The Beginnings - Part 83: THAT 'DAREDEVIL'

In short, there are sunny days, and there is memory, and…hardest of all…there is choice.
-In a letter from Ned Spofford to Newton Arvin
THE SCARLET PROFESSOR by Barry Werth

The Beginnings – Part 83:   THAT ‘DAREDEVIL’

September 5, 1983

Well, George wasn’t home this morning. I have a gut-wrenching feeling that he was having an explicit, discreet affair last night with this Rob character. I am pissed-off (to say the least).

Today is Nici Maurino’s birthday. She just called me and I don’t like the idea of someone being alone on their birthday, so I’m going to ride my bike over to her place on the west side of Alameda. I will hand deliver her Birthday Card.
Nici made me a mushroom cheese omelet. She disclosed some secretive information.
“Michael, I feel so guilty.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Well, because I picked-up on some guy and made it with him. And now…I’m not sure if I’ll ever see him again.”
I thought, “How slutticious.”
That’s my own invented word, of course.
I replied sincerely, “I can understand how you might feel that way…but it’s over and there’s not much you can do about it now.”
“I know…you’re right.”
As we continued talking I announced, “I wish I had a baby girl.”
She laughed and we kidded around about our having a baby together. Were we joking? I wondered if she was really serious or not. There was one moment when I got the feeling that she wanted to screw around but I left before anything got started.

I rode my bike along South Shore Beach and then I headed home to the Islandia Townhouse on Solomon Lane.

I finally telephoned George and actually reached him.
George was energetic and said, “I tried calling you last night at eight o’clock and at midnight.”
It’s true that I wasn’t home.
I asked, “Where were you?”
“I was at Dick’s with some of his friends in the East Side of San Jose. We were having a little party. That’s all…it was a dead party and no one would drive me home.”
“Oh…well…aren’t you going to move-in here to Alameda?”
He listened as I tried to use some power of persuasion.
Finally, George said, “I just don’t think I’m ready financially or mentally to move out on my own.”
I simply don’t understand him. I did persuade him to come up for a week to look for a job though. He seemed rather hesitant about it.
Suddenly George perked up and said, “You know…it’s probably not a bad idea.”
“Okay, good.”
“Well, I have to get off the phone now because I have to go wash clothes at my step dad’s house but I’ll call you back when I get back.”

He never called me back. Was he with Rob? I still have that little dark, suspicious spot hanging over my head. I really believe he may be screwing around with someone else. He knows what my reaction would be if that is the case. I am still wondering.

I didn’t totally forget about mom. Her Birthday is tomorrow. I delivered her Birthday Card. It made her happy.

I also telephoned Tammy Duhr. We exchanged our usual ‘hello’ and matched mutual flirtatious lines.

Then I finally broke down and called Susan Low. I needed to know why she didn’t show up at LILY’s.
Susan said, “I was there. I was there at about seven o’clock.”
“OH…well that explains it. That’s around the time that I decided to scram.”
I was happy about the misunderstanding. I mailed Susan a card. I also wrote one to my coworkers, Helen Wong and Barbara Reynolds.

I am truly annoyed with George because he failed to call me back as promised. I don’t really want to speak to that ‘daredevil’ now.

I am pondering ideas for an alternate roommate. My brother, John, might be a possibility. Mike Miller is a possible option, too. For now…it may look like a newspaper ad will be my next route. Another door will open.

“Every obstacle to which we do not succumb is a benefactor.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson