Icing (11 page)

****

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 “Chicago” 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.

Truman and Kyle were in the same area in nearby Brighton Building.  It was closer to the outer edge of campus and had a small patch of grass and a tree out the window.  It would be their improved view for the year.  An upgrade of sorts.  The room was similar to their high-rise perch in 2012 but they would add their stylish touches.  Diane and Rosemary would come in to add some flair.

“We hit the ice tomorrow for the first time.  We had a meeting of the new guys on the team and you are expected to mentor these yellow bellies both on and off the ice.  We had very few discipline problems off the ice last year.  Don’t think I and the administration don’t notice these things.  If they come up and I’m pulled into the office the whole team pays.  Next subject.  We have voted for our next captain.  The role of captain has been vacated by Deker who was picked up by the Connecticut Whale and this year we have chosen Conrad Boyle to lead us.  Con?

“I will proudly accept the “C”.”  I’m honored.  Thanks guys.

“Moving forward, we have chosen Caldwell and Stewie as assistants.”

Kyle blushed at the applause.  To stand behind Con as an assistant with Stewie by his side was surreal.  He would go back to the room after practice to share the news with his Mom.  It filled a sense of urgency he felt to share every bit of good news with her.

They had nearly a month of practices and scrimmages before the season began.  Kyle would begin hitting the books hard.  It was a balancing act and it took focus.

His schedule would consist of macro- economics, a couple of finance classes, psychology, and creative writing.  He had enjoyed working on the ad campaign at Canisius and hoped to focus in that direction.  He figured psychology would be good for that.  It would always help knowing what someone else was thinking.  He had yet to figure out the female mind.

He and Truman headed to the library the following Sunday.  Kyle was genuinely ready to study which was not the case in his freshman year.  He thought maybe he would run into Taryn.  It would be nice to know more than her outward beauty.  Not like there was anything wrong with that.

The first game was at UMass Boston.  They were a tough opponent who were often on top of the Hockey East.  It was a Friday night contest with no required overnight because the bus would be returning to Amherst after the game.  Kyle called Jackie and he would spend the weekend in Boston.  She welcomed the idea and he could use the female companionship.

The game ended in a 3-3 tie.  Kyle had one goal and an assist.  Due to the caliber of play they considered it a tempered success.  Con had a five minute stay in the box which resulted in Boston scoring on a power play.  The new guys on defense were getting used to the system and needed time to adjust to the Minutemen’s fast pace.

Jackie was at the game and Kyle liked having a fan from back home in the stands.  Truman joined the ranks in the UMass section as he had become a fixture at all games.  He promised he would be there and he always stayed true to his word.

“So good to see you Jack.  It has been a while and you looked like an angel sitting in the stands.  It helped having you here.”

They embraced and spent the night roaming the streets of Boston while telling stories so rapidly they found it hard to keep up with one another.  Kyle was pleased that she easily settled in at BC.  It was an easy couple of days and they left it as they had in Buffalo.  Two dear friends living their own parallel lives.

****

Taryn was working about five shifts a week at Mame’s.  She had to move up to the dinner shift from five until 11pm, and was at the theater on her nights off.  She was able to pay her rent with this schedule and make rehearsals on her nights off.  They occurred in the daytime for the most part. The restaurant would allow her to move shifts when theater work intensified.  She liked the food at Mame’s and all her meals were free.

Mr. and Mrs. Wright were not pleased with Taryn’s idea to defer her college education.  It was a career with a limited shelf life.  Mr. Wright thought she had dreams of settling down and having children when the right one came along.  A life on the stage was a peripatetic.  It was not a realistic career if settling down were her goal.  She said it was the “settling” part that disturbed her.  It was best to be young and vital while starting out because the competition was fierce.  She agreed to pay her own rent in light of her decision.  It was tight and she appreciated the monthly hundred bucks her Dad gave her.  It was not an official stipend but he was always there with the “hundred dollar handshake.” It was a nice safety net.

“Wendy I’m so exhausted.  I can perform the vocals and oral parts in my sleep, but the dancing is killing me.  I’m in pretty good shape but this requires muscles I didn’t know existed.  I need something to get me through this.”

“Taryn be careful.  So many newbies will turn to narcotic cures to make sure they get sleep on a regular basis and different ones to perk them up when the body protests. You know what I’m talking about it’s everywhere and easy to get.  I would suggest you use meditation or yoga as an alternative.  Its en vogue these days and I can hook you up with some classes.  You can’t neglect your mind or body if you want an enduring career.

“Point taken
Mother
.”

“I know I’m older but I have been at this for a very long time and I know a thing or two.”

The following morning Taryn went to the Yoga Loft in Amherst to see what they had to offer.  It would be ideal if she could gain some peace and added flexibility.  As she was walking in Kyle was walking out. 

“Hey
, Taryn right?”

Kyle knew this to be true.

“Yes, Taryn Wright.  I mean yes right.  Well you see Wright is my last name.  So that makes you correct on both points.”

Kyle was in some sweats issued from the athletic department and Taryn dressed similarly but stunning as always.

“I don’t see you in the library anymore.  Too good for you?”

“No.  Quite the opposite.  I miss the library but I’m taking some time off to peruse a theater career.  I’m here seeking a little help.  I’ve been burning the candle at both ends.”

“I get ya there.  I hope this helps.  It’s done a good job increasing my agility”