When All Else Fails

The morning of the second day (after a late night discussion with Clovis about religion) Michelle phoned the Super Eight, waking her mother, who had morphed into a cheery and clear-headed human after a night of drinking. (She and Louis engaged in frenzied and tense sex the night before; the memory didn’t occur to her until well into her conversation with Michelle.) Louis was out getting coffee and rolls.

“Your father has invited Coach Norman to dinner tonight. Better than the President who's been riding him for money."

“God, Mom, why can’t he leave things alone?”

“You’re asking your dad to change? Come now, sweet thing.”

“I’m asking him to leave me alone.”

“He should be back soon. Want to try to change his mind?”

“No.”

“That’s my baby. Give in like the rest of us.”

Arlette, still naked from the night’s sex, was talking on her cell phone and tidying up the bed. She laughed aloud and fell backwards on the bed, phone still at her ear.

“What’s wrong?” asked Michelle.

“You’ll never guess what I’m doing. I’m making the bed.”

“In a motel?”

“Is there a chance I’m losing my mind?”

“Mom, stop.”

“Making the bed or losing my mind?”

Silence. Arlette thought Michelle might be pondering the choices.

“Michelle?” asked Arlette. “You still there?”

“I have an idea. Why don’t I bring Clovis to dinner?”

“I almost forgot about her. You two getting on all right?”

“She’s a little weird, Mom.”

“Is she there now?”

“No. She went to breakfast. I’m not hungry. Classes don’t begin for two days, but we’ve got mixers, chapel services, barbeques, intramurals, stuff like that. I’ve got to get Clovis out of this room, or she’ll hang here forever.”

“Are you presiding over her?”

“She’s a lot like Dad. I kind of like her.”

“Is that a reason to like someone?”

“Clovis makes some sense,” said Michelle.

“Everyone makes some sense, dear.”

“About the Bible and stuff.”

Just where the hell was this kid going? The child was succumbing right before Arlette’s eyes. Where was that scotch? Did she drink it all last night?

“Dear, go play some tennis. Clear your head.”

“All I’m saying, Mom, is that even though Clovis is weird, she makes some sense. Can we drop it?”

“Love to.”

“So tell Dad I’ll be bringing Clovis to dinner tonight. Pick us up?”

“I’ll call you back about the time. When His Majesty decides.”

Michelle ended the call before picking up the Campus Directory. She wasn’t sure how to spell Abe’s last name. The listing for McKensey Hall should work.

* *

The Lexus pulled into the Hamilton Hall parking lot at precisely 5:58 p.m. because Louis said he would pick up Michelle and Clovis at 6:00, no later, to give himself enough time to be at Steak and Sea by 6:15 so he could locate a table for five (the place did not take reservations) by 6:30, the time he had told Coach Norman to meet there. Timing was of the essence in this matter. “You and Clovis be ready outside the dorm by the stairs,” he told Michelle.

Earlier at the motel Arlette told Louis, “Don’t expect much from Clovis Ginch.”

“Why’s that?”

"Michelle says she's weird."

At moments like these Louis trusted Arlette, her direct view of things and even her sharp tongue. He saw much of his former self in her. Often he would run his past behaviors though his mind, even picture how he looked to others, stand outside himself in those former times and imagine what he was wearing, noticing his expressions back when he was the consummate asshole. His appearance and mannerisms—not just his comments—must have revealed much to others. But was he all bad in those days? Trying to figure it out was tiring. Of late, he had been dwelling on the positives of his pre-conversion self—an effort to cull the wheat from the chaff—and establish some kind of matrix at which he could glance quickly and see what of the positive he could place into the present, taking the best of his past and eliminating the bad. He was a rational man. Order in all things. He would listen to Arlette because he owed her so much, this woman who would, in time, come to appreciate her new and improved Louis.

The parking lot was more crowded than the day before. He reached for Arlette’s hand, squeezing it slightly. “I’m happy for Michelle,” he said. Arlette squeezed back. Even in her silence she was standing firm as a wife and mother. "Thanks you, Jesus,” Louis whispered to himself.

“What?”

“Just happy,” said Louis.

Arlette withdrew her hand.

Lots of people were standing on the stairs, most not moving. Some kind of rally? Then a large canopy tent came into Louis’ view just beyond the stairs, smoke circling it and drifting into the crowd.

“Looks like a cook out,” said Arlette. “How fun.”

Students standing in the parking lot blocked Louis’ movement. He honked.

“Jesus Christ,” said Arlette. “Why’d you do that? Can’t you see they’ve blocked off the lot?”

He wasn’t sure why he honked. People turned to look, smiling kids holding paper plates. Some waved inward into the gathering, apparently a friendly gesture for Louis and Arlette to join in the fun. Music blasted from speakers on tripods.

“Please don’t curse,” said Louis. He wished he were at the Steak and Sea.

“Now what?”

“We find Michelle and Clovis.”

“Wouldn’t you think they’d rather stay here?”

“We’re going to the Steak and Sea.” Louis looked at his watch.

“Heard you honking,” said a familiar voice to Louis’ left.

Michelle leaned in through the lowered window. “Hi, Dad and Mom. It’s a Hamilton Hall mixer. Clovis and I met tons of people. But we saved our appetites for dinner with you.”

“Where’s Clovis?” asked Arlette.

“Over there with Abe.”

“Who’s Abe?” asked Louis.

“A new friend. Can he come to dinner with us, too?”

Louis thought of the table for five. Would another person foul up the original plan?

“Of course he can, sweetie,” said Arlette.

A few people were flowing in behind the Lexus. “How do we get out of here?” asked Louis.

“Back up and kill one or two,” said Arlette. “That should send a clear message.”

Michelle was smiling, the happiest Louis had seen her in several days. “Maybe you can honk your way out,” Michelle said.

He looked at his watch again.

“I’ll get Clovis and Abe,” said Michelle. “We’ll meet you on the street side of the dorm. Love you.”

She was gone.

Arlette reached for Louis’ hand as he turned his head after shifting into reverse. “Let’s have a good time tonight, dear,” she said.

“If I can ever get out of the parking lot.”

People moved out of the way as he backed. He shouldn’t let such minor annoyances trouble him so. Who was this Abe? “You think Michelle has already found a boyfriend?” he asked.

"Dad and Mom, this is Clovis. My roommate."

Greetings all around. Not exactly what Louis thought Michelle's first roommate would look like.

"Climb in," said Arlette."

"Don't leave yet, Dad. Abe's not here. He's coming."

In the next instant, Louis watched a tall man walk down the stairs and toward the ca