Paying for College - The Novel

by Kenneth Szulczyk

  Chapter 6

  Drew followed me to the International Food Festival. “I’ll bet, she doesn’t show.”

  “Oh come on. She’ll show.”

  “Serious. I’ll bet you ten bones, she’ll stood you up.”

  “A ten spot?” I stopped and turned and held out my hand, “All right. You’re on.”

  We sealed the deal with a handshake.

  Turning the corner to the student union, Phaedra leaned against a stair railing that led up to the building. Oh brothers, did she look comely for a naughty, naughty girl, showing off her curves by wearing a tight blue dress. She even put a little weave through her blonde hair.

  Drew whistled, “Nice,” as he elbowed my arm.

  “Don’t pass the money here. Don’t…”

  Drew pushed ten dollars into my closed hand.

  “Damn you. Not cool bro.”

  “Have fun, dude.”

  Drew walked by Phaedra, and they exchanged hellos. Then Drew rushed inside.

  I approached Phaedra and tried not to stare. Mamihlapinatapai, oh she was! “You look nice. So how are you?”

  “Fine. So what was that about?”

  “What?” with a perplexed look plastered on my face.

  “Your friend handed you some money.”

  “Oh that. He owed me some money for covering his cafeteria lunches.”

  We walked up the stairs walked inside and approached the entrance table.

  I turned to look at Phaedra and asked, “Are you hungry?”

  “A little.”

  “Let’s try some food then.”

  One of the attendants said, “That’ll be ten each.”

  I fished the money out of my pocket and handed him two tens. “Keep the change brother.”

  As I opened the door, a cornucopia of smells and spices bombarded my nose – cumin, spicy curries, and roasted meats. We walked inside into a madhouse with booths, tables, and people everywhere.

  I asked, “What’d you want to try first?”

  “Japanese.”

  We walked to the Japanese booth.

  Phaedra grabbed a small paper plate and used tongs to grab an assortment of sushi. She smiled, “You’ll like this,” as she slathered a healthy swab of green goop on top of one of the sushi and pushed it towards my mouth.”

  I bit the sushi in half including a healthy helping of the green goop. Brothers, I tasted food from the Gods as I chewed, savored, and swallowed that sushi. Then a tickling sensation reverberated up and down between my throat and nose while invisible fingers started tickling the bottom of my brain.

  I’m not sure if I turned red, but I heard, “Jax, are you okay?’

  I nodded my head up and down several times and grabbed the edge of the table, so I wouldn’t fall down.

  After another pause, Phaedra asked, “Are you all right?”

  The spicy sensation withered and faded. “I’m fine. What was that green stuff?”

  Phaedra started laughing, “Wasabi. Maybe I put a little too much on for you.”

  “Wabi-sabi?”

  Phaedra laughed again, “It’s made from horseradish.”

  “Ah, that was so wrong. You’re next.” I slathered a healthy dab of wasabi on a piece of sushi for her. Then I raised the sushi to her mouth.

  She nibbled the side of the sushi and closed her eyes and chewed slowly. Then a shiver shook through her body starting from her waist and ending at her head.

  “How’s the sushi?”

  “Perfecto mundo.”

  “C’mon, let’s try something else.”

  We walked to the Thai booth with an exotic Asian woman standing behind the table with wavy black hair and olive eyes. I’m not sure of the woman’s ethnicity, but I would guess she was Thai. She folded her hands and bowed as we approached.

  “Hi,” I said.

  The Asian woman grabbed a small plate and spooned a piece of meat with shredded green stuff. Then she handed me the plate with two small plastic forks.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  The woman replied, “Fried fish with shredded papaya.”

  “I thought papaya was reddish.”

  “It can be. We also use green papaya in many of our dishes.”

  I held the plate while Phaedra and I grabbed a tiny fork and speared the papaya.”

  It was delicious. Then a minute later, I felt like an arsonist had set my mouth on fire so he could collect that money from my dental insurance.

  I started fanning my mouth with my hand, trying to put out the zesty flames.

  Phaedra did the same thing.

  I looked at the Thai woman, “It’s a little spicy, huh.”

  “Sorry sir. It must be the green and red chilies.”

  I used the plastic fork to move the papaya around and that’s when I spotted the little offenders – little tiny red and green flakes of chili peppers. “I think I found the culprits.”

  We used our forks to move the chilies to the side, and we finished the sample.

  “What’d you think?” I asked.

  “Different,” Phaedra said, “But quite delicious.”

  “It must be healthy. I can’t imagine anything living in my stomach after eating those chilies.”

  As we walked away, Phaedra asked, “So what did you think of the Thai woman?”

  “What Thai woman?”

  Phaedra nodded her head in the direction we had come from.

  “Oh, that Thai woman.”

  “Yes.”

  “I didn’t really notice. Why you ask?”

  “Oh come on. She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

  “I don’t know.” I turned and glanced at the Thai woman and looked into Phaedra’s eyes, and, brothers, I lied like an ambulance-chasing lawyer, “She’s okay if you like that sort. C’mon, let’s try some Turkish food.”

  We walked by the Mexican food booth. That’s so passé, living in a tiny town with three Mexican restaurants. Of course, who can forget taco night at the cafeteria on Wednesday? I think they serve beef tacos but not entirely sure.

  Then I looked over to the Italian table and saw Drew staring at us.

  I waved.

  Drew wandered over.

  “Hey Jax.”

  “Hey Drew. So what’re you up to?

  “I thought I would try some exotic foods just like you two. Besides, it can’t be worse than the cafeteria food.”

  “Amen to that brother.”

  Drew looked at the ground and then he looked at me, “What’ll you guys do later on tonight?”

  Phaedra and I glanced at each other and then looked away. I looked at Drew and shrugged my shoulders, “I don’t know.”

  “Oh, I see. Could you recommend something?”

  “Try the Japanese table. Don’t forget that green –“

  Phaedra added, “Wasabi.”

  “I’ll try it.” Then Drew walked away.

  “I think your roommate’s a little creepy.”

  “I wouldn’t say a little creepy. I would say humongously creepy.”

  “I hope he’s not following us around.”

  “Oh he probably is but he’s harmless like dandruff flakes that gather around a shirt collar. Don’t worry. I’m ninety percent sure he’s not a psycho killer.

  “What about the other ten percent?”

  “Well, I admit, he has issues. He’s an artist, so by definition, he must be a little crazy.”

  “Artist?”

  “Yep. He’s got a talent for drawing.” Then I noticed the Turkish table. I grabbed Phaedra’s hand and led her to that table, “Hey, let’s try a Turkish gyro.”

  We stood next to a stainless steel metal cart with a massive, conical chunk of chicken turning, hissing and singeing on a vertical rotisserie. A rivulet of grease and chicken juices trickled down to the base.

  “Two gyros please.”

  The guy nodded and sliced several slivers of meat from the bottom part of the meat cone, and then he placed the meat on pita bread and added tom
atoes, cucumbers, and a drizzle of cucumber sauce.

  I noticed the guy put more meat in one gyro, and, of course, handed that one to Phaedra. But that’s okay.

  I bit into my gyro – my taste buds came alive as the food waltz across my tongue.

  Phaedra garbled, “hmmmm.”

  “I know. This is definitely not cafeteria food. I wish we had International Food Festival every week. Then we’ll be living the good life as students. Of course, I would never graduate and leave this food behind.”

  I turned to gyro guy, “May I please have another gyro but with no vegetables and sauce?”

  The guy just stood there as if he didn’t hear me even though three feet separated us.

  “C’mon man. I’d like another gyro, please.”

  Phaedra bumped into me with her hip and said, “You oughtta use the bathroom, okay?”

  “Thank you,” so I headed to the bathroom, walked inside and washed my hands. When I came out, Phaedra stood near the bathroom entrance holding a monstrous sandwich with roasted chicken meat spilling out. I bet that gyro had enough meat to make five sandwiches.

  “Wow. That’s quite a sandwich. Man, he’s sure has taken a liking to you?”

  “No, I don’t think so. You just didn’t ask properly.”

  “Ah, so that’s your secret.”

  I grabbed the sandwich and wrapped the paper around tighter so none of the meat would fall out.

  “Aren’t you going to eat it, or you saving it for later?”

  “It’s not for me. It’s for my friends.”

  “Friends?”

  “C’mon, I’ll show you.” We walked outside.

  “Who’re your friends?”

  “It’ll be better to show you.”

  “Where we going?”

  “Math-Sciences Building.”

  “You have friends in that building?”

  “No. They don’t live inside.”

  “Then where do they live?”

  “It’s difficult to explain. It’s better that I’ll show you.”

  We approached the Math-Science Building and walked past the entrance.

  Phaedra stopped at the entrance and just stood there. She pointed at the glass doors, “Isn’t this where we’re supposed to go?”

  “Nope.” I pointed at the large, thick bushes on the side of the building, “My friends live there.”

  “In there? Let me guess, you are feeding the homeless people who live in the bushes?”

  “I sure am.”

  I walked to one of the bushes while Phaedra trailed behind me, staying at least ten feet away. She made sure she would have a head start if I pulled an ax or machete out of the bushes.

  I unwrapped the gyro and placed it on the ground by my feet. “Kittens. Kittens.”

  Discordant meow sounds came from inside the bush.

  Six bright blue eyes appeared at the base of the bush.

  I crouched on the ground and looked at Phaedra, “Please stay there. They may be afraid of you.

  Three kittens ran to the chicken gyro and began eating. One kitten growled at the other two, as it grabbed a large chuck of meat in its mouth and dragged it closer to the bush.

  I picked up one kitten and started petting him and I looked at Phaedra, “Hey Phaedra. I believe this little guy wants to meet your acquaintance.” Using my hand, I wave the kitten’s front paw at Phaedra.

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m afraid.”

  “Oh come on. You’re a hundred times his size. He can’t hurt you.”

  Phaedra strolled to me while the other two kittens on the ground ran and hid inside the bush.

  “Come on,” I urged. “You two have the same eye color, chatoyant baby blues.”

  Phaedra reached for the kitten and started petting the furry kitten while the kitten began purring and Phaedra began smiling. Phaedra became an ailurophile.

  “I found them when I was walking to class. Every day, I steal a little chicken or fish from the cafeteria and place it under the bush for them.”

  “They’re so cute.”

  I put the kitten on the ground, and he ran for the bush. Then I bent over and placed the gyro under the bush.

  Phaedra and I started walking towards downtown.

  “What’ll happen to the kittens when winter comes?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll come for them and take them to my dorm room.”

  “But the dorms forbid pets. You can get into serious trouble.”

  “I know.” I reached over and held Phaedra’s hand. “Sometimes a man has to break a few rules, especially when it serves the greater good.”

  I did return for the kittens one night in December when a thick snow pelted the ground, but the three kittens were gone. I hoped someone gave them a happy home filled with love, furniture to paw and scratch, and plenty of dark corners and closets to explore.

  We walked along fraternity row holding hands as drunk college students wandered from house to house. Then we approached town and walked by this old-fashioned coffee shop – an old mom and pop operation with real wooden floors, wooden display cases, counters, and tables from the 50s. I marveled at the white crown molding forming curves and circles on a yellow pastel ceiling.

  I stopped. “Let’s check this place out.”

  We went inside and sat at a table in a dark corner, where we could get a little privacy.

  “What’d ya like?”

  “Something chocolatey.”

  I went to the counter and looked at the chalk menu mounted on the back wall behind the cash register.

  The barista asked, “What’d you like?”

  “I’ll take a hazelnut cappuccino please, and something else.”

  “Such as?”

  “I don’t know. Could you recommend something chocolatey?”

  “Would you like a Frappuccino? Caffe Mocha? Chocolate milkshake?”

  “Yes, the chocolate milkshake sounds good. I think that’ll do.”

  I paid for the drinks and sat down.

  Phaedra asked, “So what’ll you do after you graduate?”

  “I plan to start my own business and give people sound financial advice. I’ll help them invest their money and plan for their retirement.”

  “I think I heard that before.”

  “My final goals have not changed, but sometimes I must alter my daily struggle to still get there. What about you?”

  “My dad wants me to enroll in law school and work as an attorney.”

  “That’s cool. But your dad works in a university. I heard universities are the easiest employers to work for. Why don’t you follow your dad and become a professor?”

  “He says the profession is changing. He says the -”

  The barista brought our drinks to the table and placed them in the center.

  I said, “Thank you, miss, but I could’ve brought the drinks myself and saved you the trouble.”

  The barista said “No problem.” Then she walked away.

  “Aren’t you polite?” Phaedra said.

  “Why not? Perhaps I was the bright spot in her daily, dreary day after she served hundreds of rude customers.”

  “She probably thinks you’re flirting with her.”

  “I see your point. But after working a tough summer, I came to appreciate people working in menial jobs. Then dealing with rude people all day can make the job ten times worse.”

  “What kind of work did you do?”

  “I was a manager’s assistant.”

  “Really? Where did you work?”

  “I worked in a fast pace environment – millions of things to do every day. No pats on the back for a job well done. No thank you at the end of the day as I crawled to my car. So, I left that career behind to pursue my education. I even joined the university press as a reporter.”

  “That rag.”

  “I take it you’re not a connoisseur of fine writing?”

  “Nope.”

  “Perhaps I can c
hange that.”

  “Well, I saw your story. You’ve changed the world all right. Many students are furious with you.”

  “I’ll admit that story was not my finest.”

  “Why did you write it?”

  “At the time, I thought it was a great idea, but it blew back into my face.”

  A male customer left the coffee shop carrying a laptop briefcase.

  I scanned the empty room. I didn’t even see the barista. “It’s looks like we’re the last customers here.”

  I looked into Phaedra’s eyes. I’m not sure who initiated it, but we leaned towards each other and shared a kiss.

  The barista returned to the coffee shop through the back door carrying a trashcan. Then she headed to the kitchen.

  We kissed again.

  The barista came to the room and grabbed the dishes and trash and returned to the kitchen. Then she came into the dining area and started wiping the tables.

  I looked at my watch and asked, “Should I walk you home?”

  “Okay.”

  I pulled a five-dollar bill out of my pocket and slid half the bill under my empty coffee cup. I also accidentally pulled out my skeleton key.

  “What’s that?” Phaedra asked.

  I opened my hand and let Phaedra grab the key, “It’s my lucky key. A voodoo priest blessed this key and imbued with a special power – it can unlock any door.”

  “Really? Where’d you get it?”

  “I found it on a playground when I was a little boy.”

  “Can I have it?”

  “Sorry. It’s my lucky key. It has protected me since childhood. If you take it, then I will be lost in a world full of locked doors.”

  Phaedra stuck it in her pocket.

  “Can I have my key back, please?”

  “Nooooope. Finder keepers losers weepers.”

  “I see. I think I heard that one before.”

  We rose and left the coffee shop and started walking towards Phaedra’s home while we held hands.

  We crossed the metallic blue suspension bridge that divided the town into two equal halves. We crossed to the other side of the river.

  “Where do you live?”

  “On Ontario Street.”

  Phaedra led me across the road and up a stone staircase that led up a tall hill with tall stone walls on both sides.

  “Where does this go?”

  “It’s a short cut.”

  When we reached the first level, Phaedra leaned against the wall.

  I slipped my hands around her waist and held her. I felt her inviting warmth, and we kissed, kissed, and kissed. As we’re locked in a kiss, I slipped my hand into her pocket and grabbed my skeleton key and also pulled something else out.

  I looked into my hand. “Where did this come from? Why do you have a spoon in your pocket?”

  Phaedra stared at me and shrugged her shoulders.

  “Wait. This must be from the coffee shop.”

  I slipped the spoon and skeleton key into my pocket. I’ll just slip the spoon into the mailbox at the coffee shop when I return home.

  We kissed again and again and again.

  I said, “It’s getting late.”

  “I know.”

  We kissed some more while a zephyr blew and tried to cool our passions.

  I heard the footsteps of someone coming up the stairs. I pulled away from Phaedra as a jogger sprinted by. I looked down at the city sprawled in front of my eyes, “You can see the whole town from up here.”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  Her lips looked inviting, and we kissed some more.

  My phone started vibrating. I answered it.

  Drew said, “Hey man. How’s everything?”

  “Everything’s fine, Drew.”

  “How’s Phae –“

  “Drew,. I’m a little preoccupied at the moment. I must go. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Okay.”

  “Later.”

  Phaedra asked, “Is mom calling?”

  “No, it wasn’t mom. Unfortunately, it was my roommate.”

  “Why’s he calling you?”

  “He wanted some help on a math assignment. I told him I would help him.”

  “Oh.”

  “It’s getting late. When’s your curfew?”

  “I don’t have a curfew, or at least not tonight.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m house sitting.”

  “House sitting?”

  “My neighbor left town and lets me watch his house.”

  “Okay. Let me walk you to your neighbor’s house then.”

  We walked the rest of the way up the stairs and over to her neighborhood.

  I walked with her up the three steps onto the neighbor’s porch. I pulled her to a dark corner away from the glaring porch light, and we kissed again.

  I said, “Goodbye.”

  She reached for her keys, walked to the front door and unlocked it. She turned to glance at me and walked inside.

  I noticed she left the door slightly ajar. Queesting, an offer?

  I stood there for a minute while a heated debate ricocheted back and forth between the good guy and bad guy. Shall I enter or shall I close the door and return home?

  Of course brothers, I entered the quiet house, “Phaedra. Phaedra,” but I saw no trace of her. All the lights were turned off on the first floor, but the upstairs hallway light was turned on. I closed the door and tiptoed upstairs, “Phaedra. Phaedra.”

  I tapped on each door and opened it slightly, “Phaedra.”

  Finally, I tapped on the master bedroom door, opened the door, “Phaedra.”

  “Just a minute.”

  I just stood there in the doorway holding onto the door.

  Then Phaedra came out wearing skimpy pajamas.

  “You left the door open downstairs.”

  She demurely walked over.

  I wrapped my arms around her again and we started kissing and caressing.

  I pulled my jacket off and let it fall to the floor. Then we continued kissing. I gradually guided her towards the king size bed with a brown leather backrest.

  Phaedra pulled away, “This may not be a good idea.”

  “I like holding you in my arms. I like kissing you.” Then we kissed some more as I guided her several more inches towards the bed.

  Phaedra pulled away again, “You won’t respect me.”

  “I like the sweetness of your luscious lips.” We kissed some more. Then I started kissing the nape of her neck and nibbled on the lobe of her ear.

  Phaedra stopped kissing and asked, “Do you love me?”

  “I love kissing and caressing you.”

  She returned to my arms, and we started kissing again. Finally, we sat on the bed’s edge and continued kissing. Then we gradually lied back while we continued kissing.

  I opened her top and started kissing her neck while I used my hands to caress her sides. I kissed her breasts and caressed her thighs. I kissed her belly button.

  I slipped my hands into her bottom and caressed her.

  As I removed each article of clothing from her warm body, I kissed that part of her body.

  After I had made love to Phaedra twice, we fell asleep.

  I woke up around four in the morning and, brothers, my throat was parched. All that kissing dehydrated me.

  I slipped out of bed and headed downstairs to the kitchen.

  I drank a glass of water, washed the glass, and returned it to the dish rack to dry.

  I’m not sure why I did it, but I explored the house.

  Walking around the house, I saw hints of wealth. An antique French armchair in the living room. A beautifully carved wooden side table with an inlayed glass top.

  Entering the study, I saw An Escher drawing hanging on the wall. A massive antique mahogany desk was placed in front of the bay windows. Then I noticed the heavy-duty metal frame that held a cheap-like painting as if the artist painted by numbers.

  Appro
aching the painting. I slid my hand under the painting and the painting swiveled opened to reveal a wall safe.

  I laughed. If the owner only knew. He thought he was clever by hiding his valuables in a cheap safe from a do-it-yourself store and concealed with a gaudy painting. The owner didn’t know the safe manufacturers put all the thick metal in the front, while a thin metal sheet protected the back. I just had to pry the safe out of the wall and open the back like a tin can.

  I stopped myself. Brothers, what am I thinking? I’m not a professional burglar. I just did one minor discretion to help pay for college.

  I closed the painting, turned the lights off and returned to the master bedroom to sleep with Phaedra.