Chapter 03 - Moving Out
My thanks to a great editor whose help has strengthened this submission. My apologies for the delay, and my thanks for the emails and comments regarding the story.
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I got home that Sunday and managed to take a short nap before going out to dinner with my family. Fortunately, they just thought that Sarah had kept me so busy that I didn't get any sleep. Dinner was great, though my mother was disappointed. Evidently, she didn't know that Outback Steakhouse has a corporate policy against singing for someone's birthday. My sisters and my brother just laughed. They knew why I picked Outback: I always feel awkward when people sing Happy Birthday to me. My mom wasn't going to be deterred so easily. She made everyone sing in the parking lot. It wasn't until we got home and my mom went to bed that my dad broke the news. My mom's mother passed away earlier in the week. They didn't want to say anything, because my younger brothers and sisters were still in school. Their Spring Break was that following week, so they would have a week to deal with the loss. My younger sister Elizabeth was the closest to my grandmother, and it was obvious that this had hit her hard. In an effort to cheer her up, I took her out for a drive in my car, a BMW 318 sedan.
I obtained this fine example of German engineering in November 1994 due to a car accident that totaled both my car and the car of my older sister Jessica. I was following her to the Honda dealership during the Thanksgiving break so she could have her car put through a regular service interval. A car ran a red light and smashed into the rear passenger side of her car and the front passenger side of mine. The collision totaled both cars and the driver fled the scene, but returned later. Jessica and I looked at each other because something was wrong. A blond haired man left the scene in the damaged car but a dark haired man returned. The two witnesses also agreed that the hair color of the driver had changed, but their word wasn't definitive either. The driver was the sales manager for the BMW dealership located down the street from the Honda dealership. Jessica was now going be returning to Chicago without a car. My father showed up about the same time the owner of the dealership did and, after an adults only conversation, the owner replaced both cars with used 318i sedans. Thinking that things had turned out all right, my dad spoke briefly with Jessica and I before talking to the two witnesses. My father then had a very brief and very cold exchange with the dealership owner resulting in Jessica and I driving home in brand new 1995 models.
While I was close to all of my siblings, Elizabeth and I got along the best. She and I worked at Rob Jordan's engine shop the previous summer. Rob ran an import engine and transmission rebuild business that also made high-performance engines, exhaust systems, braking systems, and other performance products. While I worked evenings for my mom's brother Mike, I also worked days for Rob to save up for college. Elizabeth and I learned a lot about engines, and we applied that knowledge during a project Rob let us pursue. Over the course of two months, we modified the engine of my car using custom-built parts that Rob had designed and we built or ones that he had selected. Elizabeth, or Liza as I called her, put in a lot of extra hours to help me build that custom motor. Using the racing version of the motor as a blueprint, we turned the 1.8-liter 140-hp engine into a 2.0-liter 195-hp engine. It doesn't sound like much to most people, but our engine pushed that little four-door sedan from 0 to 60 in 7 seconds and the car would hit the quarter-mile mark in 15 seconds. Not too bad for a car that also got nearly 40 mpg on the highway. While the car was mine, the engine that was the heart of that vehicle belonged to her just as much as it did to me.
Liza and I drove around for nearly three hours reminiscing about that summer. Almost a year later, she was still a little disappointed that her age prevented her from going to the BMW driving school with me. She only had her learners' permit at the time, so there was nothing that could have been done. I told her that she could take the car to the school this summer and that seemed to cheer her up a little. After we stopped for gas, I let her drive for a while before heading home.
Between the large steak dinner, the physical activities of the weekend, and the emotional drain with the loss of my grandmother, I was in bed within minutes after Elizabeth and I got back. I slept nine full hours and I woke up almost completely refreshed. Although I should have been occupied with the loss of my grandmother, as I drove to school my mind was occupied with only one thing: what was Erin's plan? She seemed so certain that she could make something between us work. Four kids meant my parents could hardly afford to pay for me to live at school which is why I still lived at home. Surely Erin wasn't planning to have me live with her. While I would not object, I could not see my parents or the University approving that. Still, I hoped that her plan worked and that I wouldn't have to wait too long before I found out what it was.
I met Heidi and Tony for our morning Calculus class. The professors posted grades by their offices using student ID numbers. Heidi had already made the rounds and collected the grades for everyone. She smiled when she said that she had received a B+ from Professor Grant. After highlighting that I received a perfect 100 on Professor Grant's final exam, Heidi told me that "I made her sick" and then she punched me I had in fact received A's in all my classes. . I did ask her if she wanted any more help with this quarter's chemistry class and she just stuck out her tongue.
Throughout the day, it took everything I had to take notes and engage in conversation, providing the illusion that nothing out of the ordinary had happened over the weekend. I simply could not get my mind to stop wondering what Erin had planned. Fortunately, no one asked me what I had me so distracted. Sarah had laid the groundwork for a story. We spent the weekend in because she wanted the company. It was plausible since Sarah had experienced a very unfortunate childhood. While the members of our circle didn't know it all, they knew enough to give her space. Furthermore, they knew what I did for her in high school, which is what made the two of us as close as we were. For Sarah to ask for a few days with me on her own wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.
Sarah joined Heidi, Tony, and me for our one o'clock chemistry class. I was more than slightly disappointed when I didn't see Erin at the front of the class. Even Heidi stated that she was hoping Professor Grant would be teaching this class as well. The man handing out syllabus pamphlets to the class introduced himself as Professor Collins. He was one of the professors who taught the biochemistry courses. I figured I had better pay attention since he would likely be my professor again in the future.
"Mr. Rhodes," he said.
"Yes sir," I replied.
"Please see me after class," he said stoically.
'Oh shit' I thought. Heidi and Sarah just looked at me. To say that I was distracted during the class would be like saying Moby Dick was a fish. Was this part of Erin's plan? Did someone know about our time together in her office? Did her plan backfire? My mind raced with the potential meanings that could be behind why Professor Collins would need to see me after class. Sarah leaned over more than once and told me to relax. Heidi told me if I didn't get my act together, I would have to use her notes for the day's lecture. Finally, it was the thought of Erin that allowed me to focus. I took a deep breath and I could almost hear her telling me to relax and concentrate on the task at hand. So I did.
As the class ended, I walked up to the front of the room. Professor Collins handed me a piece of paper and said, "Dean Tarayama would like to see you in her office at 3PM."
"Yes sir," I said and even I could hear the nervousness in my voice.
Sensing my discomfort, he added, "Dean Tarayama is tough, but for someone who managed to get through Professor Grant's final exam with a perfect score I don't think you have anything to worry about."
"Yeah, it was a tough exam," I acknowledged. "Wait, you know about that?"
"Knowing her the way I do, I am certain tough doesn't begin to cover it. I check the grades of all my incoming students. I want to know where they are at with the subject; that way I know what I will be working with during the quarter. I hope you'll be putting that kind of effort into my class."
"Absolutely sir," I replied.
"Good to hear it," he said while walking for the door. "See you on Wednesday."
I walked out the door behind him and found Sarah waiting for me.
"Heidi had to make her English class, but she is as curious as I am."
"I have to meet with Dean Tarayama at three," I replied solemnly.
"Do you know what's it about?" Sarah asked.
"No," I replied. "And that's what has me worried."
"Why?" Sarah asked.
She was quiet for a few seconds, then she just looked at me incredulously and leaned in to whisper, "That Friday was in her office wasn't it?"
I just nodded.
"Do you think someone knows?"
