Friday Sept 18, 1992
Noreen had stopped by campus and joined some Engineering Tech types for lunch. When she could get Nick alone she pulled a cassette from her purse,
"Play this in headphones when you have a chance to give it full attention, you won't be disappointed."
He agreed and didn't get a look at it till back in his lair, a Maxell 120-minute with a neatly printed label, but not in her hand, ZAPPA - JOE'S GARAGE I, II & III. Somehow he knew this has to be an Arden thing, bespectacled and reserved, handles some of the office stuff for the shop although word has it he's one hell of a welder.
So after supper Nick figures it's a fine time to chill out, tomorrow is busy enough, kill the lights, close the door and let the music do the rest.
He's never heard much of Frank's music save part of an old SNL rerun, lots of jazzy guitar and a big band standing around. One of the 80s metal mags had an interview and showed Frank with a short haircut with milk and cookies, must have been around the time he took on the dumbass PMRC. At that time Zappa seemed too adult so he didn't read the article but it was cool they included him.
The two hours just float by, although not without the sensation he hadn't had in years of being really glad no one else can hear this, damn. Who would have thought to put these kinds of thoughts against groovy music, and that guitar, sometimes it rocks hard, sometimes it just swings, so carefree but seems to have a purpose, like taking a walk in the woods and the trees seem to know things they can't tell you, there will never be an era like this again.
After that's over it's time to pee and might as well try the BBS sites, he's even thought of taking up chess, he wouldn't have to look far for someone to kick his ass at it, gotta start somewhere, as his dad says, it builds character.
The last track, Rosetta, just had to bring up his first, well, some might say conquest, he's still not sure what or whom was conquered that night. Although there was definitely a muffin involved.
Someone had uploaded a new DOS game but it would take longer to pull than he's willing to tie up the line, need to see if the gal wants to ride along tomorrow.
Around 9:30 it seems late enough to catch her, although he secretly hopes for the machine.
Turns out he's in luck, after the beep, in a sinister loud whisper,
"This is the Central....SchrOOOOOtenizer...at this point Joe...I mean, Nick...I mean...this girl is really messing up his head and he needs to know about tomorrow....you know what i mean..."
And then follows that with some improvised jazzy sounds until the machine times out.
About 10 minutes into TNG the phone rings.
"I take it you enjoyed that little excursion?"
"Well I'll never look at artificial life forms the same again."
"I think you better not look at them PERIOD. By the way I had to press my ear against the machine then when you started messing around I jumped a mile, nice going, dipshit."
"We aim to please. So what's the outlook?"
"I'd like to go with you if you can swing by, that library has some neat memories and I wouldn't mind just, you know..."
"Good enough, see you around 8? I can bring some baked goods."
"Honey you're the greatest, I'll make coffee."