought I'd never see you again." And then it was clear to him. The stranger standing in front of him was no stranger at all. It was Michelle.

TO BE CONTINUED