Chapter 8 — "...can you picnic?"
April 1974
Jim was up early the next day. It was six o'clock on that Sunday morning. He was the first in the house to shower and get dressed. His dirty clothes that he brought home were still in the laundry. His mother was planning on doing them later that day. Jim was hoping that his activity would wake the rest of the house.
It wasn't like he bounced out of bed wide awake and full of energy. It hadn't been a good night for sleep. He rattled around in the cupboard looking for the works to the coffee maker. He finally found them and started spooning some grounds into the bowl on the percolator.
"I don't know how you make coffee at your apartment. Your father and I don't like it quite that strong."
It was his mother, dressed in her robe and slippers, and she nudged him out of the way and took over making breakfast.
"Sorry, Ma, I didn't mean to wake you."
His mother shrugged.
"I would have been up in another hour, anyway."
He sat down for a second but then bounced back up. He began pacing around the downstairs.
"How come you're up so early? You look like you've got something on your mind."
"I've got a lot of things on my mind, Ma."
"That was true last night before you went out on your date, but you weren't so fidgety."
Mothers—particularly his mother—why did they always know everything despite all the efforts made to keep them in the dark?
"It's something I've got to work out, Ma," he answered.
"Okay," she said and went about mixing milk and eggs and flour into pancake batter.
He knew when she said 'okay' it really meant 'you're going to tell me sooner or later, anyway, so you may as well tell me now."
"I think she once worked for the KGB."
"Look, Ma, it's nothing serious," he said out loud.
She looked at him and kept on stirring her batter.
"Then why are you so fidgety?"
Jim blew out a breath.
"What's the use? I'm going to tell her sooner or later, anyway, so I might as well tell her now."
"I think I hurt Hildy's feelings last night," he said.
"Oh?"
'Oh?' meant 'you haven't explained anything yet, so start talking and don't stop until I tell you to stop'.
"I think she feels left out," he said.
"Left out? What did you say to her," his mother asked.
"It's what I didn't say," Jim explained. "I told her all about my job interview with Douglas Chemical and everything. I told her they're in Michigan with plants all over the world. I told her I was probably going to accept when they make an offer. I told her all my plans except where she fits into them."
His mother had finished mixing the batter. Jim could hear his father shuffling around upstairs. Soon he would be coming down for breakfast. His mother plugged in the electric griddle and stood facing Jim while she waited for the griddle to warm up.
"I think I understand now," she said. "What did Hildy say?"
"She said to do whatever I think is right for me. She told me not to settle for less."
"And she never asked where she fit in—only said to do what was right for you?"
"Yes, Ma," Jim answered.
His mother thought a minute. She took a deep breath.
"Well, Jim, I've never met this girl. From what you tell me I think you should be asking yourself what kind of person she is to have said that."
She paused and Jim was trying to parse the meaning of what his mother was saying.
"And I agree with her," his mother added, "you should find out what is right for you, and then do it. And I agree with you. She has a right to know where she fits in."
*************************
Jim's mother agreed to do his laundry that morning so that he could get an early start back to school. At ten o'clock Jim decided to give Hildy a call.
Jim: "Hello, may I speak with Hildy, please?"
Voice:"Hildy's not here. She's out for the day."
Jim recognized the voice. It was Hildy's father. He was almost certain that the old bird was lying to him, but the thought came to him that perhaps what old Herbert said was true and Hildy had gone out for the day so Jim couldn't reach her.
He had to find out. He was thinking of the right words to say, or maybe he would hang up and just drive out to her parents' place and knock on the door.
Hildy:"Father, don't do that! Hello, Jim. I'm here. My father was just up to his old tricks."
Jim heard a click and it was clear that Hildy had picked up the extension. Jim was impressed. The old Hildy would have just allowed her father to bully her.
Hildy:"I didn't expect to hear from you today."
Jim: "I'd like to talk to you for a little while this afternoon before I drive back to school."
Hildy:"I don't know if I..."
Jim: "Just for a little while, Hildy. We'll have lunch at the diner. I'll pick you up. What do you say?"
There was a pause on the line. It was probably only five seconds or so. Jim thought it was more like an hour. He expected her to say 'no'.
Hildy:"Alright. But don't bother picking me up. I'll meet you there at noon", and hung up.
Jim set the phone down on the receiver. He was glad that he'd called her. He would get to talk to her—explain away his omission of the previous night. She would understand why she shouldn't be upset with him and all would be well again.
They could be just like they were before he'd made his awful blunder. He would fix everything, just like when he would help his fraternity brothers with derivatives and integrals.
There was, however, a single nagging problem remaining. He didn't know what he was going to say.
***************
It was noon and he was almost at the restaurant. He was a bit worried because it seemed that the conversation earlier that morning was on the icy side and that was unlike Hildy.
"Maybe this nice weather will thaw her out."
It was a beautiful day, the first of the spring. The temperature had crested at a shade over seventy and the slightest of breezes just served to bring in more balmy air.
"This is a good sign."
His superstitious thought surprised him, because Jim didn't believe in signs and omens.
"This thing has me tied up in knots."
