Sept 1986
It's hot in the Midwest, and dry, and no one has hope in the Cubs. Even on the 2nd day of life at JHS Nick is convinced that he's in good shape with Mr. Heilermann for Physical Science, seems he teaches all but one section of it and the other teacher doesn't care much for freshmen.
Nick had been feeling slightly ill, as if coming down with a mild cold, his mom said it was probably allergies, though he'd never been diagnosed, but a lot had been going on and he'd insisted on wearing socks and a T-shirt that came packaged with some blank cassettes, both of which contained too much polyester to be comfortable, in an effort to cut across the pretentious tendency of folks to dress up at the beginning of the school year.
After after pulling down the screen and asking for help pulling shades and cutting the lights, Heil flips on a slide projector that produces the color image of a rather fashionable young woman, right out of a catalog, moderately made up, intense gaze peering into the middle area of the room with the student desks all surrounded by those black lab tables with the cabinets and gas taps.
Her hair is unnaturally darker at the roots but not by much, color reminds Nick of Golden Grahams cereal. Eyes are that shade between blue and green that you can't define; she belongs to no one but herself, the kind that sings at the youth talent gatherings and you see always talking to the leader types.
The shot is only waist up but there's obviously quite a body involved. After pausing a few seconds to a few reactions here and there, a subdued wolf whistle, approving groans and girls whispering, Heil starts in, "Let me introduce you to Miss Sumption, first name Anna....Anna Sumption."
Into Nick's mind pops Anna Sumptuous but before he can get tempted to say it out loud Fred Bauer pipes up,
"Can I get her number, or...."
"You don't want it. She'll make a fool of you," Heil fires back.
"Wouldn't' be the first time..."
"Nor the last either, alright, listen up - I think you know where I'm going with this, yes I consult with my wife and daughter to find an image that grabs the attention of guys for obvious reasons and the gals for other reasons, someone you might want to talk to, or just look at, or maybe spite, whatever. In science it's easy to take things the wrong way at first, we have to keep asking questions, get past first impressions. You may look at this young lady and assume she's consumed with fashion, or power, or whatever her image may impress upon you. In reality she was hired by JCPenny to help point out how their in-store salon can help bring together a look along with their wardrobe, shoes -
One of the girls coughs, "K-MART" and gets a mixed reaction.
"Yeah yeah, and obviously, modeling is not my game but we all have a purpose in life. Our purpose is to get to the truth, not rely purely on assumptions. Now, we'll see that in science we do have to make assumptions, but they have their place - don't ever forget that."
Heil then flips off the projector light, leaving the fan on, then asks for the lights and shades to revert to their previous state.
Normally Nick doesn't have problems with distraction in a science class but that stock photo brought someone roaring back right when he needed his mind to take notes.
Sometime the previous year a younger couple began appearing in the Sunday morning service. Each week it seemed Irene had grown more interested in them, they're engaged and planning to get married at the church soon, Brad and Jennifer; he is taking business classes at the tech and she is a hairdresser at Pennys. It seemed these two usually got there right before service started, with her walking slightly out in front and holding his arm and then afterward never around longer than a few quick, passing conversations.
One week Nick got to talking to Brad while Jennifer was in the restroom, Nick was already interested in the electronics program at the 'twig' (branch campus, get it?), Brad really liked it there and had played some ball for the college league, not too tall but had a decent build.
It wasn't long before she bounces up to him, grabs his arm, and says something just for him to hear. Brad finishes his sentence as she looks around briefly then glances back at Nick and he swears, out of the corner of his eye she takes a longer look that could be interpreted as approval, right before Brad reaches for a handshake, good to meet you, we're joining her parents for lunch so see you soon.
Not long after that Nick's own folks are ready to head home, so they do, and it's not till after lunch, during the time when Ned and Irene always nap in place, holding down their recliners on a rainy afternoon, Tim is already down the street in someone's basement, Nick closes his bedroom door and bunkers down.
Just what the hell was that look she gave? In that short dress, well put together, as a stylist should be, he hadn't really checked her out, she's almost married and married is out of bounds, but then...almost, so does it count to explore the possibilities, that aren't remotely possible, at least by conventional wisdom, but to the mind's eye, is she fair game, up until their wedding?
When she floated up to Brad as she did that short beige dress knew just what to do, sheeeeeer energeee, it's all a conspiracy against his better conscience. He almost put on his dub of the Van Halen tape to play through the first side with Drop Dead Legs but prefers to keep things quiet in this kind of situation, especially with so many loose ends.
He fishes out a folded paper towel from the mattress and tries starting out with his usual haunts, girls at school who might be accessible if things lined up right, no idea how that would happen, in the shower, on a clandestine couch, someone's shed...in the church...loft? Fantasies are songs; fading in and out of their own world for a few moments at a time.
Then out of nowhere, just as the power curve started to show up, Jennifer floats in with that suspicious look, show me what ya got, the little beige dress is nowhere in sight but her bra, one of those you see when thumbing through a Sears or Penny's catalog and her hose still on, she's glad to take it into her mouth and from there it's fireworks.
Upon awakening Nick wonders if the wedding is for church folks or just friends and family.
This question fades into the first part of the week, until Wednesday when Irene mentions she and Ned are going, they'd like it if he would too, but thankfully Ned is there to intervene and gives him the choice of some seasonal yard work for a few extra bones.
That's the answer.
Brad and Jennifer take off for their honeymoon then Nick never sees them again nor hears any mention until the following spring, when word gets around that she has run off to Chicago with someone and they are divorcing.