Icing Read online

  “Hi Kyle. I see you found your bed beneath the mess. You guys have a lot of work left to do. Hello, you must be Truman. I’m Sam Caldwell.”

  Kyle was taken aback. His Dad was always just Mr. Caldwell, Sam was a new one. Only adults called him Sam. This was new territory. He was himself now an adult.

  “Hi, Sam. Unless you prefer Mr. Caldwell?” Truman responded.

  “Yes – fine and I’ll call you Tru.”

  They hopped in the blue sedan and took off to the main highway. They avoided town as it was too crowded with the arrivals. They would hit a diner and load up there. Eggs, bacon and a bagel would hit the spot. He loved bagels – they were comforting. They reminded him of Dad’s Sunday morning tradition of bringing home breakfast. Either bagels or maple bars. His stomach growled.

  ****

  “Josh, you grab all of the heavy stuff. Put your phone down and start helping. Leave the damn thing in the car. Whatever it is can wait.”

  The Wright family made the drive west from Cambridge in about 90 minutes. Taryn had the wheel in the wagon with her brother. Mr. Wright and his wife followed in the beige sedan. Both cars were packed full and Dad lost track of Taryn as she drove like a devil. It was stressful getting out of the house. Taryn was quick to leave, her Mom was eager to make things perfect, Dad was easy going and Josh was unhappy to be along for the ride. They made it in one piece.

  Taryn did not know her roommate well. Like Kyle she put into the hands of housing. Kendra was a sophomore from Worcester and she was an English major. She had so many friends who were also going to UMass so she was not looking for a best friend, just someone to bunk with. She was in a dorm that was ½ female only. She was on the co-ed side. It was located on a hill which guaranteed some daily exercise. It was in a quiet part of campus far away from the towering dorms. The other side of campus was city like. The jocks and people from New Jersey lived on the other side. She preferred the casual lifestyle of her dorm – it was a lot like home with a lot of trees. There was a pond in the center of campus. She had chosen to live and one side and they chose theirs. I guess they would all come together at the library – smack dab in the center.

  “I’m Kendra. I’ve unpacked. I chose this side of the room. The other side is yours to decorate your own way and that will be you closet and desk. I’m a sophomore and my boyfriend is friend is Fred. He’s a short Jewish guy. He lives on the third floor. You will see him a lot and he is welcome in here at all hours.”

  Taryn felt like she had taken a wrong turn and had ended up in the military academy. The rules kept on coming.

  “I want to get a rug. It’s going to be purple. I’m very busy and I like to study in my room. I don’t eat in the dining common here in Central (the campus neighborhood) a lot I go across campus where a lot of my friends live. I go home about two weekends a month”

  “Hi Kendra. It’s nice to be here. I’ll try to remember all of that. This is my family. This is— “

  Taryn’s introductions were obviously not on the schedule.

  “I’m running up to Fred’s. We’ll talk later.”

  Taryn’s family prepared to leave. She really wanted to cry and have them stay and make everything better. She said her goodbyes and closed the door, opened a box and pulled out her stuffed cat. She laid on the bed and cried – long and hard. Bubbly confident Taryn felt lost and scared. She was an all-star athlete, gifted vocalist, beloved daughter and sister, popular and smart. Now she was just Taryn another, beautiful, girl. She had to start over again and the brief introduction to Kendra was not a good start.

  “Knock knock…..Can I come in? The door wasn’t locked so I just thought I would say hi. I can come back later. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

  Taryn brushed away the tears to find a man with a smile that changed the mood immediately. He had a calming tone, but at the same time it seemed like he was about to start laughing.

  “Hi…..I’m Tim your R.A., resident assistant. Oh, fuck. Were you crying? I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m just supposed to be introducing myself around and make sure everyone is cool. You are definitely not. I went through an orientation to learn what to say but I forgot it all. You must be Taryn. I already met Kendra, What the fuck?”

  “Yes I’m Taryn. You like to say fuck and you don’t know what you’re doing.”

  They burst out in laughter. He was a sophomore from New Jersey and he liked the sound of the R.A. position because housing was discounted and you received a single room. He was actually born for the position. He would transform a group of strangers into a strong alliance. I think from that day forward, all of the women at least, would believe they were Tim’s favorite. Taryn felt hopeful for the first time since Kendra opened her mouth. She felt like Tim was the big brother she had always wanted.

  “I’m going down the hill to eat at five and I’m rounding up a bunch of the new residents. Oh, that is how I’m supposed address you guys - residents or men & women. See, I remember something.”

  “Why do I have the feeling that Chick will be coming out of your mouth before long? Sure, I’ll join in.”

  “Should we invite Kendra? Just Kidding.”

  “Tim really we should be nice. She might turn out to be a great girl – um, I mean woman.”

  ****

  The first semester was chaotic for roommates Kyle and Truman. They were both taking 15 credits and with the addition of hockey, 24 hours in a day just wasn’t sufficient. Social life was a part of it also. Neither was dating anyone seriously but they dated often and kegs were a Friday night standard. Kyle had considered rushing a fraternity but decided he could get that sense of belonging from the hockey team.

  Diane and Rosemary had become fun girls to hang out with. They were fiends of Truman from Needham. Both attractive they were smart and lively. Kyle relied on them to help with calculus and edit his history papers. They filled the “sister” role Kyle needed in the absence of Bree and Juliet back home. Rosemary in particular was an excellent baker. She went home to Needham on the weekends and would bring back a batch of her Frisbee sized confections. Both girls were good natured and filled him in on the mysteries of the female mind. They were determined to find Kyle the perfect woman. A nice lady he could bring home and introduce to the Caldwell’s.

  Taryn was just as busy on her side of campus. She too considered Greek life. She passed although entrance to a sorority would be hers if she wanted it. It was too exclusive and she was a member of a great group of friends already thanks to Tim. Followed around like a mother duck, Tim was an outstanding R.A. Taryn was joined by Todd, Jimmy, Chris, Lisa, Kim and Maryann. They experienced their informative years. When one fell another was there to pick them up and help brush off the angst.

  There was one night in particular that Taryn wished did not happen. She drank too many cocktails at a fraternity party. She was accustomed to having a beer or two drank from the ever-present red plastic cup, but yummy lemon flavored drinks were a new thing. They tasted great and had a heck of a kick. To her knowledge nothing out of the ordinary happened that evening. She woke up in bed – alone, so how bad could it have been?

  “Hi Taryn” Tim was on the line. It was about noon. ”We all have those nights and everyone will forget. Are you O.K.? Breakfast is closed but I’ll cruise into town with you and pick up a bagel if you want.”

  “Tim I have no idea what happened last night. I never drink too much. Oh shit, I don’t even remember walking up the hill. Did I kiss anyone? Come get me and we will walk into town.”

  Tim came by with Maryann and they walked into Amherst on Triangle Street. They were vague with the details and only said she was cute and it took them about an hour to get her up the hill home. Taryn lacked information to fill in the gaps and the topic just faded away. She developed a distaste for lemon flavored drinks. They whooped it up and ate their bagels outside in the crispy autumn air. It was a day to relax before they hit the library that evening as was the custom on Sunday nights.

  Kyle and Trum
an had spent that Saturday night at an off-Campus party. Kyle took it easy because he had endured a tough dry land practice from 8am-2pm. The first ice time practice was Monday and the pre-season for Hockey East started in only weeks. He would see little ice time. He was smaller than the other forwards on the team and as a freshman he was happy to be wearing the UMass jersey. He couldn’t wait to set his skates on the ice and work on his stick handling.

  Parties like this were a good social out-let and he was Truman’s wingman. Kyle was there to provide a distraction when a one-on-one conversation with a girl got too intense. Conversely, he could hook his buddy up if the situation presented itself. They shared an unspoken code. Kyle would drink a beer but that was about it. Coach didn’t include an abstinence of liquor clause in the code of conduct contract but it was implied.

  Sundays were spent sleeping in. There was no official practice and he used the evening to hit the library with Di and Rose. He needed the time to catch on Calculus and he was wrapping up a paper on the Korean War Battle of the Pusan Perimeter. His uncle had spent some time serving in Korea so it was at least relevant. Most of his lectures were taken to fill requirements while he locked into his major. The Athletics department was said to give out lists of jock-friendly courses but it was actually a collection of rumors. Most were true.

  ****

  Taryn’s Sunday night at the library was set to begin. She went alone. She usually did because the whole experience was a soul searching experience. She liked the solitude. Not having to react. She could concentrate on her Spanish verbs, upcoming psychology quiz or nothing at all. It was a social place for a lot of students but she sought out the quiet corners less often used. There were times she would sneak away to the nearby Amherst College library. Their library was subdued and she was less likely to run into someone she knew.

  She would have to enter the main floor this evening to search the catalog. The computers were most abundant there. Art history required she check out some books that were out of print and unlikely to be found online. Checking out books was not often required but her old-school professor demanded it. She would peep out of her self- imposed isolation to get it done.

  Kyle arrived with the girls after a carbohydrate laden dinner. Pasta was one of the choices. They found it tasty and went back in line for seconds. Coupled with some garlic bread and a trip to the salad bar they were set for the night. No eating read the sign on the wall. That was freely prohibited by all with a compliments of sweets picked up in the convenience market. They had their supply of jaw breakers stuffed in their pockets.

  They sat at a long table. It was some sort of composite plastic made to look like wood. This made them impossible to graffiti or doodle upon. In the old days they were really made with wood. It was easy to scribble your initials inside a heart joined by your love. Better than a tattoo, but still regretful when your crush faded or worse when your heart was shattered. Permanent markers posed a threat to the sterile tables despite authoritative solutions.

  The hum of quiet chatter made serious studying fruitless. Kyle punched some numbers into his laptop and a few paragraphs about young guys dying in Korea were written. The attempt was made – little was done.

  ****

  Taryn sat ticking away at the keyboard. Her hair was pulled up loosely, secured by a simple elastic. She appeared rosy and lively having run a couple of miles in place of dinner that evening. Her sweater was dusky grey – a little over-sized. She wore khaki shorts which brushed her knees. It was clean and casual. Brown tortoise shell glasses were framing her clear blue eyes. She seemed to be free of affect. She was confident on her own but appeared like someone you could easily engage in conversation. She had lovely posture and a gentle curve to her neck. Her buttocks and breasts where not flaunted but were surely flawless like the rest.

  Kyle was stunned.

  He was there with his buddies. It was, for lack of a better word, a school night. He was not prepared for this feeling - something foreign. He had seen cheer leaders and magazine photos. He had seen every hot chick on TV and on the big screen. No, this was all encompassing. Could even the most talented artist create such perfection?

  Kyle was in an ordinary pair of jeans and an old high school hockey jersey. He too showed a healthy glow in light of his almost daily practice drills. He clearly didn’t know or care that he was more than average looking. It presented itself as innocence.

  Their eyes met briefly and two lives changed. He didn’t know her name nor she his, but yes – it was the rumored feeling that they always thought….maybe someday.

  ****

  “Tru, wake up man. I just got home from the library. I feel like a girl talking about this but I have to tell someone. Private. Between you and me O.K.?”

  “Yeah, Kyle. Now you’re scaring me. Is everything all right? Spill it man you can trust me.”

  Kyle seemed tense.

  “I saw this girl in the library. I was sitting there with Di & Rose. I was bored and started to just zone out – checking out the scene. Tru, she was the loveliest blond I’ve ever seen. She was classy too the way she just owned her space. It’s hard to explain man. I looked at her and she smiled. Great teeth by the way.”

  “What next?” Truman’s curiosity was peaked. This was going to be a hell of a story.

  “Nothing. I mean we packed our stuff and now I’m back here.”

  “You’re not normal Kyle. You didn’t walk over and say hello. You’re a good looking guy she would have been flattered. Did the girls know her? What do you want me to do?”

  “I think I fell in love Truman.”

  Kyle never called him Truman. He had just confided in his roommate who now thought he was not of sound mind. He would try hard to retract some of what he said. Love – it was too bizarre to explain. In the library of all places. It would make sense if he met her at a hockey game. It would have been his turf and the signal ring true. He had to forget the blond and focus on what mattered hockey and his future. He would dream of her that night.

  “How was the library Taryn? I’m not asleep so go ahead and turn the lights on. Just not the overhead light it makes a buzzing sound and it’s too bright. “

  “Thanks Kendra.”

  I had a fight with Fred tonight. I’m not sleeping very well so just ignore me and go about your business.”

  Taryn and Kendra had learned to co-exist and became friendly, if not the closest of friends. Taryn understood that she was a freshman. Kendra had already been there a year and she had established her life before she every arrived from Concord. She was an eager freshman Concord and proposed a threat. Change is always a pain in the ass and Kendra was just posturing to protect her home ice. Taryn liked Fred. He was always courteous and a math whiz who helped out with her statistics studying. It was time to open an ear to her roommate. Extending an olive branch was the right thing to do and she could use someone to bounce a thing or two around with.

  “I’ll be quiet Kendra. I’m ready for sleep myself. I worry on Sunday nights. It’s my night for that. I have regrets that I did not study more over the weekend and I don’t know what the week will hold. It’s O.K. by the time Monday rolls around and I’m too busy to over think matters. So what is going on with Fred?”

  “Oh he was such an ass. We didn’t see each other all weekend and then he was too beat to do anything tonight. I hate when his friend’s from Framingham come in. He goes God knows where and when he is here they are playing video games. He acts like I don’t exist and I can’t stand it. I lost my temper tonight and I think we broke up.”

  “Wait a sec Kendra – you guys love each other. I’m sorry to laugh but you guys will be fine. Fred worships you. You know his schedule. Surprise him after class with a cupcake or something. It’s just a guy thing. You can’t dump sweet Fred now – he’s like a piece of furniture around here. I’ve gotten used to having him around. I like Fred. Tell him how you feel and you will both laugh about it.”

  Kendra and Taryn burst into laughter and g
rabbed a bag of chips. A greasy bag of chips always made things better. They were salt & vinegar. All was well in the world.

  “Library was the same tonight but I did see a guy I’ve never seen before.”

  “Well Taryn, there are over 9,000 kids living on campus. That’s not exactly front page news.”

  “He was just intriguing and different. I think he played on some hockey team. I can always spot em. I’m a big Bruins fan from way back. They usually have funny noses because they’ve been broken so many times. This guy had a nice nose but he was wearing a jersey. We definitely noticed each other. Who knows why because I was in full study mode and even wearing glasses and my hair was pulled back. Anyways he just caught my eye.”

  Kendra was hooked. “What next?”

  “Well, nothing Ken. I packed up and came back here.” Taryn was matter of fact.

  “You saw this great guy and poof – nothing? You’re a head turner girl. Guys would love to meet you. Why didn’t you say hi? The poor guy is probably dreaming about you. Not even his name? You have taken this isolation while at the library too far.”

  “I’m just saying…….it was different.”

  She dreamed of him that night.

  ****

  Hockey practice was from 5am-10. Followed by another session 4-6pm. He had a history lecture at 11:15, calculus followed and geography 101 at 2:15. It would continue throughout the year until March. The classes would be different after winter session but the break neck pace was the new normal. Mid-terms and finals would be tucked in to the schedule. The only way to handle it was focus. No daydreams of some blond he saw in the library. There would be no excuses for Kyle they were undignified. Focus.

  Alarm rang at 4:30. He grabbed an energy bar, one of the many he had received in a care package from Juliet and Bree. He smiled at the dusty memory of his sisters back home. A quick rinse and he was down to the Mullins Centers. He was surprised by the early morning buzz on campus at the early hour. He walked briskly past the athletics fields and the lacrosse and soccer players. The cross-country team was starting a run up into the hills and by now some members of women’s field hockey team had gathered. They were some formidable athletes had seen success on the storied fields. He was carrying his bag. Most of his gear was already stowed in his assigned locker. He still had a lot of equipment to haul otherwise his brisk walk would have been a sprint. It would save time and feel good to get a warm up.