The Beginnings - Part 29: SHE WALKED AWAY

After a dozen failed relationships since her teens, she was tending towards the theory that stability was overrated.
-Stieg Larsson
THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST

The Beginnings – Part 29: SHE WALKED AWAY

May 14, 1983

I drove my Aunt Betty to see some run-down Dance Studio on Lafayette Street in Alameda. I’m not so sure she was impressed.
Betty said, “Mmmm…forget it.”
My Aunt Betty and Grandmother were visiting for a while. After they took a look at my new car they returned to their home in Oakland.

This morning I ate my pancakes with strawberry and whipped cream. I was feeling rather guilty about it so I rode my bicycle to the beach, Lake Merritt and up through Downtown Oakland via Broadway and on to Lake Temescal. I saw Lisa Pingatore with some black dude.
I asked her, “So, why haven’t you returned my calls?”
She came up with some flimsy excuse.
She did say, “Call me again.”
“Shit,” I thought, as I felt she wasn’t very encouraging in terms of a long-term relationship.

I met some juvenile delinquent girl named Mary at the park. She had braces on and wasn’t very cute but we had a nice chat.
I asked, “What do you do?”
Mary replied, “I work from eight until four pulling weeds with a bunch of other juveniles.”
I smiled at her honesty.
There were some other interesting looking people lying out near Lake Temescal. I left and headed back to Alameda.

I ate a few fresh tortillas with some salami and cheese. I gulped down some orange juice, too. I was hungry. I fell asleep after the meal.

Before I had left for the bike ride I did receive a phone call from Doug Siu.
“Are we still on for the dinner date with my chums at CHARLIE BROWNS?”
“I’m going to have to take a rain check because I ‘sort of’ have this other date.”
“Oh I see,” Doug said, sounding rather disappointed.
Well, I did meet Karen Caster last night, right? I phoned her this morning.
Karen said, “I’m going sailing across the Bay today.”
I felt the cold shoulder treatment, so I said, “Okay, well here’s my telephone number.”
Surprisingly, she said, “Okay, I’ll call you tonight.”
I am relying on her word. I am waiting on her promised phone call.

Well, time passed and I was ‘faced’ again. Karen never called.
I chose to telephone her one more time.
She explained, “My mom made plans for company to come over.”
I thought silently, “What a likely story.”
I hoped it wasn’t just an excuse. I am hoping we will keep our date for next Friday.

My brother, John, said today, “You have guts!”
“Why?”
“…because you got your hair body-waved.”
I laughed. I took it as a compliment and said, “Well, you only live once.”

I purchased a sofa, loveseat, mirrored tables and nice lamps. I’m feeling as though I’m a rich man to be able to buy all of these things. I am satisfied with all that I have thus far.

May 15, 1983

I sent Karen Caster the ‘She Walked Away’ greeting card. I sure hope she doesn’t walk away from me. I love her big, blue eyes. I love her smile, too, for that matter. I will not even mention how I like her figure, blond hair and good looking girlfriends: Dina, Nina and Lisa.

I stayed home most of the day.

My brother, John, and I spent time lying out in the backyard for a while. By evening I was watching a film based on a book by D.H. Lawrence called SONS AND LOVERS with my mom. We also watched a Lauren Bacall film called THE FAN.

May 16, 1983

Well, the real test came at work today. I wanted to see the reaction to my body wave. Many noticed a change but couldn’t quite place what the change had been. Some others thought it looked good after they got used to it (I guess).

It was nice to come home and wash my hair after three days. I was told to wait three days before I washed it. It was a nice summer day. I decided to remain home after my shower and shampoo. I simply watched the tube.

I telephoned Mark Beam, the guy I met on Waikiki Beach, who lives in Berkeley. I left a message with his roommate (named Jack).
Mark called back and said, “I’m considering a move to Hawaii or Hayward.”
I thought both places to be so different with the exception that they both started with the letter “H”. That was funny. I gave Mark my new telephone number.

I also spoke to Barbara Reynolds about my body wave, her trip to Yosemite National Park and ex-lovers and present lover. She’s in another world.

May 17, 1983

At precisely 9AM my dipshit boss realized that I had specialized overseas training scheduled today. And so, I left the office for the training. I returned at about 1:30PM. David Vigil, a coworker, had the same training on overseas phone calls. We took our first break together and discussed transfers to Yellow Page Advertising Sales as well as our forthcoming office cruise (and my Birthday).

I am sure Karen Caster and Christa Keller have received the cards I sent them. Have I heard anything? No, I have yet to get a response from either one of them. I may call them tomorrow night.

I don’t feel to ‘spiffy’ tonight. I think it’s because I napped until 8:30PM. I neglected to ride my bike as I had intended. Instead I ate a large bowl of COCOA PEBBLES. I don’t feel as in-shape as I would have if I’d gone for that bike ride. Oh well…

He looked down at the lies on the page in front of him and felt a great contradiction within him. His spirits plummeted; his heart was cold with despair of his own, as if some tenacity had been sucked out of him and at the same moment replaced with a rage that was so far distant from his normal character that it was almost unrecognizable.
-John Katzenbach
THE ANALYST