Driving Lessons
Chapter 8
We left immediately after school on Friday. I doubt my parents bought the Chicago story. I think if Marianne had looked different, hadn't had such a nice car, or, more importantly, a different last name, they'd been more concerned. I told them I should be home in early evening Sunday, hoping they'd accept a time nearer midnight, since that's how things had been working out lately.
It was two hundred miles to the college, really a university but she called it college. I drove all the way. My lessons were coming to an end according to Marianne. As long as I didn't drive too fast, didn't wreck her car, and performed certain duties I was considered passed by her.
She didn't say it, but I could tell she assumed after this weekend our association would end.
The radio never played in her car so to provide entertainment I talked. She answered but didn't initiate discussion. This was an important bit:
"So why do you go to our school? I would have thought—"
"This is the third this year. I was kicked out of the private one, my sister never does wrong but she stays stuck to me like a leach, and then a public one. In rapid order, a week apart. I've done better to make my activities less conspicuous. Having a car helps. Sis relies on dates for transportation. Dates never provided what I needed, more boredom than I wanted."
"How much do your parents know?"
"My mother, nothing. My father knows but never talks about it. His secretary takes care of things. She's nice. I think they've been having an affair since forever. My mother knows nothing of that either. She's happy with her clubs and projects. For all I know she's been carrying on in a cabin next to mine. Joe could be a busy man. If so, she can certainly afford to tip him more. It's depressing to think of home."
She didn't face me when she talked.
"So what's happening at the college?"
"This fraternity needs me this weekend. They have fellows who are interested; I'm to cement the bargain, show why they should join. I didn't tell them about you but I'm sure there's room. Or a motel. I'm not certain we'll have much time together. Sorry. We will have time together. I'll make sure we will.
"Candy and I talked and we both decided you're free to fend for yourself. There are literally thousands of girls there and I'm sure you'll find one or two who are willing. Take advantage of any opportunity. You're up to three, forge ahead and make it five or a dozen."
"I have homework, Marianne."
"This is your homework, Brian. If you desire at all to make us happy you'll do this simple little thing—get laid. As often as possible. As many as possible. Everyone knows it's okay if a boy does that."
"Candy told me you're a nice girl. I agree with her."
"What a boy will say to get in a girl's pants. It works, too. Pull over next rest stop. I need to relieve myself."
"Pretty, smart—"
"I'm a whore when I'm drunk and I intend to get good and drunk this weekend. You'll change your mind quickly and you know it."
"We'll see. Rest stop or will a place to eat do?"
"Probably. I'm beyond caring any more."
We had dinner at a small place by the side of the road. She didn't use the restroom so it must have been the second sense of the word. I wanted to get to the university while there was still light so I wasn't really open to a dalliance, no matter how much fun it would have been.
At the university we pulled up in front of a frat house and she had me wait while she went in and found a space for me. I waited an hour and figured she was busy. I wished her luck and took her car to a motel nearby, one we'd passed. Candy made sure, as always, I had plenty of money. I got a room for the night, carried our stuff up and spent a little time on my homework. In the morning I planned to take Marianne's stuff to her, drop it off, and let her know where I was, no problem.
Television was no fun so I went to bed early. It already looked like a long weekend.
The next morning I wasn't in a rush to deal with Marianne's stuff so I walked to a place for breakfast. Just relaxed and tried to get a feel for the campus. Lots of kids (though older than me) for sure. Lots of cars of all shapes and sizes, even a few Model A's.
When I'd had enough of that I went back to the motel. There was a guy in a suit sitting on the curb by the car. He looked up and I saw it was a bleary eyed kid.
"This your car?" he said.
"Friend's," I said.
"A girl?"
"Yeah, Marianne."
"That her name? Needs her things. Something. Long night. Sorry. So can you take me with you back to the House? Let's see. Says she's sorry. You'll understand. You staying here? So she'll know? I think that's all of it. God, my head hurts."
"I'll get her stuff. You can wait in the car."
"Better here. I drank too much and I . . ." He was looking down and his voice petered out.
I got the room for another night and came back with her stuff and my books. I'd try out the college library afterwards. Gary, that's what he said his name was, held his head. I don't think it was my driving; I'm not that bad.
I parked in front of the House; he had to help me find it. He said he'd get a map for me, took her stuff and left with a parting question. "She your girl?"
"You can say so. It's complicated."
"She said you'd be understanding. This all of it?"
"That bag and the overnight case."
He left and after waiting for thirty minutes I left. I found someone who could tell me how to get to the library. He sketched out a map for me: motel, library, Greek row.
It was Saturday and while the campus was crowded they weren't headed for the library. At the motel they said I was lucky there wasn't a game this weekend. I left my books in the car and had my first experience of a big library.
I wandered around figuring out a little how the place was laid out. It was quiet on the fourth floor and that's where I decided to study.
I left the library, walked around and got my bearings. I was never going to college, there wasn't the money or a reason. My dad worked in the factory; he'd get me a job there when I was out of high school, sooner if I wanted. He didn't have twelve years schooling, certainly wasn't stupid. I wasn't doctor or engineer material. Writing was a secret desire.
Some of the kids looked okay, some looked like assholes. The strange thing was a large number of the guys had shaved heads. Except for that, it was just like high school. Girls were the same. Some as pretty as Marianne but I didn't see any prettier. She'd fit right in. Maybe.
I found a place where I had a sandwich and a coke. Relaxed, wished Candy were with me. She'd like this. Candy was more a people person than me. She wanted to know all their stories. I mostly wanted to be left alone. Besides, once you knew their story, there was nothing you could do. I couldn't protect Marianne from herself, could I? I didn't have the feeling that's what she wanted me for, any of us for.
I grabbed my books from the car and went up to the library's fourth floor. I set up on a table since a nook didn't have good light. I worked for a while, put that aside and went to look for a book from the stacks, one with pictures, since I wasn't college material. I got back to my seat and a girl had chosen the one next to mine. Two tables worth of empty seats and she chose the one next to me. I wasn't feeling sociable. I was depressed. Marianne was having a good time right now but would be beating up on herself tomorrow or the next day.
So I'm looking at the pictures in the book. Roman ruins somewhere. And she asks me a question.
"You don't go here, do you?"
"No, I'm just a visitor."
She was cute. Not pretty like Marianne, but definitely cute. Her green eyes reminded me of someone. Short, red haired.
"I didn't think I'd seen you here before. Maybe I've seen you before in --------, my home town."
Her home town was my home town.
"Could be. I'm a student at Central High."
"I went to the academy." She sat up straight and turned her chair toward me. "I was back home just last week."
And I'm thinking red hair but she's maybe too short.
"There's this pizza place—"
Behind me Marianne said, "Brian, you're a fast worker. Sorry to interrupt but I need you."
I turned to her. "Everything okay?"
"Sure. I hate to do this but I need you and the car."
I grabbed my books, leaving the picture book on the table. "Maybe I'll see you again."
"Hope so. Nice to meet you." She turned her chair back to her work.
Marianne held my hand and if I hadn't known better I'd thought she was jealous. When we got to the car, she said, "No. You drive."
She looked out the window until I started the car.
"Back to the House?"
"No, we need to run an errand. Do I look okay?"
"Beautiful as ever."
"I'm sorry. About last night. I didn't think I'd get caught up so quickly. I. You know. Maybe you don't."
"What's the errand?"
"The liquor locker's empty and I need fifty dollars. Sorry. It's important. I'll get it back before the weekend's over. Tomorrow. Do you have it?"
"It's Candy's money. Sure?"
"It's okay. I have the address somewhere and a map. Gary said he was getting you a map. There it is." She set it on the seat between us.
"I told them I was spending the afternoon with you. That's okay. It's important I be there tonight. You have a room?"
I nodded. "How are we going to get booze?"
"I'm twenty-three on my license. I can get one for you if you want. I know this guy. There won't be a problem. The guys said it's okay if you come tonight. No problem at all. You didn't need to take off yesterday, though maybe it was better you did. I bet you have your homework finished already."
"Just about."
"I'm never good at that. Oh well." She added a bright note to her voice. "When you come tonight don't bring the car. There won't be any parking places anywhere near. You can bring your friend."
"I don't know her name."
"That's not important. You don't need to know their name to get laid."
"Marianne—"
"I bet you'd be a lot happier if you didn't know me. So liquor. Then the motel. I'll make it up to you. I promise. Good girl all next week. Cross my heart. I really need this, though."
"You're the boss. You want to keep the car?"
"No. I'll wreck it. Promise me you'll come by tonight. I want you to."
I wasn't so sure she did, but I nodded yes. "Where's this store?"
"God, I'll have to find it on this map. Okay. And I think I know where we are. Straight ahead. She looked like a nice girl, Brian."
"You didn't interrupt anything, Marianne. Besides, we're going to the motel afterwards, right?"
"Right. I won't drink anything until I get back to the House. You'll be glad you came this weekend."
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