Weds Sept 23, 1992
7:42 am finds our hero looking down at his lap. This manure-brown cloth-covered five wheel swivel-ly chair has had a lot of asses in it, now his average-build slightly slender sit-upon occupies it. There would have to be some kind of upholstery cleaner in the supply closet and why didn't he think sooner to give it a good douse on a Friday then use the shop's shop vac to move HIS ass to the top of the list. But then, for all he knows he might get to inherit a better chair and then have to start over.
To come to terms with all this he gets up and roams the building. Seems so formal with all the lights on, stage is set, ready for company. A few folks who got a good parking space are in the lobby areas, as he once was, staring into space or getting a head start on a textbook. One of them is zoned out with walkman headphones on turned up loud enough to clearly hear from a few yards away.
Goody and Norm are jawing in the hallway, they all have on their nametags.
"Well Nicko if nothing breaks today it won't be a first but stay ready, especially the 6809 stuff."
This was the second year using Gateway 486-DX25 in the small microprocessor lab, and these are finicky enough to go way into left field from time to time. Brian had set up a security scheme and even used special characters from the Greek alphabet as a user name, fun act to follow, so this was going to be the weakest link this term with the micro fundamentals class running simulations until they get their wirewound-pole interface boards ready to plug into a real deal 6809 on the lab’s center island. Worst case is someone would have to double up (or double-double up if they're already teamed) while Nick tries to untie some knots in DOS.
So he heads back to his office to, dunno, fire up some solitaire until it's time for the round of introductions in each class, will be fun to see if the instructors will have any new zingers ready. On the way through the scope lab he gets a warm chest whenever seeing one of those Gateway moocow boxes storing stuff here and there, he's hoping to score one next time they get a new system in, maybe when they refresh the PC lab down the hall, who knows.
The morning goes as planned and he's relived there aren't any female students that would prove, well, distracting, throwing a vibe, that gets so old when it's unwelcome. There's only one female and she seems to be a collected, thoughtful mom type, all business but mostly cool, almost a junior Sue.
At one point King G asks him to check on something with the computer lab and he finds Alan and Jeff at one of their desks looking at a a screen. Nick just stands there at first to assess the situation.
"Atttennnn-HUT"
Finally Alan looks up, "Hey man what can we do for you?"
"The usual, GK wanted me to make sure we're all set for the 223 group."
"Ahh, yes, got his list right here, want my notes?"
"Sherbert. Put it on my tab."
"Right ohh....OHHH did you see that strawberry blond in the OA group?" Office administration surely attracts the ladies, although, seems the dental hygiene group gets the finest, if you're into that kind of thing.
"Tight curls? maybe, those zoo parades they bring through all run together after a while."
"Yeah that's the one, too bad they won't be doing anything on the frame this quarter."
"Come to think of it, I think i did hear her say she was hoping some stud could reset her password soon." Nick has to hold his expression, he doesn't know where that came from, maybe a normally recessive gene of his brother's ilk suddenly woke up. Jeff busts up laughing but Alan just covers his heart.
"Dude!"
Nick just grins, "Alright gents, later days, thanks for the good word."
So he heads back to his cubbyhole and feels half vindicated and the rest is kinda like, as a kid, when he'd stepped on a cricket and immediately regretted it. He doesn't like to inflict harm but when that little shit likes to eye the ladies but never has a girlfriend, well...anyway.
He takes his seat and tries to find something on which to focus, but nothing needs done, computer games are stupid, and he'll want to grab lunch in a bit but no longer feels comfortable leaving his office unlocked as he has been. This is the first time he's thought about it, hell, if any of the faculty need something they have a key, not that anyone would do anything harmful but why tempt it?
Just the thought of taking a sip of coffee and finding it tasting like washroom soap would be a loss, not that he wants to go on the offensive, just, crap, who knows, this is just weird. In this gig you spend all summer getting part of the school ready for school and once school is in session you have to share the space, so maybe there's still some sanctity to be had, but, just scaled down. He could always lunch in his office with the doors closed but then someone could knock, might be Noreen but then might not and he'd have to see what's what.
Speaking of Noreen, he tries calling her, lets it ring the three times before the assistant picks up then forgets it. This being the first day it's a good idea to sit with his department and stay in the loop, at least today, for solidarity until things get into a rhythm, so when they get ready to head over he locks up and goes with, and they manage to find seats and Nick grabs the last fish sammich that looked lonely there by itself beneath the heat lamp.
Once they sit down Nick can't resist, "So those heat lamps to keep the sammiches warm, do those emit enough UV to be a cancer risk?"
The instructors look at each him, then each other, Norm finally speaks up, "Better keep sunscreen handy before you reach next time."'
GK gets serious, "Pretty sure those are so red they won't have hardly any violet, the idea is heat, not killing germs."
"What if I want a germ-free bun?"
Goody: "Ask for some Lysol."
And so it goes.
The afternoon set goes as planned, 2 introductions at 1, nothing at 2 so he chills for a bit. Right before the lab starts at 3 he thinks to check for mail, might be a catalog, and finds two messages, one from Noreen, one from his dad to call him at work. The second of those can't wait, he asks GK if he can have a few mins and that's fine of course.
Ned is at his desk. "Hey, sorry to bother you."
"No problem, should I be scared?"
"Just know your mother is very upset and may not be feeling up to cooking, or well, even eating much."
"Is she okay?" Nick realizes this is a dumb question, then adds, "I mean -"
"Well, she got a call from Betty Parish, not sure you ever met her, she's one of the long-timers at Faith."
"Ooh, something at your church?"
"Yeah, it's pretty bad." Nick can't imagine what would top what they'd already gone through.
"It would have to be."
"Pastor ran off with someone, a very...young...someone."
Nick pauses again. "Ouch."
"Yeah, midlife crisis or just closet scumbag, I don't know what's up these days."
Nick just figures that stuff was just hushed up in the past, but that's not important right now. "Should I call mom?"
"I offered to stay home today but I think she just needs to be alone. I will probably order a pizza tonight, we'll get her favorite in case she wants some. Are you going to be home?"
"I had planned on it, but Noreen left me a message too, I haven't talked to her today."
"Ok, whatever you do just - and I know you will, but - try to be supportive, know what I mean?"
"I think so."
"I know you do, alright, tell that rotten boss of yours to make me some good recruits for once, see you in a bit."
"Will do thanks Dad."
Nick hangs up, stares into space for a second, but needs to move, so he heads out his right-hand door into the back of King's lab to practice his fly on the wall until needed.
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He arrives home just after 5:30 to find Irene in her bathrobe picking at a slice of "sausage mushrooms peppers light sauce" from Needle Bend Drive Through (open 24 hours for your convenience). Nick has rarely seen her in this shape and puts a peck on her forehead.
"Sweetie you could have done something with your gal."
"I didn't get a hold of her till I was ready to leave, they're doing a cookout but we agreed I should come home tonight."
"She's a good lady. Remind me what she sees in you?"
Nick sticks his tongue out and grabs a plate to nuke-wake a couple slices.
"How was the first day?"
"Predictable. Stuff will need to break another day."
"That's the spirit. I'm tired of things breaking."
"I know, I'm sorry mom."
"It's the world, Nicky. Tell me more about your day."
"Not much to tell, I met the new gang and realized the need to lock my office more."
"Did something happen?"
"No, just..."
"Yeah it's not an empty building anymore."
"Nope, enrollments are right where they hope and projecting more."
"That's good."
"OH, Noreen says she wants to get lunch with you sometime, guess she wants to talk about your favorite son."
She leans in studiously, "and what's Timmy got to do with it?"
"Yeah yeah, don't quit yer day job."
"I'll be here all week."
"You should get out of the house, go visit Gramma."
"I need to, but I sure don't want to see the house when I return."
"Oh I'm sure Dad and I would get it mostly straightened up right before you get back."
"Mmmhmmm, there would be no right about it." She stares into space.
"Wanna see a movie?"
She just stares at him. "Nick, seriously? That would be nice. What's playing."
"Might be able to find Wayne's World somewhere."
"Howbout that Whoopie Goldberg, the nuns..."
"Sister Act?"
"Sister Act!"
Sister Act – since he was rather preoccupied the other time he’d been exposed to it.
Ned stays home and falls asleep watching Sports Center.