out, I’d tell her so. I’d try to be nice about it. You know, tell her how much the relationship has meant to you and
how you’ll always cherish the memories of it.”
He saw a smile creep across Charles’s face. “That wouldn’t be a lie,” the boy said. “I’m sure never gonna forget her .”
“But don’t leave any doubt in her mind that you’re finished with the affair.”
“I guess I could try that. Maybe…God, sometimes things sure get messed up.”
“That’s why the good Lord gave us mops.”
Charles let out a quiet, bitter laugh. “Yeah,” he said. “I guess. Anyway, thanks for listening. And for the advice.”
“Hope it helps. Let me know how things go, will you?”
“Sure. Will you give me a pass back to study hall?”
Ian wrote out a hall pass.
SIXTEEN
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
When Janet woke up on Thursday morning, she didn’t reach sideways for Dave.
A breeze billowed the curtains overhead and chilled the upturned side of her face. She pulled the covers as high as her ear
and curled under their warmth.
It had been nice, yesterday, lying in bed for a long time because there was no big reason to get up. One of life’s great luxuries.
But today was different. She had to get over to the placement office at U. S.C. You didn’t find a job by staying in bed.
Well, some people do.
She laughed softly under the covers.
Prostitutes. And what about housewives? Sure. That’s what the libbers wanted you to think anyway. You get married, you’re
a whore on a one-life stand.
I wouldn’t mind that.
She rolled onto her belly. The warm pocket of the pillow felt good against her face.
And how do I find a man who wants the one-life stand? she wondered.
Luck onto him?
Carry a rabbit’s foot?
Better get a move on.
She sat on the edge of the bed and shivered. Her sheer nightgown had been fine for summer nights with Dave. It wasn’t much
good, though, for October mornings alone.
She hurried to the bathroom, pulled off the nightgown and turned on the shower. While she waited for the water to get hot,
she looked at herself in the mirror.
Was she gaining weight?
A little, maybe. Not so anyone would notice.
She pushed a few strands of brown hair away from her eyes.
Not bad eyes, she had to admit. But not “dreamy” like the eyes of the guy at the football game.
I’m still thinking about him?
The handsome, mysterious stranger.
Imagining herself with him, Janice grew warm and squirmy inside. The mirror showed a blush spread over her naked body. Her
nipples stiffened.
Calm down, she thought. For all I know, he might be a total jerk.
I’d sure like to find out.
“I wonder who he is,” she whispered, watching her lips move in the mirror’s reflection.
Meg hadn’t recognized him, and Meg seemed to know everyone who worked at City College.
He might be a parent.
He hadn’t looked old enough, however, to have a kid at City College.
Maybe he’s just a football fan.
I should keep going to the games, Janice thought. Maybe I’ll see him again.
Wondering about him, she stepped under the shower.
Janet didn’t start to get nervous until she was putting on her lipstick.
What’s there to be nervous about? she thought. They’ve either got job openings or they haven’t. If they haven’t, I’ll manage.
There’s always something.
She picked up her car keys and purse. As she left Meg’s house, she looked at her wristwatch. The drive to U. S.C. should take
about half an hour—assuming some idiot on the freeway didn’t kill her in the meantime.
Always a real possibility. She didn’t care much for L. A. freeways.
But what’s life if you don’t take chances?
Longer, that’s what.
“So,” Meg said as she poured Burgundy from a gallon bottle, “how’d it go at the placement office? Any hot prospects?”
“For men or jobs?” Janet asked.
“Whichever.” With the heel of her hand, Meg slammed the cork home. Then she handed one of the glasses to
how you’ll always cherish the memories of it.”
He saw a smile creep across Charles’s face. “That wouldn’t be a lie,” the boy said. “I’m sure never gonna forget her .”
“But don’t leave any doubt in her mind that you’re finished with the affair.”
“I guess I could try that. Maybe…God, sometimes things sure get messed up.”
“That’s why the good Lord gave us mops.”
Charles let out a quiet, bitter laugh. “Yeah,” he said. “I guess. Anyway, thanks for listening. And for the advice.”
“Hope it helps. Let me know how things go, will you?”
“Sure. Will you give me a pass back to study hall?”
Ian wrote out a hall pass.
SIXTEEN
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
When Janet woke up on Thursday morning, she didn’t reach sideways for Dave.
A breeze billowed the curtains overhead and chilled the upturned side of her face. She pulled the covers as high as her ear
and curled under their warmth.
It had been nice, yesterday, lying in bed for a long time because there was no big reason to get up. One of life’s great luxuries.
But today was different. She had to get over to the placement office at U. S.C. You didn’t find a job by staying in bed.
Well, some people do.
She laughed softly under the covers.
Prostitutes. And what about housewives? Sure. That’s what the libbers wanted you to think anyway. You get married, you’re
a whore on a one-life stand.
I wouldn’t mind that.
She rolled onto her belly. The warm pocket of the pillow felt good against her face.
And how do I find a man who wants the one-life stand? she wondered.
Luck onto him?
Carry a rabbit’s foot?
Better get a move on.
She sat on the edge of the bed and shivered. Her sheer nightgown had been fine for summer nights with Dave. It wasn’t much
good, though, for October mornings alone.
She hurried to the bathroom, pulled off the nightgown and turned on the shower. While she waited for the water to get hot,
she looked at herself in the mirror.
Was she gaining weight?
A little, maybe. Not so anyone would notice.
She pushed a few strands of brown hair away from her eyes.
Not bad eyes, she had to admit. But not “dreamy” like the eyes of the guy at the football game.
I’m still thinking about him?
The handsome, mysterious stranger.
Imagining herself with him, Janice grew warm and squirmy inside. The mirror showed a blush spread over her naked body. Her
nipples stiffened.
Calm down, she thought. For all I know, he might be a total jerk.
I’d sure like to find out.
“I wonder who he is,” she whispered, watching her lips move in the mirror’s reflection.
Meg hadn’t recognized him, and Meg seemed to know everyone who worked at City College.
He might be a parent.
He hadn’t looked old enough, however, to have a kid at City College.
Maybe he’s just a football fan.
I should keep going to the games, Janice thought. Maybe I’ll see him again.
Wondering about him, she stepped under the shower.
Janet didn’t start to get nervous until she was putting on her lipstick.
What’s there to be nervous about? she thought. They’ve either got job openings or they haven’t. If they haven’t, I’ll manage.
There’s always something.
She picked up her car keys and purse. As she left Meg’s house, she looked at her wristwatch. The drive to U. S.C. should take
about half an hour—assuming some idiot on the freeway didn’t kill her in the meantime.
Always a real possibility. She didn’t care much for L. A. freeways.
But what’s life if you don’t take chances?
Longer, that’s what.
“So,” Meg said as she poured Burgundy from a gallon bottle, “how’d it go at the placement office? Any hot prospects?”
“For men or jobs?” Janet asked.
“Whichever.” With the heel of her hand, Meg slammed the cork home. Then she handed one of the glasses to
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