fork in the road chicken dogs respecting decisions pain snake influence farm camping elementary school Stephen love getting lost advice Margaret second grade minibus apples Bessie rehab disappointment apple orchard parents draft army assignment vacation Mary address cockroach family pool nurse life cycle broken bones hot air ballons vocation nature Camp Crowder swimming courtship Florida trains tall diet learning murder pet Dorothy hillbilly health David Girl Scouts frustration fall food basic training doodlebug close call anger political correctness Mardelle medical discharge hospital Susanna Easter dinner Dick woods adventure insider bunny values phonics cancer work Catherine football easter eggs Sarwar accident speech Granny signal corps surgery PETA teacher Boy Scouts Momma life Louisiana walking reunion Maine trip hurricane thoughts