They had rehearsed outside and got to hold it outside. The weather was scrumptious for mid-June, the kind you take for granted while in the midst of a milestone event.
This had to be the longest walk in history of any commencement, as logistics required the 4-wide train to snake around a couple of buildings. Slow stride for half a mile, you get to take it all in several times over, and this way you get to savor the moment. Once he gets close enough he finds his green-eyed violinist sawing away and turning pages up there in the orkchester.
His folks had told him where they would be but he has no clue. Tim couldn't get leave this weekend but promised he'd be back soon, joy. He did have an aunt, uncle and a gramma. Back at Easter he told her she didn't have to make the trip but she pinched his ear so that settled it. His aunt an uncle on Irene’s side sent their regrets in a very ornate card with an equally generous check, but the vibe is they just like to show off.
Graduates get to their seats and someone had slipped in a small bottle of wine to pass around; Nick observes it smells like some kind of automotive product and passed on a sip. Then here come the faculty in their regalia, followed by the president, the grand poobah, God he looks like a pope.
When it comes time for the sheepskins, public service folks go first, then the medical types, including a notable DHT who drew quite a ruckus, tall hourglass blond with all the candy, short skirt and robe open.
At rehearsal she had been getting all the looks and comments, even though Nick was certain he hadn't seen her on campus before, maybe she was evenings, but he would have remembered, geez who wouldn't. They use the library for organizing the processional lineup and that put the handful Police Squad dudes in place before the rest of us, and remember, they are tan from spending a couple weeks in Ft. Meyers at an academy. The library had never heard such a catcall as those dudes, which included a couple from Nick's high school class.
But then one of the MET night students was chuckling after everything calmed down, he had turned to the girl and said, "Oh they do that every time I wear this shirt," and she about fell over.
Nick thumbs through the program, reads through the faculty and adjunct faculty list, the latter of which includes his classmates that had been asked to teach, granted, mostly older students that had started the program before him and weren't necessarily full time.
"And now, candidates for the degree of Associate of Applied Science..."
He gets to stand with the other orange-stoled graduates at the second highest level and can see Noreen holding her hands to applaud from the stand.
He takes his walk and forgets he has to pass the musicians, close enough for her to advise, "Don't trip!" He glances over and she sticks her tongue out.
Well, that part is done, he shook hands with the pope and the excellent Dean Richards, he'd sure come to appreciate her. When Nick started his program her title was director still, but the restructuring of the school had made her a dean, but she was still the same steady, low-key but dedicated presence. Seems her background had led an Engineering team in some company before she got her calling to education.
Remember to remove your tassel before launching your mortarboard. Final blessing. Amen.
You shake hands, exchange best wishes, see you around, even though you usually won't, then head to your family.
Now that the crowd is organizing into clumps it is easy to find 'em. First hugs Mom, shoulder hug from Dad, squeeze Aunt Nell, she's a peach, handshake with his uncle who slips him a folded 5-0, laughs about it and slaps Nick on the arm, then the the best for last, give Gramma June a good squeeze and lift her up without throwing her back out.
They talk about his future plans and the drive over, now nice the weather has been, need more rain, gonna figure things out in coming weeks, thanks for coming, see you soon.
Somewhere in the midst, Noreen had floated in with her fiddle case and slipped a card into the sleeve of his diploma and they did a side hug and he got a peck. "Noreen, (motions) Irene, Ned, Nell, Phil, and Gramma June."
Nick keeps talking to the men but is glad to see her laughing with the ladies, or at least, he hopes that's a good thing. She had taken off her robe and was wearing a white blouse this time, black skirt and the rest is history. Slight wave in the hair and she had it moussed or something. Those are some damn fine knees.
He hadn't gotten the chance to mention the lab position to his dad until now, and Ned said that's probably better than anything he'd see at the plant in the foreseeable future. Phil agreed,
"Kid we're sure you'll kill anything that gets in your way, great job Nicky." Good ol' Phil.
So the trio from up north was ready to head out, his folks talked them into meeting at a decent dairy stand about half a mile from campus. Nick said he might stop by and left it at that, but they all knew.
He took off his robe and mortarboard, and sent it all and his diploma with his folks.
Noreen starts, "Your folks seem great."
"Yeah they've come a long way."
"We need to work on you. Wait, those robes are just the plastic high school kind?"
"The finest money can buy."
"Well I need to drop this real one off, walk with me?"
They take their time.
"So, magna cum laude. Proud of you."
Nick just tries to bury a laugh.
"What."
Leans in, "mamma come loudly."
"Nicholas!" She pushes him sideways, "I need to have a talk with your poor mother."
"Nein. Verboten. So...the tape..."
"Yes I played it last night, more than once, you know I love it. Love the early Eagles, and...I know Def Lep, but some of those...who's the band that does the here I come again? That voice is familiar..."
"It's Tommy Shaw from Styx, he got together with Ted Nugent and one of the guys from Night Ranger, band is Damn Yankees. They're touring soon I think."
"We might have to go."
"Serious?"
"Huge Styx fan, and what's stopping us?"
He just looks at her.
"Ok, I just have to say, that was a...(lowers voice) balls out move...yesterday, and when Dr. Stone got into the act, I almost died, thought you had arranged it with him."
"No that surprised the hell out of me, I thought I was busted, is he a senior prof-"
"Try department head!"
"Oh man that's awesome, I hope you didn't get in trouble."
"He comes straight back to my desk, chuckling, well that was a bit of fun, I believe he fancies you, dear." She does his accent perfectly and Nick about has to lean on something.
"Laugh it up, fuzzball. I turned ten shades of red and I think he had mercy on me and walked away. I could kick your butt."
"Maybe. But it serves you right."
"Oh...yeah, I bet you took some shit for me giving you attention over there?"
Nick raises an eyebrow.
"Well that was very sweet, no one has done anything, I can't remember the last time anyone did something for me like that. I see you shaved, or finished shaving. Not sure which way I like better."
"That green top you had on yesterday made your eyes insanely green."
"You're welcome."
They walked on to the store room and deposited her robe. "Nick were you going to join your group at the thing?"
"I'd rather go there with you."
She beams. "Well I need to stop by my desk, you can join me."
They continue on, she asks, "so rehearsal was yesterday?"
"Yeah, been a long couple of days." Then he proceeded to relate the story behind the star DHT.
"So you got a good eyeful?"
"Yeah she's definitely two eyefulls, but not my type."
"So what is your...type?"
"Never thought of a type, I just know what I like. Either we get along or we don't."
She levels a look his way, "So do we get along?"
"A bit too well."
They continue on through some sculptures near her building, the steadfast Gelding Hall. The crowd is gradually thinning, the sun is low enough to produce the eventide glow on everything, especially her hair. The first kiss happens here, he holds the back of her head and helps support her violin. They embrace until they hear voices, then move on around the building. She scans to unlock the door and they take the elevator, exchanging just conspicuous glances, and slowly stride towards the department. She again scans in and they slowly stroll back to her desk. She gathers her things and he looks out a nearby window. Eventually she leans on his side, the resting sunlight peeking out behind a cloud.
"Nick, there's so many things I want to tell you."
"I want to hear all of them."
"We're both tired, go join your family, I'll head home and crash."
"Howbout we walk slowly to the parking lot."
"Deal."
They head out the same way, and he asks, "Do you have any classes this summer?"
"Possibly, they're waiting on registrar's."
"Do you work anywhere else?"
"I do some freelance stuff here and there, long story."
Nick leans against an elevator wall and touches her hand. "I'm starting to see your point about being tired."
"Well this is a huge release, or relief, we just finished up one hell of a quarter."
"How's it feel to teach again?"
"Not sure yet. Ask me after I do a couple more courses."
"Deal."
Before they leave the building he steals another snog. "Keep it moving, bucko." she warns.
They proceed toward the near-desolate parking fields, holding hands finally. "Are you in a faculty lot?"
"Please, those are for paying customers only."
"Yeah I heard."
"OK, that's me...am I the closest?"
"The white boat? What the hell is that?"
"'76 Cordoba, it's a classic."
"It's not a 400 is it?"
He just throws her the please look.
"Those things are dangerous, guys used to think of them as a booty machine and it would sometimes work."
He gives her an oh really look.
"No, not on me, stupid, can't stand those dipshits who think a girl owes them a good time..."
"My kind of gal."
She takes his arm. "Ok sport, I'm the black Celica over there."
"Sexy."
"Save it, another long story. It's your day, this one's on me."
They head toward the Celica. The breeze is turning cool as it heads in from the plains. She leans on his shoulder again.
"I never thanked you for helping with my paper."
"You know you didn't really need me."
"I do need you. And your notes were right."
Inquisitive look. "I expected you'd give me something pretty solid, I was struggling to think of something to say, and I get goofy like that when I'm nervous."
"Nervous?"
"And tired. Deep down I figured if you can't handle me you can't handle me."
"Oh I'll handle you."
This earns a look that makes it pretty plain he better be careful of making dares.
Nick lets it go. "So you like the Eagles..."
"Absolutely, hoping they get back together some day."
"I almost put Hotel California on the tape."
She looks at him expectantly, "You better explain that one Swanson."
"Well, McDonnell...it's because, well, after we first met, in my mind, seeing you on the stairs reminded me of the lady on the back cover -"
"Ohhh, the mystery lady..."
"Mmmmmhmmmm."
They make their way to her Celica, she unlocks it, puts her things in there, and he plants one on her solid, doesn't let up for several minutes, doesn't let her slither away, pulls her in air tight. It's the first time he's ever slipped into a trance with someone. No one drives by and honks, just the basking twilight and the gentle breeze. No more glass wall between them.
Eventually he draws a breath and lets her lean on her car. She opens her eyes, wipes off her mouth with a slight swagger,
"Nick if you keep that up you'll be stuck with me."
"I can live with that."
"Get your ass in the car."
She pumps the carb and starts it up, slight muffler noise but runs nice. They head over to his car.
Nick realizes he is running low on energy. "I think you are right about being tired."
"Yeah you said that already."
"I really mean it this time."
"Nick, I hope we can get together for a day thing soon, when we're fresh."
"Fresh works."
"You know where to find me, don't be a stranger."
He leans over, holds her face for a night kiss. "I was hoping the evening would go something like this."
She just holds the gaze and can't decide what to say. "We'll talk soon, dear."
Peck on the lips, he gets out, unlocks the Cordo-beast and gives her another one through her open window, she waves and heads off.
Nick sits in his car, finds his Damn Yankees tape that some girl gave him last year because she didn't like it, rewinds it to the beginning of Side 2, and heads out to the tune of Come Again.
He finds the gang still at the dairy place under an umbrella and they talk him into a tenderloin, the kind that has three times the diameter of the poor bun and looks like a funny little hat, it's delicious, and he's relieved that no one asks him about that gal.