The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments)

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Yeah.” He opened the door wider for her. “Morning, Cal.” His face was wet from washing it and the top of his hair had caught some of the water. Wearing only green boxers he stood in front of the mirror wiping his face dry with a hand towel. “I’ll be done in a second and it’s all yours.”

  Cal, still groggy, was confused at how awake he was. “Why are you up at five in the morning?”

  “I woke you, didn’t I?” Jake cringed. “I didn’t mean to.”

  “Jake, what could you possibly have to do at five in the morning?”

  “A workout, you know, training. I figured it would eat up three hours of my time.”

  “That takes you to eight in the morning. What are you going to do with the rest of your day?” she asked, her eyes squinting in the brightness of the bathroom.

  “I have an agenda. Got the day planned out. Knowing what you’re going to do will keep you busy. Hey . . . you are more than welcome to join me in the morning to work out.”

  “At five in the morning?”

  “Sure. In fact, if you’d like, you’re more than welcome to accompany me on my whole agenda. We can keep busy.”

  “I appreciate that, Jake.” Cal smiled and then turned serious. “Find me when your agenda reaches a decent hour. Have a good work out.” She turned and went back in her room.

  “Cal,” Jake followed her, “you’re already up. Come on. Exercise won’t hurt.”

  “I’d never be able to keep up with you. Besides. . .” she straightened her bed covers, “I’m going back to sleep.” She sat down on the edge of her bed and plopped sideways on her pillow. Her feet still dangled off the side. “Jake . . . you’re standing in my room in your underwear.”

  “Oh . . .” he looked down at himself, “I am. I’ll be back.” Leaving her room through the bathroom, Jake went into his own room, found his shorts, put them on to be polite, and then went back into Cal’s room. In the few moments he was gone, she had fallen fast asleep. Debating for a second whether to wake her, Jake chose not to. Figuring she’d wake up stiff, he lifted her legs to the bed, threw her covers over her, nearly covering her head, and went back to his room to finish dressing. He’d get her the next day, he thought. All he’d have to do was challenge her.

  ^^^^

  Cal had every intention of eating her breakfast alone. She even went so far as to sit at the smaller table in the far corner or the room and put on her best pre-menstrual syndrome face. Sitting with her back to everyone, Cal slowly unwrapped what she thought was the best breakfast choice, a granola bar. The concept behind the ‘ready-to-eat-heat-and-serve’ meals was good, but they lacked appeal in both looks and taste. Remembering the orange slushy substance labeled lasagna the night before and seeing the brownish gray strips of so-called-bacon this morning, made Cal grateful for the goody stash she brought in her bag. Food-wise, it was going to be a long seven months.

  Granola exposed but it appeared as if it wouldn’t even break. Good teeth or not, Cal wasn’t taking a chance on biting into it, so with her fingernails, she began to pick the bar apart. It didn’t crumble easily and every tiny speck of oat that she rolled in her fingers made her think of the mini chocolate donuts back in her room. The only bonus about a bad granola bar was it aided in the ‘keep away’ look of disgust on her face.

  Down went the bowl of cereal and then Jennifer’s happy voice snapped Cal from her granola daze.

  “Menstruating?” Jennifer asked.

  Up went Cal’s right eyebrow followed by her eyes. “Excuse me?”

  “You have that . . . ‘don’t bother me I’m menstruating’ look.” Jennifer poured milk into her bowl.

  “Um, yeah,” Cal said with sarcasm flicking off an oat bit.

  “That’s a shame.” Jennifer shook her head with compassion. “First day?”

  Staying in control and not letting out a gasp of irritation, Cal answered, “Pre.”

  “Post myself,” Jennifer said nonchalantly. “I ended two days before we got here.”

  Thinking, ‘Do I want to hear this?’ Cal picked at her breakfast bar.

  “I joined you because I’m not in the mood to deal with men in the . . .” The heavy spoon dropped from Jennifer’s hand, splashing the milk all over the table. Her mouth dropped open and slowly, almost in amazement, she said to Cal, “Oh . . . my . . . God, wow.”

  “What?” Cal turned and looked behind her. Jake had walked into the dining room. “You mean Jake?” Cal asked. “You think he looks good now?”

  “Yeah . . . you don’t?”

  Cal shook her head. “He’s all sweaty.” She cringed with a shudder and engrossed herself in her granola.

  “Yeah,” the word slipped from Jennifer’s mouth as she tried to eat her cereal. “That has got to be the best body I have ever seen in my entire life.”

  “He’s too big for me to even consider attractive.” Cal shrugged.

  “Not me.” Jennifer’s eyes lifted.

  “Well, then seeing there are only two females here . . .” Cal smiled. “Major Jake Graison is all yours. Seduce away.” Before Cal could get any response from Jennifer, a huge hand dropped to her shoulder and she was started by Jake whispering in her ear.

  “Thank you for that, Cal.”

  Cal lifted her eyes enough to see Jake walk over to where the food was. “Well,” she pushed the granola toward Jennifer and stood, “you can finish this.”

  “Are you leaving?” Jennifer asked.

  After a quick shift of her eyes to see Jake reaching into a cupboard, Cal nodded. “Yep, see ya.” Not wanting to hear backlash from Jake about her remark to Jennifer, Cal darted out.

  Jennifer knew the reason. Though she didn’t hear what Jake whispered to Cal, she knew. He probably thanked her and asked if he could have breakfast alone with Jennifer. Smiling at the prospect of the handsome Major’s company, Jennifer tucked her hair behind her ear and waited.

  “Where did she go?” Jake asked balancing the bag of cereal and a bag of milk stacked in his bowl. “Was she done eating?”

  “Not really.” Jennifer pointed to the granola.

  “That’s what she was eating? That’s pathetic. Is she coming back?”

  “No.” Jennifer smiled flirtatiously. “She left to give us our privacy.”

  “Oh, she did, did she?” Snatching up the granola bar, his cereal bowl still in hand, Jake walked out of the dining area.

  ^^^^

  Cal smiled just before the final gurgle of her ‘in-room’ coffee pot. “Done,” she said to Rickie. “Want some?” She stood up.

  “No, thank you.” Rickie held up his index finger which sported a mini chocolate donut. As if a game, he nibbled away at it. “Almost . . . aw!” he whined when he broke, “Babe, I lost.” Rickie shoved the broken bits in his mouth. “Thank you for sharing these.”

  “Oh, you’re welcome, Rickie.” Cal smiled. “I’m glad you came back to my room with me.”

  “Cal-Babe, when you said you were having mini donuts in your room, I was so there.”

  A single knock accompanied by a short Jake call of ‘Cal’ caught their attention.

  Cal looked up at the door. “Come in.”

  “Cal,” Jake said as he entered, “I’ve been looking for you outside.”

  Cal shrugged. “I’ve been right here all along.”

  Jake looked down to Rickie. “What’s he doing here?”

  Rickie held up two fingers with chocolate donuts. “Having breakfast, guy. I’m munching away here with the Cal-Babe.”

  After mouthing the words ‘Cal-babe,’ Jake looked at Rickie in disgust. “How old are you?”

  “Eighteen and a half, guy.”

  “If you’re eighteen, why do you have chocolate all over your mouth?”

  Rickie snorted a laugh. “I’m eating chocolate.”

  “Try a napkin.” Jake swung his eyes down to Cal. “Oh, Cal, by the way,” he said sarcastically, “thank you very much for deciding to play match maker with me and Jennifer.”

  “D
ude!” Rickie said with excitement. “We rule, do we not? Two babes and we got them.”

  Jake was shocked by Rickie’s remark. “Excuse me? What do you mean?”

  “You and Jennifer, Me and Cal,” Rickie said and bobbed his head. “Early, too.”

  “I am not with Jennifer,” Jake snapped.

  “You just said.”

  “No, I did not. I was being facetious,” Jake said. “And you and Cal?”

  Smiling, Rickie held a chocolate covered hand out to Cal. “Yes, me and Cal. Don’t think you can step in on the territory I’m starting here, guy.”

  Jake looked at Cal while speaking to Rickie. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I hear I’m too big to be attractive anyhow.”

  “There you have it, Guy,” Rickie said. “You’re like, nine feet tall. I’m a lean, mean, five foot six.”

  “You’re also almost young enough to be her son.”

  “If she gave birth to me like at five.” Rickie smiled.

  Jake rolled his eyes. “Listen to you. Young Man, may I give you some . . .” Jake stopped talking irritated by Rickie’s laughter. “What . . . is so funny?”

  “You called me, young man.” Rickie picked up another donut.

  “Out,” Jake ordered.

  “Jake,” Cal snapped.

  “Dude, you’re rude.”

  “Don’t call me, ‘Dude’”

  “Sarge, you’re rude.” Rickie attempted again.

  “I am not a Sarge,” Jake stated adamantly.

  “What am I supposed to call you?” Rickie asked.

  “How about you call me Major Graison?”

  Rickie shook his head. “It doesn’t work for you.”

  “Out.” Jake pointed to the door.

  “Chill. Chill.” Rickie stood up. “Cal-babe, thank you for the treats,” he said and moved to the door. “But I think to be even I’m going to hit on his babe now.” At the door, Rickie, as his own last word, made a childish face to Jake and darted out.

  Cal stood up. “That was really rude, Jake.” She set the donuts on the desk.

  “And telling Jennifer to seduce me wasn’t?” Jake picked up the wrappers.

  “It was a joke.” Cal grabbed the wrappers from Jake. “And quit picking up my room.”

  “I cannot believe this is what you consider a healthy breakfast. Cal, in order to . . .”

  “Jake.” Cal stopped him. “What do you want?”

  “We made plans last night to review manuscripts.”

  “It’s eight-thirty in the morning. We have all day.”

  “I have it on my agenda for now.”

  “I don’t feel like doing it now,” Cal said.

  “Well, what do you have planned to do? Hang out eating junk food with Rickie?” Jake asked sarcastically.

  “If I want to, I will. Why do you care?” Cal tossed her hands up.

  “I made the agenda.”

  “And what made you assume I would want to be part of your agenda?”

  Jake stared for a second. “You know what? It’s my error.” He moved to the door. “I won’t bother you again.” Without saying anything further, Jake walked out.

  ^^^^

  A quarter of a crossword puzzle, two cigarettes, a cup of coffee and Cal finally heard a long enough span of silence in the bathroom to make the assumption Jake was done with his shower and dressed. Her bathroom door was still closed so Cal knocked.

  “Yeah,” Jake said from the other side. “I’m almost done.”

  “No. Jake . . . can I speak to you?” There was a pause and Cal heard the door unlock and open just barely. “Jake.” She opened the door. He stood at the sink shaving, wearing only a towel. “I . . .” Cal caught herself casing him and quickly turned her back leaning against the archway. “I was wondering. Is it too late to get back on the agenda?” she asked, her folded arms holding the manuscript.

  “Bored?” Jake asked, dipping the razor.

  “No, I’m curious. Is it?’

  “Yep, I’m sorry.” Jake ran the razor down his face. “I’m a stickler for agendas and for adhering to them.”

  “I see.” Cal turned to leave but paused when he started talking.

  “I’d have to make a new one. And in doing so, I’d hate to assume you’d want to be a part of it.”

  “Jake . . .”

  “Or, you know . . .” he clanked the razor on the side of the sink, “assume that you’d want to hang around with my ‘too big to be attractive’ body.”

  “Jake.” Almost in a whine, Cal turned her head to him. When she, did she caught it.

  Through the corner of eyes that seemed to smile, Jake looked at her. “I’ll be done in a few minutes, and then I’ll start that new agenda.”

  ^^^^

  At first Cal thought it was a joke. Then after reviewing what she had learned of Major Graison, she realized the word ‘joke’ pretty much wouldn’t grace his vocabulary. When Jake said he’d do a whole new agenda, Jake meant it.

  It was taking too long, which concerned Cal as she wondered what she allowed herself in for. But her options were limited. Hang out with Jake. Hang out in her room. Or do like everyone else, sit in the gathering room. Cal knew the second she went in there to wait for Jake that the gathering room was not a place she’d be frequenting.

  Carlos had found his spot and played his guitar. John and Jennifer huddled over a board game. Rickie was nowhere to be seen, and Fr. Dan tried with diligence to converse with Griff. Cal’s aid to that helped the wait on Jake move a little faster.

  “Thank you, Cal.” Fr. Dan grinned. He was a shy looking man, timid and thin. “I wanted to share that story with Griff.”

  Cal’s arms moved to interpret what Fr. Dan had just said. She realized by the ache in her shoulders how long it had been since she signed. “You’re welcome.” She looked at Griff. “Anything you want me to interpret while I’m here?” She asked speaking and signing.

  Griff smiled in return. Graying and gruff in appearance, he signed the words, ‘We’ll use the tablet for right now. Thank you.’

  Cal nodded. She folded her arms to try to hide the fact that they felt a little weary. Turning to go back, she caught another glimpse of Carlos, and it struck something in her. She made her way over to him.

  Carlos stopped playing.

  “Why did you stop?” Cal asked.

  He shrugged his shoulders and then continued to play. “I think maybe it shocked me that you walked over here.” His words and voice were soft.

  “Yeah, me, too, I don’t mean to be anti-social. I just am.”

  “I understand. That’s not what we’re here for.” His picking was slow.

  Cal looked for a chair and grabbed one. “Mind if I listen to you?”

  “Not at all,” he said.

  Cal slid the chair across from him and sat. “Do you sing, too?”

  “Badly,” he said with a laugh and stopped playing.

  “I’m disturbing you. I’ll leave you be.” She started to stand up.

  “No, don’t. Please stay. It’s just weird. You’ve hardly spoken to anyone. Yet, here we sit. You seem . . .” he started to play again, “different from my first encounter with you. To be honest, I really didn’t think you’d talk to any of us.”

  “To be honest with you, I really had no intention to, until I saw you. I mean, really looked at you. You remind me of someone, even more so while you play your guitar.”

  “Good or bad?”

  “Oh, good,” Cal said and smiled sadly as she continued to watch him. “He was the music teacher at the school where I taught. David Martinez. He played every instrument. Gosh, I can’t believe how much you look like him.”

  “I see by the lift of the eyebrow, you liked this David Martinez.”

  “Oh, I loved David. Everybody loved David. He was your age. Thin like you, soft spoken . . .”

  “You dated him.” Carlos smiled.

  “I used to. Hell, he was the one that made me think about marriage again . . .” Cal sat back.
<
br />   “So what happened? Why aren’t you home being Mrs. Martinez?”

  Cal rubbed the chill that crept upon her arms. “My daughter was killed. And that killed everything in me. I didn’t have room for David anymore. I decided from that moment on to spend the rest of my life alone.”

  The music stopped. “That’s sad.”

  “It’s my reality.” Cal took a deep breath. “Anyway . . . can I just listen to you play? It brings back good memories. And not much does that for me.”

  “Sure.” Carlos smiled and started again. “Hey, maybe during our seven months I’ll even teach you.”

  “Oh, no,” Cal said and waved her hand at him. “David tried. He taught me a few things but, I suck.”

  “Show me.” Carlos took off his guitar. “Come on.” He handed it to her.

  Somehow Jake thought that Carlos would be a much better guitar player, given the fact he hadn’t put it down since they stepped off the plane. Listening to the plunk of sour notes Jake abandoned any thoughts of complimenting Carlos on his playing. The bad notes got even worse as he made his way to the gathering room, hoping to find Cal there. He wanted to get started going over the manuscripts with her. He realized she might think him more than a little neurotic, but he carried them carefully secreted in a small knapsack. Rounding the bend into the gathering room, Jake saw the reason for the horrible guitar playing. It wasn’t Carlos playing, it was Cal. He must have looked as shocked as he felt. Cal in the gathering room socializing was surprising enough, but seeing Carlos standing behind her, arms over hers being the patient teacher was way beyond anything he could have imagined.

  “Dude, you snooze you lose.” Rickie stood next to him, watching what Jake watched. “I mean, in this type of situation, you’ve got to jump the babe train before anyone else, man.”

  Jake removed his eyes from Cal only long enough to evil-eye Rickie.

  “Looks like the Latin lover snatched up the Cal-babe.” Rickie snickered. “Guy, if you get lonely, I have some cool magazines in my room that could help you out.”

  “What the hell are you rambling on about?” Jake folded his arms and stared down at Rickie. “Do you think I’m actually listening to you?”