After their umbrella-shade lunch they take a drive around the lake, to fill in the blanks from the previous limited vantage, and see the beach from the side they were staring at from inside the water. Nick finds out what it feels like to be the one riding in a jeep with a babe, a cool babe. A thinking babe. A someone. The slightly humid air feels like the water did earlier, it bathes and gives buoyancy. Everyone about seems carefree as they are. Summer is supposed to be this.
She parks it and powers down near a pier, in the shade and they take a short walk.
Then they return to the beach and get back into the water, there's more activity now, prime time, but plenty of room for everyone, they just float, play tugboat, and let innocence take center stage.
"So were you a feisty girl?"
"What do you mean were? So, WERE you a stubborn child?"
She floats to his side, he holds on to her, she launches off and swims a few yards, then back, repeat. The clock moves when you don't watch it, but at some point the sun's angle taps you on the shoulder.
"Nick what do you think? I was hoping we could take our time getting back, grab another bite, then see the sun setting again from campus."
"I think you have something there."
They slowly make their way to shore. "Oh," she adds, "I wanted to stop by the drug store for something, then we'll come back here for a few for the restroom."
"Everything OK?"
"Yeah, but just to be careful, lake water and all."
"Ohh, OK."
"Yeah."
So they pack up once again and head back over toward the main drag, which has a Walgreens or such.
While in the turn lane the jeep starts to stutter, and she guns it to get into the lot, where it nearly stalls out. They get to a spot and it dies before she can shut it off.
"Rut Roh." she says. Tries to start it up but it won't catch. Battery seems fine.
Nick gets out and pops the hood, removes the intake. "What's the gas gauge say?"
"Just over half, was gonna stop on the way back."
"Wish I had something to stand on to see down the throat, but can you tap the gas?"
She does. Nick doesn't hear anything flow from the jets. "Are there any tools on board?"
They find two screwdrivers and a pair of channel-lock pliers. Perfect. He's not entirely comfortable with this, but does it anyway, takes off the fuel line from the carb. "OK, can you try turning it over, just for a few seconds?"
She does that and his instinct was right, unfortunately, "Shit. There's no gas coming from the pump."
After a few quiet seconds he finds her just head down against the wheel. "Noreen? Hey..."
She just shakes her head slowly.
"Come here," and he scoops her off the seat.
She draws a breath, forlorn, "I wanted this day to be perfect."
Nick puts everything back where it was and closes the hood while she thinks. He puts his arms around her. "Hey these are older machines, it happens."
Slight smile, "glad you see it that way." Then thinks a bit. "Is there a pay phone around here?"
Nick locates one outside the drug store. "Yep straight ahead six O'clock."
Noreen grabs her purse and they proceed, digs out a calling card and punches in numbers, waits for ringing, "Hey, is turdball there?" She listens for a bit, looks around, then finally, "OK, well the fuel pump in this thing is out. I don't think he'd want anyone else working on it, so...yeah, well, we're at a pay phone right now, should I try in an hour? OK, thanks hon, will do." Hangs up,
"Well he's not around and she's not sure when he's getting back."
"I can see if my folks can come get us, but I guess then we'd have to leave it."
"Nick I'm so sorry."
"Hon don't be sorry, this is an adventure, it's nice out, we're here."
She kisses him for the untold time today. "Well, that's a last resort, " pointing to the motel across the lot. "I'd put it on my card, of course, and settle up with my brother later."
"I've got some cash too if we need it."
"Nick, this isn't your problem to solve."
"Still."
"Feels like we're stuck."
"I'm gonna call home."
She insists on punching in her card number first, it rings, Irene answers.
"Hey."
"Hi Honey, are you two having a good day?"
"Yes we are, just hit a snag though, fuel pump went out."
"Oh, is someone coming to get you?"
"We will find out in about an hour, she borrowed her brother's jeep."
"I can see why on a day like this. Is there someone you can stay with if he can't get to you?"
"Well, we'd have to stay in a motel."
"I understand sweetie, these things happen. Just keep us in the loop, it will all work out."
"I know, we aren't worried, she just wanted the day to be perfect and is kinda down."
"She seems like a good lady Nick, just be a gentleman, I know you are."
"I will Mom-"
"Oh, before I forget, your professor called today, about the job, said he wants to set up a meeting with you and the dean, what's her name?"
"Sue Richards, wow, cool."
"Yes I agree. Well I won't keep you, just call when you find out."
"I will, love you."
He hangs up.
"That was sweet, Nicholas."
"Well, she seems cool if we have to check in over there, told me to be a gentleman."
She hugs him. "We might as well take a walk around the storefronts."
They change into better shoes and take a stroll within eyeshot of the jeep, holding hands, not saying much. The world around them is still bustling, people making supper in the surrounding homes, grilling out.
"So, if he can't make it up tonight, we can just check in then hit the drugstore for some things, to brush our teeth and stuff."
"Think we could make it clear to KMart?"
"That's a good idea, they might have a cheap T-shirt to sleep in."
"I'm liking this more and more."
"Nick you're incorrigible. I'm going to try to behave, I can't speak for you, but I didn't plan it his way."
"I know, let's just relax and watch some tube. You know what's on later..."
"TNG!!"
"And we won't have to be over the phone."
"Here we are colluding...I still need to call him one more time to be sure he's not on his way already."
When they make it back to that phone it had been just shy of an hour, and of course Bart was nowhere to be seen. "OK, we'll go ahead and check in and I'll get you the number, OK, thanks, bye."
"Should we push it closer to the motel?" he asks, then they do just that, under a light and snap the cover on. She re-deploys her knife before they go any further.
They find the motel clerk next to a fan, feet on counter, and staring glass-eyed at a small black and white TV. He asked to see Nick's ID, even though his beard had come back, and Noreen grabs it and says, "thanks for telling me when it was your birthday dork."
"It never came up."
She just rolls her eyes and asks for two beds, then adds she's a restless sleeper before making a goofy face back at Nick. They are pretty much all vacant ahead of the weekend but choose closest to the office with a clear view of the vehicle.
Before they get a look inside she muses, "I'll probably sleep on my beach towel nomatter what."
Nick agrees. They unlock to find the expected, drab walls, institutional drapes, that timeless dank formaldehyde aroma, but everything seems to have been cleaned since the last use.
"Hey I'm gonna go ahead and shower, do you mind?"
"Knock yourself out."
She disappears into the bathroom so Nick lies back on the furthest bed and clicks the TV on.
About 20 minutes later, after he's dozed off a couple brief times, she emerges to find him staring at MST3K. "Oh I love these, they're such smart asses. Hey I'm ready when you are."
"I'm all set babe."
She gives him a wry smile. They head out, hand in hand. Once past the drug store, she asks, "Have you hacked any Pentagon stuff with that modem yet?"
"Well I found a few utilities here and there, and that Jameson has a vibrant underground Chess club that exchanges barbs on the newspaper board. I keep expecting something dark or pervy but I suppose they'd put the kill on that."
"One would think."
"So could two home users with modems connect to each other?"
"Absolutely. Yeah you can exchange files, albeit small ones, and slowly, and type back and forth for what it's worth."
"Hmmm. Can you connect to anything at the campus?"
"I think the VAX has a modem line but I haven't logged into that for months, might - OH, did I tell you what Mom told me? Goody called and wants me to meet with Sue Richards about the lab tech."
"NICK!!" She jumps on him and they nearly fall over.
"Don't take it so hard."
"Shut up you dick, that's freakin' awesome and you know it."
"Well I don't know if it's an interview or what, I'll talk to him after we get back."
She just keeps her hand on his arm. "I don't have to say how proud I am of you."
"We'll see how it goes."
"I know you aren't the excitable type, it's just so cool. They gave me a solid 80% plus of having a couple lectures in the fall."
He kisses her forehead. "So what got you into English Lit?"
"Just always loved the accents."
"I can tell."
Sticks out her tongue. "It has a fairy-tale kind of quality, and so much of later fiction and life as we know it are based on those works."
"Holy Grail."
"Oh Holy Grail...yes, and even more subtle things, similar to the nursery rhymes we all know, stuff like that, it's impossible to separate out from our culture, it's so ingrained."
"Wish I would have had you in high school."
"Umm..." and she raises an eyebrow.
"You know what I mean."
"Who all did you read?"
"Senior year I had Mrs. Walloughby, from, well, a few counties south of here. I got along with her great outside of that class, but, God...got off to a rough start with BAYOH-wulf."
"Oh my, that would tend to let the air of of things."
"I couldn't tell you a thing about the story. Ended up pulling a B+ out of the semester. MacBeth was a little better but I think we had hit on that in an earlier year."
"Yeah love Shakespeare of course, you always catch something new. Howbout Hamlet?"
"Ahh, Hamlet was the year before, different instructor, she was awesome, we did some parts when this drama group came in."
"That always helps."
"Well it's about an angry young chap so I could get into it, he was pissed and someone had to go down."
"I'm impressed with that synopsis, Nick, umm, should I be concerned?"
"I think we covered that this morning,"
"Uhh, yeah, fair point."
Nick just looks ahead at the sidewalk.
"You OK?"
"Just remembered, before Hamlet we did Orwell."
"Oh GOD, Orwell is so depressing, I avoid him like the plague."
"Humanity at it's worst, but...Julia...."
"Julia?"
"That was just after our encounter...they were sneaking around, finding, well, the only love they would ever know."
Noreen pauses a bit. "Nick, I don't know what to say. That's...wow, never thought of it that way."
"It brought some hope to the story for me, well, for a while..."
"Do you see any scars up here?"
Another peck on the forehead and they press on, KMart within sight, then they move over for a couple juveniles on bikes, one who shouts, "WHY DON'T YOU FUCK HER? I DID!"
Noreen whips around, "Hey you better get back to your mommy I bet she's horny again by now!"
Nick is blown away, "Oh my GOD!"
She's still looking backward, and before he can look for himself she covers her mouth, busts in laughter, and has to kneel on the sidewalk, "oh that dumbass."
Nick looks back to see one of the kids lying on the sidewalk, next to his bike, and the other one riding around waiting for his buddy to get up.
"That little shit turned around to flip me off and ran right into that post," and she can't stop laughing.
He gathers her up to her feet, "let's get the hell outta here."
They continue on to the Mart of K, where the air conditioning hits the spot. They grab cartage and head toward HBA. Tooth brushes, Colgate, deodorants, he asks her if she still wants to fulfill the drug store visit and she does, can't hurt, he resists the urge to ask to watch. They stroll toward the softlines and she finds a $3 clearance T shirt with a mermaid.
"Will this do? And why did the suggestion peak your interest?"
"Those legs..."
"Whatever, although they have gotten me this far I guess."
"Back in junior high track it was a treat to see a girl running in a t-shirt long enough to hide her shorts. We called it: inspiration."
She pokes his left rib and he jumps. "Did you want to look for anything besides inspiration?"
"Think I'll grab some boxers."
They head back to the men's and he finds standard red/black scotch pattern. "Eh?"
"Will it all fit in there?"
"Both of us?"
She grabs the boxers and throws them in the cart. "By the way, all this is getting charged to my brother, no arguments."
"I'm still getting us dinner."
"’Kay."
After checkout they still had to pick something from ye olde restaurant rowe. He points to Taco Bell just because it's closest, but
"That always gives me the shits," she warns.
"Well there's the little Chinese place,"
"How about some other time, I have a wok by the way."
"There ya go. Didn't we pass a Wendy's?"
"Oh I could go for a baked potato. Are we gonna just grab n go?"
"I'll grab you go," and she jumps clear before he can get a hold of her.
There's no blood or carcass at the scene of the bike wreck, and they agree in hindsight they – supposedly being adults - should have waited around to make sure the kid got up. They gradually find the parking lot, the jeep, and the motel just where they'd left it, just not as well lit and maybe a tad cooler.
"I didn't see a sign, does our fine hostelry even have a name?"
"We'll make one up if we have to."