Chapter 14 ACE
Lesson: Focus on the Tasks at Hand
He had thought it through over the semester break and now to make it a reality. As the break in period for the semester was over, he requested a meeting with the WXPN student leadership team. He went to the meeting with a list of features and potential guests. As a non-profit radio station, it operated under more stringent public purpose rules than regular radio stations. The station had to show that it was contributing to the community. Aaron’s pitch focused on how his proposed show, “The Arts Menagerie,” would help local performers, artists, little theaters and the arts scene in general. Further, the type of show he had in mind would also increase the visibility of the station.
He continued, the general format would be about 10-12 minutes of reviews of current arts events, followed by two 20-minute interview segments. For a big-name guest, they would be featured in both sections. For other guests, one segment each. Aaron was pleased to see near universal acceptance by the leadership team. He requested that the show be in the 6 to 7 PM time slot on Wednesday night. This would allow Aaron to do the show and still attend art and theater openings, which often started early on Thursday evenings. The pitch included the idea that the mid-week slot would help the audience plan their weekend activities. He explained that Buzz Sampson, who had the folk music show in the prior slot on Wednesday, had volunteered to engineer the show, so Aaron could focus on his guests. The spokesperson for the team asked Aaron to give them a week or so to think through the proposal.
Aaron put together a dream date with a tour of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts current show, “Thomas Eakins: His Photographic Works.” He had missed the opening, but the show would run a few more weeks. Then, a quick dinner downtown, followed by a little theater production. Aaron discussed this with Sadie following Tuesday’s Biology lab and she seemed interested. She agreed to let him know by Thursday when they next would meet for the lab. He was hoping for a faster response, but felt fairly confident that she would accept.
That evening, he called Marlene and asked her about attending another little theater opening in the downtown area. She agreed. They would meet at her townhouse and walk over to the theater. He debated calling Patrice. However, doubt about her interest due to their age difference caused him to pass. He also was not sure what was going on with her suddenly leaving her position at the Compton Gallery.
He knew he could also call Ruth, but had some different ideas about that due to the Philadelphia tradition of the Big Five Basketball championship and the upcoming Penn-Temple game as part of that series.
Sadie was pleasant during their lab on Thursday. As she walked out of the lab with him, she faced him and said, “Saturday sounds wonderful and I am looking forward to the gallery and the show. I know downtown and will show you some affordable places where we can get a quick dinner.” “Super. I will call you on Saturday morning to coordinate. See you Saturday!” Aaron stopped just outside the building and handed her his lab notebook so she could write her phone number and the address of her mother’s house.
Friday evening’s theater date with Marlene began as a replay of their first theater date. They discussed his current course experiences during the walk over to the theater. During intermission, they discussed the first act. Things took a different turn on the walk back to her townhouse. “You know, I am 15 years older than you. I also plan to move out of Philly fairly soon. In addition, I think it would be odd to date someone who is my brother’s nephew. So, let’s be clear that this is just a platonic date, and nothing more.” Aaron was a bit surprised, and thought carefully before responding. “I do find you attractive and good company. However, there is nothing that you just said that I disagree with.”
They walked another block in silence. Aaron asked, “Have you decided on your new location or college?” Yes, I am considering an offer from Fairfield University in Connecticut. It is a Jesuit school and started as an all-male college. However, they are going co-ed this year and are making it attractive for me to attend. I would start as a sophomore, so not quite as bad as being a freshman.”
“I am really excited for you to have this opportunity and hope you will stay in touch as you embark on this special journey.” She beamed at him and they were suddenly at her front steps. “So when will you move?” She paused, and then explained, “I have secured a transitional position with a financial firm in the town near the university. So, I will move in the next couple months, if I accept the admission offer. Then, I would be able to work full-time until school starts in the Fall, and perhaps part-time after that.”
Aaron nodded thoughtfully, “Sounds like too good a package to turn down. Please keep me posted. Also, let me know if you want to squeeze in another theater outing or two before you do head out of town.” She shot up her right thumb in a sign of agreement as she disappeared inside her front door. He did an about face and walked to the nearby subway station for his ride back to campus.
The next day, while working on his mountain of homework, a phone call jarred him. The black phone in the corner of his dorm room rarely rang. It was a scheduler for the Free University. His proposal had been accepted fully. He would have a class from 7 to 8 PM on Tuesday nights in a community room near the entrance to the Quad. The title was “Improving Your Public Speaking.” The rep explained she was calling on a Saturday since the class would start in just a couple weeks, so the organizing committee wanted to confirm the teachers and classes so they could promote the whole program. Aaron tried to hide his excitement. This could be an interesting opportunity.
Soon, it was time for him to have his first date with Sadie. He took the Subway Surface car to downtown Philly. He then walked to her mother’s townhouse. An attractive woman answered the door. When she saw Aaron, she smiled broadly. “Well, I believe you are Aaron. I am Sadie’s mother, Magaret.” “Very nice to meet you. I have enjoyed working with Sadie in our biology lab,” Aaron replied in an upbeat voice. Sadie appeared from behind her mother wearing a sweater for the cool afternoon, and carrying a coat for the cold evening ahead. “You are right on time,” Sadie commented. “Yes, the PAFA is only open to 5, so we need to squeeze in now to catch the Eakins show before the gallery closes for the evening,” Aaron confirmed.
The two walked quickly from the townhouse into the center of the city to veer just north of City Hall to the historic PAFA home. They arrived about 3:30, which was plenty of time to see the show. Since it was Saturday, Happy was not there. At the reception desk, he was given a brochure about the show that she had left for him. They quietly made the rounds of the show. His interaction with Sadie was quite different than his recent outings with older women. In fact, it was not only about age. He also felt a much stronger connection with her than his recent dates with LeAnne. Sadie was self-assured in a special way. She was sharing her opinions with Aaron, not imposing her views.
They left PAFA right about 5 PM. The galleries normally closed to the public at 4:30, but Happy had left instructions for Aaron to have access to at least 5 PM. As they stepped out onto the front steps, the sky had darkened and the air was much colder than just a short time before. Aaron helped Sadie on with her coat, and then donned his coat, as well. Sadie suggested, “There is an affordable diner right on our path from here to tonight’s theater. It is not a short walk, but I think it will be nice enough. Public transportation is not really going to work where we are heading.” Aaron nodded to her, “Lead the way, please!”
They walked approximately ten blocks to the diner. It was still early and there was plenty of seating. They sat at small table in a corner. As they reviewed the menu, Aaron was pleased to see that prices were indeed reasonable. Apparently to save money, the diner had a radio playing over the speaker system, rather than piped-in music. It was not very loud, but he recognized 3 Dog Night’s “Eli’s Coming,” and the Beatles’ “Come Together.” After a brief pause, the waitress took their orders and they chatted quietly while waiting for their food. As the curtain was not until 8 PM, and it was only 6 now, they had plenty of time.
Shortly, the waitress brought out their orders. The food was hot and the servings ample. As Aaron surveyed their food, he remarked to Sadie, “You did great selecting this place! Good food at reasonable prices!” She beamed back at him, “My mom recommended it!” You have a great mom,” Aaron replied. As they completed their meal shortly after 7, the waitress brought the bill. It was the kind of place where the customers paid on the way out. Sadie reached to take the bill from Aaron. “Here, you took care of the tickets today, I can help out.” “Well, I appreciate that a lot. However, I do want to quickly volunteer that as I am covering both the art show and the theater piece for WXPN FM and the Alternative, our tickets are free. Plus, I invited you tonight. Perhaps you can host another time?” Sadie nodded. Inside, Aaron was thrilled that she had offered to pay. That had not been his experience on other dates.
They walked at a medium pace through the downtown street grid to the little theater hosting the night’s production. They arrived about 7:30, and as usual, Aaron was given great seats near the front of the house on the center aisle. Typical of community playhouses, some of the performers were very good, others would certainly need to keep their “day jobs.” The production was an older play that was not performed very often. Sadie was a good sport and during the brief intermission, she shared her observations, which were very similar to his own.
When the curtain came down at 10, they walked quickly back to her mother’s house in the cold evening air. As they climbed the steps, Aaron could see that the light was on in the front room. He assumed that her mother would be waiting for her. Sadie pulled out her key and turned to face Aaron at the landing. “My mom is waiting up for me, so let’s say goodbye here.” She leaned forward and gave Aaron a friendly hug. She then moved back toward the door and said, “This has been really nice. If you invite me, I would be happy to do this again.” Aaron replied quickly, as she was about to disappear inside the door, “I had a great time. I will definitely invite you again.”
He sprinted over to the nearest subway station to catch the Subway-Surface car out to the Quad. As he descended to the platform below, the air was warmer than above. He also felt warm inside and encouraged. However, he was a realist and was not sure how this could progress toward a sexual relationship while she was living with her mother at a distance from campus. That would be a problem for the future. For now, he was happy to have a nice date with a gal who was his age.
On Sunday, he returned to his homework and prepared reviews of both the art show and the theater production. Early in the week, he would record his radio review and then deliver his article to the Alternative. He also began to lay out his lesson plans for his six-week public speaking class in the Free University. He wondered who would be his students and what it would be like to be the teacher and not the student.
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