accents. It didn’t matter that they were hockey guys. They had obtained the holy grail of sports.
There was no calculus, no hockey and no family struggles to deal with. They called themselves “The Boys of Summer”. It would make great stories someday. The tales growing more unbelievable with each telling.
****
Taryn was refreshed and ready to conquer the challenges awaiting her in Amherst. She drove her usual 70 mph down the Mass Pike. She was happy to be travelling with her own wheels. She wondered however, why Josh got the new car. It was an unimportant detail and she was happy in the trusted wagon.
Taryn’s legs were cramped when she got out of the car. The ride wasn’t long but she had done a lot of laying around at home. The to-do list was long and she was eager scribble some items as done.
“Hey Taryn. Welcome home. I got you a surprise that I think you’ll love. I hope you love it. It’s not returnable. Come on up.”
Devon was hanging out the third story window. They occupied the top floor with a rotating group of renters on the floors below. It wasn’t the most attractive building in town but there was a large tree in back that was in full bloom. It was a great improvement over its appearance in the fall and winter when it looked like a dirty tenement building. Taryn climbed the stairs to Devon’s big reveal of a surprise.
“You got me a kitten!”
“Taryn, I hope you like her. A dog was too much of a commitment and this would be fun to have around. She’s not spayed yet and I have left the name up to you.”
“I love her. I didn’t know I wanted a cat but I truly love it.”
Taryn hugged the cat. She was an orange fluffy feline. She would have one more year in the dorms which would not allow her to keep an animal. Taryn would find some way to make it work. She named the cat Fonda.
The next morning Taryn woke and she planned to find a waitressing job in either Amherst or Northampton. She was waiting at the bus stop when she realized her car was sitting in the driveway. She used the extra moment to rush in and see her cat before she left. The tangerine ball of fluff was curled up on her pillow, Devon was in the shower. She kissed Fonda goodbye and continued on to her car.
Taryn was not the only one looking for summer employment. Summer jobs in the five college Pioneer Valley was on everyone’s mind. She received a good vibe from a restaurant in Northampton. The manager was a male who happened to be present before the place was open. As normal Taryn was first noticed by her beauty and he invited her to fill out an application. She did and with little formal experience she was hired to work three lunch shifts per week. She had been accustomed to filling mugs and serving muffins so this job at Mame’s was a definite step up. She did not know the popularity of the spot or the excellence of the food. She had really lucked out.
Northampton had a different feeling than Amherst. It reminded her of South Street in Philadelphia only smaller. It had a lively urban feel. The utility poles repeatedly caught her eye. They were canvassed in playbill covers, bulletins, and announcements. They were heavily dedicated to upcoming musical productions and shows featuring live band performances. Taryn had run into just what she was seeking. She was planning to audition for productions through the Fine Arts Center at UMass, but this presented a locale which would allow her to cast a wider net.
Out came her pen and paper. She jotted down phone numbers and addresses and grabbed tabs with printed information on the flyers if they were still available. Her heart was throbbing and palms sweaty. Copious opportunities were on display and she was sure to find something worthwhile. The music academy in town had a capacity of 800. A perfect sized audience for her. It was her first stop.
Taryn arrived at the
There was no calculus, no hockey and no family struggles to deal with. They called themselves “The Boys of Summer”. It would make great stories someday. The tales growing more unbelievable with each telling.
****
Taryn was refreshed and ready to conquer the challenges awaiting her in Amherst. She drove her usual 70 mph down the Mass Pike. She was happy to be travelling with her own wheels. She wondered however, why Josh got the new car. It was an unimportant detail and she was happy in the trusted wagon.
Taryn’s legs were cramped when she got out of the car. The ride wasn’t long but she had done a lot of laying around at home. The to-do list was long and she was eager scribble some items as done.
“Hey Taryn. Welcome home. I got you a surprise that I think you’ll love. I hope you love it. It’s not returnable. Come on up.”
Devon was hanging out the third story window. They occupied the top floor with a rotating group of renters on the floors below. It wasn’t the most attractive building in town but there was a large tree in back that was in full bloom. It was a great improvement over its appearance in the fall and winter when it looked like a dirty tenement building. Taryn climbed the stairs to Devon’s big reveal of a surprise.
“You got me a kitten!”
“Taryn, I hope you like her. A dog was too much of a commitment and this would be fun to have around. She’s not spayed yet and I have left the name up to you.”
“I love her. I didn’t know I wanted a cat but I truly love it.”
Taryn hugged the cat. She was an orange fluffy feline. She would have one more year in the dorms which would not allow her to keep an animal. Taryn would find some way to make it work. She named the cat Fonda.
The next morning Taryn woke and she planned to find a waitressing job in either Amherst or Northampton. She was waiting at the bus stop when she realized her car was sitting in the driveway. She used the extra moment to rush in and see her cat before she left. The tangerine ball of fluff was curled up on her pillow, Devon was in the shower. She kissed Fonda goodbye and continued on to her car.
Taryn was not the only one looking for summer employment. Summer jobs in the five college Pioneer Valley was on everyone’s mind. She received a good vibe from a restaurant in Northampton. The manager was a male who happened to be present before the place was open. As normal Taryn was first noticed by her beauty and he invited her to fill out an application. She did and with little formal experience she was hired to work three lunch shifts per week. She had been accustomed to filling mugs and serving muffins so this job at Mame’s was a definite step up. She did not know the popularity of the spot or the excellence of the food. She had really lucked out.
Northampton had a different feeling than Amherst. It reminded her of South Street in Philadelphia only smaller. It had a lively urban feel. The utility poles repeatedly caught her eye. They were canvassed in playbill covers, bulletins, and announcements. They were heavily dedicated to upcoming musical productions and shows featuring live band performances. Taryn had run into just what she was seeking. She was planning to audition for productions through the Fine Arts Center at UMass, but this presented a locale which would allow her to cast a wider net.
Out came her pen and paper. She jotted down phone numbers and addresses and grabbed tabs with printed information on the flyers if they were still available. Her heart was throbbing and palms sweaty. Copious opportunities were on display and she was sure to find something worthwhile. The music academy in town had a capacity of 800. A perfect sized audience for her. It was her first stop.
Taryn arrived at the
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