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Authors: Ashley Stanton

Icing (10 page)

BOOK: Icing
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“You and Dev seem well matched.  It’s hard to know if you are pulled into his world or the other way around.  This summer will a good chance for you to answer that question.  He must be flattered being seen with a stunning young ingénue.  You may feel that being with an older grad student validates you as a serious vocalist. He is reliving his dreams while you are beginning to chase your own.  Find out where you are heading.  Is he a realistic partner?”

“O.K., I thought you were here to fix problems not ask questions.”

“Only Taryn can fix Taryn’s problems.  I am always here to listen and help you define the questions you need to be asking.  Can’t do much else.”

“I love you Dad. I have an off subject question. It is something I scratch my head about.  How do you tolerate Mom?  I mean really, you are so different.  What do you base your fierce loyalty and love on?”

“Taryn, you need to give your Mom a break.  I love her beyond anything else.  Sometimes I have to shake my head at the way she conducts everything with an expectation of perfection.  We have not always had it so easy.  I worked hard at my job but she was always there to make sure you kids were well cared for.  A lot of who you are is based on that woman.  We’re a team.”

“Dad, she’s just-“

“Enough Taryn.  You will know the feeling when the right one comes along.  Your Mom deserves respect.  Seek common ground with Mom.  She’s worth trying to figure out.”

With that they were headed back home.  Taryn would spend the next day in Boston with Jen and Beth.  They had planned to shop for new room décor.  Their taste had changed a lot in a year.  Next year they would say the same thing.  It was true, and they lived by, the prerogative that it’s a woman’s right to change her mind.

****

 

Kyle had been working out with the Canisius players both on and off the ice.  He was also picking up from tips from Jackie Albertson, Juliet’s friend and his mentors youngest girl.  She was a figure skater who belonged to the private club Kyle had been affiliated with.  She was passing along pointers on balance and handling curves.  Kyle had the speed and power but she was able to help his finesse game.  They were small tips that took a delicate touch and could result in a better hockey player.  She was attending Boston College in the fall and she was awfully cute.

“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.

BOOK: Icing
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