Would he, though? Couldn’t he phone Philip instead of meeting with him? It wasn’t like he lived at that house. Where did Philip live, anyway? Regardless, Lou realized he didn’t have Philip’s home number.
Ah, but how about his work number? Yes, that could do it. Lou would call Philip at the Geology Department and have a nice, long chat. He went upstairs, took the fat phone directory down from the top of the refrigerator, and scanned through the listings for the University of Oregon. There it was, Geology Department. Lou dialed the number while practicing his phone talk.
“Hello. I’d like to speak with Philip…Philip…” Oh, crap, what was Philip’s last name?
As Lou wondered whether he ever knew Philip’s last name, a voice answered his call.
“Hello. You have reached the University of Oregon Geology Department. We are closed for summer break. Please call again after August fifteenth.”
Rats. If he couldn’t call him on campus, that meant reaching him at home. But he didn’t know Philip whatshisname’s home. And that meant trying to reach him through Anne. They hadn’t spoken since Anne moved out, about a month ago. Lou replayed that memory, when he wondered if there might be something more than friendship between them. But, no, that moment was gone. She had since worked things out with Philip, and he had that fling with Victoria. And now there was whatever you call it with Jax.
Jax.
Again on his mind. Again complicating his life. He was torn between the desire to see her and the sense to avoid her. Lou was twisted up inside. What if he called and Jax answered the phone? Hey, Jax. You make me feel like I swallowed a bungee cord. So, how are you doing?
Lou paced and fretted. He missed his days of carefree irresponsibility, living by whim. The whole point of coming to Eugene was to get away. No one to tell him what to do. Nobody to say when and where and how to live.
He delayed and digressed. But now came a force he didn’t expect, hadn’t known. A different purpose grew from a place deeper than his thoughts. Lou cursed himself for caring so much. Why did he need to do the right thing? What’s with this senseless reaction to Jax? A very small voice tried to break through Lou’s cluttered mind. Stop being a jerk. Do this simple act of calling a friend.
“Good morning.” It was Tomoko. She went through the living room with short, hurried steps, hair in disarray, long sweaty T-shirt down to mid-thigh.
“Good afternoon.” Lou paused his pacing so she could pass. “Are you all right?”
She called back from the kitchen. “Most of me is right. I need food. How right are you?”
“Yeah, mostly right.” That was a good way to put it. “I’m stuck on a decision.”
“Sometimes I decide on nothing. It’s easier.”
Lou was getting used to Tomoko’s way of making sense. Yes, doing nothing would be a lot easier.
Tomoko came out of the kitchen with a jar of mixed nuts, whipped cream, and a spatula. “And then I get nothing in return.”
A shout came from down the hallway, a stranger’s voice. “Hey, Toto, I’m ready.”
“Coming,” she shouted back, same short, hurried steps to her room.
Lou sat down and picked up the phone.
He opened the front door, satisfied and a bit smug over his success…
Lou sat with Anne and Philip in the backyard as the sun got its last licks in for the day. His anxiety of a few days prior was all for nothing. Anne was happy he called. Everything’s good how are you etc. and she invited him over the coming Sunday. Philip’s weekday research sites—the geology lab, UO library, and computing center—close early on Sundays and his time is promised to Anne. By grateful coincidence, neither of Anne’s roommates were home.
Philip bent onto a chaise lounge as if it could accommodate his legs. He went on about his dissertation-in-progress, “The effect of volcanic emissions on atmospheric temperatures.”
“There seems to be a temperature decline. Except when there’s a temperature increase. It depends how far back we look. But it also depends on how much we look ahead. And there you have it.” He flung he hands up and out in conclusion. Lou pictured one of those storks adjusting herself on a chimney nest. “Unless there’s no effect at all.” Philip dropped his hands and frowned at the idea.
Lou scratched his head. “So, is it getting hotter or colder?”
Philip jutted one finger at Lou. “Yes, that’s the question. You’ve got it.” He was pleased that his explanation made sense.
Lou looked over to Anne for empathy. She kept her eyes deeply buried in a paperback book.
“So far, it looks like sulfur dioxide and particulate matter from volcanoes block sunlight, which cools the earth. But the carbon dioxide may be trapping heat. So that warms the earth. Like a greenhouse. Did you know this greenhouse idea has been around since the 1820s?”
“Uh, not that I recall. I was just a baby.”
“Hah! A baby. That’s good.” Philip was amused by the idea. “Then you won’t remember the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, either.” He grinned at his geologic humor. “Oh, boy. I’d like to analyze the ice core data for that period.”
“Right. Who wouldn’t?”
Philip leaned back with a far-off look. “That still leaves the people problem.”
“And that is…?” Lou went along, hoping that the geology lesson would soon drift to an end.
“There’s evidence that levels of anthropogenic carbon dioxide far outpace volcanic emissions. For the last century, anyway. And probably into the future.”
“So, what now?”
“More of the same. More research, more data, more input, more analysis. It’s back to the library for me. And to the computing center, if I can get some time.” He saw Anne raise her head and give him a look. “Tomorrow. I mean tomorrow.”
This was Lou’s in. “Speaking of the library…” He told Philip about the Apollo nuclear power plant (which he knew) and ADA (which he didn’t) and the question they had. Was the site where Apollo was built really safe? Lou was willing to do the research, but could use some help. Philip stalled his answer, no doubt calculating how much precious time he would lose. Anne raised an eyebrow. Philip agreed.
As the sun bid them goodnight, Lou did the same. He went through the back door of the house, pleased with his little achievement. He walked through the kitchen, relieved that there was no drama, nothing awkward. He crossed the living room, contented by the nice visit, the chat, the sweet iced tea. He opened the front door, satisfied and a bit smug over his success…
…and bumped into Jax.
Lou’s stomach flip-flopped, his throat constricted, his heart fluttered, and his mind jumbled. Back to square one.
Left on the edge of my chair!