Icing Read online

  “They are but whatever. The blue one is the company car which means free gas, so we’ll probably take that one. I don’t know how everything is gonna fit. What is even worse is that it will have to fit in a tiny room along with someone else’s crap. Someone named Truman. I already don’t like the dude. What kind of name is that?”

  Kyle swallowed some pizza and took a swig of an energy drink. He loved the drink. It came in all sorts of colors. They were said to be good for you. They had electrolytes and they were free at hockey so they became a habit.

  He and his friends were able to avoid what had become a rite of passage for most – Drugs & Alcohol. It wasn’t a conscious decision or morally motivated. They were just preoccupied with athletics, which left them with little down time. Any free time was spent sleeping and eating – a lot.

  “Turn on the game. The Oriels are playing. They suck but they’re my team. ”Kyle was told by his Dad to pick a team and stick with it. He thought they were like the ubiquitous sandwich cookie he liked with milk. So he chose the Oriels for better or for worse. He didn’t know better.

  Janey came down the stairs in a pair of shorts and a cute polo shirt. Adorable as always. Kyle felt sick. He would have to muster up the manners she certainly deserved.

  “Hey Kyle.” She wasted no time in singling him out.

  “Hi Janey. Glad you made it. This is probably the last time I’m in this basement before I leave for college. We should talk before I roll. I want your address and stuff.”

  The night continued without a break in the seamless antics. About 15 young people who were on the verge of adulthood, not a care in the world.

  “This is it Janey. Can you believe we won’t be together ‘til Thanksgiving break? It’s going to be epic.”

  “I know.” Janey seemed wistful and spoke softly.

  He kissed Janey and it felt good. He held her long hair and proceeded to push her body against the side of the house. They were in the yard and the night was clear. It could have progressed but Kyle ended it and continued to hold her. It wasn’t love but gentle and innocent.

  “You O.K. Janes”.

  “It’s just weird I’m going to miss you so much. Will you miss me?”

  “Of course. I mean I’ll think of you all of the time – just thinking of you being chased by all of the guys upstate.”

  “Will we see each other again and keep in touch – you know.”

  Janey was stepping into long distance relationship territory. It was not a direction he wanted to go. It was his turn to speak.

  “We will definitely write letters and stuff. But you should do your own thing. Date guys or whatever.”

  “Guess this is it then. Bye Kyle.”

  Janey walked away obviously not happy with Kyle’s answer. He was right not to allow their relationship go any further. Perhaps she had thought it was more. Janey would become a memory.

  He had some fun dates with her, depending on what the definition of date was. They went to the zoo. It was close to his house and in the summer you could hear the big cats roar. They made a few trips to friend’s cottages in Canada and ate frozen custard. He didn’t like the way it ended so abruptly with Janey. He thought she understood, but he had lost the puck on this one.

  A few days were spent with the family. It was nice and Kyle had to admit he would miss his sisters. Bree was the baby and five years younger. She looked up to her big brother. Her ebullient face was at all of his games, dragged along wherever Mrs. Caldwell went like a little piece of property. She never seemed to mind. Juliet was closer in age. She was almost too close for comfort. Her eye was on his group of friends and she longed to be invited into their gang. They would be good friends someday. They all needed a few years to grow.

  Kyle and Mr. Caldwell crammed all of his gear into the car on a Saturday night. They both had ideas about logistics but somehow they worked together and completed the task. With just enough room left to accommodate their two bodies and the car top full, they sat down to the farewell dinner.

  Mrs. Caldwell was proud of the feast she had readied. The formal table in the dining room was pulled out and set with the good plates and silver. His Dad cooked a London broil on the outdoor grill and sliced it thin. They had a salad, French fries, and some zucchini from the garden. It wasn’t fancy but enjoyed by all. The leftovers would make good sandwiches for the ride to school. They finished it off with root beer floats.

  The next morning he woke up in a mostly empty room with a nervous feeling in his stomach. Time was here……………………….

  Taryn

  “Wake up NOW T. You have to drive me to tennis. I have a court at 10 and I can’t be late again. Just throw on some sweats. I’ll be in the wagon. I’ve got the keys. T, I said NOW!”

  Her brother was down the stairs, two at a time.

  Taryn Wright was sleeping in her nest like bed when her brother Josh broke her slumber. It was summer and it numbered among the few things she had to do. It was her last couple of months before school and not much was asked of her. Her walls were pale lavender, a tone she chose herself. The room had a sloped ceiling where their old colonial had been dormered out. Neatness was not her strong suit. Last night was spent with the girls and she tried on a couple of things before she chose the jeans and an oversized pink oxford. The cast offs sat in a pile near the closet. At least they got close.

  She had taken Josh’s advice and threw on some sweats. Her top bore a large “C” for Concord. It was her hometown and the location of her high school. She had blonde hair, not dirty blonde or blondish, it was real blond. It was casually draped halfway down her back. She threw it in an elastic. This casual look complimented her attitude – she just didn’t care much. The boys sure did.

  They backed out of the driveway leaving the two remaining vehicles for her Mom and Dad to drive. All the cars were foreign and fast. Mrs. Wright drove the medium beige sedan and her husband had his convertible. An odd choice for chilly New England but he would get the top down in the summer. It was a very out of character impulse purchase that was a mid-life thing.

  Taryn was planning to attend UMass in the fall. Her grades were excellent and she had longed to attend an Ivy League school out of state but admissions turned her down. She was too slow getting the application in. She would know a lot of kids from high school at UMass and that would be a comfort. At just over an hour away she would get the freedom she needed.

  Taryn was heavily involved in both music and field hockey at Concord. The music program was intense and she thrived under the pressure. She had been considered a soprano but as she aged she was more a mezzo-soprano. She preferred to sing classically. A spot in the school’s annual musical was hers each year of high school. She actually had the lead in Carmen in her senior. Taryn did not crave the limelight but always pulled it off with class. Like a star.

  She played field hockey in the fall on the varsity team. It usually did not affect her vocal concentration which got busy in the springtime. Taryn was athletic but played hockey for the camaraderie. Most of her friends played and it was easy enough to maneuver the stick and ball. Boys noticed the girls in their short uniform skirts and they were always in attendance at the games.

  Contributing to her blonde hair Taryn was blessed by turquoise eyes. They were liked targets that men and women zeroed in on. They did not lie and gave indication that she meant what she said. Her face was naturally freckled. She tried to hide them and even tried lemon juice to fade them but they popped out despite her efforts. They added to her mystique. Her body was, for lack of a better word, perfect. It was coltish like only a young woman’s can be.

  The Wright family was upper-middle classed. Taryn was not blemished like a girl of privilege, but it provided a sense of security. Her Dad was her closest friend and she told him everything. Her friends just called him Ed once they had dispensed with formality. Her Mom was always called Mrs. Wright and never June. She was a perfectly coifed woman and not particularly available emotionally. She nev
er knew how to handle her daughter’s free spirit.

  ****

  “Well doll, how is summer going. I think we should make a trip up to the lake before you head west. Your grandparents would love to see their little girl. They are so proud that you are college bound. We can take the boat out and do some fishing. Bring along Beth or Jen if you want. Hell, bring both we have plenty of room. We can caravan up there. I’ll take the convertible and you girls can follow in the wagon. Mom will drive with you. She hates driving with the top down. I’ll take Josh. Sound like a plan?”

  Taryn was chewing on a bagel – a blueberry one. They were home relaxing while Mrs. Wright was in the garden and her brother played tennis. She missed the details of her Father’s spiel while she daydreamed but she could ascertain that her dad was planning a getaway weekend.

  “Sure Dad whatever. Check with Grandma and let me know which weekend works. I’m sure the girls will come.”

  Taryn had a casual waitressing job at a local café. She could pick up shifts when she liked so she remained flexible in the summer. She liked the work and did it well. Taryn was a friendly and polite person so the job suited her. Her tips were very good and she put that away for school. They had great bagels too. A big bonus for her because she loved them – all flavors all of the time.

  She fell asleep.

  “Hey sleepy wake up beautiful………”

  Her boyfriend Brett had arrived. He let himself in and made himself comfortable. He was on the football team. He was a nice guy who was good for a high school romance. They had attended the prom together and spent a lot of time as a couple. Brett was going to college at Syracuse so they would be going separate ways. It was unsaid and they would remain close friends. It was the closest she had come to being in a serious relationship. She never felt that feeling. Maybe someday.

  “Hey Brett.” She kissed him hello with eyes still closed. “What’s up? What time is it? Are we still going to Jen’s tonight?”

  “I had planned on it. We have a couple of hours before we go so we can just hang out. Does your Mom need any help out back?”

  “Sure, go on back. I’m gonna grab a sweater and call Beth. I want to make sure she is going too. I won’t see those guys for a while and I want to see them while we’re all in one spot.”

  Jen was going to Maine for school and Beth to Ohio. They had been tight pals for years and it was going to be a major adjustment for all of them.

  The night was fun. They grabbed some food and talked for a couple of hours. Beth had brought along a couple of wine coolers and it was an ideal evening.

  ****

  With a week left before school it was time to pack. It was not urgent because school was close enough to pick up things within a couple of weeks if they were left behind. She still had ample gear to fill two cars. Taryn was not exactly a clothes-horse but she was a girl after all and she liked options. She was comfortable in jeans and a sweater but ready with a skirt when it was appropriate. She was preppy and casual in her dress.

  Her athletic gear came along. She might play on an intramural team if the opportunity presented. She wasn’t certain of her major yet and planned to think about it while she took the requirements for a liberal arts degree. Vocals would be her concentration and some time for piano. A career in music was a dream but she had to be prepared for a competitive market.

  Good byes to Jen and Beth were tearful. She and Brett had a farewell dinner out and agreed to write and call often. It was a goodbye of sorts but no feelings were hurt.

  “Everything seems ready for the morning. Let’s have a nice dinner and just be pleasant.” Mrs. Wright spoke as if it wouldn’t be a nice family dinner. How else would it be in their home? Impeccable manners and congeniality were how she demanded things. It was uncomfortably sterile, but all they knew.

  It was a great spread. Mrs. Wright outdid herself with a rack of lamb and asparagus. Desert was a strawberry ice cream cake from a local bakery. Grandma and Grandpa were down from New Hampshire and they were always welcome guests in the Wright house. They were tender folks and loved to spend time with Josh and Taryn.

  “Hey T, whose gonna be my chauffer from now on? I guess I’ll be driving myself soon. Right dad? I’ll be mobile in March. You just have to take me driving. I’m planning on getting my license the day after my Birthday.”

  “You mean permit! Let me get this one out of the house before I tackle that one. Easy does it big guy.”

  “Yeah right!” Josh swallowed the cake and gulped milk.

  “Good wine Mom. Thanks.”

  “Take it easy at school. I’d rather you drink it here. I know that you’ll attend the occasional frat party. I just want you to be safe.”

  “Of course. I won’t have a car at school so I won’t be drinking and driving. The bus is free on campus and into town so I’ll just rely on that.”

  “Frat parties? Whoa T don’t get pregnant.”

  “Shut up Josh. I’m not like that.”

  Taryn’s brother was a good kid. She had his back, and he had hers. It was destined to be a long term friendship and the years that would separate them would someday mean little.

  The next morning came and Taryn had a nervous feeling.

  They were off……………………………

  School

  Kyle arrived on the UMass Campus at about 4pm. He and his Dad had time to unload the car before they would grab some dinner in Amherst. It was Sunday and classes did not officially begin until Thursday. Monday-Wednesday was set aside for business like buying books and finalizing scheduling issues. He would use the time to find his way around the expansive campus. His head was spinning. It was exciting but scary.

  Kyle and Mr. Caldwell had Chinese food followed up by ice cream. They had the best ice cream in town – high in butter fat with add-ins like cookies and even gummy bears. He would always remember Mom’s ice cream floats back home, maybe they had them here. Father and son walked around town. The traffic was crazy with students arriving with their lives packed in slow moving vehicles. Every car with an interesting story to tell. He was intrigued by the newness of it all.

  He said goodnight to his dad who was staying at a nearby motel and he was off to meet the roommate – Truman. He had filled out the housing form with his preferences earlier in the summer hoping to be matched with a guy he could at least tolerate. A non-smoker was preferred. They didn’t even allow it in the dorms but he could smell the lingering stench anywhere. Religion and politics were not an issue. He had not been exposed to either much and held no strong convictions. He claimed to be tidy and athletic, both mostly true. He definitely wanted a freshman. At least they would have that in common.

  Room #2012 in the JFK tower was home now. Kyle walked in with boxes stacked. Both his and his new buddy Truman’s.

  “You must be Kyle. Who else would you be? I’m Truman Cohen. Just call be Tru.”

  He stood before Kyle with his hand out stretched.

  Kyle offered his in return. Truman’s grip was firm and his hands a little calloused. His smile was wide and ebullient. They were perhaps little clues to his personality. Some have called Kyle paranoid, but he was just perceptive. He used his instincts to size up Truman. This stranger got the green light. It was not yet known, but Kyle Caldwell had just met his best and life-long friend – even though he still thought the name was a little off.

  “How we gonna maneuver this junk?” Truman laughed at the mess.

  “I guess we need to at least clear off the beds so we can sleep. Why don’t we bunk ‘em. Top or bottom doesn’t matter to me. I filled out the housing form. Thought they were setting me up with a neat sort of guy.”

  “Well, they got that wrong. At least we both like hockey – we have enough equipment here to out-fit an entire team.”

  “Yeah. I was recruited. Not a full ride or anything but I plan to play.”

  “Well, I’m not so lucky. I’ll probably play some intramural stuff or find a club team. I was a forward in high schoo
l in Needham but not good enough to play division I. I’m a huge fan though. If you play I’ll watch. A bunch of hockey guys in this dorm. We have to get some fantasy league going. I’m going to end up behind a desk somewhere. I’m studying business. When I’m not out sampling the ladies. I know tons of chicks here from Needham and that area. Some are hotties. I’ll hook you up.”

  “You guys sure do throw around town names here. I have no idea where Needham is. Sounds cool though. I’m studying business to – you can be my calc tutor.”

  “Let’s figure out where the class takes place first. I have a map but I want to find out first so I don’t look like a fool walking around with a map. It’s a dead giveaway that I’m a freshman. The library should be easy enough to figure out. It’s the tallest building here.”

  “They have a bunch of libraries, but we should go to the tall one. We won’t get lost.”

  “Do you sleep late? I love my naps. I do have to be up early tomorrow. Breakfast with my Dad. You’ll like him. Hey why don’t you come along?”

  “No man. You enjoy your time with your Dad. We’ll hook up later.”

  “Tru, really come. Free meals are going to be rare from here on out.”

  “Free…..you got me. As long as your Dad is cool with it.”

  The beds got cleared off and Kyle ended up with the top bunk. He was getting used to sleeping in his room alone since his brother left for college and he thought sleeping so close to another guy would be weird. He had a deep and peaceful sleep. This roommate thing was working out. He got up alerted by the chime he had set up on his phone. He appeared to be the first one in the all-male shower stalls. It was a clean vestibule with grey tiles up the walls. He was provided a little privacy with a gaunt white curtain. It was sanitary and the water pressure was fierce – good enough. He walked back into 2012 to a dozy Truman. His pal skipped the shower and threw on a grungy t-shirt. Indeed housing had missed the tidy thing. He was happy with his dirty new pal. His Dad could return to Buffalo with news that his roommate was a stand-up guy.