The Manager (13 page)

EPILOGUE

T
ina went back to high school. Back to Steinbeck and
Cannery Row
and all the things she couldn't stand. She completed her courses and even went on to college. My father trained and managed Jesse and, with some help from Tina and her salve, he won the world title and defended it many times.

I haven't seen Jesse in years; Bonita told me he bought a nice place in Truro for his family and that Meryl had turned her life around completely. And she heard that he'd married a young woman from Oklahoma.

Tina's married now too. But I know that she often thinks about the summer of 1979 and our trip to Boston. And Jesse. I am sure she thinks about him.

I became a teacher, and it was when I was moving from Sydney to Halifax that I came across the letter Dot had written to Johnny Carson. Tina and I opened it together.

Dear Johnny,

My name is Dot Valentine. You might remember me as Dorothy Dean. We met thirty years ago, in 1949, in Bar Harbor, Maine. I was eighteen at the time, and you weren't much older yourself.

We spent a lot of time together and I've never had such fun, before or since. I still live in Maine, have seven children and not much else, but I haven't missed your show once since it went on the air.

When a visitor came along this summer, Tina is her name, I knew it was my chance to get this letter directly to you. I've tried mailing letters many times, and have received fourteen autographed photos from members of your staff, but have been unable to reach you personally, to say hello and wish you well.

I hope you remember me.

God bless,

Dorothy (Dean) Valentine

It took several calls, but we finally got through to Mr. Carson and read the letter to him. He did remember Dot and even said hello to her on his program, not long before he retired.

I asked Tina if she thought Dot was watching. She said she didn't care, but by the look on her face, I could tell she really did.

T
he research and writing of this novel benefitted by support of an Ontario Arts Council Writers' Works in Progress grant.

Many thanks to Marianne Ward for her invaluable contributions, and to Paul MacDougall, author of
Distinction Earned: Cape Breton's Boxing Legends 1946-1970
(CBU Press).

Caroline Stellings

Caroline is an award-winning author and illustrator of books for children and young adults, including the best-selling Malagawatch Mice series from CBU Press. Her novel
The Contest
(Second Story Press) won the ForeWord Book of the Year Award and, along with
The Malagawatch Mice and the Cat Who Discovered America
(CBU Press), was a finalist for the Hackmatack Children's Choice award. Caroline lives in Waterdown, Ontario.

Also published by CBU Press:

The Malagawatch Mice and the Church that Sailed

Skippers Save the Stone /

Na Sgiobairean agus an Lia-Fàil

Around the Year with the Malagawatch Mice /

Feadh na Bliadhna Comhla ri Luchain Mhalagawatch