Contents

Chapter 1 – Miss Oliver

       Chapter 2 – Anthony and Paige

       Chapter 3 – Chronicles of Random Point

       Chapter 4 – Jealousy

       Chapter 5 – Aurora

       About the Author

       Reader Reviews about the Shadow Lane Series

Chapter One Miss Oliver (A Retrospective Random Point Story)

      One Friday afternoon in the early autumn of 1958, sunny Miss Oliver, who taught first grade at The Crescent Elementary school in Random Point, Massachusetts, was walking towards the teachers’ lounge with the amiable Mr. Johanson, who taught sixth grade, when both were witness to a small scene in the second floor corridor involving the strict, third grade teacher Miss Kranz and two of her female pupils. The little girls hugged the corridor wall, looking up at Miss Kranz with abject terror as she took turns shaking them by the shoulders and demanding to know what they meant by spitting at each other in her classroom.

      “But we were just saying ‘petunia,’” one of the children tried to explain.

      “Never mind that, you’re both disgusting!” accused the very thin and stylish Miss Kranz.

      It upset Miss Oliver to see a child scolded, no less manhandled, and she averted her gaze. But Mr. Johanson gave Miss Oliver a long, hard look, as they passed, not bothering to conceal his disapproval of her manner.

      “I want you to put your tablets on my desk, girls. I’m writing you both notes home,” said Miss Kranz to the trembling children.

      “Yes, Miss Kranz,” the two frightened girls replied and ran back into their classroom.

      Once they were well beyond the classroom of Miss Kranz, Mr. Johanson scowled, “What makes that girl so mean?”

      “Do you think she’s really mean?” Miss Oliver didn’t like to think badly of anyone.

      “One of those little girls’ father has an awful temper and will probably spank her tonight when she gives him that note to sign.”

      Miss Oliver felt a queer little thrill ripple through her core when Mr. Johanson mentioned spanking. She’d felt the sensation before, particularly while watching certain episodes of I Love Lucy and Wagon Train, and was certain that her own interest in the subject of spanking was naughty and possibly not to be shared with anyone. (Unless they brought it up first, as Mr. Johanson had.)

      “Don’t you approve of spanking, Mr. Johanson?” Miss Oliver asked daringly.

      “Oh, enthusiastically, but only for adults,” he replied, thinking how badly Miss Kranz needed one.

      “I’d love to see you spank that naughty Miss Kranz!” Miss Oliver giggled, accepting a cup of tea, which Mr. Johanson prepared for her in the lounge. “You’d probably do a very good job with those strong, pianist’s hands,” she added ingenuously, for Mr. Johanson was considered the most gifted musician on the faculty.

      “I wish you were the naughty one, Miss Oliver,” Mr. Johanson mused. “You’d be fun to spank!”

      “Me?” Miss Oliver blushed all over and hid her confusion by lighting a cigarette. She wore a white blouse, a light grey cashmere cardigan over her shoulders and a charcoal wool straight skirt. Her pumps were high enough to feel best when she removed them, but they set off her elegant legs to perfection. Miss Oliver had creamy white skin, a long, high, blonde ponytail and a 24” waist. Taken all together, she was far too young and lovely for Mr. Johanson to flirt with, but for the fact that he had never felt so attracted to a girl in his life.

      Miss Oliver was only 24, fresh from graduate school and