Soundtrack: Yesterday---The Beatles
Buy a CD of the original album
Pat followed Bill into the kitchen shortly afterwards, carrying an awkward stack of paper plates, containing partially eaten food and plastic forks and knives. "Garbage bag?" she inquired.
"Yeah, sure," Bill replied, as he walked over and retrieved a large green plastic leaf bag from a shelf in his pantry. "Just toss that stuff in here."
Bill had opened the bag and was holding it in front of Pat. She dumped her load in and turned to pick up more trash from the kitchen counters. "What a mess!" she exclaimed.
Bill sighed. "Yeah, it is, isn't it? I think maybe I'm getting too old to be giving this party. Maybe it's time to pass the torch to the younger generation. The whole thing feels like a mess to me. Not just the food and drink, but the people, too... like Jake, last night and Carl this morning, and... and me."
Pat continued scooping up trash and tossing it into the bag that Bill held open for her. "You know, Bill, it occurs to me that there's more to your problems and depression than this girl, Christine. You sound awfully world-weary to me."
Pat's words struck at Bill's innards like a knife stab. Did she sense the truth? His arms went weak, as he set the bag of garbage down wearily. He felt chills and was aware that his forehead was becoming clammy. "Pat, I've got to sit down. I'm not sure I feel so well."
Now, the room was spinning slightly and his mouth began to water, the usual sign to him that he was about to vomit. Bill looked around for a place to sit in the kitchen, but realized that all the chairs had been moved into other rooms for the party. "Uhm...let's go into the living room where I can sit down."
"Sure, Bill," Pat said, preceding him into the room. "Should we try to wake Carl and send him on his way?"
As he sank down on the couch, Bill considered Pat's suggestion. No. Carl was out cold. He wouldn't hear any of what Bill was saying. And... the truth was that out-cold or not, Carl provided some non-fraternization cover that made Bill feel a bit more comfortable in being there, alone with Pat at this hour of the morning. "No, Pat. That's O.K. Let's just let him sleep it off."
"O.K., but how about a cup of tea for you? That might make you feel better," Pat offered.
Was it his paranoid imagination or did Pat seem disappointed at his decision to leave Carl be? Bill answered matter-of-factly, "Sure, Pat. Tea would be fine. You'll find some in the cupboard over the stove. I think I better have some mint tea; maybe that’ll settle my stomach, O.K.?"
Pat returned to the kitchen, leaving Bill to his thoughts. He was keenly aware now that he faced a painful dilemma. In the past, he hadn't worried too much about his reputation for having sex with students because he knew there was no substance to it. After all, a person couldn't be fired because of untrue rumors and suppositions, could they?.
But, what if there were some truth to the rumors? What if now he…uhm…he couldn't resist his temptation regarding Pat. He'd have to take great pains to hide such a relationship. Both of them would. How would they be able to do that? What kind of a relationship could they have if it had to be carried out in secret? Was that even possible?
And then, too, there were real ethical and psychological issues involved here. As a professor of sociology, he knew only too well that teachers, like him, were in a power position vis à vis their students, even the brilliant Pat Richardson, even if she was no longer in his class or even an undergraduate. What did it mean for a student to be in a sexual relationship with someone who was clearly in a power position like a professor? What kind of relationship could it be? Mutuality would be impossible, no matter how bright the student. He, the professor, would possess all the power.
Soundtrack: In the Mood---Glenn Miller
[via FoxyTunes / Glenn Miller]
Buy an MP3 of the original recording
Buy a CD containing the original recording
Not only that, but there was the age difference! He was 11 or 12 years older than Pat, an adult; he'd been married and divorced; she was barely out of college, the same age as his youngest stepsister. And there was a vast gulf between their respective life experiences. He was born in the mid-30s; he'd grown up in the shadow of the depression, remembered World War II clearly, as well as the Holocaust; as a kid he'd danced to the big band sound of Glenn Miller. She was a child of the 50s; her childhood memories were of Sputnik and Rock n' Roll. She'd been in high school when JFK was assassinated, for Chrissakes! Bill was close to panic.
Links
Growing up during the Depression
Growing up during World War II
The Holocaust
Glenn Miller (Buy CDs containing songs by Glenn Miller and other Hits of the 40s)
Sputnik
Rock n' Roll
JFK Assassination
The Beatles (Buy CDs of their albums)
Go to the next scene in Bill's story
New Year's Eve 1968: Bill, Scene 10 "1968---The Death of Hope'"
Go to the previous scene in Bill's story
New Year's Eve 1968: Bill, Scene 8 "Bill, in Trouble"
Go to a related scene
New Year's Eve 1968: Pat, Scene 9 "The Enigma that is Bill"
No comments:
Post a Comment