FACE IN THE CROWD

created by OC,SH’s founder & Erika E, while in college, spring 1995
further written by OC,SH’s founder & now adapted for publication here

LAST TIME:
Setting the stage & plots of the timeline’s 1st 3 months

TALE BEGINS

Month 1, Week 1, Day 1-3 (same day)

Amy is visiting Christine at Christine’s home. Christine is confiding in Amy about her troublesome marriage to Carl. Amy asks if Carl is drinking; Christine says the troubles are nothing like what Michael & Jackie endured before their divorce when Michael was an alcoholic. Christine adds she doesn’t think another woman is helping Carl (like Cathy helped Michael recover), but is not sure.

Amy leaves to go visit Jake, with whom she is having an affair. At the same time, Erika is advising Laura about her husband Jake’s affair with Amy; Erika tells Laura she saw them together about a week ago.

At Manchester University, after discussing it with Michelle, Jenna decides to do her counseling psychology project with Alicia, who has multiple personalities because she was molested by an uncle in her childhood. [Over the next month, conversations between Jenna & Alicia reveal Alicia’s volatile childhood.] Michelle then contacts Alicia to discuss it with her & invite her in for her 1st meeting with Jenna.

Carl arrives home & immediately beings arguing with Christine, mostly about trivial stuff. Donnie overhears his parents’ fight & leaves the house to try to hide. Outside, Donnie meets Tammy, a relative newcomer to Manchester AZ. Tammy acts as if she is just passing by the building, when, in reality, she has been snooping around trying to spy on her sister, Christine. A snap-decision leads Tammy to kidnap Donnie, planning to “find” him later. She decides to do this when she realizes it would be a great way to get Christine’s attention (more like take away her happy life) &, in the process, pretend to help 1 of Matthew’s relatives to get him to “see” & like her.

At Erika’s place, Erika sends Adam to Boulevard Park to play while Barry recuperates at home from an illness. Meanwhile, Jake returns home to find Laura there in tears.

When Carl & Christine discover Donnie is missing, they assume Donnie ran away & immediately blame themselves. They contact family members, including Jenna (their daughter & Donnie’s brother), interrupting her 1st meeting with Alicia.

Thinking she has gotten herself into more trouble than she can handle or afford, Tammy calls Erika, her new friend, for help. At 1st, Erika isn’t keen on the idea, but then realizes helping Tammy would hurt Michelle. So, after Tammy & Erika meet, Erika hides Donnie in a safe place to buy time to devise a plan to help Tammy in the long run.

When Erika returns from hiding Donnie, Tammy greets her at Erika’s front door. As they enter, they see Barry (sick) lying on the couch. While Erika & Tammy are discussing plans, news comes on the radio about Donnie missing with a cash reward offered for his safe return.

NEXT TIME:
(same day), starting with Month 1, Week 1, Day 4….