Opportunity Pounces

Sunday Oct 19, 1992

The phone rings just past noon as Nick has just put the bike away, the machine picks up and it's Deej. He grabs it, 

"Hey."

"That's for horses. Get your sweet...bump-hump over to Pondo NOW Mister."

"Is that an invitation to lunch?"

"It's an order."

"Do I have to wear pants?"

"For now....OH- good news, guess what?"

"You caught your wayward sibling?"

"Pretty much, and she's NOT pregnant, I'll give you the scoop later."

"Alright, meet ya there, is it the whole fam-damily?"

"Mine and yours..." and she giggles, "mmm, sorry."

"Mmmhmm, see u there in your underwear."

"Sheesh, bye." Click.

Well, this should be a hoot.

By the time he gets out to the strip they were towards the end of the line so he gets to cut in with the party that naturally had Deej at the end. Next to her is a petite blond with shoulder-length, naturally wavy locks who is much prettier than he remembered. 

"Do I still call you Sam?" He asks, sensing trouble.

She does the Groucho eyebrows and with sauce, "Honey you can call me anything you want." 

Big sister grabs her face and they stare each other down, then Deej turns around, wearing what she had on last night except brought into the now. Neither sister has on makeup nor needs it, this clan really has good genetics.

"Ignore this delinquent...Hi." Then puckers and he obliges. 

She looks tired but he wants to stay clear of any talk of whatever went down last night. Instead, 

"So you ended up at the same service as my folks?"

"Yup, sat together."

Sam pipes up, "And we behaved," punctuating with a huge knowing wink.

Nick just looks at them, shakes his head, "You know, either Deej makes more sense than ever now or one of you is the milkman's kid."

Since he can't possibly win, the sisters just look at each other and make faces. 

The line is slow, everyone has to order then hopefully find seating altogether, but they're slightly ahead of the power curve so it shouldn't be too bad.

Deej turns back to him and asks, "So what did YOU do this morning?"

"Oh....the usual, solved every math problem, cured the common cold, fostered world peace."

The sisters exchange glances and Sam, once again, with a snotty grin, "Where did you find him?"

"Under a rock somewhere."

And this goes on as Nick looks around and marvels how this place never changes, for a while they came here nearly every week after service. Irene loved the salad bar and Ned usually got ribeye or tips, but that was about the time Nick went through an phase where restaurants seemed icky for some reason. Their rolls are sure good tho, even when the ick set in he would have one of those buttery rolls, they’re just…soothing.

His thinking is jarred by Dean winding past the girls, reaching for a handshake," Hey Nick, glad you could join us."

"Hey Dean, yeah good to see ya again."

"Say, do I understand you work with computers these days?"

Evidently his company has an aging fleet of IBMs and are hoping to avoid desperation. Right away his mind goes to the labs at the school being refitted with the moo-cow Gateways, how the open system machines are eating away at proprietary Big Blue dominance. 

"We'd be open to a reasonable proposal for the materials and labor, if you know anyone reliable.” Somehow Dean lays this out with the same expectant look that the females use when they hope for a sure, convincing move.

The thing about Dean, slender, neat haircut, five-o'clock shadow, jovial and set-your-watch predictable; he's one of those always with an expression - usually what seems like a permanent smile, but he could see it going the other way when needed, too. Never a blank expression, and in a situation like this he sure sells the need and a willingness to engage. 

Nick is too curious, "So, what all do you run, is it just in the office or manufacturing too?"

"Mostly the offices, we have a little network, what is it, a token ring?"

Nick nods. Seems the school is mostly free of Token Ring but Goody would know. Pretty sure his desktop is Ethernet, just uses the thinnet coax that he’d like to put to use with the radios.

Dean continues, "But there are some machines in the shop for the work orders."

"OK but no CNC or automation?"

"Nope, we're pure assembly..." and describes the shop operation.

The line has moved a hitch and the Eversoles are treating the whole group, so Dean scampers to the front and leaves Nick with a spinning head.

Deej leans in as if looking for hot gossip, "What was that about, menfolk talking shop on a sabbath?"

"Yeah, something like that."

She just flashes a weird look until Sam gets her attention and the jabbering continues till they sit down.  

Nick had given in and gotten salad bar since he could use some lean griefy vegetables, as he says. Ooh, little cubes of ham. OOH, bleu cheese.

He gets set on the end next to Deej and across from Ned (yep, ribeye and baked potato, for the record) Sam keeps her sister ocupado so he gets to bounce the Dean conversation off the old man.. 

"Well if you did, um, know someone capable of doing the work, think Hank Deacon would help you with the terms?"

Now that's a thought. Nick adds, "And I'd have to see what kind of time off I can get from the school."

Ned finishes a bite and shrugs, "Pretty sure they'd be glad to work with you on that, it's part of their mission, right?"

Another good point. He can't resist, "Remind me where you got your degree again?"

Ned sighs, "School of Hard Knocks, not some fancy schmancy joint like you pups get to enjoy."

"But you had the Navy."

"Don't remind me."

Deej catches the last part of this. "Your dad is so cool. Why can't you be like that?"

Ned just chuckles.

She leans into Nick, "Once you're done we can take off, I'll follow you...annneeeewhere."

"I scoped out a place we can walk to, if you're not up to bikes."

"Kay. So to your place?"

"Howbout follow me to my old elementary?"

She looks intrigued. "It's a date." Her eyes are so tired; a true soldier.

So it's not long before the party breaks up, can't really linger at the Pondo when they're busy. Nick personally thanks Dean for lunch and will scratch around on what they talked about.

Seems like they can't get to the park quick enough but he takes it easy, and he can't stop glancing at her face in the rear view, the way the shadows frame. Good lord he's in trouble.

They pull in and he sees her fumbling about toward the back seat, grabs something, then lets her seat back. Well, she's changing into jeans it would appear. No one else around so he just leans his driver seat back, nice to have that option these days, and waits her out to avoid trouble.

Pretty soon there's a knock on his window. He looks up to see an expectant look. He cracks the window, "Yaess."

"Get your ass out here."

He un-cracks the window, locks up and leads her around to the back of her car, and gives her a boost onto her trunk.

They are face to face, "Umm, let's sit on a table or walk some, don't you want to hear about last night?"

Nick thinks a minute and she's probably right, "Did you lock it?"

She produces her keys from her denim jacket pocket and dangles with a told-ya-so look.

"Is your purse hidden?"

"Beneath the frikkin' seat." With mockingly clenched teeth.

"Alrighty then."

He helps her down and they walk on, she's already in sneakers and leans on him best she can at her height.

"We need to get you a pillow for these walks."

"Swanson...and what's up, you could have gotten a free show just now."

"I like to pick my moments."

"Yeah that you do. Do you have any idea how that freaked me out, when you grabbed my knee at that camp meeting?"

"Yeah my leg has an idea."

This gets a raspberry, "Well we already covered that."

"OK, from the beginning, you arrived at your folks...."

She just looks at him somewhat expectantly and they pause for some sugar, while embraced, she starts, after a deep breath, 

"We talked for a bit, well, Dad turned in, Mom and I actually, can't believe I'm saying this, shared girl talk. Umm, she's...impressed, these days..."

"Hmmm?"

"I'm doing well, taking charge, and talking to someone...."

"Anyone I should know about?"

This just gets a scorcher of a glare.

"Nicky...oh, she calls you that, when we talk, and gets a little giddy."

"Oh my."

She pinches his cheek, "Way to go, stud."

"Go on...PLEASE."

"Alright, alright, so she turns in and I'm bushed but stay camped out on the couch. I wanted to find that jazz radio but, you know."

"Yeah, expecting company."

They walk on toward the school.

"But the couch felt good and next thing I know, well I was alert but not sure why, you know? Then I heard the clicks, the kitchen window."

"Ahh."

"So I get into position around the corner to watch, sure enough, that little dipshit sneaking in to find money or grab something she forgot, whatever. So she gets on her feet and I'm right there at the corner and got her pinned and in a full nelson, Mom and Dad flip on the lights and so it begins."

"How long had she been away?"

"Well, increasingly since school started, straight A student was skipping class and spending more and more time with that punk down the road, I used to beat up his brother."

"Lordy."

She smiles, "The past two weeks she just stayed away, hardly a word except to call Mom and pick fights, just..."

"I gotcha."

"Yeah...well, I basically spent the next hour interrogating…gradually got through the lies, the bullshit, punk moves....long story short, she...God, this is scary - she had that kid wrapped around her finger. Most of it she told me after we went to bed, I made her shower and we had a good talk, but she would...do, you know, favors and get her way, but wouldn't let him do anything she didn't want. She's still...you know, pure, by most standards, at least by hers. It was all just a sick experiment, but, I think I understand why and you might have an idea."

Nick just sighs. 

"So...well, I stopped short of laying into my parents, for now, just gotta hope they're up to being there for her. And we ended up sleeping in my old bed and she knew she better still be there in the morning, and she was. I had forgotten how nice it was to be sisters. She even farted on me."

"Thank her for me."

"Bite it. So...morning rolls around and Mom and Dad are ecstatic, but instead of getting us all on our knees - for God only knows how long - they want to share it, hence the hope of running into your folks and I went along for support."

"And you two behaved?"

"Umm, we kinda dozed off leaning on each other. Pretty sure others were laughing at us."

"Did you drool?"

Another glare. "Actually, I forgot to mention...while Sam was in the shower there was a bang at the door, and LET HER OUT, I'll BUST THE DOOR DOWN, LET HER GO."

Nick raises eyebrows.

"So I just go to the door, turn on the porch light, swing it open and stand there. That little turd just gets wide eyed and runs off, nearly trips on a stone at the end of the drive."

"There ya have it."

"Yeap, and when we open the door to leave this morning - OHHH Nick, there's a pile of her clothes and other stuff against the door!"

"Wow."

"Totally - my Dad picks them up....(laughs into her hands)… one of her bras dangling from his thumb, we DIED."

Nick finally has to laugh.

"OHH ohh ohh ohh...the kicker...get ready...just as we're falling asleep and she's still a little teared up lying on my arm, she admitted she had seen my car out back, you know, before she snuck in the window, and left it at that."

"Damn."

They walk on and she seems to have exhausted the battery, he tries, 

"Wanna rest a spell?"

"Yeah...that table?" Pointing to it wildly with a silly grin.

He sits on the bench but she hops onto the top, so he turns to face her and she puts her knees on his shoulders, with that grin of hers in full force, and squeezes his head with her knees, and just stares. After a bit she starts to play with the hair above his ears, then leans in for a smooch.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to this."

Nick dares, "I hope we get the chance to just chill out, watch TV sometime."

"And what does that lead to?"

"Well, if we're not...too...secluded..."

"I know, but yes that would be nice, once some things settle down."

"Well I'm anything but settled down right now", and flips her hair over his head and arms and does the Groucho eyebrows, and in that Grover voice, "SMELL MY PHEROMONES!"

"Are those even real?"

"Mine are. So...we are pretty secluded now."

"Watch a cop walk up."

"Well let's be quick then," and starts unbuttoning her top, a light blue one that matches her eyes pretty good.

"What are you doing?"

"Question is, what you gonna do, big boy?"

The light is low beneath their canopy but the air so sweet, intoxicating, just like her energy. He tries to forget looking her dad in the face earlier, this is new ground. 

Deej nimbly gets herself undone up front and pops one out, rather dark nipple, coarse and very erect, he complies and she coos slightly.

"You like that?"

"You are incorrigible, lady,”  he says between licks."

"Mmm," she takes a deep breath and starts to repack, "OK, that will have to do for now."

"You're pretty sensitive there."

"Umm, Nick, no one else knows this but...I used to put ice cubes on there when jamming out."

"Aye aye ooh."

"Mmmm hmm, and might have been thinking of you."

Nick just looks at her.

"Did I blow your mind?"

"As always, dear."

She smiles and leans in for a smooch. "If we were naked I could pee on you."

"Danielle Jeanne!"

"Well, what's wrong with that?"

Nick looks away for a second. "I'm just...trying to understand..."

"I know, but the thing to understand is that I'm finally free, I'm done fighting with myself and this...cloud..."

"Now that I can understand."

She squeezes her knees together.

He continues, "So...what's next for your sister?"

She flips her hair back, draws a breath and looks toward the open schoolyard, the weather is bringing some kids to the swingsets. "First of all, a meeting with her guidance counselor to salvage her senior year. Next...she's going to apologize to Jeremy and his family. After that, maybe some martial arts, that sure helped me with direction, I can show her a few things to see if it sticks, but she’s so smart and talented, it’s sickening, who knows. I guess she took guitar and really got into it but they never got her one so it was just at school."

"Was she always at Eastern?"

"Yeah, I never understood the logic, they must have thought I needed the church schooling, who knows. But she always did well there but kinda kept to herself, you know."

"Sounds familiar."

"Can I bring her by sometime to, dunno, you two can mess with guitars?"

"Oh yeah, love to."

Another smooch.

She looks off to the open yard again and he can't resist, "You're a tired girl."

"NO idea why," rolling her eyes.

"Wanna head to the house?"

"Yeah."

So they do. They had assumed, and he had kinda hoped, his parents were not yet home but they mentioned they might do this or that, take a drive, so Nick moves her Grand Am to the gravel patch along the street so there's a path to the garage.

He comes back in to find her pretty fast asleep on his bed, still in her All Star high tops. Classic. He does his best to remove the shoes so the girl can get some well-earned rest at least, puts on the classical station, and cracks the window. Sounds like they're doing the Mozart-heavy church organ stuff but it's still soothing.

So now what? Well, some radio would be nice. Paps' old headphones tend to cut out, something to look into, but his walkman-ish ones should be close enough for government work. 

There's some fervent contest traffic on 21 MHz and a little up on 28, where he has more privileges, so we'll try that first. The tune-up is super easy, another entry in the notes and he tries a few CQ CQs. Nothing heard. Twiddling the dial uncovers a few beacons fading in and out, after a couple or three listens they seem to be all from around Texas, not surprising, seems there's a hotline path from the midwest to either there, Florida, or sometimes New England or better.

So back down to 21 MHz where there are no beacons that he knows of, seems that takes special permission. There is a signal in the spot where he has privileges, very slow code in the midst of a conversation but he listens in. Sounds like they have a schedule and are catching up about work, family, recent trip to somewhere.  Finally the calls, sounds like the northwest US and, yes, the one he hears is around Texas. The one up northwest codes with faster, what is it, Farnsworth? It's the length of the dits and dahs, and not as strong and fades a little here and there.

He turns to check on his sleeping beauty, hasn't moved. It's tempting to cuddle up but, yeah, she needs sleep.

Might as well turn the dial a few clicks and tune up to see if he can get an answer. Refers to his notes and finds the match right where it was before. QRL? QRL? CQ CQ... and so on. Seems some folks use the V V V preamble like in the license tests but that seems a bit random. After some calls it sets in that a lot of folks are in the contest or else enjoying a nice Sunday wherever they are. He tunes up to the voice portion and once again only hears contest traffic, bleh. It might be time to try the tapes with the faster code lessons and upgrade sooner than later, more bands should be more better, right?

Nick shuts off the rig for now and takes apart the old phones, and these almost seem like war surplus or something, the wires are nice and sturdy. After some disassembly he traces the problem down to what looks like a dirty contact, tries a pencil eraser, reassembles, fire up the rig - it's a little better, but still cuts out.

Hmm. How about the wire itself? Tester shows the hot contact on the plug goes to...here...but when moving the cord, ahh, cuts out. All this time he hadn''t thought to unscrew the plug housing. Looks like a solid old-school solder joint. Howbout the plug itself? Meter shows connection between center coax and center plug...what if we wiggle? Seems fine...how about shield? Meter shows - crap, that's where it cuts out.

So, this plug needs replaced. There are a few in the box, some never even soldered, but he doesn't want to stink up the house.

Right about then he hears the garage door open so he slips out, gently closes the door to let them in on the deal.

Irene grins, "From what Nancy told me it was quite a night, she must be tuckered out."

So he heads back upstairs and sure enough, still sawing logs for about an hour now.

Nick is just about to give in and turn on the TV and try to join her tactfully, when the phone rings, and he answers it to squelch the ring. Deej doesn't even stir.

"Swansons."

A female voice, "Is Danni there?"

"Who might this be?"

"It might be your bonus babe, in case you forgot about me."

"You're not forgettable dear, she fell asleep, let me get her."

"Wait - if she wakes up soon, tell her we're taking my niece and nephew to see Mighty Ducks at 5, in case you guys wanna join."

"Oh cool, yeah she's been out about an hour so I'll see, thanks kiddo."

"No problem, JUNIOR...OK, bye."

Nick chuckles, "Bye."

Finally, as if on queue, Deej stirs and looks up.

"How long was I out?"

"About an hour, you must have needed it."

She glances at the door, and motions him over. "Umm...after powdering my nose in there I was...cleaning up and, well, I was pretty close and..." she flushes "...I kinda finished, and man, it was all I could do to wash my hands and get in here."

Nick turns toward the hallway bath, "I'll have to congratulate that toilet,"

She smacks him, "I know you've done worse in there."

He shrugs, "Well I took your shoes off and kept quiet. How do you feel?"

"Kinda groggy."

"OH, April called, they are gonna take the kids to Mighty Ducks at 5 if we wanna go?"

"That could be fun, will keep us out of trouble at least," and hitches her eyebrows as she does. "Should we snag Vance?"

"Was thinking they need to be across from each other at a table, so he can watch her...antics."

"Hey that's pretty good, maybe there's use for you yet." and tweaks his nose.

"Howbout Sam?"

Her eyes get wide and she jumps toward the phone and looks at him, he nods, she dials.

Nick takes this opportunity to pop downstairs and let Irene in on the plot, which she thinks is a WONDERFUL idea.

After hanging up Deej descends down the stairs, Nick goes up to get his wallet and keys and they head out toward the Eversoles.

Once again she's in his shotgun seat but adjusted for more legroom and that one leg is swinging beneath the dash, 

"SO, you...left me alone for an hour?"

"You need sleep hon."

"That was sweet of you."

"You work hard and go to bat for your family, least I can do."

"I'm starting to think Bob Dawson is really hoping I find something else soon, I think I mentioned."

"Yeah, well, last night I got to thinking, would you want to take on some proofreading work?"

"For who...whom?"

"Exactly, it's something Noreen has been doing but may have to give up soon, if you catch my drift."

"Sounds interesting, but she's got...isn't she an English professor?"

"Just a lecturer at present. I'll ask her soon as I can, if she can talk to you about it?"

"Sure, wow, so is it on my own time?"

"Far as I know yeah, they just give you papers to review and get back to them, like businesses and such."

"Hmm, yeah, sure, I can check it out."

"She did that for several years while subbing."

"Well it would get me off the roof at least part of the time."

"Unless you find another something else."

"Yeah, true."

He reaches for her hand and they drive on. "Umm, you might need to navigate before long."

"You're off to a good start, just get Bechtol where it tees off to the left."

"Sounds right, well, left." And they drive on. Their house is etched in his mind from one bike ride he managed out that way.

"Remember that time I rode out there? That's the only time, well, I may have driven by at some point."

"Mmm hmm, and never stopped by, called....I'm joshing you, I know it was weird."

"You’re out of my league."

"BULL SHIT!" and she starts laughing.

"What?"

"Nick...I guess we all have our little belief systems don't we?"

"Always comes back to that don't it?"

She squeezes his hand as they get close to the settlement, probably a patch of plots sold off at nearly the same time but developed by individual owners, probably 1960s. 

The house is about what he remembers and probably hasn't changed much, kind of a small beige ranch with very plain interior. The paint and roof have been kept up but not very ornate, evidently that would be glorifying self a bit too much? Now, Nick, be supportive, he reminds himself as Deej jumps out. 

After a couple of minutes of fiddling with the radio dial, the Celica came with a decent SuperTuner, the door opens and the junior sister takes over the back seat. As Deej resumes shotgun, Sam gives it her best, 

"Hey it’s ROOOOOMMMY back here, have you two broken it in yet?"

Deej hadn't gotten buckled yet, she opens the door, "Hold on, looks like I gotta deal with this here situation," then sits on her sister, who acts like her bones are breaking, on it goes.

So he proceeds to the strip with these two going at it, outrageous threats, trash talk, whispers, giggles, the occasional,

"She's raping me!"

"Tell it to the judge!"

"Oh YEAH? I can smell your - <muffled by a hand>"

And at one point a petite fart, followed by muffled giggles and overt accusations, Nick answers, "I don't even WANNA know..." which finally gets them laughed out to a muffled conversation.

They arrive at the cinema just before 5 and Nick gets three tickets, but no snacks, all are pretty full from the bodacious lunch. Nick wouldn't mind a coffee but getting kinda late and they don't have any.

Previews have started but they easily find April's group and file in on her side, Nick at the end, mercifully. Deej takes his hand in her lap and leans on him before long, and at some point both Sam and April have a kid on their laps. He hadn't yet met April's mom Beverly yet but can already see where she gets a lot of her mystique.

This movie is kinda fun, harmless, and Deej very gradually, very subtly, moves his hand toward someplace very balmy. What are ya gonna do?

Afterward they are standing around talking when Sam comes up and punches him in the arm then takes a sparring stance, so he thinks a noogie is in order, but to be less awkward, channels Indy and pretends to causally draw and fire. She grabs her heart and falls onto Deej who has to do a think-fast catch.

Then April drags him over to meet Beverly, they are the same height and both part their hair down the middle and to equal favor as far as face-framing. He can't resist, 

"So do you have your hands full with these two?"

"Nah they are a blessing. Need to get this one married off soon tho," and gives a huge wink, to which April does the same blush and blank-stare routine as all those years ago in Sunday School.

Deej saves the moment, "Ready Freddie? Grabs Nicks arm, turns to the gals, "See you in a bit?"

So they take Sam home on a much more subdued mood, the girls just converse now and then. Before getting out Sam surprises nick with a one armed hug and flitters into the house, Deej waves at their mom through the window and they head back.

"Nick this was nice. Was your hand...comfortable?"

"It was nice and warm for a while there."

"I bet. I know a place to pull over if you want it even warmer."

"Deej."

She just laughs impishly. "I know I know"

"April's mom really made her blush."

"I love her to pieces, really old fashioned but in the fun kinda way."

"Looks like it."

"Did you doze off?"

"I probably did, the movie was OK."

"Do you even get into most movies?"

"Depends, we used to watch James Bond and Pink Panther on TV. OH, man, Young Frankenstein."

"Ahh yes, the goofy stuff."

"And what would you call the back seat earlier?"

"I call it the Fifth Amendment."

"It needs more than that."

"So you and Tim never acted stupid?"

"We didn't need each other for that."

She laughs and leans back.

They ride in silence for a bit then he slows down for some deer. "They're bad this year."

"So far I've been lucky but I saw one the other morning, makes me glad we take that van."

"Yeah. Hey do you want a sammich when we get back?"

"Nah still full, you can."

Before long they are back and he's making the sammich, she talks to Irene some then he heads upstairs with said sammich and turns on the TV, mostly out of habit, and gobbles it down at his desk during Full House or one of those shows.

Deej appears in the door and sits on the bed, pensively. "Did you find my old letters?"

"Yep, gonna make copies tomorrow if I can."

She lights up. Then sighs.

"Can you stay a bit longer?"

"Yeah. Just lots to think about."

"You really came through last night."

She hangs her head for a second, then looks toward his closet door. "WHY do I have to be the grownup?"

Nick moves over and sits near her feet, props them on his thighs and sneaks in a free feel of those tight calves.

She just shakes her head.

"Ever feel like you're some kind of...prophet."

This gets a grin. 

"Hey, come 'ere."

So she joins him on the floor. He realizes the door is partially closed and the lights are low. He reaches for her face, kisses her cheek lightly.

She smiles. "Are you...starting...trouble?"

"What about it?"

She turns and they are lip locked, he holds her head, she takes deeper breaths, this goes on a bit before Nick eases a hand down to her shirt buttons.

She slowly, slower than at the park, assists with the buttons. and takes them down to about her navel, then touches his face. 

Nick slowly reaches inside her top, around back since he knows it has to latch there, she leans forward and he somehow unhooks in record time. 

"Efficient," she coos.

He now explores her bosoms, which he'd never given much thought except to note they are just right for her build, not too much and not too little.

She reaches for his belt and he helps out enthusiastically, and whips out the junior member, which is as ready as it can be. She explores it with one hand and rubs the back of his head with the other.

"He likes you," Nick teases.

"Here goes," she warns, then repositions to get her face near Junior, inspecting visually but using her hands, she licks the under-chin and it reacts, so she continues the teasing but seems to know they need to keep the show going, although no one ever comes up the stairs unless called this time of evening.  She bats at it like a cat toy, uses her mouth some and her hands plenty.

Nick coolly reaches over for her hind end, and can't resist. "God these jeans are good to you."

She giggles and starts a rhythm, tongue play, seems to know it's close and stays clear as it squirts about 18 inches up, "Nice," she coos. 

Nick relaxes and she plays in it, taking a playful sip, and elates, just above a whisper, "Finally I know what spyoome is like!" 

He catches his breath, "well there's lots of it," and reacts to her playing around with very sensitive parts. He reaches to his nightstand and produces a washcloth.

"Just what is THIS for, young man?"

"Cold rag for when sinuses get hot at night."

"Likely story," as she gently cleans things up, then he shoves it under the bed before repacking.

She starts to do the same and he says, "Not so fast," and scoops her up, then positions a pillow under his own back.

"What's this?"

"Your turn," then reaches for her waistband.

"Are you sure?"

His other hand cups a firm bosom to get the point across, and she starts helping with her jeans, just enough, and a curious hand gently probes over the panties, my they are damp. The hand gently explores, then gently retracts and gently finds its way beneath the panties. 

From there, Nick takes his time with the Land of a Thousand Mysteries, it seems they are finally in for the full measure, he can think of her as a babe as well as an old friend, the two must make amends. 

Softly stroking the hood, this is not the time to really pry into things, just...visit, she's already had two events in his presence, more or less, now time to raise the stakes a bit and be intentional, she grunts and groans softly, right there right...there...

The moment, far as he can tell, is a twitch, followed by a clench, then a slight giggle, at which point Nick has learned to cease operations. 

"You OK?"

"Never better."

She's a wet noodle in his arms and he's in no hurry to change that, just try to close up her jeans...and some shirt buttons...there. Having her there really feels like home. She needs to know that, once she is lucid.

The Deej, here in his room, in his arms. He can't resist a quick whiff of the hand. Yeah, she's the good stuff alright, through and through.

The TV rambles on with political ads, personal products, car dealers, toys, it doesn't matter. Seems she needed a bold move and got one, that much is clear, still that girl but so much more now, all for the better.

Nick is almost dozed off himself when she stirs, it's getting towards 9.

"Mmmm, was I out long?"

"Not really, not even nine yet."

She slowly sits up and turns around as she re-situates her upstairs loft, then sits facing him from a few inches with her knees against the bed.

"YOU...are a menace, you know that?" If he didn't know better he'd think she's had a few drinks.

"Well we've been teasing it a while."

She smiles, leans in for a kiss, then leans on his shoulder. "However you learned that, wow."

"Well you did a fine job too, lady."

She gets back to eye contact, "Well girls...talk, share things, I over hear, maybe...asked a few questions along the way."

"You knew about the part under the...chin, which is like what you have."

She raises her eyebrows, "That part I read in some magazine I think."

Nick shakes his head, "Sounds about right."

"How did we end up…wow."

"I know, was just thinking that. You're still an icon."

She sighs. "Nick...fuck it," and grabs his face into her own and leans into it, obviously bolder now, then backs off with a deep breath and just gazes.

"You've really shown me so much love, and haven't said it. You don't need to."

"I'm not sure I know what it is."

She sighs. "Hard to pin down, isn't it?"

"You must love your family."

She looks to the side, flatly, "Well somebody sure has to."

Nick mind jumps, "Do you ever watch Star Trek?"

"Oh my dad used to, maybe still does, I never got into it."

"Just wondered."

"I'm more into mysteries, even the grandma shows like Matlock and Murder She Wrote."

"Mom's downstairs watching those now."

"I have a better offer," and leans in for a peck, then re-takes his shoulder.

Nick just lets this ride for now.

"Did you play radio while I was out earlier?" Her speech is slightly slurred from the way she's resting.

"A little. Diagnosed an old headphones but didn't want to stink up the room with soldering."

"Awwww."

"How early do you get up tomorrow?"

"God, 6am. Is that your hint?"

"Just thinking ahead."

"Well, I'll certainly sleep well."

"You're not the only one."

She looks at him, "Glad to even things out." She pauses. "There's all kinds of things, I bet we can do things you never got to yet."

"I'm sure, in time."

"By the way, us Eversole gals are going to see a gynecologist soon, just checkups, see how the ol' waterworks is doing."

"Oh good."

"Umm, how did things seem from your perspective, Dr. Nick?"

"Can't wait to do a, what’s the word…a more comprehensive exam."

She covers her mouth and slaps his arm, "You dork, alright -"

"Yeah, lots to do this week."

"Hey, what were you and Dad talking about."

In a deep voice, "MAN stuff, honey."

This gets her riled up, "Oh really now...."

"He's looking for quotes on an office PC upgrade and I'm tempted to work up a proposal."

She lights up, "God Nick that's so grown up! I mean..."

"It is, right? Crazy but I've done most of that stuff and can get help or guess the rest, might as well try."

She hugs him with a little dance, "Neat!"

"Just, we'll keep it quiet for now, kay?"

"Got it," she pecks his nose and starts to stand up.

They wind downstairs and she gets her Irene hug, Nick sees her to the car and they agree to do letters again, old notes, updates, etc. and she promises to call when she gets to Dawson's.

Nick hits the shower, and quickly.

He's just back in the room when she calls, advises to put on some classical if she can, and time to drift into another week.

Look Who's Coming To Dinner

Saturday October 17, 1992

Nick managed to fit into the red Hawaiian shirt and a pair of white pants from yesteryear and is trying to wait till his counterpart arrives before making an appearance. 

In the back of his mind that shirt would some day come in handy and so he kept it near the wall in his closet, just had to wipe dust off the shoulders, then after realizing it had probably never been worshed, our hero snuck some Woolite up to the upstairs sink and let it hangar dry. Back when he got it at Pennys it seems Irene had been worried about laundry bleed, which it did bleed profusely in the sink.

So take that, um, laundry.

The pants, he has no idea how they got in his closet but they might just be the only white ones he ever had, they must have sounded like a good idea at the time. Ned will surely ask where's the ice cream cart. For some reason they didn't need worshed.

This ensemble actually fits pretty well, he must get enough exercise from campus walking, occasional bicycle and acute paranoia.

The past two days featured the letter drops but wasn't greeted by April either day, evidently, as Thursday's note explained, she just thought it was sweet and wanted to get in on the act. 

Deej related long days that went by quickly, she hinted thinking about their times, past, present, and future but the last one is mostly in jest. Still plenty of little snickers and teasing along the way, such a joyful narrative to life.

Mostly she riffed on his getting electrified and seemed to have put a lot of thought into motifs of shooting stardom waning into a pathetic has-been with no remaining hair or teeth trying to plug in the amp at a bus station for tips. 

He'll have to ask if she's ever seen Spinal Tap. She’ll say, “Huh?”

The radio and guitar got equal use this as Nick had almost made a contact on 21 MHz during daylight today but the other station out on the west coast faded out before they could finish, but he'll still log it and try to send the card. Logging contacts is no longer an FCC rule but he still wants to be official and got a book from RadShack while he still has his discount. It now contains a total of 3 entries, counting the new one on 7.1 MHz from last night with Walter from near Minneapolis.

It's a nerd's life. Sometimes he tries to catch Python on PBS but that seems a little hard now.

Note to self: Rent the Spinal Tap movie and trick Deej into watching it.

So he's well rested and listening to the 14 MHz band, on which he can't yet transmit, when the doorbell rings. Surprisingly, or maybe not, it's his leading gal.

Responding to the summons he flips off the rig and tries to make a slow, maybe suave, grand descent. His eyes find Deej and he can't help but grin as she does.

Irene speaks up first, "What are you kids up to?"

Ned chimes in, "Yeah, is this Miami Vice?"

Deej just shakes her head, "Now I've seen it all." She's gone nuclear with a denim jacket, and yes, OH yes, the long denim skirt.

"I should have taken bets," Nick fires back.

"Mmm hmm, bring back any memories?"

"Don't tell me you wore that much makeup."

She cocks her head, "Depends on who's looking."

"Touché."

Irene pipes up, "Alright you two, get over by the fireplace, you know this calls for a picture."

They look at each other and shrug, then take their places without uttering a word.

Ned ends up taking the shots, evidently he has the better eye and doesn't cut off heads.

Deej takes Nick's arm and seems to know how to get angles while he just stands there like some bawdy lawn statue.

After a few flashes it's declared enough and Deej breaks character, "Irene it smells wonderful, need any help?"

And so they head to the kitchen and Ned just shakes his head and grabs some paper, but the doorbell rings as soon as he does.

Deej heads back in and toward the door. 

Ned opens it and they all greet the Eversoles, which was, well, never something they never did very often.

Deej greets her parents then re-introduces Nick. 

Nancy gets a bright look, "You kids got all fixed up, that's so neat."

"Yeah I love that shirt Nick, you look very relaxed," adds Dean.

Nick and Deej exchange glances. 

So for a few minutes the gals gather in the kitchen, males in the living room and Ned manages to keep the conversation going. Dean still manages an RV-ish factory and never seems to age, probably from squeaky-clean living, seems impressed at how well Nick has done. 

Some moments simply take on a Norman Rockwell quality.

Nick manages to steal a glance at Deej now and then, the red-carpet way she cocks her head...she's playing a role? With that eye shadow and a couple of free-dangling curls, rest of her hair is to one side, maybe she's doing this to cope, but either way, it's fun to have fun with surreal situations.

Pretty soon it's meal time and Ned says the ecumenical blessing. Supper is a bit of everything a midwestern king would expect being passed around like on a holiday.

The kids get seated together at one end and Deej seems to avoid eye contact, probably to avoid cracking up, but she's keeping a keen ear on the discussions, mostly about finding a new church, what else.

At some point Nancy mentions their Samantha, and Deej finds her moment, 

"Mom you know I wish I could have been here," then punches her palm with fist.

Nick reacts slightly and raises an eyebrow at her hands.

Nancy giggles, "You just scared poor Nick."

Nick pipes up, dryly, "Wouldn't be the first time."

Deej tries to make a menacing face and holds a butter knife towards him.

Irene: "Dear, use a steak knife, that thing will just make a mess."

Ned (after swallowing): "There's a filet set in the cupboard, don't expect much to live on, though."

Each line draws more howls, and any tension left in the room is now history.

Dean and Nancy mention they're thinking of getting cable TV, how bad can it be?

Nick and Deej finally exchange glances again.

It goes on as they pick their baked chicken pieces off the bone. These are always a lot of work but somehow make one feel at home. Once the plates and silverware are in the kitchen sink the 'kids' escape to the porch.

Deej walks on ahead.

Nick inquires, "What do you think?"

She turns around and smiles, "Let's not think, DEAR."

"Plan."

She takes a few breaths. "We needed that laugh."

"Always."

"Umm...."

"Yeass?"

After a pause, "After my parents leave, can I just, see, your room?"

"For a nickel."

She rolls her eyes, "Well we know what that gets me."

He thinks a moment and motions to the door, "Ready Freddie?"

"If we must." She's obviously tired from the week.

Nick parks on the couch and she checks in with the ladies, deep in conversation, but before long she joins him on the couch with more of those red-carpet tilts. He's starting to suspect there's a brilliant, tortured comedian lurking within her soul, somewhere. Hell, after growing up with these two there'd almost have to be.

It's not long before their guests head out for needed 'beauty sleep' or such, Deej has to pee so Nick fires up his latest distraction to warm up.

Pretty soon there's a flush in the next room, then moments later she appears in the door with one hand on a hip, "Where's that camera?"

"I hid it when they weren't looking."

She takes a seat in his swivel chair and rests her chin on the back, watches some with what may be admiration, looks around the room.

"So this is where it all happens."

He stops for a second. "My tape machine is still in the closet, it sat on that very bench."

She raises an eyebrow. "Is the statute of limitations up?"

"Also up in a shoebox are your old letters."

"Nicky!"

"Kept every single one."

"Can I see them sometime."

"Tell ya what, since you're a loyal customer, I'll make copies at work."

Her eyes get huge.

He goes back to playing, and without thinking hits a thing he'd been trying that seemed smooth, she agrees, 

"I think my bra just came loose."

With that, it's time to set the guitar down and pay attention to her.

He takes the other chair and looks her way.

She gives him a smile and side-look, "What?"

"Hi."

She laughs. "Okay dork."

"This really does take me back to that camp meeting."

"Oh GOD would you forget that already?"

"Is it the same skirt? Ye shroud of a thousand mysteries?"

"NICHOLAS JAMES!" Then cups her mouth from raising her voice.

"Get 'im GIRL!" They hear Irene from downstairs and laugh.

"I don't know how long I've had this one, just found it in my stuff and thought it would be fun, and leave it to my folks to not get it."

"It takes all kinds."

"Look at you, Mister Bold Moves. A girl could get impressed with the effort."

"Bold move back then got my leg punched."

"OH MAN, I felt so awful, like a <lowers voice> total a-hole, I thought for sure you'd sue me. That must have hurt."

"Let's just say everyone must have thought I'd had a move of the Spirit."

Deej has to cover her face and laugh. Finally she looks up.

Nick leans in, she meets him, they kiss for a few seconds and she slips away, he holds her face, they continue, but she pulls away, 

"Sorry, sorry," wiping her chin. 

He grabs her a tissue.

"Thanks...God, 21 and I can't kiss a guy."

"Deej, you know it's fine."

She looks at him emphatically, "I can't even think about it without drooling, I'm pathetic."

"You're adorable."

She holds up a fist, smiling, “Adore THIS,” then puts it down.

He pulls her close for a bit, after which she taps him, 

"I should get over there. They suspect Little Sam has been sneaking into the house, I'm gonna park out of the way and see if the little shit tries it tonight."

"Owww."

"Yeah."

"Hmm, I might listen to the scanner."

She looks over with a half smile.

"I shouldn't have said that."

"Actually not a bad idea."

"Usually on Saturday nights I put on some jazz."

This lights her up in a sultry way. "Jazz is sexy."

"Well, soothing."

"Depends on who you're with."

"I'll leave it right there."

She leans in for a safe smooch.

They stand up and she looks him over. "Turn around."

"Deej."

She looks insistent so he shrugs and complies.

"You grew a BUTT!"

"Alright, go stake out your brat sister."

She almost falls over giggling. "Seriously, how do I look? My thighs weren't too cooperative but I got in this thing."

"They just need the right touch."

Her eyes get bigger than he's ever seen and she draws a breath while turning around. 

Nick gets right up behind her, she offers another quick smooch, then whispers, "I think YOU need a cold shower."

"Be careful on the stairs," is all he can think of which gets a swat for his trouble.

While descending she flips another switch, gracefully changing modes, projecting her voice as if commending a regiment, "Guys this was a wonderful night, thanks so much, I'm sure we'll do this over at our place sometime."

"Well it was our pleasure," Irene responds before they exchange pleasantries.

Nick sees her to the car. "You're a tired girl, go rest....well, and I guess, good hunting."

"Yeah this hot momma is headed for a shower and couch time. See you tomorrow?"

"Call if anything changes."

Another safe smooch.

She promises to call when she gets there since it’s dark, and does, briefly.

After a shower, Nick finds himself digging out her old letters.

Pluggin' In

Wednesday Oct 14, 1992

Our hero, after yet another uneventful day of lab tending, hit the Sun Pawn Shop on a whim and there was enough there to inspire a trip to Duggard's Music out on the strip, which warranted a test of his yet unblemished Discover card.

They had a generic version of a Strat that was good enough to be dangerous, and a decent solid-state Peavey combo that even had a spring reverb, as pointed out by the owner himself who had obviously done his share of gigs and maybe (um, probably) a share of gig-related partying.

Nick had tried name dropping and asked if he ever stopped in at the Rad Shack but this didn't seem to resonate one way or another, oh well. But he still walked out with the above plus a gig bag and a gently used patch cable, not too shabby.

The single coils do buzz but one can always select two with the in-between setting. Nick didn't know it yet but this instrument has the reverse winding in the middle pickup that cancels hum altogether when paired with either of the others, as he’d picked up in an overheard conversation in an open lab once upon a time. 

Polarity, man.

When dragging this stuff in he gets what he deserves from Irene, "Well there goes the neighborhood."

"Tips accepted but not expected," as he scuffles up the stairs he sees Ned just shaking his head behind the evening paper.

Along the way his parents, spout out the expected riffs, "Keep the door closed" and "Don't quit your day job."

Undaunted, Nick sets it up and sits on the floor, up against the bed, amp within reach and dials in some crunch.

Crap, needs tuned. This means leaning it so it won't fall, cut the pot, hell, cut the amp off, and start the process of tuning it against the acoustic.

Oh yeah, the acoustic hasn't been tuned since, yeah, Noreen at the piano. Too much work.

Note to self: get a damn tuner from Duggard. That would be a cool project to make one, though, max voltage for a discrete switchable frequency. Excuse to find a sound board for the IBM? Bleh.

So he does the ol' relative tune maneuver and gets the strings pretty close with one another and starts in with what he knows scale-wise. Every now and then you find pieces and parts of something from the classic canon when doing this.

Scales and leads are a new turf, but seems the key is learning to cross-pick, alternate the up and down, do the staccato then after a while mix in the pulls, lifts, hammers, etc. 

So then why do power chords always creep up like weeds? Pretty soon he's found Sabb's Heaven and Hell and a couple of Scorps’ tracks. This prompts a try for that two-note lead tease at the beginning of Hurricane but remembers that turns into a double with two instruments, like, harmonized?

Time to take a break, he hadn't even gotten into the house clothes.

After a shower and pork chops, green beans and taters he gets settled in with today's letter from Deej, which had been personally handed to him by her roomate. He'd stopped by and started to check the shudder only to have a certain brunette pop out with a quarter-folded sheet (or sheets?) of notebook paper in hand, then expect one in return. Thankfully he had typed up something last night which she greets with a doubtful look, 

"It's awfully thin, we'll see." Then she just looks up with a consoling expression and pinches his cheek like your favorite aunt would do, then scampers back into the house. 

In her trademark perfect script, in itself a sight for sore eyes, along with her banter, marked last night at 11:30 pm,

OH Nick, tonight was a blessing, thank you a million times for getting me the car back and the Nick-el (hee hee) tour, bringing me into your workspace with all those scary wires, and a nice time at the snack bar even though you got that gross fish. 

I think we need to do something for Noreen, she is giving up a lot and she must be a saint for babysitting you all these months (HA!), maybe some flowers for her desk?

Also yes I am still plotting to get Vance and April together at least once and so a double date is in order. Can you think of another pair to round things out, hmm? (HEE HEE)

Speaking of social experiments, I hear we're having dinner with you guys Saturday night, how crazy would it be to dress like we did back when? PLEEEASE? I never ask you for anything (HEE HEE) and I promise you won't be disappointed, still have some things that fit (NO laughing you dork!)

And then I'll probably head over and sleep on the couch at my folks', try to be a daughter at least. OH and then I said I'd go with them to a new church, to be supportive, then...are you UP for another walk on Sunday, BIG BOY? HEE HEEE HEE HEE

OK I'm too tired and laughing but think about it and let me know?

Love you like always (if not more)

Hope you sleep well and have wet nice dreams! :^)

DJ

So he flips on the ol’ Model 35 for another go-round, flips screens with some of the 2D games while composing in an old version of WordPerfect (with two - count em', TWO whole fonts) but is hesitant to do any modem-ing. He would never admit it, but getting calls these days has become more premium. Also, it be easy enough to carry a floppy into work and do some snazzy laser printing when needed, rather than be fancy and upload it.

It also seems good to pause for some electric geetar work. He can't decide if this makes him cooler or geekier. At some point he had brought up Great White, to which Duggard mentioned the keys of A, E, and F#, those scales with the minor and major notes all thrown in together.

Rock N Roll is a mixing bowl, man.

This rang true with a book he had gotten a while back when semi-serious about the instrument but more serious about college classes, it had those blues scales that were the go-to for solos. Blues always sounded like a serious, mystical deal mastered by those sweaty dudes on PBS that played with a special anointment only granted to a lucky flew, but then, this must have been where they started out, as mere mortals, lo these many years ago.

The phone only rang for one of his folks, and that's just fine. This weekend was sure shaping up to be a hummmm-dinger.

Swapmeet

Tuesday October 13, 1992

Ned joins his youngest at the school, they head out to McDonnells as one last ride in the famed 'Doba.

At one point they discuss Nick's ladies situation using well-thought out, rather, well, hypothetical sentences with very long pauses in between, but by the time Nick pulls in it seems they are on the same page, at least as far as he can tell.

Right away he recognizes the Deejmobile, looks like she got it out. He hadn't heard from her all day so she must have gotten busy.

Sure enough Bart himself is at the counter. "Gentlemen!" in that booming voice as he reaches for handshakes. 

Nick always loves how this place smells: tires, cigars, and work.

"Leave it to Sis, she got all this filled out, should be set to transfer."

Ned presents their stuff and looks over the Celica transfer.

Bart grins bigger as he gets through the details. "I believe we are in business. Man, I'll have to bring this puppy out next spring."

"I'm sure we'll hear ya a mile away," Nick can't resist.

"Yahh buddy!" He pauses a minute, "Hey your, um..." and turns to the case folders behind the desk, "This gal..."

"Danielle, Danni?"

"Yeah, Eversole...she's all done, we changed oil, filter, topped out everything else, rotated tires, brakes look good, she's all set."

Nick thinks quickly, "That's awesome. Can we try to get her on the horn and maybe drop it off?"

"Yeap, here ya go," and turns the phone around. 

Nick dials and glances at the work order to make sure no charge. Good ol' Noreen.

Ned had been looking at the car pics in the lobby, racers, rods some graced with female adornment.

Bart turns to him while it rings, "Hey Ned, we hope we can be of service here and there, what do you drive to work?"

They go on as someone answers, female voice, "Hello?"

"Is Danni there?"

"Nick?"

"Yeah, her car is done, we can bring it to the campus, I can bring her back there to get it even."

"Just a sec -"

Some phone handling sounds, "Hey, it's already ready already?"

“Yeap we can get it to the campus easily or even to where you are with some finagling.”

"Hold on," followed by the expected mumbles, "yeah Ape-girl can take me to campus, is it by your building?" 

"Just look for the car, in about,"<looks at Ned for confirmation>, "20 minutes? OH, look for Dad's truck."

"This is awesome, maybe you can show me your building?"

"It'll cost a nickel."

"Hmm, don't push it Swanson, see you there, be careful."

Nick is pretty sure she had never said be careful till recently and probably because he says it.

Bart turns to him, "Have you talked to Sis lately?"

"Not since Sunday, we'll prollably get a lunch this week."

"Gotcha, well she's definitely headed to the big school, that '89 Poncho should get 'er there an back a few times."

"I heard it's nice, maybe she'll let me sit in it and go VROOM VROOM."'

This gets a laugh.

"Alright dudes, it's been a pleasure, don't be a stranger." and he reaches for handshakes, then continues, "Nick I don't know how you get all these lady friends but good luck," turns to Ned, "Man those were the days weren't they?''

Ned just shakes his head, "Not for me, I don't know what's so special about this kid."

This gets the biggest laugh of the night and they wave and make their exit while Bart coughs it out.

Nick almost heads to his former ride and catches himself. He finds the Celica unlocked.

Ned checks it out, "Not bad, they really did some detailing."

"A LOT of detailing, the previous owner practically had three lifetimes of you-name-it in here."

"We'll miss her."

"I try not to think about it."

"I know."

Ned fumbles around with the Grand Am and gets his bearings, starts off.

Nick follows and they convoy off into history.

At the campus lot sure enough there are two girls on a hood next to the pickup, looks like a a Ford Fairmont of sorts that he’d seen at Dawsons’.

Ned tosses Deej her keys and excuses himself toward the truck. "Good evening, Ladies." Then turns to Nick, "will you be at supper?"

Deej interjects, "Mind if I borrow him?"

Nick thinks, "We can grab a bite at the snack bar, it's open till about 9."

Ned just grins and shakes his head, "He's all yours, just don't send him home all gassy."

April is just beaming at all this.

Deej turns to her, "Wanna see his office?"

April just makes a face, holds her nose and shakes her head emphatically, gets into her Ford and waves while pulling out.

"So what all did they do?"

"The invoice is in there, no charge, you should be set for winter. Looks like those tires have another go-round."

"Dad and Grandpa got me those a couple years ago." She looks down.

"Come on, kiddo, I'll spot ya the nickel."

Nick notices a later model Grand Prix, nice blue one but can only suspect.

She takes his arm as they head to the building. "My mom called this morning, asked if she could come out."

He stops and looks at her.

"I know. Brought me a nice potted plant and we took my car out there. We visited with April's folks. OH, and she gave me an envelope with enough to apply here."

"Hon that's...amazing."

"This has been a wonderful day."

"Sorry about the ending."

He feels a firm kick in the rump, which is a trick she could pull from right next to him even back before karate. "I forgot you could do that."

"Maybe next time you won't, greenhorn."

They head in via his normal route, through the lobby, past the Dean's office, Childhood Development, Business, Word Processing. He warns her about the computer lab in a hushed voice and she seems intrigued.

Finally they get back to the EET labs, past Goody's office through the classroom not being used to get to his hall-in-the-wall. He unlocks the door and before he can reach for the light switch it she pulls it shut and plants one on him.

She doesn't linger too long, "Alright, you know I had to."

"Well, if you must."

"Is there a light in here."

"Sorry, no smoking." He starts feeling around her back and arms.

"I don't think that's where the switch is."

He flips it on from muscle memory, "That better?"

"Owwww! Mine eyes!"

"So this is it, in all it's glory."

She looks around with the expected amusement, eyes stopping on a painting. "Did that come with the place?"

"I think you know who gave me that."

"She's good."

"Don't you still draw?"

"I would just doodle, never did much outside of art class. Sammy’s the one with that talent she’s not using these days."

Nick just looks at her seriously.

"What?"

"Hi."

This gets him a snotty look, then she zeroes in on his phone. "So are you in here a lot, and can answer, what," leans in, "184?"

"Well I'm in here except when I'm not."

"Do they take messages?"

"Yeah, after 5 rings it goes to the Dean's secretary."

"I'll remember that." She looks down.

"What's up?"

"Tomorrow I'll start my first job on a roof. Gonna be long days."

"Is that part of your, like, rent?"

"Kinda, I get hourly and then we'll work out for meals. April's mom always liked me and appreciates help around the house, you know, they have the office."

"Gotcha."

She pauses, "You always did want to know how things work."

Nick just looks around his cave with the shelves of old scopes, meters, calibration standards, half-vultured student projects that were donated at the behest of student's wives, and mostly just cables that get tangled the moment you look away from them.

"And here we are."

"And here we are."

They look at each other.

Nick breaks the silence, "Care for some better scenery and maybe a sammich?"

She smiles.

"How did we get a bonus night?"

She moves in for a squeeze but more tender than the other day.

Nick lets it linger, they are in no apparent danger, but then there's a knock at the door they came in, "HOUSEKEEPING."

They jump a mile.

Must be someone new. Nick responds, "All set, no trash."

The voice is surprised, "Wow, didn't really expect anyone in there, well have a good night."

"Thanks, do the same."

She leans back and giggles silently.

Nick rolls his eyes and opens the door, looks around and sees the new or sub custodian heading into the hallway. Turns to Deej, "We should head out before a rumor gets started."

She smiles and does a mock salute then steps outside.

Nick kills the light and locks up, they head back around the long side, past the robot lab and such.

She whispers, "Will it be weird being seen with a different arm cover?"

He whispers, "It's not often she makes it over here, don't worry."

"Kayy."

They head out into the cool autumn evening and toward the main building.

She continues with the earlier account, "So, you know how my mom isn't much of a talker."

"Umm, I....guess?"

"Daddy's the talker, Mom's the thinker and ring leader."

"Ahh." This seemed to resonate with his recollection.

"Today she was all about making gestures, and I think she means it, it's her way."

"Well, good."

"After we all caught up a bit she wanted to call your mom."

Nick stops again.

She just looks at him to affirm. "You heard me, sport, and I think she stopped by on the way home."

Nick just looks ahead in a daze. "What a year."

"And it ain't over yet."

They walk on with few words to the downstairs commissary and sure enough Noreen is sitting there with a couple of colleagues, they get a smile and wave.

Deej whispers, "I don't think I could handle being faculty."

"Oh it's a sickness," is all he can muster as they proceed to the counter. He gets a fish sammich, to her disdain, they get fountain drinks (now self-serve) and split a huge basket of fries once the next batch is done. 

They find a table toward the front near the window.

Deej continues with the news, "So....I made April talk to Vance for a few minutes last night. He was just getting home from work."

"I need to call that old Cretan sometime. They actually spoke words to each other?"

She thinks a minute then continues after they thank the server for bringing hot fries, "You eh-....ok you...OH, a campfire, when the wood is kinda wet and you have to keep, maybe fanning it?"

"So you egged her on."

She looks up thoughtfully, "Yeah, I had to make the call, introduce them, I could tell he wanted to go chill out after work but..."

Nick just sighs.

"WHAT? They might hit it off, how else will we know?"

"I dunno, Vance was always pretty activity oriented, early on we'd screw around then he got into sports pretty heavy, mostly hoops, hell he started our last two years."

"Wow, well maybe you could check on him in a few days to see what he thinks."

"Deej, is this ethical?"

She smiles with a determination that he knows he can't overcome.

"Yeah, we'll see."

"Splendid!" as her countenance brightens and she scoots closer.

"Mmmm hmm."

"Whaaaat?" She purrs knowingly.

"So will you visit your folks more now?"

"Well, we took a huge step in that direction today. She's just wanting to be involved...seems...impressed that I'm taking control."

"Well you're in good hands."

She throws him an Arnold Jackson look, as if to say "whatchoo talkin bout Mister Dee?"

Nick sighs, "I'm tired...but you always...knew how to handle yourself, that's what sets you apart."

"Thanks, Nicky."

About then their order is up, Nick gets it and they pause to take some bites. It's completely dark now with the lingering cloud cover.

From behind him he hears Noreen, "Hey did you get the vehicles sorted out?"

Deej is free to answer first, "Yeap I'm all set, thank you so much for setting that up!"

Noreen side-hugs her, "It's the least I can do for you looking out for this...situation."

Nick is down to a couple bites, "Yeah yeah, is that your blue one out there?"

"Probably the one you saw, it's pretty nice, hard to believe that was a total."

"Wow, just glad you'll be ready."

"Oh did Bart mention?"

"Yeah."

She looks down, "It's a lot."

Nick tries, "Deej says she never wants to be a faculty."

This brings her out of it a bit, "Tell me about it, you want to teach then it's all these damn meetings, I guess we have to keep reviewing to get better as a department but, aye." She takes a deep breath, "Sorry to dump, I should get home."

"Will you hit the caff this week?"

"We'll see, good night."

"Get rest,"

"Take care, thanks again." Deej adds.

It feels weird not doing the hug thing.

After she's out of sight, "Nick it was hard for her to come up to us."

"I suppose, she's tired too."

"Are you OK?"

It’s still all weird, but alas, "I will be. Howbout you?"

"Can't complain."

They go on, finish up, then stroll out in a similar manner as before.

Nick tries to think of what he needs to ask her next but it's just nice in the moment.

"So you have some long days ahead, like being in the Army?"

"Funny you should say that, I considered it a few times."

"OH NO...no more army..."

"Heh, yeah...but it will be long days, should go by quickly and think it'll be a good burn. Supposed to be a nice bunch of guys, sometimes another woman.  Bob - April's dad - says he'd never want his daughter doing the work but can see I'm up to it."

"He has no idea."

She squeezes his arm.

"Can I ask a flavor?"

"Umm, I owe you a truckload."

"I'll follow you and we say goodnight there?"

She pauses, "Oh...yeah."

And so they do. On the brief drive he thinks of Noreen and her long trek into Academia and for some reason the Styx track Miss America blasts in his head.

They park in tandem in the gravel drive then she promptly leads him to the side of the house, left of the front door that surprisingly has no awning, there's a window. Then she leads him around the side, away from a pole light and they express proper yet G-rated goodnights up close.

During the embrace she whispers, "So that window we just passed, there's a space behind the shudder - I'll show you in a minute - a letter will fit back there, if you ever feel the need."

He kisses her again, "It works both ways, you know."

"Some nights I won't get to talk much but maybe sometimes would be nice to read and write."

"Try that next with April and Vance."

She smacks him, "Alright flyboy, go hug your poor mother."

"Yea I can't wait to hear about today."

She kisses him, "Write me."

They head around into the light and she taps the shudder and he can see it's a good drop spot.

This drive home is much shorter than he'd been used to. Hard not to feel like he's leaving someone behind, but the big picture is what it is.

He finds Irene pensive on the couch. "Did you have company today?"

"Yes I did, could not have been more surprised. And guess what?"

"I didn't do it."

"No but you will. We all will, dear, the Eversoles are coming for Saturday supper."

Nick has heard it all. "This Saturday?"

"Had you made plans?"

"The best plans are no plans, you know that."

"I hear ya, but she's going to get Danni to meet them here so look sharp."

"Wow, they were always kinda distant. I mean, Dean is a talker but..."

"Yes, Nancy is pretty...terse, but she's sincere and wants to, well, needs to make a fresh start. You heard about -"

"OH yeah, Deej is about to kill her."

"There ya go. Can we be supportive?"

"That's the idea, Mom."

"You're a good kid. Did you get that poor girl something to eat?"

"She had some fries. I had a fish sammich."

"Did I ask if you ate, dear?"

"I think I better go shower the day away."

"You'll smell better."

"By the way, she said the same thing...go to your poor mother."

"It's the price we pay, dear."

"Gunnite, Mom." with a peck on her forehead he heads upstairs to a shower and a pass at the lower bands, dial up some classical, then fade off into a new day.

That's The Ticket

Monday October 12, 1992

After a very uneventful start to the week Nick arrives home, checks the counter and finds an envelope addressed to him from Gettysburg PA: his ticket to radio adventures.

Up in his lair he carefully peels it open, unfolds, and finally knows his own call sign. N9YEW. Rhymes with Paps' hallowed call and could not be a better tribute. Suddenly he has the urge to show up at one of those club meetings on Tuesday night, would have to listen to repeater nets. OOH he can check into those now, well, might need a VHF antenna. We'll see.

Naturally it's time to flip on the rig, but, well, let's rest up first. Time to crack a window, it's rainy but warm, and stretch out and sum up a little. Definitely need to call the Deej at some point. 

He drifts off a bit then gets jarred awake by the call to dinner around 6. Ned seems a little choked up hearing about the ticket arriving.

"Well don't be a lid, is that the term?"

"Oh yeah."

Irene, "Paps is celebrating up above, you know that."

"Yeah."

And it wasn't long before he was upstairs twiddling knobs right around 7110 kHz, where the noobs fumble about. Everything is in place, just need to plug in the dipole and get 'er tuned. He had already messed with a noise bridge (with the help of the shelf of books Paps left) and it seemed like tuning won't be a problem, time to check his work.

He had also figured out how to rig things up to tune with a straight key then still use the paddle and keyer for business, which seemed favorable to some of the tuneups he heard with a series of dihs or dahs.

So here goes, quiet spot on 7.112.5 on the 745's dial, power knob at low, hits the key and the meters jump. Tries a few more beeps and twiddles the tuner knobs but no change. Oh yeah, need to pull the knob on this tuner for SWR readout, derp; he'd practiced with a dummy load once.

After pulling that knob and turning it to max range it's making sense, and before long we have the magic formula of Inductor E, Antenna 5, Transmitter 3.5 on the dials which he quickly writes down. 

Next is the part with the keyer, which should already be set at a comfortable copying speed of around 8 words/minute, even though he's surely copied a lot faster (thanks largely to repetition...) when monitoring contests. After a deep breath, the debut transmission,

"QRL? QRL?", to check for a clear frequency, then "CQ CQ DE N9YEW N9YEW"

After a sigh of relief Nick remembers that he's still at low power, or QRP. 

Also...this keyer needs to be set slightly faster, oh yeah, the code practice transmissions have longer beeps just spaced out more, or, well, the letters are spaced out more, something like that.

So now the keyer is up to about 15 words but that means he has to keep the sending down to what he can read; a challenge one can't resist.

OK, so we tune for just half the available power, about 50 watts, best to leave more in case you need it, but the previous tuning was just fine for 50.

Once more we repeat the QRL and hail. Nothing heard. Then again. After a pause he does the 3x3 instead of 2x2, might be easier to catch when spinning the dial.

Then off in the distance he hears some code but deeper than his radio's side tone, but hears his own call so fumbles for the paper, sure enough, he's being called, slowly, by a KB8 prefix, off to the east it would seem?

For the next 25 minutes or so, somehow he remembered to note the time from the clock, or at least close, he was exchanging pleasantries with Bill up in northern Michigan, also just licensed but got his Novice ticket (fewer privileges than his) in July and running a full 100 watts but with a vertical which would explain the strong signal reports, both 579, and no QSB (fade), strongest possible report is 599, maybe with a PLUS to indicate a high reading on the meter.

Nick was determined to not end the conversation and let Bill say 73 first, by which time he was sweaty and dry in the mouth, but what a way to get there. Bill slips in a PSE QSL which means he has to find his address in a call book, he may have to wait till he can find one in a library that's up to date. Unless, of course, Bill beats him to it and sends the card first.

Oh man, he will have to get cards printed, or else make his own in Word Perfect. Now that could be a creative outlet on slow days at the ol’ office.

So he heads downstairs to get a fresh mug of water to be greeted by "Danni called." Oh yeah, the phone had rung at some point.

Ned rewards word of the inaugural contact with a "At's mah boy."

Once upstairs, and with a background twinge of that same beckoning energy from the classic era with this gal, he tries the number, asks for Danni, and gets,

"Who's this?" Pretty sure it's an April.

Grabbing the first name from the headlines that comes to mind, it takes on a life, in his best twang, "It's Ross Perot, can I count on your vote young lady?"

"This better not be Nick?"

Back to his own voice, "What if it is?"

He hears a sigh, and after a couple of seconds, "WHAT are you doing?"

"Just worked my first station, up in Michigan."

"Why did...oh the radio?"

"Yeap it arrived today - the license."

"Oh cool, it's about time."

"Yeah they were backed up."

"Hmmm, not gonna touch that one."

"Yeah yeah."

"SO...I got a call today, from McDonnells and they want to look at my car - is that like Noreen's gang?"

"Yes it is, wow, she said that would be a...a condition for trading the cars."

"What?"

"You'd have to know how that family works, I happened to mention yours needed a checkup and here we are."

"Oh..."

"Just call when you can, knowing Bart he will do whatever it takes to make the deal go through, he wants my car in an unholy way."

"Oh, really? Just seems strange."

"Not to a car guy, trust me."

"Well with this rain we aren't working tomorrow so I'll call in the morning."

"Yeah I would, you might get a free oil change, maybe more."

"Nick this is great, thanks for thinking of me."

"Well it's rewards for paying your dues."

"Heh. Well tell her thanks."

"Soitenly, we'll probably get lunch this week."

"So how was your day?"

"Pretty slow till I got home."

"Yeah same here, I just mostly caught up on stuff while it's raining."

"So you'll be on the roof with a bunch of smelly guys?"

"Pretty much, I guess it goes quickly with a good crew, not too worried."

"There's worse ways to get through college."

"Well, for now."

"Yeah."

"So, if I may ask, are you happy living at home still?"

"As you say, for now."

"Touche."

"Later."

"You wish."

Nick pauses to reflect upon how they still banter when she’s feeling feisty. "At this point I need a place with antennas."

"Your HEAD needs antennas. So...once you land a dream job, who are you gonna share that success with?"

"Lonely women."

"Nick I swear you are the best of the worst."

"And are you gonna teach?"

"Please, thinking more like sports med, they will have the entire program here soon."

"So you'd get to tape up those football players with bulging muscles?"

"Bite me. Hold on a sec..." and the background noise fades away. "Alright, dork...thanks for yesterday."

"Yeah that was pretty awesome."

"Why?"

"You were there."

She pauses. "That moment was both a relief and kinda scary at the same time..."

"Any regrets?"

"Nick, of course not. I would ask you the same thing."

"I could never regret quality time with you."

"You just got a trademark smile, mister."

"We all have a lot to figure out these days."

"Some of us more than others it seems."

"In time, dear."

"Once I get some cash I'll apply to the twig, get my transcripts and all that jazz."

"I'll spot you that, as a loan -"

"Nick, I can't ask....wait, just how would I repay it?"

"Do you cook?"

"Does a deer shit in the woods?"

"There ya go, sport."

"Nick, you're the best."

"I don't consider myself the best, but I just fill in while he's on assignment."

He hears a resigned sigh, then, "Tell me...what do you think of fair April?"

"Very fair indeed. Impressive, to say the least. Like having a bonus babe around."

This gets a laugh, "I'll have to pass that along. You realize she's fair game, right?"

"I'm not feeling very game these days."

She pauses. "I know, but...still, she's like me, never really dated much."

"Does it come down to purpose?"

"Well...someone's been thinking."

"Soak in the tub does wonders."

"Mmmm....umm, that made my mind wonder...dang...but yeah, I get it, might have to try that for more than just sore muscles."

"Works just as well for sore mind."

"God Nick, when did you get so zen?"

"Bathing, riding the bike, driving..."

"Point well taken. I don't give myself enough think time."

"And that's what's wrong with the world."

"Alright smart guy, I don't wanna tie up the line -"

"Hey if you take your car over can you stop by the school?"

"Yeah, we'll try to."

"I want you to be able to do the transcripts, and can you get a ride out there to drop it off?"'

"Oh, well, I think Apeface can follow me out, maybe we can get lunch on the way back?"

"Perfect, my extension is 184 from the EIT switchboard, they have my name too if you can believe."

"Got it...well thanx for calling me back, HON."

"See you tomorrow I hope."

"We'll see, night."

"Nite you."

And with that, Nick has managed two mellow evenings in a row, well, mellow with perks.

The Campus Trail

Sunday October 11, 1992

It's late morning and Nick is headed to pick up Deej, thinking how this will be one of his last hurrahs in the Cordoba.

He had slept in to find both the 'Renes had taken off on some Laverne and Shirley type of adventure, as he would quip. Ned was just heading up to meet an uncle and grandmother for a last minute thing, seems they all had a preference to get away from the house for a bit today.

Not the least of which, Nick was taking another look at the thing Deej handed him last night when she called and asked if they could go for a walk or something, which on a breezy fall day can only mean the trail at the campus.

He pulls up to the house and before he can kill the engine she pops out the front door in some well-worn jeans, light jacket and a white knit cap, a sight for sore eyes.

Before she reaches the door he sees an April in the window sticking her tongue out, he replies in kind and she disappears.

Deej climbs in, he reports, "Well I got a raspberry from your roommate."

"You're just a hit with the ladies aren't you?"

He ignores this and pulls out. She stays quiet so he glances over to find her staring and grinning.

"What?"

"Hi."

"Hi yourself."

She giggles.

Nick just keeps driving.

"You OK?"

"Yeah, just not used to doing so much on a weekend."

"Hmm, mister stay-at-home-and-twiddle-knobs."

"That's right."

She dangles her foot within the small amount of space allowed for those long athletic pins. "Did you get to read it all?"

"A couple times now, wow."

"I know I went off the deep end, just the best way I knew to organize it."

"Noreen said it's some of the best manuscript she's ever read, and that's from a freaking English teacher."

"Owww, I just hope it makes sense."

"Hon I think you expressed some things that I've been trying to for five years now, since that night."

She just looks at him.

He glances over to affirm.

"Well, can we leave it at that for now?"

"Sherbet."

She smiles, "God I've missed you."

"Have you ever walked at the campus?"

"Only been here once or twice, to take tests."

"Sounds right. I grew up coming out here for walks."

She just sighs as he pulls into the lot.

"I'm in that flat building back yonder."

"I'll remember that."

"Buuuuut...we're headed....here." He pulls right up to the wooden archway that announces the trail entrance, with the main path emerging from behind the library.

He gets out and she just stays put, smiling of course. Taking a cue he goes around and opens the door, offers his hand, she's definitely in high spirits.

She keeps his hand but without locking fingers, maybe that's a safe step. This is all so surreal still.

As soon as they get through the archway entrance to the trail she stops and squeezes him full-on with her head next to his, and with a gravelly Cookie Monster voice, 

"FEEL THE BOOOBIES!"

Nick just sighs and gently squeezes her back as she giggles some more and pecks his cheek.

"We are finally ALONE."

"Wow, yeah."

She releases and looks at him from about five inches. He has trouble focusing and wonders if he should have brought his glasses, usually just for reading but he's not used to her ways. "You in there, Earth to Nick?"

"Just having trouble seeing you without glasses."

"It's OK, wow, like starting over."

"Picking up where we left off."

"Yeah. I'm not used to you without braces."

"Wow, yeah, that took a while to get me straightened out, into junior year. You were a lot easier right?"

"After the two teeth pulled, then that one set back they brought up, took two years."

"Lucky. I'm lucky."

"Don't count your eggs too soon, lady."

She just pauses. "Noreen confirmed what I always knew about you. How you respect women, try to think things through, good listener."

Nick looks to the side.

She continues, "This is all so weird for all of us, I get the sense she's handing you off to me...um...now that you've been with a woman, one hell of a woman, I can tell, not sure how I rate."

"Deej." He pulls her close. "That's it, you're the Deej. You're an institution."

She licks his ear and he jumps.

This gets a giggle. "Sorry to startle you, I need to slow down...but an institution? Do I look like a damn building?"

"Well, built like one, but you set so many standards."

"Nick. OH...." she stands in front of him, facing the same direction and points to something in the distance, "Can you see THAT without your glasses?"

"What?"

She blasts gas that he can feel from a couple inches away, and runs ahead laughing hysterically, then turns around to find him shaking his head.

He catches up and she takes his hand once again, "So...what was it, back at, what, that camp meeting?"

"Hmm?"

She draws a breath and tugs his arm once again for eye contact. "Just what made me stand out, with all those girls around."

"You're different."

"Nick -"

"Confident. Graceful."

She slips an arm and leans in and purposefully slows down their pace. "You just described Noreen."

"Yeah, but back then no one else - well, there was a vibe."

"A vibe huh?"

"Yeah, I just knew I should sit with you, and then you showed no mercy, like a wall I could never climb."

She looks up at him expectantly.

"There was something about you I could believe in, you stayed ahead of me. You weren't concerned with the stupid crap that girls usually talked about, you played ball - kicked ASS at ball, you could draw well, and you seemed to be a natural leader."

She squeezes tighter. "I need to hear this, Nick."

"Always loved your voice."

"It's the only one I got. What about it?"

"It's kind...sweet. Soothing…like that Heart song…um, These Dreams, with Nancy sings instead of Anne”.

"Umm, stop sucking up, you know I love that song…plus, why is this all about the inner stuff - HON..."

"Oh."

She stops and grabs his shoulders but keeps to the side, seeming to know the value of his peripheral vision, with a grin, "what about the physical?"

"That smile...or grin, means you're up to something."

"Nick, what else?"

"I could tell those legs went from here to Venus and back."

She squeezes him with more shoulder and much more sincerity than before, "There it is! MMMMMM..." And she wraps one of those pins around him, leans back, touches his face.

He feels like they will kiss at some point but this isn't the moment. He pulls her in and pecks her temple and starts a slow stroll on. The sun has peaked through a few times along with a brief break in the wind.

She's leaning on his shoulder.

He says, "I guess we really do get to continue on, I had always wondered, it just seemed impossible."

She ponders a minute and seems to itch her forehead against his shoulder, which means she's slouching.

"Nick, just so you know, I told my folks that either they drop the constant judgment or else I don't have parents."

He stops and looks at her.

She stares downward and takes a deep breath. 

Nick slips his a hand beneath her cap.

She smiles and kisses his hand.

He realizes his sinus headache from last night is creeping back in. Tonight calls for as much rest as possible and probably tomorrow night to absorb all this.

He asks, "Are you planning to do sports?"

This brings her back a bit, "You know it, thought about trying hoops but never really made that commitment. Gonna call my old Karate school once I get some income."

"How about choir?"

"Maybe, gotta see how busy I'll be."

"Yeah."

They walk on, in no hurry, Deej asks "Do you want to know what I saw in you?"

"Well..."

"That's a deep subject. Well what?"

"I usually don't understand someone's answer to that."

She just shakes her head. "Shoulda seen that coming."

Pretty soon is a fork in the path. She looks up at him expectantly, he wisely says, "To the left is longer."

This gets the smile, then bit further, "Can I ask something personal?"

"What can it hurt?"

"How far have you gone, with a female?"

"Well about as far as you can get, physically, usually it sneaks up on me."

"Mmmhmm. Who was the first?"

"Well I count our little deal as a first."

"Nick."

"Alright…my first year here I spent the evening with a gal who worked in the snack bar, she's very sweet, and, well, older, and it just happened."

She stops walking with a bold look.

"Well you asked."

"So no one from high school or that store?"

"Oh please, that was...there was always a wall up, or, just, you know, blech."

This gets a deep breath. "Nick I've been living behind that wall...just as long if not longer. The expectations, the rules, the shame...."

"At least you can define your wall."

"Yeah you blew the hell out of your wall."

"We'll have to drink a toast to the wall."

She snickers, "Toast to the wall...Swanson..." then once again a hand squeeze and rests her head on his shoulder. 

"What gave...that time at the party, God...I feel like an ass for being so amused but I had no idea you'd actually try that."

"Yeah it all seemed easy in my mind."

"I'd like you to succeed sometime."

"Deej -"

"Don't Deej me...I've talked to girls who tried it and love it."

"Deej -"

She looks down, squeezing his shoulders, "You're right, I'm getting ahead of things."

"It's OK."

She tears up. "Nick the furthest I got was...very...disappointing. He wasn't sure of himself at all, got into my bra some and we didn't even talk after that."

Nick grins. 

"What?"

"You used to squeeze your chest into me didn't you, on purpose?"

She cracks up, "I wanted to give you something and that was, I mean, right in broad daylight."

"Even at your graduation thing."

"I couldn't resist. You seemed distracted."

"Well things were still weird, we hardly saw each other-"

"I get that, I kept hoping I'd run into your more but I just kept busy. But..." she leans on him, "Deep down you were my hero for taking a stand, even though it was at odds with everything I was supposed to believe, just glad I - OH."

"Hmmm?"

"Brace yourself "

His eyebrows raise.

"My sister is pregnant."

His eyes widen. "Little Sam?"

"Little Sam has been a big...that's another reason I came back, kicking myself for not being here, I would have wiped up the driveway with her stupid ass."

"No doubt."

She draws a huge breath, "My parents are too stuck in ideals to know what to do, I think they are reaching a moment of truth."

"Good Lord. I'm gonna have to soak tonight."

She lights up, "Need company?"

He looks the other way and she brings in another huge squeeze. "I'll try to behave but God I could pound you - SORRY, geez."

They are stopped and he squeezes back, "It's OK, I just need to catch my breath after this past week."

She leans on him. "You promise you won't forget I'm here?"

"Deej you've been a part of me all these years..."

She relaxes all her weight on him and they just hold this position. 

In the distance they hear voices, he advises, "we got bogies on up ahead, the sunlight must have inspired someone."

"I'll try to behave then," and gooses his bum.

Nick jumps about mile.

"Are you always this tense?"

"Not used to being this close to a legend."

"Goddamn it Nick I'm a mortal…I’m a…girl, trying to learn the woman thing and hopefully one of your best friends."

"All that, and a legend still."

They start onto a thirty-foot wooden bridge over a dry creek and she looks at him with frustration.

"Do you have a personal mythos or something?"

"I suppose I do."

She looks ahead for a few steps, then, "Did you ever test as an introvert?"

"Yeah we did that Meyers - whatever, yeah I was an I for sure, could tell what the questions wanted me to say."

"And you know I'm kinda E right, even if just a smidge?"

"Kinda makes for a situation don’t it?"

"Don't you ever forget it."

The voices come into view and it's a grandma type with two grade-schoolers, and a rather gloomy junior high type moping about 15 feet behind her. Nick just smiles and Deej greets the younguns.

After they are out of earshot, she continues her interview, "So I'd imagine you're still not into kids?"

Nick fires right back, "I'd imagine you're not into astrology?"

This gets a droll look, "You rehearsed that answer didn't you?"

"That's the worst part about talking to most older folks, gotta have an answer ready."

"Well played."

"Howbout you?"

She takes her time answering. "I'm not ready to answer, especially with what my shithead sister pulled."

About this point Nick feels like he's confirmed some suspicions, that he's being handed back to this gal's sphere of influence, as his blond wonder has been a bit ambiguous about sticking around while pursuing her masters.

Being next to Deej is a mixture of old and new, plus the uncertainty, all in the right amounts. At least, close enough to guess the rest. There's no 'old shoe' to try on; they weren't steady so they never tried it on to begin with.

He realizes they are at a bend with just the rustling leaves in their ears, strolling along without a word the past couple of minutes. He slows down and the kiss happens before he knows it started. She coos, he can't resist slipping a hand behind her neck and another beneath her shirt, but leaves it there, well, maybe explore below the waist band to just the top of her cheeks, their tongues exchanging that silent succulent language, she has a leg around him again as he holds the balance, he might just feel a warm spot against his thigh but suddenly her pelvis twitches.

She disengages the lips and leans her forehead in, "Nmff."

They stand there and catch their breath as Nick scans his ears for distant voices, thankfully hearing none.

"I hope you're happy, my shorts are a disaster now."

"Complaining?

"How did you do that?"

"Hon it just happened."

"It just happened alright. This is a first, Bucko."

"Looks like we're meant to be close."

"We're something, and I owe you one."

"If it's what I think you mean, I already had my turn..."

She snorts and coughs with laughter, "I told you that doesn't count but we can work it out later."

"I need time."

"I know, but all the same, this is the best day I've had in years, just know that."

He kisses her lips again and lets her rest on him. Damn.

After a couple minutes she gives a squeeze and leads a slow stroll. She takes a deep breath, "Dear, my legs are quite rubbery, so if you can keep me steady can we get lunch?"

"We can hit the strip for whatever."

"Well, what time is it?"

Nick digs for his watch, a decent Timex he got from the 'rents a year or so ago. "Going on one."

"Wow we've been busy. I didn't want to have to go into town, can I get a raincheck?"

"Of course."

"You probably need introvert time and I still have to unpack."

"So is that house phone separate from the business?"

"Oh yeah, we can talk a little now and then."

"What if April answers?"

"You better be nice to her."

"What?"

"She really thinks well of you the way you handled things the other day."

"She's....something. Seriously how did you two meet?"

"Church camp, big surprise I know, over the years we hit it off, why do I get the introverts?"

"Should we fix her up with Vance?"

"Please, how would we get a word in edgewise?"

They laugh and then emerge from the woods behind the library building and remembers something he’d rather not right now, so they proceed in silence around the building and along the empty courtyard toward the starting point.

Eventually she continues, "That was so sweet of you to reach out to me in the spring, gave me hope when the funk was setting in."

"Yeah you seemed a bit distracted but I just figured you were busy."

"Well, at least now things are headed in the right direction, for me at least, no idea what do do 'bout my family."

"They grow up so fast, don't they."

She smacks his ass, "Get me to the car, dummy. Are you still trading the ole boy in?"

"Yeah that needs to happen."

"I should get mine looked at."

"Hold that thought."

"Hmm, OK?

Once there he lets her in, then himself and starts the journey, thinks to ask, "Is it relaxing where you stay there?"

"Great to be back out in the country, no more dorm sounds. The room is small but can't complain."

"Glad you landed in a soft spot."

She pauses, "Yeah, I tell myself that every day."

Nick keeps driving, and soon she asks, "Will you talk to Noreen soon?"

"She and Mom went somewhere this morning, breakfast I spose, so yeah."

"Thank her for me?"

He looks at her, "Ok."

“OH…oh oh oh…did you ever meet back up with Geeeee-na? OH, wait, did I hear she got hitched?”

“That one, yeah she got engaged just a few months after we went out, they have a kid or two according to the Christmas cards, she still looks great.”

“None of that surprises me, she’s a sweetie.”

Deej keeps looking out the window, wistfully for all he knows, and they finish the journey in quiet contemplation, she wastes no time, "OK no long goodbyes, call me this week?"

"We'll see," he gives a grin.

"Bye, thanks hon," she pecks him quickly and gets out runs to the door, opens it up, turns to see him watching and gives a goofy look, then pops into the house.

Nick feels a sense of relief to be back within his own space but so good to share it with her for a while, and on their own terms. 

Anything is possible.

In a few minutes he pulls into the drive next to his next vehicle, which will undergo a final checkout and some detailing. In return, Bart gets the 'Doba for his nefarious purposes (involving a 383, his favorite Mopar mill) and promises Nick and Ned a ride in the finished product one of these days. Noreen gets a newer Pontiac that will help support her new ventures, bittersweet as they may be.

He finds Noreen sitting on the sofa staring into space, in jeans and a thin green hoodie. She smiles a little and they head to the front porch, and she starts in, "Details, man!"

"She farted on me and then later on we shared a moment."

This gets the expected huge laugh. "Why can I never think of that!"

"What did you gals end up doing?"

"We visited my mom."

"Oh wow, how is she?"

"About the same, but Irene wanted to be prepared, you know, and it was very nice."

"Yeah."

Time to face the elephant in the room.

He starts, "Um..."

"Yes, dear."

"Do you have to go to main campus soon?"

She looks down and pauses, "I've put off finding out. But I'm starting to suspect so. They haven't scheduled me for anything here for winter."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I need to get that clarified tomorrow. You know, I'd have to be in place in December."

Nick pauses, "Will you need help with anything?"

She looks at him in the way she does when he needs to think it through.

"You're gonna tell me to watch out for Deej."

She leans in, kisses his cheek, and leans on his shoulder.

"She wanted me to say thank you, by the way."

Noreen snorts a giggle, "OK."

"It's a girl thing?"

"Something like that. Hold on to her, stallion, you dig?"

"Right now my goal is to soak in the tub and not," looks around, "well, try to avoid certain situations for a while."

"Speaking of..." and she tears up. 

Nick just waits.

"We should probably...."

"Yeah, take a pause."

She sighs. "That's a good way to say it."

He plants one on her scalp.

"If it's easier, I'll keep in touch with your mom for the most part, but I hope to run into you at the school, we got a few lunches left I hope?"

"Of course."

"And the cars - you still want that piece of sh- I mean, that fine machine?"

"Stop it, yeah, I need to downsize and that one's been well maintained."

"You know me, drive it like ya stole it."

"Yeah yeah. OH...Deej said she wants her Pontiac looked at -"

Noreen sits up and looks at him, channeling Eric Idle, "Say no more say no MOAH, that just became a condition - give me her number before I leave, got it?"

"Got it."

From the house Irene announces sandwiches.

They get up and she grabs his hand on the way in, a sign of unity.

"Everything OK?" Irene is obviously in on the big picture.

They look at each other and in unison, "Yep."

They consume lunch and Noreen gathers her stuff to head home, in some strange way all seems right. 

But, still...

Nick walks her out and remembers to ask, "Any updates on our Doris?"

"Oh yeah, Sandy is helping her get to a doctor's appointment, we're hoping for the best."

They look at each other more deeply than in a long time. 

He steps in, he realizes, a bit selfishly out of being tired but it seems right, "Be careful and talk soon, my dear."

"I meant it when I said I love you last night."

"I know, and you'll always be that mystical being that shows up at just the right time."

She smiles and gets slightly flushed, "Oh go on," leans in for a two-beat kiss, and gets in the Celica. 

Nick sees her off with a wave and heads in.

Irene greets her boy with a squeeze. "You're handling this well, Nick."

"Mom I'm not just sure what I'm handling."

She leans back and looks him in the face, "Who ever does? Things will be just fine."

"I know, are you OK?"

"Getting there."

"I need to go rest."

"Good idea, sport."

He pecks her on the forehead then starts a bath and gets in just as the water starts, helps to acclimate. Nothing resets the being like a decent soak. At one point he had tried Epsom salt but that seemed to cause need for more maintenance with the buildup, so now it's just a peppermint bath oil someone found, not bad, just not too much or it makes the water feel cold.

He tries not to use too much water and kills it with a foot. Muscles are a tad tight from the stroll and related activities. God, four women in a week, to some degree. 

Still, leave it to Deej, the simply indelible. Almost too convenient that they left off in no formal state, no precedent. Today took him by surprise as he almost finds the idea of intimate contact a bit repugnant at this time, she's still off limits in a sacred sense and that's not a wall one charges over.

But they sure connect in the intangible ways, may the circle go unbroken, and that's what we go with for the purposes of this particular soak. He wonders at what point bosoms lost their blanket appeal as stimulation; probably when hearing of his brother's tryst at the campground, yeesh.

The rest of the day includes some modem time, 2D game on the P35 all while listening to some casual Morse conversations in the usual haunts on the dial. These days even some of the faster ragchews are easier to follow, at least here and there.

Selfishly he hopes no one calls this evening and, with a twinge of regret, gets his wish. 

Eventually he puts on some classical from the powerful University station up where Noreen is probably headed, yet, still finds it soothing, and drifts off, with the sense that he suddenly has one hell of a poker hand and it’s probably time to slide the chips in.

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.