Saturday July 31, 1988
The week had been largely what he needed, a change of pace. He’d put in five days of internship at JAMBCORP with Ned, and would probably put in another week or two before school starts. While the hope was this could count toward some college credit, Ned’s old crony, the one he calls Goody, who now teaches out at the branch, said that would have to be set up in advance and last about as long as a term - however, Nick should keep a journal and may get to write it up as a paper for an IS credit or two.
And so Nick grabbed a fresh hard-bound journaling book at KMart, the same one they had to use in chemistry lab, and tried his best but only filled in 2.5 pages so far. Since the plant manufactures mostly board components for other companies there’s not much in terms of bench research, and the lab is mostly geared toward printed-circuit (PCB) layout, etching, and prep for mass production on the floor.
But it sure beats working at a grocery, at least for now. Nick is careful not to bring up the company name, which goes back to the initials of the founders, and would sound a lot cooler to his ears if it were more like an aerospace contractor like Martin-Merietta. A few years ago there was an open house on Sunday afternoon and leave it to Tim, as they were halfway there, to ask if it ever got called “Damn Corp,” after which Ned nearly turned the car around.
But there was plenty of gophering and organizing to do, he got a paper name tag from the security office and a flush-inducing complement from the leggy, uptown plant receptionist. “At’s muh boy,” Ned teased as they headed up the stairs on Monday.
Other than that he treated Marci to the dairy stand on Wednesday night and she opened up, admitting she’d been jealous last year but now so thankful someone else got filled up with their beloved Sabrina. It was surreal being out with such a popular gal, even more well connected than Sab, but he quickly figured out she’s a compulsive doer, kinda like himself except with organizing.
She even admitted to being the one to organizing games at parties, at least in years past, and since we’re at the age where most of the parties are crazy and usually not sanctioned, she just buries herself in this and that, to the point of taking on yearbook.
“Been meaning to ask, do you know your way around a camera, one of the good ones, with the big lens?”
“An SLR? I have one, it’s old though.”
That was enough to get him hired as a yearbook photographer, if he wanted it, and she really wanted him around, so he’ll think about it.
“Surprised you didn’t take photography class,” she pressed.
“Couldn’t fit it in.”
“Touche, same here.”
To think of all the times he’d seen her at the library and tried to stay out of view.
Then on Friday he came home and was advised to listen to a message on the machine.
“This is for Nick…it’s Deejay…”
His blood ran cold.
“...hey if you want, I’m bringing a group to the fair tomorrow, we’ll get there around 11. It will be nice to see you, it’s been too long. If anything changes I’ll try to call again…OK, bye.”
Nick had to take a deep breath and showered early before supper.
But then, at 10:42 am he’s there by the gate and didn’t have to wait long before he spots her entourage, including Wade and Beth from that expo trip, little blond Sammy, and another girl closer to their age.
He approaches the group and tries to fall in at the back but she stares him down, “Well, look what the cat dragged in.” She’s in a ball cap and ponytail, not surprising, bronzed form mowing, naturally with some powder blue accents here and there to bring out the eyes.
“A straggler.”
“More like a stranger.”
Right then Sam takes up a boxing stance and he pats her head, not knowing what else to do. She makes a face and a nasal noise and goes back to talking with Beth.
They get tickets, hands stamped, and are in like flynn.
Surprisingly, or maybe right on cue, Deej hangs back and they are walking in step as the others slowly press on.
Neither of them seem to know what to say, so he looks over at her, she glances over, “Hi.”
“Hi.”
She smiles and draws a breath, “Sam asked if we’re going to fight.”
“Maybe we should.”
“WHAT?”
“We’d understand each other better.”
She pulls him aside near a tree. “OK, you actually just made sense, you’re getting better, mister.”
“Seems I’ve gotten better at being better lately.”
She covers her mouth and laughs. At least the ice is broken.
“So are we more mature now?”
“I really don’t care, just glad to see you.”
“Yeah, I was, well, I had a dream recently, you were dressed to kill.”
This earns that expectant look with one hand on a hip, damn.
Nick sighs, “I was walking around here and you passed by, all made up, decked out, neon lights, staring me down…sheeit.”
Deej leans on the tree to laugh and gets as close as she can, and he gives in and they do a mutual peck.
Nick leads a walk since he has no idea where he wants this to go, except there are way too many walls to let it go too far.
“Did you tell them to walk on?”
“No, it’s just…”
“Yeah.”
She seems pensive.
“So, last fall, that got way out of hand, we just tried to make a statement and it blew up the world.”
She takes his arm, “Is this okay?”
“Of course.”
She sighs. “Exactly…what…got out of hand?”
“Our youth leader, Kevin, wanted to wake up the body.”
“Sounds like you idiots cooked the body.”
“Pretty much. It was hard for several months, then Mom and Dad found a new church and I just have alone time, it works.”
“Wow. Do you still talk to Vance?”
“Not as much, he’s been doing sports, trying to catch a game or two this year.”
She lets this float.
Nick draws a breath. “So you’re doing karate?” They had wondered past untold booths and barkers and probably several trying to get him to win her a bear, they may as well be the only two souls in the universe.
“Yeah, well, actually it’s a mix of martial arts, you know, for focus and self defense.”
“Deej I’m sorry, for everything.”
She squeezes his arm. “I know, it’s not that, just, anyway, we’re here now.” She looks over and smiles.
“Should we find your gang?”
“They’ll turn up somewhere, I think Angie knows some folks in one of the stinky barns.”
“I try to avoid those”
Deej lightens up further, “Oh your gal in the overalls?”
Nick doesn’t bite.“Wanna hit the booths? I always see if they have belt buckles.”
She snickers, “Swanson, you never change.”
“I change once a week whether I need it or not.”
Deej shakes her head as they head to the building with crafts and vendors.
To Nick this feels good, but in a fresh way, he’s been reset lately and she’s been doing some resetting on her own.
She says, “So will you talk to Geena much?”
“I doubt it, she went back to her life.”
He doesn’t get another answer so he looks over to a wry gaze.
“What?”
“So what’s your life these days?”
“Interning with Dad.”
“Oh yeah, how’s that going?”
“Nothing to write home about, although I do keep a journal in case it helps in college.”
“Good thinking young man. So no other girls?”
Nick returns the wry gaze, trying to keep it general, “Not really.”
“Mmmm hmmm.”
“Was trying to lay low this summer and Geena started taking lessons, we went out some.”
“Mmmm hmmm.”
“Alright wise ass, howbout you.”
“Moi?”
Nick just looks at her.
“Swanson I don’t have your luck, let’s put it that way. I got enough to deal with.”
‘How are your folks?”
“About the same. They made Daddy plant manager if you can believe.”
“I can.”
“Nick, in case you’re wondering, I’m not banned from seeing you, but yes I tend to be discrete. As long as we meet up in public or with a group like this.”
“That makes sense. I wouldn't want to disappoint your parents, they’re good folks.”
Her wry grin comes back, “If I didn’t know better…hmm, anyway, yeah I just want to do school and karate, sometimes hang out like this.”
“Even with types like me who don’t hang out a lot?”
After no response on beat he looks over to find her holding her mouth, flushed and hiding one hell of a giggle.
“Et tu, Eversole?”
She swats at him.
“Mmm, you made me think of what Geena said, well, actually, admitted after I pressed…she’s right, by the way.”
“Whatever. You still look good in shorts by the way.”
“Thanks Nick.”
The tobacco smoke always catches him off guard, mixed with cotton candy, every kind of fried cuisine, and every now and then he has to remind himself not to leer at a nice set of tan pins, he’s with a lady after all. More lady than ever, maybe this is what the dream anticipated…but after having been with another lady, well, a somewhat borrowed lady, but the lady at his side doesn’t hold that against him. Shouldn’t there be, what, competition? Is this a trick?
They hit the crafts building first and take in every sort of quilting, painting, canning, and it seems like every year they add a new category.
Just then they meet the balance of the gang coming out of the vendor building, talk for a few minutes and end up with Sam who walks next to Nick. Since they’re pretty much caught up this works out and it’s nice to have a cute junior gal pal, she doesn’t say much, just sticks around as they pass by leather goods, t-shirts, school boosters, and finally the belt buckles.
Deej digs her chin into his shoulder just to make him squirm. “You never struck me as the belt buckle type there skinny breeches, so what’s the deal?”
Nick does everything he can to avoid brushing her off. “Brat. Years ago they had an MG buckle, you know the little British cars with the hexagon logo?”
She grabs his ribs and he jumps, “Yeah right, we’re in the boonies, I know Fords and Chevys.”
Finally he zeroes in, “Well, they - OH cool, right there.”
“Hmmm.”
Chicks just don’t get it.
At some point she did ask if he knew the girl who didn’t make it back from a trip, he said, tactfully,
“We talked some.”
Then Sam got her attention and that was it, close call, he felt that unsettling twinge almost pounce again.
Back out toward the midway some ride blasts out Def Lep’s summer juggernaut Pour Some Sugar On Me, with its confounding lyrics that he didn’t like to deal with in a public setting.
Deej snaps him out of his thoughts, “Sam wants to ride rides, wanna watch?”
“Yeah, are you guys getting lunch soon?”
“That’s the idea, Sport, better ride first then after, rriiiggghht?”
Nick joins a knowing nod and they go on exchanging exaggerated winks.
For a while he plays third wheel and checks out how his classmates look after a couple months, a few new baby bumps, nods and waves here and there. At one point Geena’s parents float by but leaves it to them to see him, which they don’t.
For lunch they hit the Eastern Inn, sponsored by Sam’s school and he gets a hot dog and fried mushrooms, to which Deej jabs,
“They say you are what you eat.”
“A fun guy?”
She gives him a look to kill, mixed with a grin that admits that was well played.
After lunch Nick confesses he’s had enough fair, and shortly thereafter she sneaks in a very tight but quick squeeze, then,
“You know I’m here if you need to talk about anything.”
“Same here, babe.”
This earns a raised eyebrow, “Babe, huh?”
“It slipped.”
After a pause with a blazing gaze, “Get outta here before anything else slips.”’
“Yes, dear..”
He winks at the onlooking Sam, pinches her cheek, then heads to the gate without looking back.