Adventures With Jean: Striking up a friendship with an older writer meant accepting the risk of getting hurt.

This article, titled "Adventures With Jean: Striking up a friendship with an older writer meant accepting the risk of getting hurt," recounts the author's experiences as a graduate student in the 1970s, where they formed a friendship with Jean Stafford, a novelist and short story writer. The author describes Jean's scarred face from a car accident and the cautious approach they took in building their friendship due to the age difference and Jean's previous marriages. The article highlights their shared moments, Jean's storytelling, and their attempt to sue a newspaper together. The author reflects on Jean's vulnerability and the impact of their friendship, which ended with Jean's passing. [Extracted from the article]