For obvious reasons, Andy had really enjoyed the break and told his pal that, without adding that he'd enjoyed sex with his pal's mother and then his sister.
Rick said he was pleased about that. "You stirred the conversations along and both mom and dad reckon you are a great guy. "Dad knew you missed that final putt to allow him to tie your score off the stick."
"Well not all putts drop."
"Yeah, yeah."
Andy asked, "Would you like to spend time home with me this summer? I'll be home for the three weeks before I return here to work on the city's newspaper."
"Yeah thanks and I'll let you know. I haven't heard from the 'Farmer's Monthly Journal' where I hope to work."
"Call them when we stop for coffee."
"I really don't know if I should. They might think I'm pushy."
"And what are reporters supposed to be?"
Rick grinned and said he'd think about it.
At the coffee shop Andy took Rick's phone, found the number for the Farmers' Monthly in the phone book and selected it. He handed the phone to Rick and said to make the call.
Rick looked at the name and number and hesitated. Andy walked away and began talking to an old guy sitting outside on a bench and eventually Rick came out smiling.
"Well the skinflint editor said he was about to make the decision and asked would I consider working for half the advertised rate and I said no."
"Good for you," said Andy and the old guy said, "Never work for cut rates otherwise the bastards will always stomp on you."
"Thanks for your advice sir," Rick smiled.
They said goodbye and walked away.
As they drove off Rick said. "The jerk gave me the job and said he expected me to work hard. I said I needed to do that for my college grades and he liked the thought of that. He will have the letter of acceptance in the mail within a day or two."
They drove on back college and with a pause in conversation as Rick was probably thinking about his skinflint editor, Andy thought of his disgusting and treacherous behavior of fucking Rick's mother. He sighed thinking she'd been so great and had been unbelievable hot, physically and the way she ripped into it as well. In comparison, younger females could be almost called lethargic.
* * *
Back in the grind at college, Andy's classroom performance was worrying him. His results for tests were on the wrong side of average. He reduced his social life and studied more. On field trips however, he was consistently in the top three when papers on those visits were submitted and marked.
Assistant professor Marks, when reviewing Andy's progress with him, suggested Andy he might be taking a too global approach to his classroom lectures and homework that he might benefit by studying in blocks.
"Do you understand?"
"I think so."
Prof Marks shook his head.
"I'll tell you what. I'll see if Janice Hall will become your study buddy. You are using Rick at present and he's only marginally better than you. Also Janice is weak on practical study whereas Rick is almost at your level."
"Well do you best Prof but don't be surprised if she says no way. I don't think Janice likes me."
That evening Andy had just emailed a great story about Carol Lind, an economics student who'd been a school girl gymnastic champ and now had left gymnastics behind her and was working to enter ballroom dancing competitively. He was pretty sure the article would make the lead in that week's edition of the college's electronic newspaper. The photos Carol had given him of her as a gymnast and a recent one in Latin American dress for ballroom dancing were stunning.
Yawning he sat back wondering whether to study or go out for a beer when the phone went.
"Andy Ash."
"Hi it's Janice Hall. Do you wish to meet me at Westmont Library in ten minutes to study? The library is open till 10:00. I've just eaten after coming in from field hockey coaching."
"Yeah that would be great."
She told him what to bring.
Janice was a green-eyed brunette. She greeted him coolly.
"Professor Marks insisted I do this and said he would remember my sacrifice when considering grades. The assessment is you are not achieving your ability and he thinks that's because you don't have much idea about how to study. Where do you come from?"
"Southwest Wyoming."
"Oh god, little wonder."
That comment offended Andy and he felt his right hand curl into a fist.
"He also said you think I don't like you. I told him why. Do you wish to have me repeat it?"
Rick sighed and said yes Janice.
"I told him lots of guys around here ogle at breasts and you are one of the worst. Are you going to run?"
"I'll consider that. In the meantime I apologize; my eyes automatically focus on great tits... I mean great breast."
He could see her anger.
"I'm sorry and I apologize for being a real jerk. Um I hope you are proud of your breasts."
She almost smiled and that gain quickly evaporated and she went on, "I felt humiliated being asked to try to pull you up into a better performance level, thinking why bother? And then crafty Prof Marks said you would be a natural to help me in field work that you probably know more than our lecturers and that's where I needed support."
"You want me to take you out and watch a bull mount a cow?"
She appeared to count to five and then said, "You are a very difficult person Andy."
"I take that is not a compliment?"
To his surprise she said she couldn't be sure.
"In my opinion you are the best reporter on our college newspaper. You dig up interesting people and god only knows but you write sensitively and appear to turn the ordinary into something quite riveting. My father is an associate editor on a large newspaper. I worked all last summer on that newspaper and learned some things including how to recognized journalistic talent. I believe you have such talent because you make me want to read your article, in fact recently I've found myself looking for them."
"Well it doesn't take much to please some people."
Looking at Janice shaking her head, Andy regretted having made that quip.
"Andy, do you think females are brainless and exist only for guys like you to fuck."
Andy was shocked and had the fleeting thought that might have been the first time Janice had ever used the F-word.
He bowed his head and said, "I'm sorry for being such a jerk."