Keeping Faith by Cindy Bradford (serial 7)
Chapter 2, Part III
Cindy Bradford
As the bell rang announcing the start of English 101, Patrick dashed to grab the last available seat, only to find Sue sitting across from him. He smiled and nodded.
“We meet again,” he mouthed, careful not to interrupt the instructor who had already begun spilling her welcome to grammar and composition speech that he figured she must had reiterated for at least the last twenty years. There was scarcely time for conversation as Ms. Bigsby explained prefixes and suffixes as if she were unlocking the secrets of an unknown language. She was still talking when the bell rang and students began to gather their books to leave.
“Well, what do you think of Cherokee so far?” Sue asked, turning to Patrick.
“It’s okay for a foreign land,” he teased. “Not exactly the hot spot of the world. No, I take that back. It is the HOTTEST place I’ve ever been.”
“You’ll get used to it. Should have been here in July.”
“I was working the lobster boats in July,” he said wistfully thinking about New England. “See you tomorrow and he took off toward the plaza.
The next two times the class met, Patrick slid in as the bell rang and left as hastily when it was over, but on Friday, he seemed to notice that Sue was in no rush to leave so he lingered also.
“Do you not have a class after this one either?”
“No and I hate my schedule. I registered early, but still couldn’t get the classes I wanted back to back. I have a quiz in biology today, so I guess I’ll use the time wisely and study.”
“Oh, no need for that. Would you like to get some coffee at the SUB?”
“Yes, that sounds good. What’s your next class?”
“Algebra. I’m not sure studying will help. I’m already lost and it’s only the first week.”
Walking into the SUB, Patrick glanced around, “Grab those seats. I’ll get the coffee. It’s not the best coffee in the world, but this place isn’t in the real world anyway,” he teased Sue, handing her a cup. “Sugar and cream?”
She shook her head no and before he even sat down, asked, “Do you not have an alarm clock or are you just a sleepyhead?”
“Pardon me?”
“Well, you’re almost late to class every day.”
“Oh, no, I’m actually a very early riser. That’s when I study and then I go to mass.”
“Every day?”
“Yes. Every day, well mass that is. I’m not so regular about studying. You’re not Catholic, I take it.”
“No. I was raised Baptist, very Baptist,” she said, twisting her mouth to a half smile, and then half frown.
“Oh, one of those teetotalers! I’ll bet alcohol has never touched your lips, or your parents don’t know, it if it has.”
“My parents are both dead,” she offered.
Embarrassed, Patrick blushed and stammered, “Oh, I’m sorry. They must have been really young. How long ago was it?”
“Yes, they were. My dad died three years ago, and my mom’s been dead almost two. It’s just my older sister and me now, and she’s married.”
“Do you live in the dorm?”
“No, I have the family home, here. My sister and I agreed not to sell it until I finish college, then I guess there won’t be any reason not to.”
They talked easily pausing only to drink their coffee or to laugh at Patrick’s sarcastic descriptions of Townsend.
Patrick shifted in his chair and looked serious, “Sue, I wanted to ask you out, but I don’t have a car. I may be able to borrow one, but I’m not sure yet.”
“That’s okay, Patrick, I’d love to go out with you. I have a car, and although it’s not East Texas tradition, I could pick you up,” she offered.
“Great. How about tomorrow night? We could go get a pizza and then take in a movie.”
“That sounds good! We better get to class. I don’t think Mrs. Kloster would be as understanding if I’m late to her frog lecture, as Ms. Bigsby is to your sliding in as the bell rings every class. But then, I’m not a big basketball star,” she teased.
Ms. Bigsby, who was single and at least forty years old, had quite a reputation on campus for liking the athletes. Although the English teacher was attractive, Sue could not imagine any freshman or sophomore boy going out with her, even if it were a one-time clandestine event. But she had heard the rumor more than once. Everybody at the college probably had.
Sue thought Saturday night would never arrive. She couldn’t remember ever being so excited about a date, nor had she ever picked up a boy for one, but he promised to be standing out in front of the dorm waiting for her, at 7:00 p.m. sharp.
He waved when he saw her turning into the parking lot.
Rolling down the window, she said “Hi,” blushing slightly as she scooted over enough to let him drive. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Patrick finally spoke, “Well, what did you do today while I practiced my heart out to keep my scholarship in this foreign land?”
She laughed, “Not really much. I went shopping for this new outfit and ran by my sister Alice’s house for awhile. She’s sorta having husband problems. I always liked Dwayne when they were dating, but lately he’s being a real jerk.”
“What’s the deal?” Patrick asked, glancing quickly at Sue’s short plaid skirt while still trying to concentrate on navigating the unfamiliar streets.
“Well, he was always a little bit of a ladies’ man. All of Alice’s friends knew he was cheating on her while they dated, but everybody, especially Alice, thought he was serious when he decided to get married. I’ve wondered a thousand times why he even wanted to get married. They were both so young. She was barely eighteen and he was just a year older. Maybe he thought Alice would settle him down. I know that’s what she thought. It certainly didn’t work, though.” Sue caught herself talking more than usual and stopped.
“And, so now what?”
“Well, he’s staying out a lot and not always coming in until after the sun comes up. Alice is so hurt,” she paused. “So, Patrick, tell me more about your family.”
“There is a lot of it. I’m the third of six kids, four boys and two girls, a very Irish Catholic family.” He assumed that Sue recognized the last name and knew of his older brothers, when they played at Cherokee, but she gave no inkling of it if she did when he began explaining. “John played at DePaul, after here, and now is working in Boston, in hopes of getting in Law School. Andrew is at Duke. He was never much of an academic star, so it’s taking him a little longer. Because of that, he hasn’t been able to play much. He’s usually on scholastic probation. I’m afraid he won’t have a scholarship next year. My sisters, Mary Margaret and Rose Marie are still in high school and Joe Jr. or “Joey”, as we call him, is in junior high school.”
“Does your little brother want to play basketball?”
“No, he rarely even gets out of the house. I’m afraid my mother and sisters have spoiled him, rotten. He has a slight learning disability, so they baby him. He sits in front of the television and snacks, which drives my dad crazy. Plus, he’s getting pudgy, but he’s a great little guy and I miss him. He plays a mean game of Monopoly.”
“It must be interesting, having such a big family. I didn’t put your name together with your brothers until you mentioned it. They were quite famous here; I remember hearing of them. Of course, everyone knows about everyone and his business in this town,” she said, smiling slyly.