Sparks of Chaos by kevin caruso Page A

She was thrilled that a boy like Chase liked her and she was enjoying being with him.
     Chase noticed that she was cutting and eating her meat using both hands with the fork in her left even though she was right handed, “what’s up with that?”
    She laughed, “To Americans this looks rude to eat this way but actually it’s much easier.”
    “I doubt that.”
    She got up and sat next to him and took his hands to show him how, “Let me show you.”
    When she took his hands his breath caught in his throat, she was so close, like a thief on his skin. He pretended not to be able to cut his meat that way so he could enjoy her this way just a little longer. She sat a bit closer to him and giggled “You’re a complete doofus.” He put his arm around her, moved her plate over to his side of the table and silently grinned.
    They enjoyed their meal while Birgit talked to Chase about everything. He just let her talk, occasionally chiming in with a comment or a response when needed. “What’s your family like?” she asked.
    “Oh I from Chicago, with two brothers and my grandparents are from Germany,” he told her, keeping to his cover story. He was really from San Diego, was an only child and had never even been to Chicago. My parents both sell real estate, what about you?”
    “I’m an only child, my mother died when I was ten and I think that’s why father decided to take the job and move us to the United States. We’ve only been back here for about a year and I’m having a hard time fitting back in Germany. My dad arranged this job for me at the University in hopes that I could get involved and meet more people. I’m only taking a few courses this year to ease into things a bit.”
    “ What kind of work do you do at the University? ”
    “I’m just a secretary, my boss is very old. He was famous along time ago and won a Nobel Prize. It really is quite sad, he has no family, he’s slipping away and everyone feels sorry for him.”
    “Slipping away?’
    “He’s a very nice old man but its Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or something but he seems to be slowly losing his mind. The school wants to do anything to help him. He comes to the office every day but it’s just to keep him busy. He doesn’t do any work or see students any more. Every once in a while someone will come and visit for a few minutes but lately he can’t seem to remember them. I’m more of a babysitter than a secretary; he has been getting worse,”
    “I’m sorry to hear that, what’s his name?”
    “Herr Doctor Karlheinz Hauptmann, he was a great physicist in his time.”
    “Wow, I would love to get to meet him sometime if I could. I’ve been studying physics in college myself and it would mean a lot to me to meet a Nobel Prize winner. My Professors back home would be very impressed if told them I had met him. Do you think you can get me in for a few minutes?” he asked.
    “If I do, it will have to be soon, I heard some of the other secretaries at work saying they’ve heard he’s going to be sent away to a nursing home soon. It’s just a rumor right now, so I’m not sure if it is true or when it would happen. If it does, I guess I will be out of a job.”
    “Sorry to hear that, well I hope I can see him before that happens,” Chase said in what he hoped was nonchalance. He did not want her to get suspicious of his motives but it was the perfect opening for him to bring up the potential meeting.
    “Sure I’ll see what I can do. Maybe I can get you in to see him this week, if he seems to be having a good day. It’s funny; you don’t strike me as a physics student. You are quite different from all the other physics students here that I’ve met.”
    “Thanks, that would be great, and I’m not that different, I’m just a regular guy.”
    Laughing she said “I sincerely doubt that, you are anything but an ordinary guy. I can’t quite put my finger on it but there is something special about you.”
    Changing the subject