Saturday October 17, 1992
Nick managed to fit into the red Hawaiian shirt and a pair of white pants from yesteryear and is trying to wait till his counterpart arrives before making an appearance.
In the back of his mind that shirt would some day come in handy and so he kept it near the wall in his closet, just had to wipe dust off the shoulders, then after realizing it had probably never been worshed, our hero snuck some Woolite up to the upstairs sink and let it hangar dry. Back when he got it at Pennys it seems Irene had been worried about laundry bleed, which it did bleed profusely in the sink.
So take that, um, laundry.
The pants, he has no idea how they got in his closet but they might just be the only white ones he ever had, they must have sounded like a good idea at the time. Ned will surely ask where's the ice cream cart. For some reason they didn't need worshed.
This ensemble actually fits pretty well, he must get enough exercise from campus walking, occasional bicycle and acute paranoia.
The past two days featured the letter drops but wasn't greeted by April either day, evidently, as Thursday's note explained, she just thought it was sweet and wanted to get in on the act.
Deej related long days that went by quickly, she hinted thinking about their times, past, present, and future but the last one is mostly in jest. Still plenty of little snickers and teasing along the way, such a joyful narrative to life.
Mostly she riffed on his getting electrified and seemed to have put a lot of thought into motifs of shooting stardom waning into a pathetic has-been with no remaining hair or teeth trying to plug in the amp at a bus station for tips.
He'll have to ask if she's ever seen Spinal Tap. She’ll say, “Huh?”
The radio and guitar got equal use this as Nick had almost made a contact on 21 MHz during daylight today but the other station out on the west coast faded out before they could finish, but he'll still log it and try to send the card. Logging contacts is no longer an FCC rule but he still wants to be official and got a book from RadShack while he still has his discount. It now contains a total of 3 entries, counting the new one on 7.1 MHz from last night with Walter from near Minneapolis.
It's a nerd's life. Sometimes he tries to catch Python on PBS but that seems a little hard now.
Note to self: Rent the Spinal Tap movie and trick Deej into watching it.
So he's well rested and listening to the 14 MHz band, on which he can't yet transmit, when the doorbell rings. Surprisingly, or maybe not, it's his leading gal.
Responding to the summons he flips off the rig and tries to make a slow, maybe suave, grand descent. His eyes find Deej and he can't help but grin as she does.
Irene speaks up first, "What are you kids up to?"
Ned chimes in, "Yeah, is this Miami Vice?"
Deej just shakes her head, "Now I've seen it all." She's gone nuclear with a denim jacket, and yes, OH yes, the long denim skirt.
"I should have taken bets," Nick fires back.
"Mmm hmm, bring back any memories?"
"Don't tell me you wore that much makeup."
She cocks her head, "Depends on who's looking."
"Touché."
Irene pipes up, "Alright you two, get over by the fireplace, you know this calls for a picture."
They look at each other and shrug, then take their places without uttering a word.
Ned ends up taking the shots, evidently he has the better eye and doesn't cut off heads.
Deej takes Nick's arm and seems to know how to get angles while he just stands there like some bawdy lawn statue.
After a few flashes it's declared enough and Deej breaks character, "Irene it smells wonderful, need any help?"
And so they head to the kitchen and Ned just shakes his head and grabs some paper, but the doorbell rings as soon as he does.
Deej heads back in and toward the door.
Ned opens it and they all greet the Eversoles, which was, well, never something they never did very often.
Deej greets her parents then re-introduces Nick.
Nancy gets a bright look, "You kids got all fixed up, that's so neat."
"Yeah I love that shirt Nick, you look very relaxed," adds Dean.
Nick and Deej exchange glances.
So for a few minutes the gals gather in the kitchen, males in the living room and Ned manages to keep the conversation going. Dean still manages an RV-ish factory and never seems to age, probably from squeaky-clean living, seems impressed at how well Nick has done.
Some moments simply take on a Norman Rockwell quality.
Nick manages to steal a glance at Deej now and then, the red-carpet way she cocks her head...she's playing a role? With that eye shadow and a couple of free-dangling curls, rest of her hair is to one side, maybe she's doing this to cope, but either way, it's fun to have fun with surreal situations.
Pretty soon it's meal time and Ned says the ecumenical blessing. Supper is a bit of everything a midwestern king would expect being passed around like on a holiday.
The kids get seated together at one end and Deej seems to avoid eye contact, probably to avoid cracking up, but she's keeping a keen ear on the discussions, mostly about finding a new church, what else.
At some point Nancy mentions their Samantha, and Deej finds her moment,
"Mom you know I wish I could have been here," then punches her palm with fist.
Nick reacts slightly and raises an eyebrow at her hands.
Nancy giggles, "You just scared poor Nick."
Nick pipes up, dryly, "Wouldn't be the first time."
Deej tries to make a menacing face and holds a butter knife towards him.
Irene: "Dear, use a steak knife, that thing will just make a mess."
Ned (after swallowing): "There's a filet set in the cupboard, don't expect much to live on, though."
Each line draws more howls, and any tension left in the room is now history.
Dean and Nancy mention they're thinking of getting cable TV, how bad can it be?
Nick and Deej finally exchange glances again.
It goes on as they pick their baked chicken pieces off the bone. These are always a lot of work but somehow make one feel at home. Once the plates and silverware are in the kitchen sink the 'kids' escape to the porch.
Deej walks on ahead.
Nick inquires, "What do you think?"
She turns around and smiles, "Let's not think, DEAR."
"Plan."
She takes a few breaths. "We needed that laugh."
"Always."
"Umm...."
"Yeass?"
After a pause, "After my parents leave, can I just, see, your room?"
"For a nickel."
She rolls her eyes, "Well we know what that gets me."
He thinks a moment and motions to the door, "Ready Freddie?"
"If we must." She's obviously tired from the week.
Nick parks on the couch and she checks in with the ladies, deep in conversation, but before long she joins him on the couch with more of those red-carpet tilts. He's starting to suspect there's a brilliant, tortured comedian lurking within her soul, somewhere. Hell, after growing up with these two there'd almost have to be.
It's not long before their guests head out for needed 'beauty sleep' or such, Deej has to pee so Nick fires up his latest distraction to warm up.
Pretty soon there's a flush in the next room, then moments later she appears in the door with one hand on a hip, "Where's that camera?"
"I hid it when they weren't looking."
She takes a seat in his swivel chair and rests her chin on the back, watches some with what may be admiration, looks around the room.
"So this is where it all happens."
He stops for a second. "My tape machine is still in the closet, it sat on that very bench."
She raises an eyebrow. "Is the statute of limitations up?"
"Also up in a shoebox are your old letters."
"Nicky!"
"Kept every single one."
"Can I see them sometime."
"Tell ya what, since you're a loyal customer, I'll make copies at work."
Her eyes get huge.
He goes back to playing, and without thinking hits a thing he'd been trying that seemed smooth, she agrees,
"I think my bra just came loose."
With that, it's time to set the guitar down and pay attention to her.
He takes the other chair and looks her way.
She gives him a smile and side-look, "What?"
"Hi."
She laughs. "Okay dork."
"This really does take me back to that camp meeting."
"Oh GOD would you forget that already?"
"Is it the same skirt? Ye shroud of a thousand mysteries?"
"NICHOLAS JAMES!" Then cups her mouth from raising her voice.
"Get 'im GIRL!" They hear Irene from downstairs and laugh.
"I don't know how long I've had this one, just found it in my stuff and thought it would be fun, and leave it to my folks to not get it."
"It takes all kinds."
"Look at you, Mister Bold Moves. A girl could get impressed with the effort."
"Bold move back then got my leg punched."
"OH MAN, I felt so awful, like a <lowers voice> total a-hole, I thought for sure you'd sue me. That must have hurt."
"Let's just say everyone must have thought I'd had a move of the Spirit."
Deej has to cover her face and laugh. Finally she looks up.
Nick leans in, she meets him, they kiss for a few seconds and she slips away, he holds her face, they continue, but she pulls away,
"Sorry, sorry," wiping her chin.
He grabs her a tissue.
"Thanks...God, 21 and I can't kiss a guy."
"Deej, you know it's fine."
She looks at him emphatically, "I can't even think about it without drooling, I'm pathetic."
"You're adorable."
She holds up a fist, smiling, “Adore THIS,” then puts it down.
He pulls her close for a bit, after which she taps him,
"I should get over there. They suspect Little Sam has been sneaking into the house, I'm gonna park out of the way and see if the little shit tries it tonight."
"Owww."
"Yeah."
"Hmm, I might listen to the scanner."
She looks over with a half smile.
"I shouldn't have said that."
"Actually not a bad idea."
"Usually on Saturday nights I put on some jazz."
This lights her up in a sultry way. "Jazz is sexy."
"Well, soothing."
"Depends on who you're with."
"I'll leave it right there."
She leans in for a safe smooch.
They stand up and she looks him over. "Turn around."
"Deej."
She looks insistent so he shrugs and complies.
"You grew a BUTT!"
"Alright, go stake out your brat sister."
She almost falls over giggling. "Seriously, how do I look? My thighs weren't too cooperative but I got in this thing."
"They just need the right touch."
Her eyes get bigger than he's ever seen and she draws a breath while turning around.
Nick gets right up behind her, she offers another quick smooch, then whispers, "I think YOU need a cold shower."
"Be careful on the stairs," is all he can think of which gets a swat for his trouble.
While descending she flips another switch, gracefully changing modes, projecting her voice as if commending a regiment, "Guys this was a wonderful night, thanks so much, I'm sure we'll do this over at our place sometime."
"Well it was our pleasure," Irene responds before they exchange pleasantries.
Nick sees her to the car. "You're a tired girl, go rest....well, and I guess, good hunting."
"Yeah this hot momma is headed for a shower and couch time. See you tomorrow?"
"Call if anything changes."
Another safe smooch.
She promises to call when she gets there since it’s dark, and does, briefly.
After a shower, Nick finds himself digging out her old letters.