Opportunity Sneaks Up

September 16, 1992

Nick's office phone rarely rings, in fact, he can't remember when it wasn't some vendor or sales person asking for one of his predecessors and hadn't updated their Rolodex yet. One of the sales people was a female with a nice voice, but he knew a female with an even nicer voice, and in the middle of the afternoon it's her on the other end, after he was startled at the ringing and had to dig out the handset from behind a thick stack of Computer Shoppers.

"Guess where I'm at?"

He pauses for a second, sighs, "Alright how much is bail this time?"

"I'll tell your mother you said that."

He pauses for a longer second. "No way."

"Yep, been a crazy day, I was actually on campus but had to come over this way to drop off some work at an office, then thought I'd stop by to get my wits and now we're gonna fix supper tonight-" then she takes an exaggerated breath.

"Have your wits caught up with you yet?"

"You'll find out soon enough...so...anything in particular for supper?"

Another pause. "No not really."

Now she pauses, probably giving his mom a look, "Wow you're a big help."

"Is there going to be salad?"

"OOH salad!"  He can hear his mom talking, then "Sounds like we're doing salad."

"Alright then, it's salad."

"Honey I have some things to talk to you about, it's....well, I have an opportunity."

"Maybe we can sit on the patio."

"Mmmm I can't wait. OK you get back to slaving away and we're gonna run to the store I think."

"Yeah really, see you in a bit."

Classes begin next week. He's gotten things as ready as he knows how, hopefully nothing big breaks down but that's why he's there after all.

Slowly but surely he'd been soldering up a permanent version of his RTTY modem, leaving room on the board for transistors that would key the rig, once he’s licensed to transmit. It appears he'd have to track down a special rectangular connector to interface things with the rig but then that would just be a challenge for later days. Hell, one of these catalogs here on the shelf may just have it.

This coming Saturday there was a license testing session over in Noreen's county seat in the library basement. Goody had been studying but wasn't sure about the Morse code part, at least at this point, but was interested in getting the Technician license and might show up too.

* * * * *

Nick arrived home and found the gals sitting at the table sipping coffee, his mom delighted and Noreen slightly, well, dazed. After a brief greeting he takes her hand and leads them outside while Irene checks on whatever's in the oven, smells like pork chops.

The day had been cool but slightly humid. They stand on the patio for a moment staring out at the yard.

"You okay hon?" Nick finally offers.

She leans on him. "I got a call yesterday from Deb, our office assistant."

"The one who gets flustered by fake British interviewers?"

"The same. Asked if I could meet with Dr. Stone today."

"Utoh."

"That's what I thought, even when it's a good thing you can never be ready with him."

"So how did your real British interview go?"

"Nick they have been plotting to arrange a kind of fellowship for me, to get my masters..."

"Wow."

"Yeah, I wasn't expecting anything like this."

"So...."

"Okay, first, well, there’s a good chance I'd be around here...except for some lectures or such on main campus here and there, and a lot of it would be independent study and during the summer."

"Cool, I think, does that work for you?"

"Nick it's a dream come true, best of both worlds. Dr. Stone has been talking to his...wanna say cohorts, but counterparts, at main campus, even the big dean, they're all on board. They'll find me classes to teach and I'm all set. Although there is a chance they might have me adjunct at other colleges here and there, that kind of thing, but I'll be based here. Well, at least that’s the plan."

"This is excellent."

She smiles at him for the first time today in his presence, "I sure hope so. Thank you for being so supportive. It's just so -"

"Sudden?"

"Yeah. Seems to be a recurring theme lately doesn't it?"

"At times. We'll make it work though."

She puts a hand on his shoulder. "Are you gonna do your radio test then come see me this weekend?"

"Unless you're gonna ride with me, Goody might show up too."

"We'll see." She stares into space and twiddles what's left of her last living-room perm.

"This has to be a lot to take in at once."

She sighs, "Yeah, it is, was getting things in place to start next week, not that I'd start my own classes till winter, but still."

Nick pulls her in for a squeeze, she rests her head on his shoulder and gets situated in the pre-autumn air.

After a few moments she asks, "I'm thinking of letting my hair go straight again."

"Like when, um, back-"

"You got it, Spike."

"Hmmm."

About then the patio door opens, then a male voice, "You two gonna spend all night out there? I'm hungry."

Noreen speaks up first, "Hi Ned, yeah let's eat."

"Hello, Dear, and what's-his-face can come in too."

During supper Irene mentions they saw Deacon at the store but didn't get to talk to him. So, after supper Nick sweeps up Noreen to pay him a surprise visit. He's graying a bit more than ever but same ol' Deke, slips her a wink and asks her how many fingers he's holding up to check her vision.

Nick puts his hands on his head in exasperation, "Why does EVERYONE ask her that?" then shakes his head as they laugh, then they have a round of imported beers on Deke's legendary patio.

Thee

1980

Right at the beginning of summer vacation, Nick finishes up in the downstairs bathroom and passes by Tim staring at the TV on the couch, through the kitchen, past Irene, to get to his bike in the garage, singing,

"Nothing is too difficult for mee-eee."

"Nick-" his mom turns from the sink.

"Sweetie..." she looks away in thought, "do you know what the words to that are?"

His ears get slightly red and warm. Unable to think of a response he just looks at her.

She looks away again and sighs slightly. "It's sung to God, Thee, nothing is to difficult for Thee."

Nick thinks for a moment, as in "The God?"

Irene has to think for a minute. "I suppose you wouldn't quite understand yet, it's an old kind of language, thee and thou like in the Bible."

"Oh."

"Sweetie don't worry about it, you just caught me off guard."  She tries to pull him in but he slips away, "gonna ride my bike, Mom."

"Okay just here in the block and check in before long okay?"

"I will."

Canoeing

Under partial clouds with but a gentle breeze they had a decent day to venture out in a canoe, now at a cozy spot next to a wooded shoreline. Nick had come to the point in the day when a ten minute snooze would clear the head, Noreen decided to take in some rays and lean against him as he reclines beneath his ball cap.

He had awoken to her disembodied voice warning that breakfast is almost ready and he has five minutes to shit, shower and shave.

"When did you leave?" He managed to croak out in the haze.

"I'm a magical being, remember? Plus...I had to pee."

"Good idea."

He returned from the latrine to a huge bounty, griddle cakes, bacon, eggs if you wanted. This is how you do it.

After taking that in it wasn't long before murmurs of the fabled pontoon excursion, Noreen thought it best to take their time and walk over to the livery, "a little time to ourselves won't hurt will it?"

Sometimes it's hard to believe how much you can get done in a morning, it was just about noon, or so, not that it mattered.

Dozing off was always a suspended state of disbelief, as when trying to decide if someone just winked at you, sudden clarity of conscience. Noreen had not stirred in a while but she had sunscreened herself sensibly and had made him do his arms and neck at least. Smart gal. He reaches a hand beneath her tank top and into her bra, probing her left nip, pushing slightly into the center until it responds. He also feels the expected response inside his shorts and against her back.

"Why do you like those so much?"

"What makes you think I can explain it?"

"They're two of my biggest disappointments ever, should say, two of my smallest -"

"Want me to leave 'em alone?"

"Someone might see."

"You know better, someone would need binoculars."

"Someone would need a microscope to see mine."

"Are you wet?"

Nick feels teeth on his left forearm, she shifts to her right and he gets his eyes open just in time for a  facefull of lake water. "No but you are."

"You missed."

As he wipes his face inside his shirt she sits up and looks sideways. "C'mere you."

He nestles up behind her. "Later on, it may take a while for you to get any satisfaction, just remember that, I'll take my sweet time. Now get your sweet ass back there and start rowing mister," pecks his cheek and scoots up to reassume her own rowing duties.

"Yes M'AAM."

They head on toward the main body of the lake proper, Nick observes, "Any sign of the pontoon?"

"Actually no, but they could have tied up to get ice cream or something."

"The kids will like that."

"Big kids AND small kids."

"Aren't we about twice their speed in that thing?"

"That sounds like work."

"Good point. So is everyone having a good time? Seems there was some aggravation getting set up yesterday."

"Oh yeah, that's normal, in fact, it's hilarious - those boys used to give Mom and Dad all kinds of hell in the good ole days."

"Oh I bet."

"Legend has it - I don't remember - but one time Mom got so mad the threatened to fly into one big piece, you know, as if flying to pieces wasn't good enough."

Nick stops rowing, then had to bring his oar in and set it down.

Noreen turns around, "Hey can I get a little help here?"

He just keeps on, "Oh man, I'm surprised Tim an I never -"

"Yeah you two Cretans would be just the root cause....are we gonna just drift about or you wanna think about heading back for lunch? Oh we can hit that dairy stand -"

Nick grabs his oar and gets back to business, "Ya talked me into it Mac."

"Aww, they used to call Dad that, Mac, from our last name."

"I'll remember that."

Wormhole

It had been a good long day. Friday. They insisted he leave the 'Doba inside a garage bay and they had neighbors keeping an eye on the place since the whole family takes off for this. There was only one year that it didn't work out, due to surgeries and a hurricane, but generally two or three weekends into school they would take in some cool nights at the lake.

Nick lies on his back staring at the folds in the canvas of a tent that looked like army surplus, Noreen says it's just old. Smells old, but not a musty old, more of a...hallowed old. Rich in history. She's lying on her side staring at him by the same dim light from the fire outside. Some are still sitting around talking but Noreen excused them to get some rest, not that anyone seemed to believe them, not that Noreen gives a shit.

Cuddled in one of the chairs round the fire, Edna just mostly stares on when not dozing off, it felt funny heading to a tent with her youngest offspring.

They've been quiet since getting situated, she in her night shirt and he in the boxers they'd bought at the nearby Kmart on his first visit to the area. After an early start and getting set up, she was able to get them away to sit on the desolate beach where they'd gotten reacquainted, sitting in the same spot and her grinning a lot.

After dogs and beans and campfire-pies they hit the shower stalls that had surprisingly warm water to offer, usually by evening those are tepid at best. Nick is always blown away at how big the daddy long legs and mayflies that hang around those yellow-lit shacks with their eternally institutional, almost Orwellian feel.

One of the gang had said that if the showers are too cold just piss in a fan.

Nick bit, "How do you wash your back then?"

"Turn around and have a friend piss in a fan."

"Sounds like last night." This got a smack from Noreen and much a bigger laugh than he was ready for.

Bart brought his 25-foot popout camper that he had power-washed a couple Sundays ago, according to recollection, but without the help of a fan. Other than that there were four other tents here and there, one just for kiddos. Tomorrow they might go out on the boat someone tugged along, but Nick was keen to just renting a canoe and she sounded interested in a nice peaceful row around the inlets.

She breaks the silence, "Whatcha thinkin' 'bout."

"Been having these 70s flashbacks lately."

"Utoh, all the partying you did?"

"Just...dunno...everything had a brown, orange, earthtone kinda hue."

"Yea seemed like it...wow, wallpaper, Naugahyde, drab carpeting-"

"Carol Burnett was always on TV."

"OH Carol, LOVE Carol, would love to have some of those on tape."

"Sometimes I picture your family back then, your dad smoking a pipe and this skinny freckled blond, quiet most of the time but then she grins-"

"Better watch out bucko."

"See what I mean?"

"Those were good years. Miss 'em."

"The other day I had some kind of dream, like, the afterlife is a golf course with three other guys bantering all the time, guess you shoot 18 then start all over again."

"For some it may be just that."

After a few moments she sighs. "Mom seems really happy that you came along, she doesn't come out and say it, but I can tell."

"It's good she can still come with you guys."

"Yeah it is, not the same as she used to be of course, but you know."

"Still want to get a canoe tomorrow?"

"Maybe. They'll take Mom out on the bass boat, she always loved it."

"Can we hide from their waves?"

"Oh there's got to be plenty quiet nooks and crannies we can explore."

Nick just stares at the canvas, as the flickering fire and occasional shadows light up the tent, it might take a while to relax.

After a few more moments Noreen asks, "You OK?"

"Yeah, just a different tent than I'm used to."

"Mmm hmm. Speaking of tents..." as she reaches for his place of business.  He just now realizes he hadn't thought of any sort of carnal relations with her for several days, this is family stuff, but her hand is warm and slightly sweaty and he hadn't noticed his own semi-readiness.

"My but you are....um...honey I've never known you to be so wound up, feels like you've been storing it up for a year."

"Just haven't thought about it lately."

"Sweetie I don't think it's healthy to build it up too long, I know I've been busy and we didn't spend much time together -"

"It's OK, I'd rather be with you when it happens."

"Oh Nick..." she continues to explore, Frank, one bean, other bean, back to Frank, "So....what's the craziest thing you've imagined us doing?"

"On the couch in my living room."

"Really now."

"You know how the drapes are never closed, it's daylight and you're riding on top, we're buck naked."

Before he knows he's in her mouth and she's going at it like an cream cone on the hottest day ever,  she's caught on about the "chin", right below the tip, being akin to her own front parts and mixes that in.

"My you're good at that," he grunts out in a hoarse whisper. That earns him a quick bite that makes him jump, kind of a split-second guillotine reaction.

Naturally it doesn't last long and she takes in every last drop, feels like his toenails must have passed through there at some point.

"Mmm" she coos, barely above a whisper, then climbs on top of him with her head on his chest.

Nick finally feels like keeping his eyes closed and the flickering seems to stop, even though it really doesn't, he rests a hand on her flaxen mop. His mind goes back to the canoe, youth trips that were a pain in the ass, he wanted to keep ahead of the obnoxious rest of the group and avoid getting tipped although Vance kinda wanted to stay with them. Vance always had that easy-going nature and things didn't bother him, Nick had to admire that in the midst of his own exasperation with the seemingly endless immaturity of most of his so-called peers.

Oh well, tomorrow could be redemption, he and the gal could see those once-distant shores close up. Somehow he floats back onto dry land and into that eternal golf game with smartass semi-yuppies with no backstory, completely in the moment, everyone has 60 bucks cash for wagering and winner buys umbrella drinks at the club. There's a club?

Suddenly he realizes his shoulders have sunk about an eighth of an inch which usually indicates dozing off. He rubs her head some more and she inhales.

"Did you doze off too?" He asks.

"Nope just listening to you breathe."

"I get lots of practice."

"This is the life."

Nick starts rubbing her back and she adjusts slightly. He pushes down slightly to squash her bosoms into his belly.

"You have 24 hours to stop rubbing my back. Go."

"Sit on my face."

She lifts up her head to confront him. "Excuse me?"

"Saddle up, your turn."

She looks to the side and draws a breath, "OK I'll try."

"What's to try?"

"Holding myself up."

"Just bring me some tang, woman."

She pauses and gives him a look he can barely see or could hardly bear if he could. "I'll tang YOU."

"That's what I'm talkin' about."

She fidgets to get into position, he tries to be gentle with his hands, finds her back, around front to the twins, gets them interested, then down the tummy, around the hips, blows on her pubis.

"Sweetie I don't know if my legs can take this."

"You're fine in the shower."

"Yeah but that's different."

He brings his fingers around to where his mouth will go, massages, spreads, gets close enough to taste the warmth, gently kisses -

She sighs hard, "OK, can I be on my side at least?"

"Honey be where you want."

She flops onto her back with knees in the air, "How's this?"

"A meal fit for a king."

"Do I get to be your queen?"

Nick answers by continuing where he left off when inverted, gently, tries not to repeat the same moves as the drive-in, he doesn't think he's done this since then. She has a wonderful flavor, like a cool spice.

She gasps and coos, "Put...put your fingers in me."

And so he does. She's incredibly agitated, must have been building up with all the prep for this trip and the forthcoming term, two classes, all to herself, Nick kneads and prods at the depths, he can never reach her cervix nor could he remember what to call it right now to save his life.

Noreen sits up and touches his shoulders, starts to slide toward him and he moves aside. She kisses him and grabs his dumb-dumb once again to find it responding once again. "This....this is what I want."

He takes his place on top of her and she whips off the shirt finally. Between gasps, "Sometimes a girl just wants it hard from her man. Can you do that?"

He just brushes the hair from her face.

"Sit up with your knees toward me." He obeys.

She plops her rear end on his thighs, "Give it to me."

So he finds the position and inserts, she anchors her knees over his shoulders, tries to support her hips but she grabs his hands and they ride on. Thankfully the earlier release set this up perfectly, he can just drive, drive, drive, drive, she squirms, gasps, he can tell she appreciates this tonight, she moves her hips in a circle, this is the tempo to some song, but who cares, and all good things-

The release creates its own time, space, spacetime, those scifi shows where they go through a wormhole. 

Heh, wormhole.

Reality never really returns. She's happy to just rest half-propped on his bent knees with a groin full of mush. After a few moments he feels around for his boxers and cleans them both up, then gently moves her back onto their sleeping mat and covers them both up.

The flickering really has died down but the world still smells like campfire, at least for a few fleeting moments, the last of Friday.

Adrenalize at the Rosemont

August 29, 1992

They said they'd do a concert and this was it, three-ish hours each way up to the Rosemont by O'Hare. Mindy and Rob had gotten her parents to watch the kids and they offered their minivan for space if they didn't have to actually drive through town, Rob being the frequent regional traveler was cool to get them to and from the toll roads. There was talk about sharing a room but then that would be seem too grown up.

These two are pretty easy company and Nick gets to stay comfortably on the fringe of things. For most of the trip he rides shotgun as Rob stabs them northward and they basically riff on whatever passes by.

Eventually the gals just have to bring him in, Noreen prods, "Hey honey, what was that you did that time, with the cable TV show?"

From the driver's seat, "You had your own show dude?"

Nick stares out the window for a second, "Well, it was just that one time we patched in."

"Fill us in, we promise we won't walk out."

"Great. Well, it was two summers ago, my folks had finally given in and gotten cable in order to stay better informed, as they put it."

"So are they more informed?"

"I can safely say they have more options to fall asleep to in the living room."

"Ain't that how it is?"

"So there was the option to patch in, and one day I mentioned at supper that I could get onto community access and do something with the camcorder. This was right before I graduated -"

"High school?"

Noreen offers, "He's an oldie but a goodie."

Nick continues, "And don't you ever forget it." He doesn't see her stick out her tongue in the back seat. "So my folks kept encouraging me, said I have a unique perspective on life and it would be a hit, good way to...broaden my horizons, and I had brought it up during lunch at school, and word got around, I guess everyone thought I'm this techno wizard of sorts and it was the thing to do."

"Wow, so the ball got rolling?"

"Yeah it took on a life of its own. So a couple weeks after graduation we had everything set up on a Sunday night, that was an open slot, you know, usually some kind of school play or preaching or whatever, and so I set up the stuff, oh, and a neighbor had taken an interest in it and verified it was live. So I sat down in front of the camera, and, well, had nothing to say."

"So you froze?"

"It was more like, I had taken care of getting it all hooked up and working and hadn't really thought about what to say."

"Annnnd what did you say?"

"I just stared into the camera, and noticed it was doing the autofocus and the ring was spinning, so I kinda followed it by tilting my head, and I could hear laughter from here and there."

There were chuckles and muted laughter all over the car as well.

"So I think I grinned, and said Hello, wondering if I would hear it echo around town."

"Um....*chuckling*...did you?"

"Not at first, but then I pulled the mic closer and really spoke, up HELLOO - that did the trick. And the laughter got louder."

"So what about this unique perspective on life?"

"Tried taking a swig of pop to clear my head, and maybe it was the nerves, or the microwave nachos, but that produced a pending burp, one HELL of a burp-"

After realizing the girls were losing it back there he nearly derails, but keeps going. The stocky, slightly paunchy Rob, with his all-business haircut is still in control of the car but pretty red in the face.

"Yeah, and at that point I just had to, pulled up the mic, they said my eyes bulged out, and I just let 'er rip, made a very cavernous HWARRRRRRRK."

From the back seat, amid gasps, "Oh god, oh god, we may have to stop so I can pee soon!"

"The laughter roared but that was about as far as it got, the signal went dead on everyone's screen, never found out why, it was still sending, but the theory was that the cable company didn't like it, oh well, I was done."

"Wow, sorry I missed that."

Rob wipes his eyes, "Yeah all that buildup then you ended up killing without hardly saying a word."

"I still have a tape."

"Honey you have a tape of that and you never showed me?"

"It's just a weird thing that happened a while back, didn't really think about it, never watched it."

"Oh sweetie you are too much. Promise me we'll watch it sometime?"

"We'll see." Nick just stares out into what's left of the daylight as the gals cackle on in their own language. He's tempted to ask if Rob wants to listen to any traffic reports but that would, once again, seem too adult.

In the days leading up to this and getting settled into his office and taking stock of this and that and messing with this and that, in Nick's tesseract of a mental calendar this weekend was shrouded in a haze of DefLep-ish cover art with their trademark logo in the center, as if a test card until it was time for the show. He had never been to a real concert, Tim had snuck off to a few but Nick hadn't had the connections needed to go with a group and besides, music was something for one's own space, the bedroom, the car.

He dozes off before they pull over for a break and to switch seats so Noreen can get them to Rosemont. He hadn't been up this way since junior high when a youth group caravan tried to take in the entire Museum of Science and Industry in one day. Word to the wise: you can't.

They opted for cheap seats and stood most of the night, gals leaning against their guys. Nick is constantly tempted to feel beneath Noreen's clothes but never does, although there are some hard feelings between them at times and she makes it known she's aware of it.

He'd wondered if they'd play Let It Rock, which would have been uncomfortable for some reason, ever since he realized what the song is about, more than just a concert anthem, it would seem. The biggest surprise is the driving Tear It Down, seems they had put it on the new album after recording it a few years before as a B-side, he remembered it from Z-Rock.

With ears still ringing and thousands of strange faces in his memory, a drive sounds good, Nick volunteers to get them through the metro, windows cracked about an inch he thrives on urban highways which have lightened up just a tad. Eventually they divide up by couple this time as Rob takes his wheel back. The other three get to doze off and pass the trip easily.

Before they drop him off, Noreen coos, "Whatever you do just think of me while you're doing it. See you soon."

Nick doesn't even get as far as the shower before collapsing on his bed, not awaking till about 20 after 10 to an empty house but a plate of eggs and sausage in the fridge to heat up.

Fab Five Freddie

Nick had been staring at the inside of a workhorse Tektronix 2215A ocilliscope and pondering the magnitude of all it does, takes in a signal and essentially catches it, or catches up with it, and freezes it in time, like matching the speed of a motorcycle in the next lane on the highway, something moving but appearing still and observable to the eye.

None of the fleet were due for calibration, but he wanted to be ready, know the ropes. Paps had always received the Heathkit catalogs that included a scope calibrator, basically containing the time and voltage references within a tolerance good enough for non-critical work, but the school had the "official" variety of standards, this is the big league.

Something about the Teks had always fascinated him, even as a kid visiting his dad at work, it was an instrument that seemed to know things, but it's just a tool, still, a with unique vision, a crystal ball. The old ones had the round screen even, back when this eye to the soul of a circuit shed light on all the equations and theories that had been worked out largely on paper. Paper. Computers filled a room back then.

This one is a design that's over 10 years old but still everywhere in sight, every lab station. They still had a few older 475s around and even a relic boat anchor triple-5 tucked away, evidently part of the original endowment to get the program launched back when Nick was shitting in diapers. Naturally he didn't have to keep those in service but was tempted to fire one up some quiet moment when no one else is really around.

He had been hesitant to even take the cover off of the one in his office, his own to use as needed to diagnose equipment or even mess with side projects as time allows. The manuals are replete with warnings about high voltage around the CRT in particular, but then, he wasn't about to wet his finger and poke around the yoke. So he had purposefully left it powered off for a couple days then carefully undid the screws and even more carefully slid off the aqua cover. Circuits. Professionally, expertly designed and manufactured circuits. He sure wouldn't mind a tour of the grounds up in Oregon some day.

Nick didn't even hear footfalls, or maybe she crept up, Noreen poked her head around the corner to see him staring at the open case. 

"Found the meaning of life in there yet?"

He startles and whips about, draws a deep breath, then gives her an exasperated look.

"Did you just transport in here?"

"Aye aye, Lieutenant."

"Lieutenant. So what's that make you?"

"Think I'll be...a Q."

"Great. At least you're not a Vash."

"Hey now, she has great legs...for a human."

"Well you got those."

She finds a clear spot of workbench, tilts her head back and strikes a pose, wearing jeans with the cuffs rolled up, pumps and frilly socks. "Got some news today."

"Good I take it?"

"How does two classes sound."

Nick just grins, "Sounds like progress."

"I'll progress YOU."

"Later."

She gets a twinkle in the eye, like a twitch, a split-second flash of coded data. "Is...that a promise?"

So later, as they stood around in her kitchen he'd thought to ask if she'd gotten into Blondie, and right on cue,

"Fab five freddie told me everyone's high, dee-jay spinnin and savin' my mind..." rapping into a wooden spoon, never misses a beat, of course, or a word for that matter..."and now he only eats guitars YEOWW."

Nick tries a few times to jump in but these waters are wayy too swift, like most of the Morse code he hears on the air, just ends up shaking his head, this gal, she had put his ass to work cutting taters and they took a walk over to the house while they boiled.

They agreed a brewsky sounds good with supper and she shows him how to slow-pour so you don't end up with lots of head. But he could get head some other time if it sounded good.

After dinner she got that look in her eye again, after a two-beat kiss she asks for the special thing.

So now he is on top of her back, with her front on the couch, he's gently protruding, things seem to always lead back to this, where it all started, not nostalgia but looking for something new in a special place. The little thing, whatever it is, is still where it always against his tip, Nick keeps his hands busy with her front-side amenities as they exchange licks here and there, he makes it last as long as he can.

Revival

 Fall 1984

On a Saturday night Nick is stretched out on the back pew during choir practice. A few years ago, and in colder weather, he would have been doing a back stroke of sorts along the smooth floor after discovering his polymer-based coat slid like a pea on ice.

Revival starts on Thursday night and goes through Sunday night. Attendance is mandatory, at least for him still, as Tim has been attending elsewhere –as in, else where some chick or another attends. Ned had some things to work on and might make it later, but Irene didn't want Nick to miss out on anything.

There must be worse things to endure than sitting through a service to earn one's eternal security. Back in grade school years he would choose sitting with his folks in service rather than go to childrens' activities. There was a kid back then, Jack Leatherman, his mom couldn't drive at night so Irene would pick them up, and Jack would beg and plea Nick to go with him,

"I'm not like you, I can't just sit and think."

But that was Jack's problem to deal with, and now Jack is being accused of plagiarizing English papers and had some pills with him at school the other day and took one, Nick thought you had to see the nurse for medications, but, who knows.

When they arrived, some of the other guys were standing around out front snapping rubber bands, so he asked his mom if she had one in her purse, she didn't but said to ask the associate pastor Jim for one.

"What do you need it for?"

"I just want one"

"Well if you are going to shoot it at someone then I can't give you one, but if you need it to hold some books or papers then you can have one, but I'm not going to give you one just to shoot it."

Nick just pauses a second, "Never mind." Then proceeds to the back pew to lie down.

Services aren't so bad, but it seems a few times a year he ends up attending someone's wedding with his mom, usually some couple they don't know well but have been attending just for the eligibility for a church wedding.

It was during a revival service when they brought Roger Yates with them, from down the street and a year behind Nick at school. Ned drove the church van and overheard Nick advising Rog,

"People will want to shake your hand, but you don't have to."

"Nick, you know better than that, no need to be a jerk."

"Dear," Irene jabbed from the shotgun seat, somehow hearing him during her own conversation, after which Ned just shook his head and turned a corner.

After service there's a prayer response, all are welcome at the altar and the rest are invited to kneel at their pews. This is always the best time to screw around naturally as long as you can stay quiet, especially if the parents head up front.

It's at this point Nick always listens for a special feature, almost like a kid at Christmas, for Rick Stevens, the distinctive vibrato-laden tenor of the choir who usually leads out in prayer, softly at first, then building, louder, more passionate, and eventually one notices the scope builds out from the building to the entire globe. Does anyone ask him to do this?

So as ol'  Rick winds back down Nick can't help but wonder if tonight is one of those special nights that hasn't happened yet this series, the rare double-humper, where he picks it back up for another round. He's down to a whisper...amens and such...and wait...there it is, Nick can feel it, and eventually he gets there, not as fire-laden as the first hump but still makes a crescendo. Well that was something. Next time Nick will try to time it with a watch. Doesn't Radio Shack sell some sort of meter so you can get the decibels?

They get home and find Ned finishing up some things in the garage but he waves her in. Irene relates what a blessed service it was, Ned asks Nick to help with something as she heads to the house.

"Hey, just so you know, you're getting to the age where you don't need to go with her all the time. If you ever want an out just ask me, 'kay? We'll find you something to help with around here and we can do that instead."

"Okay."

"I think we're gonna make popcorn, sound good?"

"Yeah."

So they close up shop and head inside.