Siblings by K. J. Janssen Page B

capitulated and her daughter, their only child, was baptized the first week of November, 1958 as Marilyn Meret Porter.
    Society tends to feel for the only child. They think that growing up with no siblings to play with or talk to, creates a selfish, lonely, and maladjusted human being. This would not be an apt description of Marilyn or her childhood. Growing up in the Porter household as an only child was a happy time for Marilyn. Her father did everything he could to spoil his “little angel.” Her parents felt she could do no wrong, but while they made sure she wanted for nothing, they were also of the school believing that if you truly want to raise a child that will turn out well you should spend twice as much time doing things with them and one-half as much money buying things for them.
    With a stress free life, she excelled in school and on the track team; running cross-country; winning the Stapleton County Gold Ribbon as outstanding athlete three years in a row. She had a large circle of friends and seemed to be the natural leader of any group in which she participated.
    Growing up, Marilyn traveled extensively with her family, touring the Mediterranean, the European mainland, and the Caribbean. She became fascinated by school systems in the countries they visited. She asked a lot of questions of the tour guides, who were more than happy to discuss the classrooms, teachers, materials, and hours of schooling in their native land with the curious American tourist. This curiosity eventually became an “aha” moment for Lynn, and in her senior year at high school she decided she wanted to teach.
    Another advantage Marilyn had as an only child was not competing with siblings for her parent’s resources, especially for tuition at the best colleges. She chose Vanderbilt University, Peabody College of Education and Human Development. Acceptance into the school was immediate, given her exceptional grades and the touching letter she attached to her application that explained how she had observed educational systems during her world travels and was convinced there was a unfilled need for Special Needs Teachers. She did her undergraduate and graduate work at Peabody, concentrating on that discipline.
    Upon receiving her Master’s Degree in Special Education, Marilyn began teaching at Marshall School for the Disabled, located five miles away from her family’s home in Wallington; a position she held until the birth of her first child, Richard.
    In 2009, Marilyn complained of heart palpitations and Ron took her to see Dr. John Hazleton, the Chief Cardiologist at the Center. Hazleton diagnosed her as having a mild ventricular arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm. A check of her family’s health records showed that ventricular fibrillation was prevalent in her family history, having caused the premature death of her grandmother and great-grandmother.
     
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    The affair between John and Marilyn had its roots going back several years. When Ron brought Marilyn into the office with palpitations, he immediately ran her through a battery of tests, all of which showed that she had a mild arrhythmia requiring medication to keep it under control. She was immediately put on a regimen of the anti-arrhythmia drug Mexiletine and within several days her sinus rhythm returned to normal.
    During her follow-up exam several weeks later, Marilyn’s gown accidently fell to the floor. She was slow to draw it back on, allowing enough time for John to stop her hands and draw her close. He detected no resistance; in fact, when he looked into her eyes, he knew there would be none. He quickly locked the door and disrobed. He was already aroused and wasted no time entering her and consummating the act. Neither spoke; they just looked at each other with the realization that this would not be the last time they would make love.
    At each subsequent appointment, scheduled once a month, they enjoyed each other’s bodies with no regard for right or