“Hey Kyle. I’m going to be on campus tomorrow do you want to go do some practice drills after My Dad and I have lunch?”
“Sure. Drive in with your Dad and I’ll drive from there. Bring something to throw on after we will grab dinner if you’re up to it?
“Sure. I’d love it.”
So it would become a routine that summer. Kyle had avoided more than the occasional date. He was tapped out with School, hockey and his Mother’s health. Jackie was comforting because she had grown up around him and knew all there was to know. He didn’t have to fill her in on how important hockey was or how his Mother’s cancer had affected him. She was alluring in her skating attire. Jackie had jet black hair in a cute bob with giant hazel eyes. They were a good fit.
His second job was thanks to Dr. Albertson as well. He was working on some promotional collateral for the athletic department. They were in the midst of kicking off a campaign to promote their swimming and diving programs. Kyle could manage to cross the pool and knew some women on the swim team. He did not really give it much thought beyond that. The program, as it did at most Universities, existed in the shadows of basketball, baseball and hockey. They wanted to gain exposure and get their share of NCAA money.
“I’ll take the challenge Dr. A, but you should know I’m a hockey guy. This is new territory.”
“I know that Kyle. Jackie says you are looking around for a second job. With due respect to tacos, this job will look better on a resume. You know business and you can see if sales and advertising is more interesting than finance. There is a lot you can do with a business under grad degree. You don’t have to work in a bank.”
“Thank you sir. I will give it a try. I will be taking a four day trip to Massachusetts. I’ll have to make sure it’s doe able for me to take a Monday through Friday.”
“You’ll do great Kyle. It’s all water anyways. Yours is just frozen. One more thing kid. Start calling me Dan. You’re like a little part of the family. I like having some testosterone around. I’m outnumbered at home.”
“Yes Sir. Oh, sorry the Dan thing is a new one.”
“Get out of here Kyle. Hurt my baby girl and your dead.”
Kyle was heading to Needham for a visit with Truman and a lot of the other guys from school. Con was planning to join them for a couple of nights down at the Cape. Jackie was considered as a traveling companion. She and Kyle were an exclusive couple. He decided against it and decided to keep it an all guy thing which he managed with no bruised feelings. Jackie trusted Kyle and it would be a good break from his frenetic pace allowing her to focus on her future at BC.
“Truman my man. What’s up dude?”
“Come on in man. Welcome to Needham. My Mom is working and by brother and sister are working. We can just chill. We’ll cook out back tonight. Burgers and whatever. Beer?”
“Sure. I’ve been on the road for eight hours and that sounds like heaven right now. Are the girls coming over?
“Yeah, Rose and Di will present. They look pretty fine – all tan and healthy.”
“I’m sure. They are part of the crew but I do forget they are women. Thanks for reminding me. I’ll be sure to throw them a compliment.”
The girls joined The Cohen’s and Kyle in the backyard. They ate burgers from the grill and Mrs. Cohen whipped up potato salad and a lot of fresh veggies from the garden. Rosemary baked some delicious sweets. It was a postcard perfect evening. Kyle thought he knew his roommate well but this opened his eyes to why Truman was well grounded. There was no Mr. Cohen but all Kyle knew he wasn’t dead. As the oldest of three Truman was, and acted as the man of the house. It wasn’t a fancy place but it was brimming with love and possibility. Truman was not ashamed of his humble home. He took pride in all of it, appearing happier than most people with more stuff. He was named Truman and he was the true measure of a man.
They met up with Con and roamed the Massachusetts coast. They swam, drank beer and even caught a Red Sox game. The ceremony of attending the event at the legendary “Green Monster” was beyond rumor and depiction told in movies and books. They were playing the Oriels and the sun was shining. The hot dogs were exceptional and they all quaffed a beer. The snapping of the bat to ball was musical added to the constant roar of the enthusiasts with their enunciated Boston accents. It didn’t matter that they were hockey guys. They had obtained the holy grail of sports.
There was no calculus, no hockey and no family struggles to deal with. They called themselves “The Boys of Summer”. It would make great stories someday. The tales growing more unbelievable with each telling.
****
Taryn was refreshed and ready to conquer the challenges awaiting her in Amherst. She drove her usual 70 mph down the Mass Pike. She was happy to be travelling with her own wheels. She wondered however, why Josh got the new car. It was an unimportant detail and she was happy in the trusted wagon.
Taryn’s legs were cramped when she got out of the car. The ride wasn’t long but she had done a lot of laying around at home. The to-do list was long and she was eager scribble some items as done.
“Hey Taryn. Welcome home. I got you a surprise that I think you’ll love. I hope you love it. It’s not returnable. Come on up.”
Devon was hanging out the third story window. They occupied the top floor with a rotating group of renters on the floors below. It wasn’t the most attractive building in town but there was a large tree in back that was in full bloom. It was a great improvement over its appearance in the fall and winter when it looked like a dirty tenement building. Taryn climbed the stairs to Devon’s big reveal of a surprise.
“You got me a kitten!”
“Taryn, I hope you like her. A dog was too much of a commitment and this would be fun to have around. She’s not spayed yet and I have left the name up to you.”
“I love her. I didn’t know I wanted a cat but I truly love it.”
Taryn hugged the cat. She was an orange fluffy feline. She would have one more year in the dorms which would not allow her to keep an animal. Taryn would find some way to make it work. She named the cat Fonda.
The next morning Taryn woke and she planned to find a waitressing job in either Amherst or Northampton. She was waiting at the bus stop when she realized her car was sitting in the driveway. She used the extra moment to rush in and see her cat before she left. The tangerine ball of fluff was curled up on her pillow, Devon was in the shower. She kissed Fonda goodbye and continued on to her car.
Taryn was not the only one looking for summer employment. Summer jobs in the five college Pioneer Valley was on everyone’s mind. She received a good vibe from a restaurant in Northampton. The manager was a male who happened to be present before the place was open. As normal Taryn was first noticed by her beauty and he invited her to fill out an application. She did and with little formal experience she was hired to work three lunch shifts per week. She had been accustomed to filling mugs and serving muffins so this job at Mame’s was a definite step up. She did not know the popularity of the spot or the excellence of the food. She had really lucked out.
Northampton had a different feeling than Amherst. It reminded her of South Street in Philadelphia only smaller. It had a lively urban feel. The utility poles repeatedly caught her eye. They were canvassed in playbill covers, bulletins, and announcements. They were heavily dedicated to upcoming musical productions and shows featuring live band performances. Taryn had run into just what she was seeking. She was planning to audition for productions through the Fine Arts Center at UMass, but this presented a locale which would allow her to cast a wider net.
Out came her pen and paper. She jotted down phone numbers and addresses and grabbed tabs with printed information on the flyers if they were still available. Her heart was throbbing and palms sweaty. Copious opportunities were on display and she was sure to find something worthwhile. The music academy in town had a capacity of 800. A perfect sized audience for her. It was her first stop.
Taryn arrived at the theater. The
building was one of the newer additions to the area. Probably about 20 years old. The front entrance was closed but a sign directed her to an adjacent alley and stage entrance. It gave way to a set of rooms, all covered in cloth sounding fabric. There were props and a few individuals moving about. It emanated energy - The positive kind. She caught a woman’s attention. She was dressed in opaque burgundy tights, and a brown leotard. Her hair was wild and curly with streaks of grey. She was wearing toe shoes and appeared in very good shape.
“Hi, Can I help you in some way? You look a bit lost.”
“Oh, I’m just checking it out. I was interested in local theatre and your flyer led me here. My name is Tarn Wright.”
“Hello, welcome. I’m Wendy. Welcome to the academy. I can give you a quick tour and let you know what all were about. We are an 18 year old academy of dance and music. Currently we are showing a performance of our own, which we do twice a year. At other times we welcome traveling companies to use our stage. We offer classes in both interpretive dance, voice and acting. I am the principal dancer in the current production and I’ve been here since the beginning. We are always accepting new blood if that is of any interest. Next season we are doing a musical. We are taking a stab at Chicago. It’s an untraditional rendition of an old standby. We don’t really start rolling on until August. If you’re interested I can give you what you need to apply for the company. It requires a lot of recommendations, tapes, a solid resume – you know, experience beyond high school musical stuff.”
“Well Wendy. I’m a sophomore at UMass and involved in the music program there but in terms of performance I have not really done much beyond the high school musical. I’m studying with a voice coach. You may know him – Devon Malloy?”
“I know Devon. Good to know he’s still doing his thing. He’s an excellent teacher. Very good history down in Philly.”
“Yeah, he has really helped me with my range. I am actually his, ummmm, his roommate.”
Taryn was unsure how much she should reveal about her relationship with Devon. Wendy didn’t appear surprised. She left with a laundry list of schedules and what she needed to get her foot in the door. It was going to take immense dedication to make this work while keeping up as a full-time student. Taryn was focused on putting an audition routine together and doing her research. She also got a strange sense that Wendy had an opinion of Devon that she did not share. That too would require research.
Her first stop was at the UMass music administration office. Campus was quiet. It was a hot day and the air was stagnant. She procured some e-mail addresses of music department professors she would use as references, in the hopes they would send something along to the academy. She also dropped the course she had planned to take during the summer session. There would be little time for the three day per week class and she was already ahead on the credit count.
****
Summer in Buffalo was coming to an end and both Kyle and Jackie were preparing to head to Massachusetts. Geography-wise they were set up to be close but she was planning to be a freshman and he was just returning to school. The situations were vastly different. Summer months were busy but circumstances allowed them to spend much of their time together. They would hit the ice and both spent time at Canisius. They lived in the same neighborhood. They were in a comfortable place and Kyle had to consider how this transition would play out with neither side suffering.
They had become intimate and it was a first for Jackie. He knew she imagined a future of weekend trips spent together between Boston and Amherst. He was also aware that if he ever had a free weekend it would be spent in Buffalo, close to his Mother. He could use the old “it’s not you, but me” line. Those words sounded like an empty excuse - Lacking dignity. It was in his eyes realistic, but the street ran in both directions. They had planned a picnic on the waterfront and the subject would be brought up on the banks of Lake Erie.
“Beautiful day isn’t it Jack? The newspapers say the lake is dead but it looks good to me. I wouldn’t drink from it but it sure offers a nice sun reflector. It’ll be frozen before long and present a different kind of beauty. What are you thinking beneath those sunglasses? I can bet it’s not the lake.”
“No Kyle, not on my mind. This should be a happy time for me. I’ve done my shopping and I’ve been corresponding with my new roomy. She sounds great by the way. I just don’t want to say goodbye to you. I think we can work this out long distance if you are willing to give it a shot. I mean there is no one awaiting you in Amherst and no one for me in Boston. I have free anytime minutes and we can text. Maybe weekends at least once a month. Why not give it an attempt?”
“I love you Jackie and there is not a person in Amherst or anywhere else like you. I’m going to think of you every day I put on my skates. I just can’t send you off with some fantasy of this going beyond what it is here in Buffalo. I will be jealous when I find out from Juliet that you have met someone else. It sucks and it stings but you will know I’m right sooner than you think.”
“It is what it is, right?”
“No. It is what you make it Jackie.”
“Can we write and call? Is that o.k.?
“Of course Jackie. We will be in touch. I’ll probably call you crying some night wishing you were by my side. We can get together during the holidays and I expect to see you at my games with you probably wearing a BC sweatshirt.”
“I wish you were an ass about this. I love you more now because you’re such a sweet guy. I will always remember this day. I know you’re right but I just don’t like it.”
“Let’s go get some custard and lighten things up a bit.”
Kyle and Jackie walked away hand in hand. It was a sweetly honest summer love.
Mark and Kyle spent the next day together hunting for Kyle’s first car. His reality crashed into his dreams of a sporty powerful vehicle. He had limited funds but enough to get something used and reliable. They would test drive some of the fast and agile numbers just for fun. Mark had spent the summer interning for a local state senator. There was little time to chill together. Mark handled his post with tenacity in hopes that he would stand out. Days were spent in Albany where he sponged up information. Kyle was his biggest fan although himself a Democrat and Mark swinging the other way. He would always support his buddy regardless of affiliation.
Countless “refurbished vehicle sales venues” later Kyle drove off in his new metallic blue hatchback…with the top down. He was the second owner according to the salesperson and searches done by Mark on his smartphone. It looked sporty and got decent mileage so Kyle was pleased. They were heading back to Admiral Road for hotdogs on the grill courtesy of Brian and Juliet who had become the reliable chefs.
The Albertson’s and the Gorski’s were invited. It was the last blast of summer at the Caldwell house. The lawn chairs were laid out and coolers loaded with sodas, water and beer. Mrs. Caldwell was in a wheelchair. No one caused a fuss because that wasn’t the way she threw a cook-out.
“Mom, everything is taken care of. We just want to enjoy yourself. Do you need anything? If you have pain we are cleared to ramp up the Morphine.”
“My sweet son, I want to have a clear vision tonight. “
Mrs. Caldwell never mentioned dying nor did anyone else. The family was trying to hold on to the present. Mrs. Caldwell would sense the pity if it were offered. It was time to hold on to her sparkling gaze and create memories that would provide them with strength when the time arrived. She had made an indelible imprint on their lives and anything here on out had to honor her dignity.
“To friends and family.”
Sam Caldwell raised a glass to a teary- eyed crowd.
The following day Kyle was back in Amherst.
****
With a busy summer behind her and having made many life altering decisions Taryn and Fonda soaked up the early fall sunshine. She was not returning to UMass for her third semester. She was able to defer for the time being. All her time would be devoted to “Chica
go” to debut in April. It had been a long road to get the role of Velma and it required her full-time devotion. She was given a secondary lead when the part as Velma was re-opened due to another’s illness. She put everything at her second shot and it paid off.
Devon was tying up loose ends in town and heading back to Philadelphia. Wendy from the academy was moving in as her housemate. Wendy, as suspected, had known more about Devon than previously revealed. Taryn was not the first woman to become his muse. It was a pattern he had been known for. Mr. Wright had been correct. He didn’t like growing older and chose young women as a way of holding on to the past.
He had been a guide to Taryn when she needed one. She was smart to move forward without him and he could not argue the matter. He would move in with his sister Irene in Belmont and see what the music scene had to offer. Devon needed the time to figure out where his life was going and his sister could use a male role model around the house. Taryn and Devon both bore scars from the way things came to an end. They both however, learned a lot and promised to keep in contact.
No more men for a while Taryn swore to her dad. He listened to his heart broken daughter and guessed the right one would come along. She promised this would never happen. He would have to look like Kyle from the Newman Center if that was ever going to happen. Maybe someday…
****
Hockey began quickly as the brotherhood continued. Kyle was a star on the team now. Dom was drafted by the Ottawa Senators. The college to NHL jump was not unprecedented but quite an honor. He had to be steady at goal or spend time in Binghamton of the AHL. Matt from Canada stepped forward. He had been lingering in Dom’s shadow for two years. He was ready to step into the starring role. There were some JC transfers on the team who had spent a year biding their time while following the NCAA rules that required them to do so. They would add some much needed strength on defense.
Icing Page 8