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27 “High out of Time”
- Indiana University Press
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266 “High out of Time” Tom had bought his house because of the three-and-a-half-car garage , he said–so big it took up most of the backyard. Inside, there was a stereo, cable TV, a little refrigerator full of beer and soda. A workbench, shelves of automotive products. Mechanics toolboxes with the tools fanned out neatly in the drawers. The Corvette, the GTO, the truck, the Harley, each one gleaming. Pete had lived in the apartment above it for a long time, until his inheritance allowed him to buy a small house of his own, and Tom had rented it until he decided he didn’t like people living so close to him. It had remained empty until he offered it to Kate. She was waiting tables at The Regulator when Tom met her. Cody’s father had disappeared with another woman, one without a child, and she was living with another single mother with whom she traded childcare, taking a class a semester, barely making ends meet. More than once, she’d come home after a late shift to find Cody and her housemate Rosemary’s daughter asleep in front of the television and Rosemary drunk, in bed with a man she’d been seeing whom Kate did not like or trust. Her parents who had plenty of money refused to give her any help at all. “She’d sinned, having Cody ‘out of wedlock,’” Tom told Nora. “If she can’t make it through school, if she can’t get decent childcare for Cody and the two of them are driving around on icy roads in a crap 27 267 “High out of Time” car with bald tires, hey, it’s not their problem.” So he’d given Kate the use of the apartment, bought her a decent used car, and found her a day job flexible enough to allow her to take several classes each semester, for which he paid the tuition. “And just in case you think anything between us but that . . .” he added, “there’s not. Never has been. I made up my mind a long time ago to never date a woman too young to remember Che Guevara. I’m serious,” he said, when Nora laughed. “She’s old enough to be my daughter.” As for what Kate knew about Nora, Tom said he had told her that they’d been close in college and had rediscovered one another when Nora’s daughter started her freshman year at IU this fall. Said daughter was having some difficulties. That’s why Nora was here. All this had been to prepare Nora for dinner at Kate’s house that night. When they arrived, Cody barreled into Tom for a hug, then turned to look at Nora and said, “My mom told me you knew Tom since before I was born!” “Cody!” Kate said, casting an apologetic look toward Nora. “It’s true,” he said. “You–” “Itis, indeed, true.”Tom grinned. “And no secret. MyfriendNora is as old as I am.” “Wait a minute.” Nora grinned back at him. “I’m one whole year younger than Tom–and he’d better not forget it.” “How old–” “Stop!” Kate said, but she was laughing. “Sorry. He’s just a little obsessed with age right now. Cody, show Tom and Nora your new Rescue Hero while I get dinner on the table. I know they’re just dying to see it.” He took each of them by the hand and led them to the bedroom he and Kate shared–everything in it a little boy’s bedroom, from the shelves of toys and books to the twin beds covered with Star Wars bedspreads. “What are Rescue Heroes?” Nora asked. “Like 9/11,” Cody said. “The guys who save everybody. Tom got me this.” He took a truck from one of the shelves. “It’s the URV.” “Ultimate Robot Vehicle,” Tom explained. [44.220.131.93] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 13:21 GMT) 268 An American Tune “Robots,” Nora said. “Cool!” Cody beamed. “Yeah. Here’s my new guy.” He held up an action figure dressed like a fireman, put him in the cockpit of the vehicle, and picked up a remote control device. “See. This URV goes anywhere . Even in very dangerous territory.” He pressed a button to make thevehiclemoveacrossthefloorandnarratedaseries ofimaginary events voice that made Nora remember Claire playing with her My Little Pony figures at the same age. “You guys want to play?” Cody...