Braided Gold

by Glen Roylance

  As Paul drove home that evening his mind went back to his early association with Jerry at San Diego State. They first became acquainted when Jerry took a class from Paul. Before the first lecture had concluded it became apparent that the two of them thought alike. Paul had been in typical good form that day, rattling sensitivities and awakening the sleepy minds of students who were filling liberal arts requirements by taking a psychology course. Jerry, resonating with Paul’s presentation, had made a number of comments in class that not only revealed his understanding of what Paul had to say, but made it clear that he was a sympathizer and a zealot in his own right. From that day the two were united in mutual admiration. Visits after class and in Paul’s office occurred regularly and soon Paul began to play the role of mentor for Jerry.

  Jerry embraced the relationship wholeheartedly. He trusted Paul sufficiently to confide many things of a personal nature in him. He had spoken of his abusive father and his mistreatment of Jerry’s mother; of his father’s ultimate suicide and Jerry’s subsequent emotional challenges; of his indulgent mother who afforded Jerry virtual independence throughout his high school years; of his groping for direction in life and the influence of a few teachers who recognized his gifted intellectual capacity. He told Paul of his great discovery – that ideas had real power.

  Though he had been a serious student during his high school years, Jerry had not been immune to the spirit of rebellion that frequently consumes teenage energies. By the time he had begun to think of a college education, a rebellious, cynical spirit had infused itself into Jerry’s personality. His use of drugs brought him into repeated skirmishes with the law, yet he was bright enough to avoid things that would have resulted in incarceration. He adopted a lifestyle that placed him in the non-conformist margins of society and there he remained.

  Jerry’s selection of San Diego State for university study came quite by accident. Following his high school graduation, restlessness carried him from place to place throughout the entire summer. He ended up in Southern California where he was taken with surfboarding and the perpetually pleasant climate. Avoiding the smog and dense population of Los Angeles, he was drawn to San Diego and soon he was accepted as a freshman at San Diego State.

  Jerry met Kristel during his sophomore year. She was brash and outspoken – both were budding revolutionaries and soon found their way to the heart of the “cause” on campus. Like Jerry, Kristel did not lack for financial means. She was the daughter of a mining executive living in Denver, Colorado, who preferred keeping her in school with a generous allowance to having her underfoot at home where she had the knack for precipitating one domestic crisis after another. It had been an amiable parting of the ways with only one caveat from her father: “Don’t get pregnant and don’t get put in jail.” Jerry and Kristel were a ready match.

  It was a year later that Jerry and Paul became acquainted. Though they were worlds apart in essential lifestyles and years apart in age, ideologically they were as two peas in a pod. Paul came to regard Jerry as a kind of “kid brother” and their relationship would remain intact until an unanticipated dark crisis would ultimately consume both of them.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Claire stood in front of the mirror in her bathroom and added a touch of lipstick to her sparse use of makeup. But it was not personal beauty that was on her mind as she looked at herself in the mirror. Instead, there was a bit of self-derision running through her thoughts. Leo’s words of several days before had continued to trouble her, particularly his reference to professionalism. Ah, yes, that had been a painful pinprick! She had prided herself on her professional competence. Whatever she put her hand to always bore the stamp of her penchant for organization and the careful management of detail. She prided herself on being able to work with people and to meet high expectations. Then she had solemnly announced that she could not or would not work with Paul Kirkham unless he were to make a concerted effort to conform to what she thought a respectable psychology professor should be – “a tactical mistake,” she thought to herself.

  Today’s working luncheon on Shelter Island was to be an informal but very important review of food and lodging arrangements, as well as the recreational aspects of the summer workshop. She had put in many hours with the merchants and vendors involved to create a “touch of class” atmosphere, and just plain fun that would be remembered long after the content of workshop presentations had been forgotten. She was determined not to sabotage her own preparations by allowing her antagonistic feelings towards Paul Kirkham to complicate the meeting. The kind of people that would be attending today’s meeting frequently mistrusted University personnel, seeing them as being somewhat aloof in their “ivory tower of higher education.” She was determined not to increase any negative opinions by hanging departmental dirty laundry in open view this afternoon. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she spoke in silent thoughts to herself. “Don’t be so defensive about this whole thing, Claire. Just make friends with the man.” Yes, that’s what she would do. Declare a truce, at least until the end of the summer. She looked at her watch. It was time to go. She would need to arrive earlier than the others to make sure that the luncheon arrangements at the Bali Hai were going according to schedule.

  The traffic on Interstate 8 was light at this time of day, and Paul made good time as he traveled west, then exited into the city not far from the San Diego Airport with its low flying approach over the buildings in the downtown area. He made his way out to the little peninsula that had been named Shelter Island. After driving past the many hotels and restaurants he arrived at a secluded setting on the northern end of the island. In this exquisite setting the “Bali Hai,” an upscale restaurant, commanded a breathtaking view of the San Diego Bay as well as the city skyline. The restaurant had its own private harbor and was surrounded with beautifully manicured lawns, miniature flower gardens, and numerous palm trees. Wrought iron chairs and stone benches were scattered about the area in nooks and crannies where guests could find a moment of privacy for themselves.

  In the large parking lot to the south of the Bali Hai only a few scattered cars could be seen. It was nearly 2:30, and the standard lunch crowd had gone on their way. The meeting was not exactly a luncheon, but Leo had insisted that an afternoon meeting with food had to be called a luncheon. The later meeting time had been much more convenient for all involved and did allow for more privacy at the restaurant.

  Inside, the subdued lighting and the Polynesian décor gave the immediate impression that one had been transported far away to another world with a more relaxed pace of living. Fishermen’s nets were draped along the walls and sailing accoutrements were skillfully displayed here and there. The ceiling gave the impression that one was in a large thatched hut. Native trinkets and weapons formed unique wall hangings and the corners of the dining rooms were filled with artistic displays of bamboo stalks, bunches of bananas, and coconuts stacked in tall piles. Though these items had been manufactured by a display company, they looked surprisingly authentic. There were several dining rooms, some of them small and intimate and others large enough to accommodate banquets. A hostess escorted Paul to one of the smaller rooms where the group had gradually begun to assemble.

  He sat next to Leo, who had already arrived and was engaged in casual conversation with the manager. Claire, who was standing close by, was visiting with the manager of the San Diego Sheraton Hotel, where well over half of the guests would be accommodated. Two motel managers were also present. These motels, the Islander and the Hawaiian, had beautiful facilities and restaurants in the vicinity. By the time the last of the guests arrived there were some fifteen restaurateurs, hotel managers, vendors, and merchants who would cater to the needs of conference guests that summer. In addition, there were a couple dozen people from the University – instructors, administrators, and support staff – who would be involved in the conference.

  Just before Leo called the meeting to order Claire took the remaining empty chair at the table where Paul w
as seated. The two greeted each other with mutual cordiality that was in marked contrast to the confrontation characterizing their first meeting. It was apparent that both would be making a heroic effort to repair the damage done on that earlier occasion.

  Leo, good-natured as always, greeted the guests and made a brief summary of events that had led the Psychology Department to conceive plans for a personal development conference. He then outlined the order of activities for the afternoon. Following the buffet luncheon an hour would be devoted to four presentations: There would be brief remarks by Charles Hathaway, University Vice-President in charge of special affairs, and Albert O’Laughlin, Chairman of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Paul Kirkham would then discuss the design and objectives of the conference, and finally Miss Claire Duncan, of the University Conference and Workshop Division, would review logistics and physical facility arrangements. Her presentation, the most detailed of the four, would conclude with a question-and-answer session.

  Things went as scheduled, the first presentation being stuffy and officious, and the second effusive but vapid so far as anything of substance was concerned. As expected, Paul was engaging, humorous, and so believable in his description of the benefits that would come from attending the conference that Mr. O’Laughlin decided to register.

  Claire was at her charming best. She spoke warmly of the television series in which Paul played such a central role, declaring that it provided an impetus for the staging of a personal development conference. She noted that the series had received such widespread acclaim as to validate the great worth of continuing education in the lives of all people. “If there is a panacea for dealing with people’s challenges and limitations, education comes as close to being a universal solution as anything man has devised over the centuries.” In this, as well as her laudatory comments about Paul, she was deeply sincere. Though she had reservations about Paul’s character she was willing to recognize his genius in dissecting, assembling, and skillfully presenting complex ideas.

  The question-and-answer session revealed a great deal of enthusiasm for the conference, and as specific questions surfaced concerning logistics and the final payment of those providing goods and services, it was apparent that Claire had fine-tuned plans even at this early date. The discussion wound down and people began to leave. Leo, who was scheduled to speak at a symposium in Chicago the next day, was one of the first to leave so as to catch an early evening flight.

  Before exiting the banquet room he cornered Paul briefly. “You never told me how things turned out in your meeting with President Michaelson?”

  “No meeting as yet,” said Paul. “He was suddenly called away with urgent business of some sort and his secretary will reschedule things when he returns.”

  “And so the suspense builds for both of us. By the way, Paul, your presentation was excellent as usual. This whole thing is a winning proposition. And now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to dash.”

  Paul and Claire lingered at the table after the others had gone on their way. Their snatches of conversation during the meeting had been mutually cordial, and each knew that the other was attempting to make amends for the rocky start they had experienced in their working relationship. Now that they were alone except for the hired help who were cleaning away the dishes from the tables, Claire broached the subject of their initial meeting. “I owe you an apology,” she said.

  “We’d better be careful,” said Paul, whimsically, “or we’ll soon be arguing over which one of us behaved the worst.” That was about as close as Paul could get to an apology, but obviously there had been a shift in his regard for Claire. Whatever resolve to declare a truce he had brought to the luncheon had been further nurtured by Claire’s gracious references to his work in front of the television camera and in the classroom. Claire’s administrative and organizational skills, so apparent in her presentation and in her capable fielding of questions from the group, had also done much to win Paul’s admiration.

  Initially their conversation focused on conference preparations, then gradually became more personal in nature. “You did very well today,” said Paul.

  For some reason Claire felt herself flushing. “Thank you,” she said. “It’s important to me that you and Leo are satisfied with what I’m doing.”

  “What brings you into this kind of a position, anyway?” Paul’s question obviously had to do with her role at the University.

  “You don’t have time for that story. I’m afraid it’s a bit involved.”

  “I have the time, unless they ask us to leave.”

  “Well, maybe a little of the story,” said Claire, feeling that she was being drawn into the kind of talk she wanted to avoid so far as Paul Kirkham was involved. “Actually, I graduated in nursing from the University of Southern California. I even did a practicum at the UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, but it wasn’t right for me. It’s all rather complicated, but in the end I decided to go back to school and get an MBA degree.”

  “It must be a complicated story,” said Paul with a twinkle in his eye. “Business administration is a long way from a career in nursing.”

  “You’re right,” said Claire, still uncomfortable about discussing the personal details of her life, “but the switch was good for me. I have a feel for this sort of thing. I worked with IBM personnel training for a period of time, then I got wind of a position in the Division of Conferences and Workshops here at San Diego State. I submitted an application, made some phone calls, tried to be captivating in my interviews and managed to get the job. The rest is unimpressive history. And what about you?” said Claire, shifting the conversation away from herself. “What brought you to San Diego State?”

  Paul thought briefly before answering. “Leo Dykeman, as much as anything else, I suppose. I was an undergraduate psych major here and got to know Leo quite well. He wasn’t the department chair back in those days, but was probably the best instructor in the department. He sort of took me under his wing and kept suggesting that I do a doctorate at the University of Michigan. Leo had done his graduate work there, and before long he had me convinced. He wrote some letters in my behalf and spoke personally with some key people who decided to accept my application. The University of Michigan really does have one of the best psych programs in the country.

  “Well, anyway, to answer your question, Leo came out to Michigan one summer as a guest lecturer in a graduate seminar series. He was one of four professors who accepted invitations by the graduate school. He made three presentations during the week he was there. It was a great reunion for me – for him, too, I think. We spent quite a bit of personal time together, and one evening as we were having dinner he asked me if I’d ever thought of returning to San Diego State. By this time he was Chair of the Psychology Department and had achieved a fair amount of public recognition.

  “He and his wife had done some impressive research and writing in the area of organizational behavior which brought quite a bit of attention to San Diego State. They had co-authored a textbook for classes in industrial psychology that was used by many universities across the county. It was a weighty six-hundred-page volume entitled, ‘Making Things Work in the Workplace.’ It’s still touted as the best collection of research and analytical writing on the subject that’s ever come off the press.

  “What I’m getting at is that Leo became kind of a crown prince among the many department heads at San Diego State. He had significant pull with Thomas Conley, the head of the College of Sciences, and on top of that, President Michaelson thought Leo walked on water. Leo made it apparent to me that night that if I was willing to come to San Diego State, he had the influence to get me there. My fond memories of my days in San Diego made the offer an enticing one, but more than that, I was very pleased that Leo wanted me. I’ve always regarded him as one of the few bright lights in my life.”

  “Dr. Kirkham,” commenced Claire a little awkwardly.

  Paul stopped her by wagging his finger in mock censorship. “Let’s dr
op the formalities,” he said pleasantly. “My name is Paul, you know.”

  “Yes, I would be comfortable with that,” responded Claire. “And by the same token, only strangers call me Miss Duncan. But what I was about to say has to do with that uncomfortable meeting in Leo’s office. I’m not normally that hard to work with, really.”

  “You’ve made that very apparent today,” responded Paul.

  “I won’t pretend that there aren’t enormous differences in the way we each view things. In fact, we probably line up on opposite ends of the spectrum on most issues, but that really doesn’t affect my appreciation of your fine abilities as a teacher. I really meant what I said a little earlier about your work with the television series. I have viewed many of the programs and have found your presentations to be brilliant.” Then, wanting to keep the conversation free of too much sentiment Claire added with a wry smile, “In fact, I suppose I wish you weren’t quite so good. Anybody who’s that persuasive in presenting ideas shouldn’t believe so many things I don’t agree with. I guess that’s why it was so easy for me to draw the battle lines as I contemplated a working relationship with you. But that’s all resolved in my mind at this point and I’m sincerely grateful for the opportunity to assist you with the project.”

  Paul studied Claire for a moment or two before responding. He was very much aware of her beauty and was impressed with her candor as well as the strength of her personal commitments. Claire’s obvious desire to preserve an amicable relationship in the days ahead evoked similar feelings within him. He avoided personal relationships with women. It was part of a conscious need to keep his life free from that sort of thing – the result of having anesthetized part of his inner self as a protection against the pain lingering from his days in Ann Arbor, Michigan – memories involving Cathy which had shattered his sense of identity. Despite his apparent strength and self-assuredness, there were unresolved conflicts, insecurities, and ongoing turmoil just below the surface. He had kept the door to earlier days tightly closed and seemed to sense that relationships with the opposite sex threatened to open that door and to destabilize his life emotionally. As he looked at Claire and contemplated her outlook on life, something stirred deep within him. He was uncertain if these were welcome or unwelcome feelings. He then spoke more impulsively than normal, surprising himself as well as Claire.