Celeste and Lonnie had been next-door neighbors since the two had come home from the same hospital as infants. They played together as toddlers, went to the same preschool, and even played in Little League together. Then, Celeste moved to California. Lonnie was at an age when he might have stopped being such good friends with a girl, but since his friendship with Celeste was now only via e-mail, it was no social hardship for him to continue it. Over time, the e-mails grew briefer and less frequent. Then, one day when the two were juniors in high school, Lonnie received an e-mail from Celeste that would put into motion a complete change in their relationship. Celeste wrote to say that she would be coming north to Portland by train for an interview at the university that she expected to attend. "I'm looking forward to meeting you again, Lonnie!" she added. Lonnie, however, was hesitant about seeing her. Did they really have anything in common anymore? Nevertheless, Lonnie offered to pick Celeste up at the train station. When he arrived there, his anxiety heightened. What would she be like? What would she look like? Since he and Celeste had never exchanged photos, he had no idea what to expect. He barely recognized the lovely young woman who got off the train and approached him, right where he said he would be standing. "Lonnie?" she inquired. And then: "Lonnie, it is you! How wonderful to see you!" She hugged him fiercely and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. A smile slowly spread across Lonnie's face. He had been trying to convince his parents to send him east for college, but now he instantly decided that he, too, would attend school in Portland.


What is the location of the setting of the passage? A fishing community in Portland, Maine


Contemporary Portland, Oregon


California during World War II