CNJ+ March 2024

FOR A SEASON, FOR A REASON By Richard Mabey Jr.

In September of 1972, I began my second year at County College of Morris. My girl friend, Penny Lancaster, had begun her fresh man year at Rutgers University. And, I began one of the toughest classes I had ever taken, that of Chemistry. Within two weeks of chemistry class, the professor gave us a pop quiz. I had been do ing all of the homework assignments and I faithfully read the assigned chapters. But, to my dismay, I got a grade of D on my first chemistry pop quiz. I was totally devastated. For this was the first time I had ever gotten a D on a test. To make matters worse, it was in late Sep tember that Penny wrote me that she had met this wonderful boy at Rutgers. She wrote me that she thought it would be best, since we were now relatively far away from each other, for both of us to date other people. Could it have gotten any worse? By the end of September, I had begun a kind friendship with Sandra, from my chemistry class. We would walk to the college cafeteria, after our morning chemistry class. The good thing was that right after chemistry class, be gan college hour. This was a time, every Tues

room, as I studied nights, and tell myself over and over that I was going to get the nerve to ask Sandra for a date. Life is such a funny thing. I remember this moment like it was yesterday. I was sitting in the student center. Reading my American Literature assignment. And then it happened. As I looked up from my thick American Lit book, I saw Sandra walk by across the crowd ed student lounge. She was hand in hand with a boy whom I had seen around campus, but did not know. My heart sank. Well, the next day was chemistry class. Af ter our chemistry class, Sandra and I walked together to the cafeteria. As we sipped our tea and studied chemistry, I think Sandra sensed something was wrong. “Richie, do you want to talk about it?” San dra asked. “You mean, Problem Three, in our home work?” I quietly replied. “No. I think you know what we need to talk about,” Sandra quickly told me. Then Sandra told me that she saw that I saw her and Robbie walking hand in hand. Sandra continued to tell me that Robbie and her had

From my days at County College of Morris, from September of 1971 to June of 1973, studying at my desk in my bedroom at the old Mabey Homestead.

been dating since their junior year in high school. That she was hoping to marry him after they both finished college. My heart sank as I tried to hide my hurt. Sandra and I did remain good friends all through our second year at Coun ty College. I got a final grade of B, in both semesters of chemistry class. It was a true miracle. I probably never would have gotten that good of a grade, without Sandra’s help. After we graduated from County College of Morris, which was a two-year junior college at the time, I was never to see Sandra again. From time to time, I think about her. After I graduated from County College, I began attending Sherman Col lege of Chiropractic. I graduated and did practice chiropractic in a small town in West Virginia for a few years. But, I was not very successful at it. It’s a long story, but I returned to Lincoln Park and began working as a proof reader and then writer for a large company. I think people come into our life for a season, for a reason. And, when that season and reason is fulfilled, God seems to set their sails away from us. It’s just the way it is. Over 50 years have come and gone, since I began my chemistry class at County College. In many ways, it seems like yesterday. But in many ways, it seems like such a long time ago. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com.

day and Thursday, from about 11:00 till high noon, there were no scheduled classes. It was a magical time when the cafeteria would be overflowing with students, as was the student center. Sandra and I would have tea together and talk. One time, during out little tea breaks, I got the courage to confess to Sandra that I had gotten a D on our first chemistry quiz. Sandra then humbly told me that she had gotten an A. It was such an awkward moment. Then, something very special happened. Sandra offered to help me with chemistry, that we could study together. I didn’t miss a beat. I happily took Sandra up on her kind offer. And study we did. Sandra became a task master. She stretched me like a rubber band, showing me that I just needed to concentrate, to surrender my stubborn idea that chemistry was hard to learn. Sandra had an amazing gift to take a subject like chemistry and actually present it so that it made sense and was more easily understood. As we sat in the college cafeteria, sipping tea, I would say things like, “I’m never going to get this chemistry.” Sandra would simply reply, “stop that Richie. Just stop talking like that. You just need to focus more.” Well, with Sandra’s help, I got a grade of B on our professor’s next pop quiz. It was a true miracle. By mid October, I had fallen off the Grand Canyon for Sandra. The deep pain that I was feeling, from having read Penny’s letter, that we should see other people, had subsided quite a bit. I would sit at my desk in my bed

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CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES

MARCH 2024