Humorlost (Humorlost Book I of III) Read online

  “That it is.”

  Ice

  Kareena didn’t see Genna until the following afternoon. Their shifts overlapped, so Genna was on her way out before Kareena woke up. Genna was waiting for her in the kitchen of the small apartment they shared when Kareena got home from work.

  “Well?” Genna said.

  “Well.” Kareena said right back.

  “Come on; don’t keep me in suspense, what happened last night.

  Wasn’t that the same guy we saw at the pool?”

  “Yeah, it was, but it was nothing, I only had a drink and a dance

  with him.”

  “You mean he didn’t ask you out?”

  “No, he asked if I’d be at Brodie next week.”

  “And.”

  “I said, I didn’t know.”

  “What, are you nuts! He’s so hot!”

  “Well, he’s a college student, and very smart, he’s from Ireland. I

  don’t see anything coming of it. I’m sure he will be going back to Great

  Britain where his family lives after college.”

  “He sounds very charming to me.”

  “Yeah, that's the problem. He was a little too charming. Why

  would he be interested in me? I really have nothing to offer someone

  like him, he’s from money. And I don’t know, there was something about

  him that told me not to go there.”

  “Well I’m going back next week, you should come, and see if he

  comes back.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, think about it.”

  “Yeah, ok, I’ll think about it. But Robert asked me to a movie.” The following Tuesday at Brody Mountain, Rian walked right up

  to Genna and said “Hi.”

  Genna turned “Hey, aren’t you the guy that danced with my

  friend Kareena last week?”

  “Aye, that I am, Rian's the name.” He extended his hand and she

  took it.

  “Hi, I’m Genna.”

  “Might your friend be here this lovely evening?”

  “No, she had a date.”

  “Well, that is too bad now isn’t it?” He said with disappointment

  written all over his face. “Might this date of hers be someone she is

  serious about? I mean is she involved with him?” What in Gods name

  am I daft, this lass means not a blasted thing to me, and I be asken about

  her as if, …. Well the hell with her, I’m here to play, so that I will. “You would have to ask her about that.” Genna stated mater-offactley.

  “Well she’s not here now is she, so that won’t be possible, so

  how bout I take you for a spin?”

  “Sorry, I can’t, I’m with my boyfriend, over there,” Genna

  pointed in Kevin’s direction. Kevin was starring across the room looking

  at Rian with daggers. Rian stared back at him with a look that could kill.

  “Ok, I can see I better leave ya be then. Can you tell Kareena, I was asken

  for her?”

  “Of course, I will.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  Rian stormed off, and ordered a drink from the bar. “Well.” James asked.”

  “She’s out with some bloke!”

  “Better for you than, I’m telling you she’s trouble.” “Feck off.”

  “Woe, back off buddy, I’m only looking out for you.” “Aye, ... I know, she means nothing to me, let’s have a toast and

  forget about the fairer sex.”

  “Well I wouldn’t go that far. Look over there. I like the looks of

  that one.”

  The band started to play. As James started across the floor, Rian

  said “Go for it Mate.” and downed his whiskey.

  “Another.” He said to the bartender.

  James didn’t return for the next four songs, and Rian was getting

  more furious, with every drink. When the band broke, James walked

  back across the dance floor to the bar with a pretty blond, in tow. Rian

  downed his fourth, and got up off the bar-stool.

  “Rian, this is Nancy.”

  Rian looked at her and saw nothing, “Nice to make your

  acquaintance.” He lied.

  “I’m out of here, James.”

  “Wait a minute, the party’s just starting.”

  “Have fun, I’m leaving.”

  “How am I supposed to get back to the dorm?”

  “I can take you.” Nancy piped in.

  James said “Ok then, see you later buddy.” As he grabbed Rian by

  the arm, “Hay ... Are you ok?”

  “I’m Fecken fantastic, have fun, I mean it Mate.”

  Rian sat in his 450 SL Mercedes, staring at the rain as it drizzled

  on the windshield. His father had his car shipped over from Great Britain

  last week, and he was happy to have his own ride, but he couldn’t shake

  the unease he was feeling at the moment. He was actually happy James

  had hooked up with someone. He didn’t want anyone around him at the

  moment. He needed to be alone.

  Rian thought he would drive around campus a bit to clear his

  head. He drove north on Rt. 7 into town around the square that housed

  the only remaining and oldest standing building of the one time militia

  outpost in Williamstown. His father insisted he learn the history of the

  college, he said it was part of understanding the heart of the school. The

  town was founded in 1755 by and named for Colonel Ephraim Williams,

  who bequeathed his residuary estate for the founding and support of a

  free school in West Township, where he had commanded a detachment of militia at Fort Massachusetts, farthest outpost of the province. His will stipulated that the township, then in dispute between Massachusetts and New York, must fall within Massachusetts and that the name must be changed to Williamstown, if the free school was to be established at all. Williams was the twenty-first institution of higher learning to flower in the onetime British colonies, the second in Massachusetts, and the sixth in New England. In 1793 the trustees had reason to acknowledge that the soil they had chosen was stubbornly uncongenial, in fact, that for many years the trustees of Williams spent more time and energy

  trying to close the College than in trying to keep it open.

  In 1821 the Reverend Edward Dorr Griffin took the job as

  president, after President Zephania Swift Moore decided that the school

  would not make it, and took matters into his own hands, convinced that

  almost everything about Williams was impossible, led a group of students

  over the mountains into the Connecticut Valley. There he became their

  president once again, at the struggling new college known as Amherst.

  Reverend Griffin took over and drew upon the College’s reputation for

  religious conservatism to collect much-needed funds. In 1828 Griffin Hall

  was build. It housed a chapel, a library, and classrooms, and was a

  testament to his confidence and his skill.

  The campus grounds were beautiful. Rian drove down Main

  Street and took a left on Chapin Hall Drive past the First Congregational

  Church, one of the town’s most beautiful churches and landmarks. It was

  a white building with a tall steeple that was visible over the sloping hill as

  you drove down Main Street. He took a left on Mission Park Drive past

  Dodd Annex and a right on Southworth Street through the residential

  section. He took a left on Main and a right on Water. He was off campus

  grounds now, and decided to circle back on Latham Street past the track,

  tennis courts and Lansing Chapman skating rink. He then took a left n
ear

  the golf course on Denison Park Drive and circled around Knolls Road to

  Hoxsey Street. This would take him back to Main and back to his dorm.

  By this time he was feeling a little better and he had made up his mind

  not to go back to Brodie Mountain the following week, or any other week

  for that matter. James was right; she was trouble, stay away.

  Haunting

  Kareena and Patrick were just leaving the drive-in movie a little early due to the rain, and were headed the five miles back to Kareena’s apartment. They hadn’t really watched much of the movie anyway. They mostly just cuddled and were comfortable just being in one another’s arms. Kareena knew that her time with Patrick was limited. He was spoken for, engaged to be married. “His fiancé was pregnant; he was going to do the right thing by her. And even though Kareena knew it was wrong, and wished things were different, and she couldn’t seem to resist his invitations to go out. She admired him for taking the plunge at such a young age.

  Patrick was a local boy, they happened to meet one afternoon that summer while he was working at a local Sonoco Station. She and Genna stopped for an oil change. The spark was instantaneous for both of them. They couldn’t seem to stay away from one another even though they knew they should. Patrick was a sweetheart, always the gentleman, never tried to go past second base, but that might have been because he had learned that difficult lesson, and wasn’t going to repeat his mistake. Kareena always looked for the best in people, but she was no fool. She had seen a lot of heartache and cruelty in her young years and was determined not to repeat her Mom’s mistakes.

  As they parked in front of her apartment, Kareena gave Patrick a good night kiss. As she stepped out of the car, a red Mercedes drove past almost hitting her. She gave the driver a fierce look although she couldn’t see his face.

  Patrick spoke through the window “Are you ok?” “Yeah, stupid ass, some people don’t know how to drive.” “Yeah, I know.” He blew her a kiss. “Ok, see you later.” “See you Patrick.”

  Rian parked the Mercedes a couple of doors up the road, and he watched through his rear view mirror as Kareena crossed the street to her apartment and climbed the stairs to the porch. With his heart pounding in his chest, he couldn’t believe he almost hit her. Why was she haunting him? Of all places to live in this town, why does she live only a few blocks from my dorm? He had made up his mind to let it be and forget about her. After all she was with someone else. Then why was he still sitting here, watching her? He suddenly put the car in gear and sped away.

  Complications

  “You know that guy, Rian, was at Brodie last night.” Genna told Kareena as they sat in their kitchen eating their lunch.

  “Oh really!”

  “He asked about you.”

  “He did?”

  “He asked me to tell you that he asked about you. He was quite

  upset when you weren’t there.”

  “Really? I told you he was dangerous. I could tell he had a hot

  temper, although I did love his Irish brogue”

  “Yeah, that was kind of sexy.”

  “It’s best to stay away from him. I won’t put up with abuse from

  anyone, like my Mom did from my Dad.

  “I know, both our Moms had a hard go of it. Your right, but are

  you going to let him stop you from having fun? You know next week is

  the final at Brodie for the year.”

  “I know”…. Kareena thought about that for a few minutes. “I

  guess I’ll go….., but if you see him, you’ll let me know so I can duck him, I

  don’t think I want another encounter with him.”

  “I can do that. Don’t worry, we’ll have fun.”

  James just got out of the shower, and was getting dressed when

  Rian came into their dorm room. “Where might you be off to?” Rian

  Asked.

  “I’m meeting Nancy at Brodie. Tonight’s the last night they’ll be open until the ski season starts, why don’t you come with me?” “No, I think not.”

  “Come on, are you going to let that little tart spoil your fun?” Rian’s eyes shot fire at James words. He grabbed James by the

  collar and shoved him up against the closet door. He spoke in a tone that could stop lightning. “You…shall never… refer to Kareena in that derogatory manor again…, do you here me, you fecken idiot.”

  “Oh, look whose sweet on his bonny Kareena.” James teased. “Get out you stupid ars.” Rian said as he loosened his grip and pushed James toward the door.

  “Ok, but you don’t know what you’ll be missing.” James said as he closed the door behind him.

  Rian lay back on the bed and turned on the TV. He was planning on relaxing and watching a flick. Try as he may, he couldn’t concentrate on the movie. He got up and started pacing the dorm, back and forth, back and forth. Why was this happening to him, he didn’t need any complications in his life. He and his Da had his future all planned. After graduation, he would take a position with the Embassy along side his father to learn the ropes. He would have a future in the political arena, he wasn’t sure just what he would do at this point, but he would be good at what ever appointment he held, he was sure of that. He was born for politics. He had a gift for diplomacy; he could charm the horns off a goat. He had been working on trying to loose his Irish brogue. He thought that it detracted, and didn’t bring him the respect he needed to do the job he was meant to do. But his Da told him it was part of why people were drawn to him. He wasn’t having any of that.

  He could stand it no longer. He jumped in the shower, and dressed in his new green short sleeve polo shirt, and a pair of blue jeans, and slipped on his black leather jacket. He took a look in the mirror, and liked what he saw. He knew he was good looking and he could get any girl he set his mind to, and this one wasn’t going to get away if he could help it. It’s not like me to not go after what I want, even though I must be daft. He didn’t like anyone making him feel unsure of himself. It was very unsettling.

  Genna and Kareena arrived at Brodie at eight fifteen that evening. After looking around and not seeing him, Kareena relaxed and ordered her drink. They sat close to the band and Kevin joined them. The music was loud. Kareena was grateful that he wasn’t there, but also felt a bit disappointed. Stop that. She told herself. You know its better he’s not here. The band started their set. Kareena felt like dancing. No one asked, so she got up by herself and danced. It never took much to get her out on the dance floor, just the right music. She was shy in every way except that. She knew she could dance well, and wasn’t afraid to get up there by herself. Soon others joined her and the dance floor was jumping. She looked around as she danced and was disappointed and relieved that once again she didn’t see him.

  Rian parked his Mercedes in the lot outside, and couldn’t believe he was here. He swore he wouldn’t come. It was nine o’clock. He walked slowly up the stairs to the lodge dance hall. He went directly to the bar, and ordered his drink. He leaned against the partition that separated the bar and the dance floor looking for her. James came up behind him and grabbed him around the neck. “I thought you weren’t coming ole buddy.”

  “Hay.” Rian Gasped “Watch it! A bloke has a right to change his mind now doesn’t he?”

  James held up his glass. “I’m really glad to see ya, hears to us.”

  Rian raised his glass as well. “Where’s Blondie.”

  “She went to the powder room with her friends. So did you see your bonnie lass?”

  “No, I just got here. Have you seen her?”

  “Yes I did, she was right over there a moment ago dancing. I don’t see her now though.”

  Kareena, spotted him as he came through the entry way and made his way to the bar. Her heart did that flutter again. He didn’t see her. She stopped dancing and went to the ladies room. Genna was right behind her. “What am I going to do? I don’t think he saw me. I don’t
want to go back out there.”

  “Well you have two choices.” Genna said. “Either go out and enjoy the rest of the night and pretend you don’t know he’s here, or we leave now, although I would really like to stay a while longer. Kevin can’t take me home tonight, he has to help the band pack up all their gear, and that could take hours, and they have to settle up with management.”

  “Ok I’ll stay, but let’s sit in the back, ok?” “Fine, I’ll tell Kevin where we’ll be. Let me go out first, you follow in a few minutes.” Genna instructed.

  “Ok, see you in a few.”

  Rian had spotted Kareena as she slipped into the ladies room. He was waiting patiently for her exit, and was ready. As she left the ladies room trying to be inconspicuous, she walked smack into some guy who was walking in the other direction. “Ouch!” She exclaimed, “Watch it!”

  As she looked up into his eyes, her heart began to pound furiously. He was grinning at her like the Cheshire Cat. “So here you are. “

  “Oh…. Hi! Yes here I am. So?”

  “So where were you last week?”

  “I don’t think that’s any of your business!”

  “Well, you told me you would be here.”

  “No,….. I told you I might be here. There’s a big difference!”

  He was bating her, he knew very well where she was. “Well?”

  “Well, what?”

  “Where were you?”

  “I already told you, it’s none of your business.” She was getting more frustrated by the minute.

  “Are you serious about that bloke?”

  “What?” She couldn’t believe he just said that. Has he been stalking me?

  “You heard me.”

  “Have you been following me?”

  “Your friend told me you had a date.” Rian covered well.

  “If you already knew, than why did you ask me?” This was maddening. He made her feel like she did him wrong.

  “Just to see if you’re honest lass.”

  “You have a lot of nerve!” This guy really needed to be put in his place.

  “Aye so I’ve been told. Can I buy you a drink?”

  “I have one, thanks.” He just doesn’t quit.

  “Would you join me then?”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Her heart was racing so fast she thought it would burst.