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Dark Side of the Moon

Alison Most grew up in a small town in Alabama where nothing remotely interesting ever happened. At an early age she decided that she would leave as soon as possible but when she shared her thoughts on the subject during a junior high school geography class she encountered quite a bit of teasing which she didn't appreciate, so from that point on, she kept her plans to herself.

She was a good student, graduated from high school near the top of her class and that, combined with high scores on her ACT helped her secure a scholarship to a state university. Her parents were very proud to say their daughter was a college girl. They helped financially as much as they could but she still found it necessary to secure part time jobs and her favorite was playing piano at The University Club during Sunday Brunch. On big football weekends, especially when the team won, happy alumni proved to be very generous tippers. Sometimes she would bring in as much as $300.00 in a day and that money was not wasted. In a time when designer jeans and polo shirts were all the rage among college students, Alison dressed in jeans and tees from the local K-Mart. Not to imply she wasn't herself interested in fashion. In fact, she often felt very envious of the young women in her classes that were so much better dressed than she. But she was very much an eye on the final prize kind of girl. And the final prize was a one-way ticket out of Alabama. Alison was smart enough to know that would cost money. So she lived cheaply in college, worked hard, saved, and waited for her opportunity.

In the spring of her junior year, Alison's opportunity arrived. Her parents were horrified when she told them that she planned on doing her student teaching as part of a cultural exchange program in Paris, France. Alison's mom had never flown in an airplane and saw no real reason for anyone to choose to do such a ridiculous thing. Alison's dad had actually been in Paris during the war. He remembered it as a nasty city with rude citizens and assured her that Paris was no place anyone would ever choose to go. She disagreed and since she had the money to pay her way, her parents had no real alternative but to accept her decision. Just a few months later Alison left Alabama for Paris, France. It was her first trip on an airplane. She had requested an aisle seat because, to her, the people on the plane were far more interesting that the view out the window.

She arrived in Paris on a bright sunny morning

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