Lombos

Saturday October 10 1992

Nick and Noreen arrive at Lombardo's on the main drag just a tad before 7. She couldn't resist a skirt and he couldn't resist an untucked shirt, so they're even. She's been growing out the bangs lately so she parts it wherever convenient and Nick has to look for her eyes.

After a word with the hostess they make it back to find Deej standing near a table and talking to a woman Nick doesn’t know. Deej sees them and lights up, lightly made up, hair pinned in an updated version of her classic look. 

The other gal excuses herself and Deej walks toward to Noreen, "I'm Danni, Deejay, whatever, so glad to meet you finally! Just sorry you couldn't find a better date."

Noreen just beams. "You know how it is, all the good ones are taken...," she looks at Nick, "....or worse."

From there these colliding planets just lock eyes and exchange data telepathically as Nick finds a chair. "Is this us?"

Deej turns around, "Yipper doo, Scooby Doo, you two pick a side?"

The choice gets made for him as the gals sit down and start in. Nick takes a minute to look around, hadn't been here a while, at least to sit, usually they just pick up a pie for home now and then. Noreen said her family used to stop in when shopping or such.

About then the waitress stops by and gets their drink order and they do a pitcher. There's one more surprise guest on the way and Nick really hopes for the best, as soon as the waitress goes for the pitcher Deej lights up again. Nick turns around to see Vance walking up.

At first Nick just stares then stands up, they shake and Vance leans in for the shoulder tap. 

"Dude you still at a car lot or something?"

"Just made manager."

"Dayamm."

From behind him, "Nick?"

"Hey this is Noreen - Vance from the good ole days."

They shake hands, "Nice to meet you finally."

Vance just nods and smiles and takes his seat. He's looking slick, sun has cleared the complexion, hair tamed down with some mousse, kinda that Garth Brooks thing with the boots, shirt tucked in.

The pitcher arrives, Noreen pours and they all fill up except Vance, he's trying to stay light these days so just half full, respectable.

Nick starts, "So which rock you been hiding under?"

Vance sips his mug, "I've been at three dealers, one up by Danville with the cousins, detailing mostly, word got around, you know, just got back here a couple months ago."

Noreen grins, "Ever do side work?"

"OH man, might be tempting now and then, whatcha got?"

She motions to the west, "Ever heard of McDonnells out a ways?" 

"I've heard the name bounced around, one of the better body shops."

"We do it all, I can have Bart loop you in if you don't mind the drive."

He lights up, "Hey all right, sure, wow Nick where'd you find her?"

Nick shakes his head, "WHY does every one ask me that?"

Naturally the table explodes as the waitress shows up with the order pad. They go with large half veggie half meat, Nick tries to pick up Danni's share but Vance insists on covering half, 

"Least I can do for dealing with this bum."

She pats his shoulder, "Well thanks, at least we have one gentleman among us."

And so it goes. Before long Noreen pipes up, "Have you guys heard about how Nick sealed the deal this year?"

Pretty soon we're picturing her at her desk on a quiet afternoon when British TV interviewer Alan Whicker strolls in and awards her a cassette tape, then her English department head gets into the act.

Deej is fighting for breath and Vance has his head down when the narrative progresses to the lake adventure (edited for TV of course), then how Nick behaves himself when they have to bunker down only to get jarred awake by banging on the door, all to find out the police are picking up a local drunk.

When she gets to Bessie at the fair Vance nearly splits a gut, "Ahh man, to think how many times I've steered clear of that barn over the years!"

The pie arrives and Deej is dabbing her eyes with a spare napkin, "Guys I needed this laugh, lemme tell ya."

They are all flushed and it seems warmer now, it's a cool windy day so, deep breaths help, gulp the water and sip the brew.

The conversation gets to die down as they stuff their gobs, Deej remarks how she's still getting used to skipping grace, part of her new outlook. 

Nick thinks how a word of thankfulness is nice but this is not the time or place to bring it up.

Lombo's kitchen is definitely on a roll tonight, their pie is best enjoyed in-house. He's always fascinated by the old signs and posters, local heroes, ball teams, lodge boosters.

Vance inquires between bites, "So you work at the college?"

"Every day. Take care of the labs and they take care of me."

"You can't get enough of that electronical stuff can ya?"

"It's a disease. And it's in my blood."

"Yeah is your dad still out at that place?"

"You know it, he's over several teams now and might still get me in, but I might do more school, who knows. Hell, he's thinking of getting a degree. OH, and Mom is tempted to finish hers and get into teaching finally, if that ain't scary enough."

"Family business, well except your brother."

"Yeah the milkman's kid. That one is in his second hitch, guess he's good for something."

"Is he sergeant yet?"

"I don't think just yet, going for a specialty tho, it's all the same to me." 

They go on catching up as Noreen moves her chair around the side closer to Deej, who seems to be venting, just as she needs to.

Nick is just about to reach for a drink when Vance looks up, all Nick can feel is two strong arms clamping his jaw and skull.

Vance lights up, "Curt?"

A rich voice from above Nick's head, "At your service. How you feel there Swanson?"

Nick squeaks out, slightly nasal, through clenched teeth,"Uhh a little compressed."

This gets a laugh and he notices Deej keeping a keen eye on the visitor.

The pressure lets up and he sees a hand reach for a firm shake, Stockton pats him on the back and pulls up a chair, he met someone here at the bar and wanted to pay respects before headin' out.

Once again Nick relates his brother's service record to date, Stockton had just completed his Navy tour and had been wondering.

"I may have to stroll out that way and see how they party."

"Good luck with that, tonight is his only night free and he usually calls home and falls asleep."

Stockton just grins, "Damn landlubbers for ya."

On that note he stands up to head out, glad to meet the ladies and gives Deej a non-subtle wink that gets no reaction till he's out of sight when she shakes her head at Noreen, who picks up right away, 

"I can find you much better, dear."

"Hmmm well at least the scenery ain't bad," bumps her eyebrows as she takes a swig of water.

Nick just shakes his head and goes back to Vance, "Hey remember that thing at the Y? What were they thinking?"

So they relive some old glories a while and sooner or later, as if on script, Fred and Mary Cribb float by to check up on his modem-ing, how are the folks doing, and so on. What a cavalcade tonight. He never sees these folks, runs into anyone hardly, Deej comes home and everyone but Art Linkletter shows up.

The Cribbses move on and Nick takes one of his last sips of the pitcher, it's close to 9:30 now and the fateful night at the church never came up. It seems like it needs to come up. Five years, damn.

Keeping it safe, "So you still doing sports?"

"Well just golf these days, you play?"

Nick's eyes get big. "Just on the computer, seems just as frustrating at a fraction of the cost. Dad still has his bag stuffed away in a closet but less and less time to get back into it, doesn't really have a gang anymore."

"Gotcha, well we could get one or both of you in at Chauncey some time, just for laughs, they have sticks to rent even."

"Yeah that could be a deal, pretty sure Tim plays on the base now and then if you can imagine."

"I'm imagining Caddyshack," which opens up the usual can of worms.

The place clears out as it gets closer to 10, the check has been long paid, any beer left is pretty flat, time to mosey. They get a promise from Deej to call Nick's when she gets to Dawsons.

The call comes in after Nick's shower and Ned relays it up the stairs as Noreen takes her turn. The original plan was to shower together, as Nick put it, he would use the downstairs bath and hog all the water. All this got him was, 

"That Danni, where did you find her?"

He just kept driving, and now is propped up on his pillows reading the sheets of folded notebook paper That Deej handed him in the parking lot. He already has jazz on and Noreen pops out of the hallway bath in a long tee with the obligatory towel on her head, to which he quips, 

"I could never pull off that look."

And just keeps reading as she gets comfy.

"Do you need a moment with that?"

"Actually I'd like you to read it when I'm done."

"Not if it's too personal."

"Nope, it's...more like a term paper."

"Ohh, someone's been thinking."

"Yeah probably too much, but her world is upside down."

"We did a great thing tonight and it was a blast, so glad it came together."

Nick reads on and tries to soak it in but after a full night with some beer he'll have to table it for now.

"Here, if you wanna take a gander, I'll have to go through it some tomorrow, had a dull headache all day and ready for sleep."

"Sure," and she starts reading while he heads to brush the teeth, too tired for a late snack even.

Nick returns to find her deeply engaged with the third page. "I'd say she has been thinking, wow...and in the middle of a huge life change."

"Yeah. I'll probably call her tomorrow."

She looks up at him. "Nick you are so sweet to stick by her."

"Well we shared a lot and she's a good kid."

"Did you know that good kid has her blue belt?"

"Doesn't surprise me, she started that a while back and must have stayed with it."

"Wants to go further."

"No doubt."

"No doubt we need some rest, may I join you for a lil jazz kind sir?"

"Hit the light young lady."

She floats to the door and nudges it closed before killing the light and snuggling her head onto his chest. 

Nick is already half asleep. 

She sighs.

He draws a deep breath. He licks her forehead.

“Umm, can we just chill?”

“Sure.”

Only his receiver light is on but she’s far from dozing off. Pretty soon he feels her oscillating to the beat, must be swinging her legs into the air. Pretty soon she draws a breath.

“Hon…” she starts.

“Jaess?”

She draws a deep breath. “I’m starting to think the deal with Doris was somewhat of a...I dunno, the wind is changing.”

Nick pauses. “Ummm…”

She draws another deep breath. “That poor sweet old gal, she kinda became part of our relationship didn’t she.”

“Yeah I suppose so, still trying to process it.”

She pauses. “You know, nomatter what, this has been absolutely the best.”

“Yes it has.”

“We haven’t talked much about our future.”

She draws a really long breath. “A lot is up in the air. I need to ask some questions this week.”

“Yeah.”

“Nick, you know I had a really good talk with Deejay, I think she needs you more than I do.”

Nick’s blood runs cold, because, hell, she’s probably right. 

“But you’re here tonight.”

“And I couldn’t be happier, you know that.”

“I know-”

She slides up to meet her lips to his, plants a two-beater, then asks, “Um, do you need me to do anything?”

“Up to you.”

“Gee thanks.”

“Howbout you?”

She pauses, “Howbout I go talk to your mom for a bit, then see if you’re awake?”

Things are starting to feel like they did back before he graduated, so he gives her back a two-beat smooch, “Deal, partner.”

“Mmm, that’s nice, but I’m gonna bolt for now, ‘kay?”

“’Kay.”

And so she does, and left with his own thoughts, in the jazz, well, damn, is she feeling, like, guilty, or in the way now that Deejay reappeared?

Nick realizes, with a twinge of guilt – or is it shame? He hadn’t really stirred when she was close just now. She looks better than ever and he knows how to pull all her triggers, but then, yeah, since the Doris encounter things have felt a bit strange, and the other evening felt a tad forced even. 

So…shit.

He briefly fights the urge to try and summon her back up here...but for what? What would words or actions mean or achieve?

All of a sudden, either from dozing off from the lively evening and some beer (some of which will need drained before long…) he has the epiphany, clear as a bell, Deej is BACK, and on a similar footing to him, and yes, she needs support, and more and more it feels like he’s the one.

That’s a scary prospect, but then...hasn’t this year been one hell of an adventure? After a quick pee, Nick succumbs to the jazz.

Asstickle

Thursday October 8, 1992

"Didn't your brother get in trouble a lot?"

"Well, kinda, the dummy just doesn't always pick his moments."

Nick is driving an '83 Chevy 1500 pickup out I-70 toward Saint Lou. Shotgun is occupied by Dannielle the Deej with her hair protruding through the back of a pink Cubs hat. Riding the hump is a compact, rather attractive brunette named April, who has been pretty quiet and shy, which has Nick wondering.

The truck is titled to Ralph Eversole, Danni's granddad, who recently had some health challenges serious enough to sideline his participation but heartily offered its use if she could round up some help; that truck needs some miles on it anyway. They are making one last trip back to Astigal to get the last of her stuff, had to be on a weekday so Nick took one for the team with a no-pay, as if he has any real life expenses. Goody said they could use a break from him anyway.

Somehow the subject turned to Tim, and April seemed to tense up when they hit certain subjects.

"Such as?" Deej prods him on.

"Well...you know that thing in SNL with...Jane...Jane Curtain, she's doing the news discussion with...man, I think it's Akyroid."

"You'll have to help me out, I was banned from SNL."

"Of course."

April actually pipes up, "Jane you ignorant SLUT."

"YES!" Nick is all kinds of surprised. "My dumbass - that....Tim, picked that up somewhere, and we were in grade school so who knows, but one day his class gets an assistant from the high school named Jane..."

"He didn't."

"You know he did - the moment they introduced her."

"Your poor mother."

"Yeah she got a phone call pretty soon thereafter."

"What was the penalty?"

"Well he didn't seem to know where or from whom he picked that up - "

"Mister grammar there," another sign April is loosening up.

"Thank you, but yeah, she didn't know how to deal with it except the death penalty, no TV for a full month."

"A WHOLE month?" Deej teases as the girls look at each other.

"His Saturday mornings had to be in his room or outside, and since this was in the middle of winter it really sucked."

"I'm sure you never did anything like that."

"Okay...April?"

She keeps her head still and facing ahead. "Yes?"

"Was that you visiting my church that time, around third grade?"

Her head slowly turns his way with a blank look.

"If it was, I'm totally sorry." He glances at the road, then rear view, no other vehicles for a quarter mile each way, back at an April with eyebrows raised.

Deej breaks in, "What am I missing here?"

"Look..."

"Mmmmm hmmm, " she eggs on as April still expects something.

"I was coming down with a bad cold or flu, missed two days of school."

He glances at a smiling April, slightly more convincing than Mona Lisa.

"SWANSON?"

"I had this pocket of gas."

"God, Nick!" Deej turns toward her window trying to stifle a laugh.

"God had nothing to do with it. Any other time it would have been funny but this poor girl...I'll buy you lunch."

"Thank you, Nick." 

He doesn't turn to her quick enough since she faces Deej and they read each other's minds for a second.

All he can say next is, "Karma, man."

The girls fall over each other laughing.

Not surprisingly, Noreen had wholeheartedly endorsed this trip. He had made his midweek venture to her place and they found it best to just chill out after raiding someone’s fridge for leftovers, then he left after she’d slept through about an hour of reruns.

After the great Archway comes and goes in the distance, Nick can't remember the last time he laid eyes on it, Deej kicks in with the navigation hints, evidently it's up in the marsh lands, nine miles from sin.

"They are so paranoid...obsessed...about morality, that's all you hear about in chapel, the RAs are always checking on us in our rooms and a lot of them quit after a while. Pretty sure the boys are afraid of having it chopped off if they have an impure thought."

"Is it the tiny guillotine on the altar?" Nick can't resist.

April tries to hide a snicker.

Deej just stares forward, grinning, "Now why didn't I think to make one?"

After a gradual descent off the beaten path they arrive at the gates. There's no sentiment to be lost as Deej navigates to the Physical Plant (which sounds kinda suggestive for this place) to check out her remaining belongings that her lunch gang were kind enough to help stow. The biggest piece is a nice futon (gift from the grandparents) which is easy enough to strap over the boxes.

Before long they are at a Denny's right off the interstate.

After ordering, Deej points out with a straight face, "Well we made it this far without saying asstickle."

"Too bad it's not a French tickle."

"APRIL MAY! GOD!" Deej is lit up like the Forth and surprisingly flushed.

"Is that really your full name?"

April just slowly turns his way with a wry grin.

"Thot so," is all he has. "That campus sure seems...quiet. Too quiet."

Deej just stares at the table so he lets it drop.

The girls share a huge plate of fries and Nick, seated across from them, gets some kind of slam with OJ, and picks up the check, as promised.

They step outside, Deej has the keys and lets April in and pulls Nick to the side, and embraces him gently. "Thanks so much, Nick. I always knew you were good for me."

Nick just squeezes her back, this is not a time for words.

She plants a genuine two-beat smooch on his left cheek, which is something since they are the same height unless she's slouching, seems like a tall-girl thing. She pulls back and looks at his face, "Dit-in, doat," which gets a laugh at a very old stupid joke he related one time, she must have been reminiscing.

He starts for the driver's door and gets stopped.

"You're done, doat, I'll get us back."

"Fair enough. Is this going to your grandparents?" Nick heads around back of the rig and realizes he hadn't yet gotten the details.

"Nope...her place."

As he buckles up, yet again the mouse-brown head turns his way with a blank look.

"Hon, I'm starting to wish they made a cartoon about you."

April wryly sticks out her tongue and slowly turns to Deej.

"Just how did you two meet, anyway?"

"In Nam."

"So...April, are you going to the Twig?"

She actually turns his way to answer, still with a wry grin, "I take classes, mostly at night."

"Wow, I even work there now and don't remember seeing you."

"But I've seen YOU," with a more intent expression.

"It's a conspiracy."

This gets him off the griddle, for the moment.

"Should I tell him?"

April looks her way as they're pulling out.

"I thought to call her the other day and catch up, turns out she's been helping out in the office at the family's roofing business -"

"Don't tell me...Dawson's?"

April glances at him.

"Winner winner. This gal is pretty much poised to take over little by little...."

April turns and flashes a crazy grin with Groucho eyebrows, Nick explodes.

"...and evidently I'm enough of a tomboy to be of use here and there. Are you even listing, dork?"

"Hey she's a nice girl, not a dork."

"Hit him."

April playfully swats his leg.

"No, no...girl, I've got to train you better."

"I'm still sore in that spot, Deej."

Deej laughs, "OH, man, you brought it up...."

And from there it goes, back over the river and cross the plains.

Sometime after the Illinois-side burbs fade into farmland, April yawns and leans on Nick's arm. He tries to catch Deej's eye but gets the sense he's being ignored. Oh well.

Eventually they make way to a house with a back building, about one sixth the size (that he can see) of the McDonnell plantation and to the south of the midway point between Jameson and campus.

After unloading Deej runs him back in her car. 

"I'm not sure whether to be surprised that you're pretty much moved in out there."

She doesn't answer right away. "Same here."

"I wish it were easier, hon."

"I know."

"Sometimes space is the best ticket."

"You have it good, Nicky, how do you get along with your folks so well?"

"They pay me. Actually, now that you mention, I guess we got some things out of the way over the years, as you know."

"Yeah, I feel bad for giving in and shunning you after that."

"We were young."

"But you went for it, Nick."

"Yeah that took on a life of its own."

"I'll make it up to you, see if your gal-pal can babysit you this weekend sometime? I have an idea."

"My worlds are colliding."

She turns his way, "Usually I tell someone to put on a bra when they say that."

"Can I meet her?"

She just shakes her head with a sigh and they go on.

Nick reflects upon the day and almost dozes off when she pipes up, "Do you miss your arm-warmer yet?"

He just looks at her warily, "Watch out for potholes through here."

"I hear ya."

The Avon Lady

Sunday October 4, 1992

He hadn't talked to Noreen since briefly Friday night, and she was kinda terse but asked if he could come out Sunday.

They sat outside and she wanted to hear about Deej, except, calling her Danni.

"That worked out well then. I needed some time to process."

"You were kinda busy Friday?"

"Well..." and he could swear she got a tad flushed.

After she takes a couple breaths and tries to find an expression, she does this self-gathering motion with her arms and he blurts out, "you look like Diane on Cheers."

She sighs. "Dumbass. Well she never had to spring this on ol' Sam, lemme tell ya."

"Are you OK?"

"I will be. And it wasn't harmful, just...."

"Blurt it out."

"Wokay...I ended up running home during the long break and found a message from Doris, our Avon lady, known her since high school." She pauses for a breath.

"Intriguing."

She glances up with a beehive's worth of warning.

"Sorry."

"Anyway, Sandy usually pools our orders together and we settle up, you know, and there was a message that my stuff had been delayed and I could pick it up. So I go over to her apartment, just off - where we go over to the library, in that little nook?"

"Ahh." Nick vaguely remembers that route.

"Well, Doris greets me with a big hug, we hadn't seen each other in a while, we catch up for a few moments, and she wants to show me the latest supplement since I usually just get the same thing, for years now, anyway...."

She flushes again.

Nick raises an eyebrow.

"Umm...she starts rubbing my shoulders."

"Okayyyy."

"Yeah. And it was soooo relaxing."

"I should do that more."

"Well....I kinda got lost in it. Nick...it went further than that."

His blood kinda went simultaneously hot and cold. "What do you mean?"

"It..." she tears up, "...it was like a dream, her hands moved around and..." after a few gasps, "before I knew it I was on her bed with my skirt up." She breaks into tears.

"Sweetie -"

"I don't know what this means."

"Um..."

"Yes, she put her mouth down there and I...fell into it and...I finished. BUT it wasn't like us, I swear, it was different."

"It's okay."

She looks at him somewhat more soberly. "If you want to be a dickhead and find this amusing, or even arousing I can excuse it."

"Nah."

"Is it kinda shocking?"

"Yeah."

"Nick I didn't ask for this but then, well - and I'm convinced she's entered some kind of life-changing condition, she's been divorced for years and never remarried, might be a mental… I can't let this happen again, as sweet as it was in some ways, I don't want to fuck...mess up what we have - I'm not making sense."

"Give it time."

"You're right. Just be patient with me?"

"Of course. What's with all the women in my life?"

"When it rains it pours. God it was crazy, I had the sense to not let myself fall asleep there, but still ended up missing some office hours."

"At least you didn't have a class. Oh, Deej hopes we can double or do group stuff, keep her out of trouble."

"Smart gal, I'm sure that can be arranged. Maybe we can scrape up a brother to brainwash into a state of suitable normality."

"Science can only do so much."

Starting with the Montoya accent, "You keep using that phrase...but it remains true. But I need to ask a flavor."

"Yeass?" (trying to imitate Bugs)

Deep breath, "I left my Avon at her apartment during a hasty goodbye while she was trying to excuse her behavior, " she shudders, "can you…go over and pick it up for me? Not sure I want the gals going over there and I still don't know how to handle it with them."

"Eesh, sure, no probs."

------------------------------

After a quick TV lunch Nick arrives at the address scribbled on the corner of notebook paper, along with a twinge of regret that the rest of the sheet must now live on as an amputee.

He knocks the knocker and immediately hears Terri Garr say "Zhank you, Dokhtor!"

After a moment a voice, "Who IS it?" with the musical inflection on the IS.

“I'm Nick, umm, Noreen asked me to pick up her order, she's tied up at the moment.”

The door swings open to a short middle-aged ginger, and before he can take her in, 

"Oh Nick - my, she told me about you and, oh my I'm afraid things got a little out of hand, I don't know what came over me. Please, umm...please dear have a seat over here."

She directs him to a love seat and grabs a small bag, sets it down on the floor then sits on her knees before him. 

"Nick I must, I simply must make this up to you."

"Umm - " His heart is now pounding and he can't remember her name.

She removes her blouse, the kind that his mom grabs off the rack at Kmart to send to a grandma for a summer birthday. "Sweetie, it's only right, will you please remove them."

Nick can't help but stare as she reaches to remove her well-laden brassiere, makes a face reaching for the snaps, "OH would you mind?" as she swivels halfway around.

At this point he has the realization that this situation will just need to play out as it will so he obliges. Her freckled bosoms flop almost down to her waist band.

She then reaches for his belt buckle so he gives in and kinda assists, not having a sense for any kind of etiquette in this situation. He eases just his jeans down and leaves his boxers for fate.

Before he can square himself on the love seat she's digging in his drawers, "let's see here...HEEEERREE we go, ohhh myyy..."

She unsheathes Elvis and the Twins neatly then flops her own goodies onto his legs, then gently eases his semi-curious thing between her soft lips.

Finally his conscience can start to catch up. Ethically, at least by Noreen's logic, this is fair, But also by her estimation, this woman may not be in the best frame of mind, but still, her charisma has undoubtedly served her well in the Avon game, she could probably talk him into several bottles of that Wild Country that his dad likes so much -  present circumstances notwithstanding.

For some reason he asks, "Are you married, Doris?"

She tags in her hand, and she expressively answers, as if chatting over tea, "Nooooo, I'm afraid I've been alone for, for quite some time now, but let's not get into that," as she goes back to her dainty yet effective form of snake charming. Definitely has a knack or experience with this, which he doesn't know what to do with at this point, she's hitting that spot.

"You're really...good."  Is all he can think to say. Again, when in Rome; he gently places hands on the tender rocket-shaped pancakes draped across his thighs.

She just looks up and gives an innocent smile, again, present circumstances notwithstanding.

It had been since the other night and, as much as he wanted to learn more about her, she seemed to sense it was close, 

"You'll have to excuse me, I never could stand the taste, so you just let it happen all over me when you're ready."

This was too much, and it made a rare fountain jump, some in her hair but he really rooted for some syrup on the pancakes. She tapered off gradually as he finished, "there you go, Dear, all better." Then pecked the tip of it. "Let me go get a washcloth."

He remembered Noreen having to resist falling asleep but that would mean missing whatever happens next. He almost re-packs but, he's her guest after all, when in Rome. 

She quickly returns with a damp washcloth, and cleaning up her chest, then she gently tends to his portions and neatly tucks them back into their home.

"There Dear, I hope this makes it better."

He looks her in the face and can't resist cupping her ample bosoms, "Is there any thing I can do for you?"

She demurs, looks down, fumbles for her bra, "Um, Nick can you just help me with this?"

"Sure."

"I know this has been strange, I...I haven't been feeling quite myself lately, I hope I haven't hurt you dear folks."

"You haven't hurt a thing, Doris, this has been....interesting. You're very sweet."

She sighs, "Thank you for saying so, dear if you don't mind I think I need to lie down, yes, I need to rest, this has been quite a..."

"Are you OK?"

"I...I think so, just, I need to rest, it was lovely meeting you, um, Nick?"

"Yes, yes it was...is this the Avon?"

"Yes, check the name on the bag, but it should be hers."

Nick verified the name, and kinda seems like she was expecting someone to show up for it.

"Well take care, I hope...you feel better soon."

She showed him to the door, "Take care, Nick."

He walked out with somewhat weak knees and looked back at her door. Heh, "what knockers."

------------------------

Noreen could tell something was up and met him with an expectant look.

He handed her the bag, "Well, we're even," was all he could muster.

Her eyes went huge and she led him to the sofa as the breeze had picked up outside. "Details, man."

She tried so freaking hard, he could tell, to not laugh, although they both know there was a very potential dark side on the horizon for their mutual benefactor.

At one point he admits, "she's so sweet, in some ways it would be tempting to both go over at once."

"Nick..."

"I know."

Noreen looks down while rubbing her chin with a knuckle as she thinks, "Well, I'll just tell the gals that Doris is not acting herself and we should try to get her checked out."

"Yeah. Kinda....well, your own mom."

She sighs, "yeah."

After a pause, "well we certainly shared something."

Noreen smiles, "that we did, honey, leave it to us? Now you have three girlfriends, slugger." and mock-punches him on the arm.

"Now wait -"

"Nick...you know it's OK, none of us are in a state of commit, if you need more time with Danni just say so."

He makes a light grimace. "I honestly don't know what to do with her, she's starting over and I don't think anyone she knows looks at life the way we do, you know. We were kinda...all talk and tease, never really made out, just that awkward time at a stupid party."

She grins expectantly. 

"Okay, I tried what you think I tried and it went everywhere. It's a wonder we didn't get caught, she found it pretty amusing."

Noreen covers her face, folds over her lap and finally lets herself laugh. "Swing and a miss. And I have GOT to meet this miss."

"Just what I need, call me Swing then. She admitted I should help keep her focused."

"Well you better just do that, Swing, she's my kind of gal or she wouldn't be in your world. So...Swing...I was really your first, for that particular ass-pect?"  She manages an expectant look while mostly fighting the laugh.

He gives her a look to try and squelch the new nickname (no pun intended), "Yeah, it would have been apocalyptic had I managed to do that back in 8th grade, kinda put me in a zone." That sentence just blurted out and he wasn't quite sure what he meant.

Noreen plays with his shirt buttons, seems he prefers the button-up shirts to tees these days as a semi-professional wannabe. "Just thankful you eventually found my zone."

"Do you have anyone else, while we're at it?"

"Just Doris."

"Did you get to see her jugs? But, seriously."

"Nope, shucks, but that's as serious as I can get. Most men are just cardboard cutouts to me, you have something different."

"That little mole on my butt?"

"Your brain you mean?"

"My brain, hell, both my brains are tired. Not even Darling?"

She flips him off, with a sassy street move, "Stride it...an' ride it, sucka. And don't complain, you probably got a better deal than me today."

"Don't..."

She winces, "Sorry, too far....but she's...something, she really did a number on both of us."

"Can't help but wonder -"

"Um, let's, let's not wonder too much."

"Howbout we go get coffee or somewheres else."

"Yeah, howbout I follow you that way?"

"Deal."

Deal is sealed with a two-beat smooch before they head out, but not before Bart flags them down to talk about cars.

---------------------------------

After Noreen gets home and calls, Nick has already showered and still can't believe it. He'll have to come to terms with the temptation to stop in on Doris again, their story began and probably ended within about ten minutes. 

For the first time in years he recalls a shut-in lady that his mom used to help out on weekends, to help with her hair and nails. Donna was waist-down paraplegic, or nearly so, from one of the nervous disorders, maybe MS, and appreciated help bathing and maybe some salon stuff, just some interaction other than TV, the way Irene explained it. The church van had to pick Donna up since it had room for her chair.

One time she thought it best to bring Nick for some kind of character building, he could just watch TV and be another visitor. At one point he was seated on the couch after they started her bath and the door came open. Without thinking he looked and saw Donna sitting there in the tub completely exposed and looking right at him, walnut-brown hair and eyes, well endowed, mid-30s and tragically beautiful in that state. He could hear her talking with the running bath water, then with a couple of evident nudges from his mom the door went shut. 

At that point a fifth-grade Nick found it most comfortable to move to a chair out of sight of that door. Was he in trouble? He didn't mean to see, and Donna looked square at him, what was she thinking?

He tried in vain to watch American Bandstand and it seemed forever until he smelled a curling iron and felt somewhat relieved for some reason.

Somewhat into the next program Irene calls out, "Nick will you help her get to her chair?"

His blood ran cold but he felt redemption, especially after discovering she had on a robe now, she avoided eye contact but grabbed onto his hand and squeezed it with a word of thanks when she got situated.

This moment always felt sacred, and even more so after Donna succumbed to her condition just a few months later. 

At various stages of maturity he would try to avoid thoughts of seeing a grown, wistful, shapely woman in that fragile state, beyond what his scant years couldn't begin to appreciate, in a forbidden space that robbed her ability to realize things that most humans take for granted.

SMACK!

Saturday Oct 3 1992

It's breezy but warm as Nick and Deej sit down beneath a maple that's still green as the perennials that produce what lend their name to Needles Park.

The week had been pretty uneventful until the Wednesday performance, his first time playing music for a crowd was largely an out of body experience but he had enough in the woodshed to bang out the chords and it was a hit. He felt closer to Noreen than in some time and had dinner at her place, and then a few hands of gin rummy on the floor after she put on a Styx album, just sounded good.

Irene had been rather quiet, understandably, but had been playing the piano more. Nick wondered if she were going to find some new students soon. Ned had spent more time in the garage but was overheard consoling her at least once.

"I don't know where to start, Nicky." She's still got the bangs but combed down and the rest of it tied back, still looks good in denim with the high all-stars, light eye makeup and some freckles, classic Deej.

"Are you on semester break?"

"It's a pretty big break...a...hiatus if that's the right word."

"Sounds like you hit a wall."

She looks at him, with a clap, "SPLAT. And are you sure this is OK with your girlfriend?"

"She told me to be there for you, pretty sure she gets it, hon."

With a slight grin, "Do you call all the gals hon? You never called me that before.”

"I think I picked it up from my mom."

"Love her. How are your folks?"

"Well about the same but just got burned by another church, pastor came down with the moral failure."

Nick waits for an answer but hears none. He glances over to see her tearing up, staring blankly ahead. He scoots closer and reaches for her hand. She squeezes gently and sobs harder for a moment.

"This fucking sucks." Her frankness is not new, but that confident, chiseled poise had until now seemed unbreakable; he can’t imagine a time where she’d let her firewall down.

Nick fumbles for the next question, and settles on, "was it...like, grades?"

Her head sways back and forth, "No..." gasps some more, "...not...well, it would have been."

Nick gives her more time to collect, not knowing what else to say, then she continues.

"That time you made those phone tapes of that phony...anti-rock type?"

"Um...yeah?"

"I think I get it now."

"Oh."

After a deep breath, she goes on, "There comes these moments when we have to...ask...find out..."

"Yeah..." he interjects with a glimmer of understanding.

"I...I had it all planned out in my head, get the damn degree, work for the greater good somewhere in the church...system, I guess, maybe get married, hell."

"At least you had a plan -"

"Pssh."

"Well -"

"Nicky....", she squeezes his hand and turns to grin, "HON...sometimes a plan is just a setup...<sigh>...here I am a junior and literally...literally threw darts to pick a major, when classes started it just, well...felt like...my hands and feet were in mud."

"Yowzer."

She looks at him, "Nick I didn't make any real connections all these years, I knew you'd understand after all that shit you pulled."

"Well the shit has a way of dumping back on us."

Deej faces out to the river again. "So I come home and my parents think I need counseling."

"Do you?"

She sighs and shakes her head, "I need time. They just want me to talk to their pastor that I've never met."

"Ouch." Stumped again, he lets that float.

She rubs her forehead. A few more sighs later, "I wish I could have my own place or move out, get a job, probably transfer to the twig."

"Noreen might be able to find you a roomie around campus there, she teaches English. Seems the library is always hiring."

She turns and smiles, "Thanks, Nicky." She leans in and they share a mutual cheek peck.

"Actually if, well, it gets...urgent, Tim's old room is still there."

"Has it been, like, decontaminated?" and manages to laugh in the tears.

"Hon, science can only do so much."

She leans on him. "Nick...at the moment I'm not much of a threat but, not sure I ever said this, back then, well, before going to sleep I used to jam out, if you know what I mean."

"I think Grace Slick sang about that once?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind."

After a pause, she continues, "I don't want to crash your life, I'm just glad to share it some, you're the only one who understands what I'm going through."

"There seems to be a lot of that going around these days."

"Well, what exactly?"

He pauses. "Things aren't what they're supposed to be."

"What about you, is it going to plan?"

"Plan was to get the degree, that went well and they offered me the in-house lackey job, it was either that or Rad Shack until Dad could get me in, been kinda slow."

"Didn't you work for that Emmett dude?"

"Everett - that's a story for another episode, or coffee."

"Hey, maybe sometime we can double date, just to talk and laugh. I pretty much kept to myself out at asstickle -"

Nick explodes with laughter.

"What? Oh you think you INVENTED that?"

He's rolling in the grass, and eventually blurts out, "this is worth getting chiggers!"

"I certainly hope you do." She reaches out for his hand,  "Here, get your pansy ass back over here before I get excited."

"Yeah right. How come girls never admitted this stuff back then?"

She throws him that Mona Lisa stonewall that haunted his conscience all those wonderful years.

"OH....yeah."

"I hear ya, just know, I am vulnerable right now, it feels risky enough meeting in public."

"You'll be fine, just don't do anything stupid."

"That's just it, I need you to watch out for me."

"If you can make it out toward campus you can join the lunch crowd."

"Sounds fun...so do you teach?"

"Not so much, not yet, if I do, right now I just tech. Take care of the lab equipment."

"I'll bet you do - SORRY, my mouth, see you make me feel better and I get this way."

"Just park in a visitors lot, maybe call my desk first, the gang is pretty much these washed-up academics bantering on and on. Somehow it never gets old." 

"I'm sure you fit right in." She pauses a second. "Would it be OK if I call your mom sometime?"

"I think that would do you both some good." He looks over to find her wilted. "In fact, come on over."

Those pale blue eyes are relieved and startled. "Are you sure?"

"You'll be a hit. Mom always makes or orders more for leftovers."

She follows him over in her gold mid-80s Grand Am that's seen better days but still rolling. This does her well and she sticks around till Tim calls.

It's still nice out so they sit for a while on the 'Doba. 

"Do you still have a guitar to headbang with?"

"Heh, the other day Noreen and I did a Led Zep number at the school for a stupid, well kinda talent show, not that I claim any talent."

"And you were a jackass and didn't invite me? Who sang?"

"I think the activities folks were taping it. I strummed chords, my arms felt like noodles, she sang and played bass."

"Swanson your arms ARE noodles. But I would love an encore, was it that Whole Lotta Love you used to sing to me?"

"Nahh it's a, I think a b-side, Hey Hey What Can Ya Do?"

"Story of my life."

"If there's one thing I've learned this year, anything's possible."

"On that note, let's see if it's possible to get to my room without interaction at this time of night."

Before she heads out they embrace tactfully and she promises to call when she gets to the house.

Nick falls asleep with her voice echoing in his head, afraid to admit how much he’s missed it.

The Cloud

 March 1981

"Well today we learn about Ahab and Jezebel..." starts Mrs. Alberta King, legendary Sunday School artist-in-residence, at a table shared with a motley assortment of four third-graders, separated by a wheeled chalkboard from the fourth-graders.

Nick thinks of the Ray Stevens classic Ahab the A-rab but doesn't bite, he'd already gone down that road with his mom and got lectured in the car, although Ned had even chimed in before she got upset. Across the table sits the reserved and shy visiting granddaughter of some regulars, the fair brown-haired April, who keeps her eyes on the teacher as much as possible. Not surprisingly, to her right gleams the equally un-shy Juan Marin who had already introduced himself to their visitor. In response, April blushed while still staring at the teacher, who had already made the expected observation, "it's almost your month, dear!"

Rounding out the group is another regular, Steve Guy, tall, lanky, big ears and sometimes brought his latest completed model car or airplane in to show off; a respectable hobby Nick could never remember to pick up among his usual preoccupations.

Today our hero settles into the usual routine of staring at the wall, and then the table, thankfully Betty's not one of those who craves eye contact to imply attention. The adults call their teacher Betty but this is a gray area for kids so Nick always avoided addressing her. 

He's not feeling the best, felt little swirls of chills ever since he got up and wanted to go back to bed more than usual this morning. While staring blindly between the coeds across the table he subconsciously wonders if April's concentration is deliberate or a shyness thing, when something stirred deep within, alas, something wanted out the back door.

This is an unusual dilemma in such a situation, hopefully just gas and nothing more, this is no time for theatrics, just...easy...easy...it floats on out and he nods down to sample the wares for good measure, should be nothing more than breakfast making its rounds.

The next breath proves otherwise. This is not good. Another breath. 

Have mercy.

His chills start to mingle with a bit of heat in the chest and ears. 

Just to gauge the room a little he casually glances back up at the same wall. April's face is slightly red again.

The aroma has gotten stronger after mixing with air, with a disturbing edge, a smoldering tire fire at the upwind side of town as the breeze picks up. After Nick takes a couple more disparaging breaths Betty pauses, then interjects,

"Does anyone need to use the restroom?"

After another pregnant pause, Jose pipes up, "I think someone already did, geez louise."

"Before I continue, does anyone have a...situation?"

April's face is deepening in hue, eyes are concerned, maybe fearful? Yet unwavering.

Jose, who shows up because he wants to and always by himself, "Mizz King we need to pray for whoever crapped 'em."

Nick can only put his forehead on the table and give in to laughter, he can hear Steve start to chuckle, and showing a new side, quickly throws in, 

"C'mon Nick did you do that?"

Without thinking, he blurts out "Well it sure ain't the new girl."

Betty steps in, probably a tad fazed at where this has gone, "BOYS! Is this any way to treat a visitor? Alright, if we can continue on..."

Like a pro, within a couple sentences she resumes the same cadence as the chuckles fade. Nick gets courage to glance up to survey April's face, nearly back to a normal tone but with an expression that echoes how badly they all just want to get out of here. Otherwise, he keeps his head down through the closing prayer.

In the service, just before the offering gets passed Nick spikes a fever and so they go home early, he spends the next two days home from school reflecting on it all and never brings it up. 

In coming weeks, after the high alert of the Hinkley shootings dies off a bit, he realizes that poor April's grandparents hadn't been around much ever since that fateful morning.

C'mowwwwn

June 1980

"Alright that's about enough of that you fuckers!" Tim taunts into the CB mic as Nick checks that no adults around as his ears get warm.

The response is a cacophony of the usual smack that greets young voices, "hey leave the radio alone and go play with your dollies," which is pretty much what prodded Tim to drop the big one in the first place.

He picks his moment to carry on, "Sorry I got a little rambunctious there," then turning on the swagger for a rehearsed line, "but you ain't got no maneuver, boy!"

That was a phrase the boys had worked out for this kind of situation, although Nick wasn't very comfortable with the Big Word, but then again at least his team had something to say on the local airwaves.

The same voice comes back, "what about that manure?" just as Tim hops out to catch someone on his bike.

Toward the end of the school year Nick had gotten wind that someone down the street was selling a CB for 15 bucks and begged for that to be his birthday. Irene quickly pointed out how he really needs clothes but that's more of a gift for herself in reality. Ned countered that he wouldn't mind having one in the Maverick. Nick countered that he wouldn't mind having one in his room with an antenna on the TV tower which got vetoed right away, not surprisingly. Didn't even make it to a committee review. 

In the back of his mind Nick felt they were probably right but he had to try. He walked with Ned a couple blocks down to the address they had on a piece of paper, to be greeted by some wiry gal with huge glasses and a lit cigarette who got her husband from the living room who was glad to make the sale on a sturdy 23-channel Johnson.

On the walk back Ned noted their base station antenna, "just watch it when you get on this thing, OK? you never know who's listening."

"Are we going to get a license?"

"Yeah I can send in the form, but...well, how about you let me use the call sign and you mostly listen for now, got it?"

Nick really wanted to use a call sign kinda like Paps but relented, "Okay." 

"Besides if you want your own call sign you gotta learn the Morse Code, you know that." Nick figured some day he will do that, but for now he just wants to play CB like on those Burt Reynolds movies he's really not supposed to watch on TV.

After patiently waiting for the next weekend Ned gradually started getting it set up in his work car, the orange '74 Maverick that Irene never liked to drive with the stick shift, although it seemed she was pretty good at it. He had an old bumper mount antenna lying behind the work bench that would do for starters.

Tim didn't really see the point at first but got interested after hearing female voices on there.

Ned had admonished them at the supper table, "Now remember it's not really for kids so if you hear anything bad I want you to turn it off. You should stay on Channel 14 since that's what walkie talkies use and those don't need a license. OH, and don't EVER tell anyone where we live, got it?" Something about this speech felt like it was mostly to make his mom feel better.

Finally his chance came to mess with it on his own without anyone hovering around. Ned had wired it so he wouldn't need the key in the ignition to mess with the CB, that was a condition, so that no one could come up and run off with him in the car and devastate his poor mother.

Nick starts out safe on 14 with a hail but no one comes back. Up on 19 there's some distant sounding chatter from the highway outside of town. Down on 4 there's someone calling himself "Mobile" - as in the city way down on the Gulf? Nick had heard the 'skip' signals on a walkie talkie before. He tries to reach Mobile but no response of course.

But then finally while turning the dial wheel he finds pretty strong activity on 16. The meter goes clear up into the red and it's an adult male voice "Tony the Tiiiger...Towwwnny Tiger, c'mown?"

"Tonytonytonytony got dem ears on? Come back this is Twoody-toucan Sam, commown."

Finally after a couple tedious minutes of this "yeah we gotcha there Sam, old lady was -" then a slight scuffling before a female voice takes over, "watch who you call old, you dumb shit!"

The original caller breaks in, "that you Momma Bear? How's that honey pot?"

"You wish you knew doncha Sam?"

"Awwww yeah darlin'!" Sam laughs it off then Tony comes back and they go on about work which evidently involves towing and pallet jacks. 

These folks are probably his parents' age or a little younger, seem to be free to say what they want. His mind was trained to wonder, do they go to church? They sound more like bikers or the kind that goes to bars and smoke and have tattoos; like certain other kid's parents that his own parents don't really want him to be around.

As Nick processes all this he figures these characters must have the base antennas on their houses and 16 must be where they hang out.

And evidently he forgot to lock the car door since this is when Tim shows up.

I am Inigo Montoya

 Monday Morning

Well no one can say the office is without decor. 

Yesterday's practice was, in a word, interesting, typically surreal for one of their adventures and mainly due to the sense Nick had that they were on to something with the old Zepp number.

He showed up with his acoustic and of course she had been at her bass and little 20 watt amp probably since first of daylight and had a makeshift chord chart set up on the little ottoman in front of an old wooden folding chair.

"Thought you'd be groggy enough to want to sit for a while, but stand if you want, makes no nevermind to me, dear."

After a squeeze and brief inspection his demeanor she's too geeked to leave the bass alone and starts in before he can get set up but it's good to hear it some first. Gradually he finds a chord here and there and it takes shape. It doesn't seem to sound like the record but with her driving it, hey, hey, what can ya do, this might just work.

When she seems to go into some kind of endgame he pipes up, "isn't there some kind of motion with some of the chords?"

"Wing it." Doesn't even look his way and starts back in.

This continues about half an hour till they break for TV and sammiches but she pretends to be resistant to any advances, not that he's up to it. The vibe seems to be understood that this is a season of less carnal forms of bonding.

At some point he mentions the machine message from Deej that he hasn't had a chance to return yet.

"Isn't she at that school over in Misery?"

"Heh, yeah, Astigal...when we met up I referred to to it as Ass Tickle and she didn't seem to appreciate it."

This earns a snicker, "Well she may have a lot of reverence for the place."

"I guess....just kinda funny, she is a free spirit in a lot of ways, but her family was always pretty committed."

"You mean...."

"Church, church school, churchy stuff."

"Gotcha." And takes a bite. "Well, a lot of folks tend to stay in their mold. You are a special case Swanson, you broke through, and look what it got you."

He just grins and looks her way.

"What?"

After a pause, "I'm looking at what it got me."

"OH," and she hops up, "Close your eyes, fool, time to stretch your mind."

He complies, "alright lady but not sure my mind is very flexible at this point."

After a moment Nick feels a whiff of something in front of him, "okay."

She's holding a small, unframed painting of a beach scene, blue wave approaching from the left and a man in some kind of medieval garb confronting the wave with a sword.

After a healthy stare he offers, "Interesting."

"Yeah yeah, have you ever seen Princess Bride?"

"Oh, yeah back in high school but I couldn't really follow it, seemed kinda nutty."

"I'll bring it over some time and for a refresher, your folks might like it too, but that....him...I was thinking of the...um, the Spaniard...I am Inigo Montoya...you killed my father...prepare to DIE!".

"Yeah I'll need a refresher."

"Ain't that the truth. Anyway, one morning I woke up thinking, what if the sea had taken his father...how do you take vengeance in that situation."

Nick is given pause, raises both eyebrows to a degree. "Dayamm."

"And there ya go, sport. Why don't you take this with you?"

"I have some wall space above my desk between the shelves."

She pecks his cheek then hops up to wrap it in some plastic.

And so around 17 hours later Nick starts his week by pounding in some nails from the garage with a borrowed hammer, bottom pair at a downward angle then top pair at an upward angle to secure it just as Goody appears in the doorway.

"Decorating, Young Jedi? Glad you feel better already."

"Got an original work here, she hopes it will inspire my thoughts."

"Well hope springs eternal. Lessee....wow, not bad, pretty talented gal, she must see you as a blank canvas," as he expertly ducks away.