X. 7 years ago…

Cooper graduated high school as valedictorian.  Most of his teachers were glad to see him go because most had to admit he was smarter than they were.  Although he never boasted about it but just by him being himself they all had come to realize it.  Jo Baldwin never let Cooper take advantage of that fact.  He wanted his son to enjoy being a youth as long as possible. But on graduation day he had to admit, his son was no longer a child but about to become a man.  Several colleges had come knocking and Cooper decided to go back to California.  But first, he was going to have the best summer.  He called his immediate plan the “George Bailey” tour.  Named after the character in It’s a Wonderful Life, Cooper planned on traveling the world for a few months with Malone to take in sights, sounds, and tastes.  They planned on living and experiencing as much as they could possibly cram in.  Then, as he promised his dad, he would go to school while rooming with Malone.  It was the perfect plan.  It was all scheduled to begin the day after graduation.