Time for Friends

Falls Bridge

Previous Ross Family update / Next Ross family update

October 2022

Micah Ross is 26 years old, and Janie Ross is 25.  Janie and Micah’s baby is due in December 2022 and Janie is in the third year of an Economics and Criminal Justice degree at Grand Pass College at Redmond.

Janie was making it through her classes and earning her credits, a day at a time.  The drive to Redmond was automatic now, and even the rainy, foggy day didn’t slow her down.

When she left, Micah was working in the greenhouse, staying out of the rain, and hoping he could put off the orchard work until it cleared up again.

Everything was going well with her pregnancy and Janie had been able to maintain her schedule, so far.  With less than three months to go, she wasn’t ready to relax yet, though.

The drive gave her time to think and try to absorb all the things she was learning and all the things she was feeling.

She was getting enough exercise; the doctor was happy with her weight gain and she got in several good walks a day.  Just the hike from the commuter lot to class was a pretty good walk all by itself.

Janie kind of watched the other students out of the corner of her eye sometimes, on the lookout for potential friends.  She hadn’t really seen any other students like her; most of them seemed younger, if not in age, in level of responsibility.  When she had worked with others in groups, they often wasted time she didn’t have.

She didn’t really have a lot of time for friendships, but if she ever saw anyone who looked like they might have something in common with her, she figured she’d ask if they wanted to study, or offer to buy them a coffee.

On the way home, she often stopped at the grocery store in Redmond.  By the time she got close to home, she was too tired to stop and figure out what they needed to round out dinner.

She was leaving the grocery store when she practically ran into Suzanne Preston.  Suzanne, Janie knew, was the long-term sub at the primary school in Falls Bridge.

“I didn’t realize you were going to school,” Janie said.

Suzanne explained that she was taking night classes, working on completing what she needed for her comprehensive certificate for primary education.  “We’ve probably been passing each other on the interstate for a month,” she laughed.

Janie and Suzanne chatted about their programs, and the drive, and adult education.  Suzanne was curious about Janie’s pregnancy, since she wasn’t at the point to give having babies serious thought, but definitely had a little bit of longing for that time to come.

On the drive home, Janie thought, Suzanne might be a good friend.  She’d have to ask her over for coffee.

• Only one more update to go before Janie & Micah’s baby will be born!  Next up is Yuki’s family in Grand Pass.