What if Stan had crashed at the McCorkle’s after getting kicked out of his house? Like, I know Carla had left him by then, and run off with her hippie boyfriend, but what if Stan had left a good impression on Carla’s parents? What if he shows up a couple of nights after the science fair incident (maybe a Sunday night((maybe he spent the first two nights at the StanOWar, hoping Ford would meet him there and talk it out))), tear stains still visible on his face, and asks if he can stay on their couch for the night. What if Stan had seemed like a stand-up guy to them (he did save her from that creep at the movies). It’s not his fault their daughter eloped with a hippie, and they’d always liked Stan--he’d treated her right. So they take him in, ask him what’s wrong. Stan is still upset about everything, he can barely talk without the tears coming down again, but he tells them what’s up. They’re heartbroken for the kid. Appalled at Filbrick (but not as surprised as they could be...everyone knows Filbrick is a hard man, but kicking your son out...? they didn’t realize how hard until Stan showed up). Of course Stan can stay the night. They feed him well and set him up on the couch. 

That night Mr. and Mrs. McCorkle talk and realize they don’t know what’ll happen to Stan if he’s out there on his own. They don’t know where their Carla is, and that kind of worry has been eating at them for a while. They can’t bare to go through that with Stan as well, even if he wasn’t actually their son. They’d gotten close while the kids had been dating, and thought maybe Stan would be part of the family some day, before Carla left... They agreed to offer to let Stan stay with them. Mr. McCorkle said they can’t phrase it like a handout. Knowing the way the Pines boys were raised (and that general 1970s New Jersey spirit) that charity wasn’t something Stan would want or accept, they suspected he’d barely been able to come to them tonight. So they talked and decided to offer him a place to stay in exchange he helps them around the house and lawn. Frame it like they needed and would appreciate the extra help. Mrs. McCorkle agreed and they were ready.

The next morning, Stan got up early, ready to fold the blankets they’d lent him and steal away, but then he smelled something in the kitchen. Mrs. McCorkle was there, making something over the stove top, and it smelled heavenly. Pausing awkwardly in the entry way to the kitchen, he said good morning.

Mrs. McCorkle turned around, smile wide on her face, an apron on over her clothes. 

“Stan! I’m so glad you’re here. Can you help me with this? Flip these for me, I need to grab something from the fridge.”

Stan was unsure but walked forward. She showed him how to flip one pancake, and then let him take care of the rest while she nabbed a few items from the fridge and set them on the counter. Soon a loaf of bread joined the eggs, milk, and butter on the counter. Stan finished with the pancakes and turned back to Mrs. McCorkle. Before he could speak, she directed him to different tasks around the kitchen. Stan shut his mouth and hastily moved to get them done. He didn’t want to act like an ungracious guest. 

Finally breakfast was ready and everything was on plates ready to be served. Three spots were set, and Stan sat with them, thankfully. It was early--Mr. McCorkle still had about an hour until his shift started. Halfway through eating, when Stan looked relaxed enough and was digging in with enthusiasm was when they asked.

“Stanley,” Mr. McCorkle started. Stan looked up, syrup dripping down his chin. He hastened to wipe it away and finish his chewing before answering with a yes? to him. “We need your help.” Mr. McCorkle reached over the table to grab his wife’s hands. “You know my wife and I are older than most other parents of kids your age. Things have been harder on us, lately, especially in the last few months....” They all looked away at that, remembering with varying amounts of pain the night Carla ran away with her new boyfriend. “And we could really use some help around here. I’m gone most of the day, and I can’t be as much help to my dear as I should be.” 

Taking a deep breath he continued. “Look, son. We were hoping you could stay with us for a while. Help out around the house, take care of things for me while I’m at work, help the missus if she needs it. In return we’ll keep you and feed you along with us.”

Stanley was already shaking his head. “Look, I see what you’re tryna do here. I don’t need charity, I’ll be fine on my own. I’m sorry if I inconvenienced ya last night, but I’ll be on my way soon.” Stanley scooted his chair back, about to stand up, when Mrs. McCorkle burst out

“Stanley, no! Please, we care about you. Don’t see it like charity. See it as one more child I can’t stand to see be lost out there...We haven’t seen Carla in months. We don’t know if she’s doing okay. That hurts, Stan. It’s hurting more and more, every day.” She broke off for a moment, eyes filling with tears. Her husband came closer, squeezing her hand again for encouragement, nodding along in grief. “I’m sorry for the way things worked out between you two. But Stanley, we still care about you, and I don’t know if I could stand knowing you were out there, lost, just like her. Alone.” A sob broke through on alone and something in Stan broke even more. “Please, help us help you. I--we--can’t stand to let another child we love go.” Mrs. McCorkle was crying in earnest now, not even trying to hide them, her make up running and Mr. McCorkle murmuring in her ear to try and soothe her.

Stan sat back, amazed. He had no idea the McCorkles saw him like that. Sure, they’d been good to him while he was dating Carla, but he hadn’t realized how deep that affection ran, especially after the way things ended between them.

Standing up, he came over to the older couple. “Okay. I’ll stay,” was all he said. That was enough. Mrs. McCorkle stood up and hugged him, her tears turned to joy, tracking down his shirt. Mr. McCorkle stood as well and placed a hand on Stan’s shoulder.

“Thank you, son. That’s good to hear.” Mr. McCorkle smiled and squeezed gently, his happiness and relief evident.

This was something Stan had always loved about Carla’s parents. They were so much more emotive than his own. Sure, he knew his Ma loved him, but she also didn’t show as much real emotion as Carla’s parents did. And Pa...he never showed much of anything but anger or indifference. 

Mr. and Mrs. McCorkle, though. They were still holding onto him. Mrs. McCorkle’s tears were drying up, and she was running a soothing hand up and down his back. Mr. McCorkle had always called him ‘son’, but now the endearment took on a whole new meaning to Stan. He felt tears prick at his eyes as he realized how much the McCorkles are doing for him. He pulled Mrs.  McCorkle closer to him, whispering thank you under his breath.

When they all finally broke apart, there was nothing but red-rimmed eyes and smiles all around. Mr. McCorkle kissed his wife goodbye and headed to work. Stan helped clean up from breakfast and anything else Mrs. McCorkle needed. 

Later that night, they all discussed how he’d finish his schooling and if he was comfortable going back to that school and making arrangements to get him more than that one t-shirt and Stan was so overwhelmed with all of the love he was getting, he didn’t quite know what to think. But he knew he was in good hands, and he was safe and loved. That was more than he thought he’d ever deserve again, and he cried from relief that whole week because of it. 

Product Descriptions

American Homicide examines all types of homicide, and gives additional attention to the more prevalent types of murder and suspicious deaths in the United States. Authors Richard M. Hough and Kimberly D. McCorkle employ more than 30 years of academic and practitioner experience to help explain why and how people kill and how society reacts. This compressive text takes a balanced approach combining scholarly research and theory with compelling details about recent cases and coverage of current trends.

 Instant download by American Homicide 1st Edition by Richard M.Hough and Kimberly D.McCorkle Test Bank after payment. Download sample

Product Details

ISBN-13: 978-1483384146

ISBN-10: 1483384144

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Just finished a novel that I started with high expectations, Life After Life by Jill McCorkle. I mean, that's a good line, right? And the premise is an interesting one -- a hospice worker records her experiences with her charges.