10:00 AM

   The tutor arrived at the Feingold house promptly. She came armed with a handful of CDroms. Jeff's mother greeted her at the door, and led her up to Jeff's room, where he was already on the computer.
   "Jeff, this is Miss Ebersol. She's going to be working with you this week."
   "You can call me Angela if you'd like," said the tutor.
   "I'd rather he didn't," protested his mother. "I think he might take this more seriously if he were to address you as he does any other teacher."
   Both Jeff and the tutor thought that was a pretty stupid observation, considering the luck he had been having with 'any other teachers' recently. As soon as his mother left the room, they both ignored her advice.
   She sat down next to him. "So which teacher is telling me the truth?"
   "I don't know. Which teachers have you spoken to?"
   "Well, your sociology teacher has informed me that you are a witty, articulate intellectual who is much too easily distracted by the charms of the fairer sex. Your math teacher tells me you're a worthless moron."
   Jeff responded in his usual sardonic manner. "There's probably some validity in both of those assessments."
   "Well personally, I think your math teacher's an asshole." While she was talking, she slipped one of her CDRs into the tray of his computer. "But let's not start with math. First we'll begin with a subject that you're getting Ds in, and then we'll move on to the 'F' category later this week."
   Big bold letters blazed across the computer monitor, "The Roman Empire, 63 B.C. - A.D. 96"
   "Oh no," Jeff was half chagrinned and half laughing.
   Luckily, Angela saw the humor in this as well. "Look, I know it's boring, you know it's boring, but we can get through this if we take a methodical approach. There are 11 names to remember. Agustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. Not much different than memorizing the alphabet. We'll spend the next ten minutes repeating those names, until you've gotten them right. After that, we'll try working on the dates that each one of them ruled."
   "Something tells me this is going to take alot more than ten minutes."
   "Jeff, I've heard that you know the names of every Beatles album, and the release dates as well. There's thirteen of those, and only eleven of these."
   "Yeah, but that's different. They're actually interesting."
   "True, but unfortunately, the Los Angeles county school district has it's curriculum set up so that you're not going to start getting into 20th century history until high school. Anyhow, with no hot chicks to divert your attention, I believe your ability to focus is going to quadruple over the next couple of hours."
   "What're you talking about? you're a hot chick." Jeff wasn't being facetious. Angela was a strikingly attractive woman in her mid 20s.
   Angela grinned. "Flattery might endear you to me, but I'm still your drill sergeant. Now look at those names." She pointed towards the monitor. "I want you to read them, then close your eyes, and repeat them. My guess is that by the fifth or sixth time, you'll have them down."
   "Yeah, but then I'll forget them within the hour."
   "Stop being such a cynic, and get reading!"
   Jeff just shook his head, and followed her orders. Working with someone who felt more like a friend than an adversary did make studying dull subjects a little more bearable. For the next three hours, he actually did find himself beginning to memorize not just the names and dates, but some of what each of the eleven emperors had accomplished during their reign. He started to think to himself, "Perhaps there's hope for me yet."

1:15 PM

   It was time for Angela to leave. She removed the CDR from the computer. "Well, that's it for today. Tomorrow, we'll start working on math. I'm off to your school."
   Jeff got up and walked with her to the front door, "Are you going there to file a report on my progress?"
   "Actually, there's a videotape I've got to pick up. Some girl had an accident and is stuck at home for a week. They're taping her first four classes for her, and I'm supposed to drop it off at her house."
   Remembering Rhonda's words, once again Jeff 'seized the moment'. "That would be Stacy Kessler."
   "You know her?"
   "Yeah, she's my gi....she's my friend. If you'd like, I can take my bike over to the school and deliver it to her for you." Although he was planning on heading straight to the Scarborough school to spend some time with his biker friends, he realized that this was way too good an opportunity to pass up.
   Angela thought about it for a second. "I've got a better idea. Why don't you hop in my car, and we'll both deliver it to her. You can direct me towards her house."
   "That sounds like a plan to me."
   The two of them informed Jeff's mother of their plans. She was curious.
   "So you're spending the afternoon at a friend's? Anybody I know?"
   "I think so. You've met Stacy Kessler's folks, haven't you?"
   His mother looked surprised. "Yes, I know the Kesslers. I also know about Stacy's accident. They live over on Gimble street, right?"
   "Yep."
   "Well, keep in mind that it get's dark alot earlier now. If it gets late, give me a call and I'll come pick you up."
   "I can probably get a lift from Mrs. Kessler."
   "Alright, but don't impose yourself too much. See you at dinner." She turned to Angela. "And thank you very much." Mrs. Feingold was pleasantly surprised that her son had someone besides Carl with whom he was friendly enough to visit at home.
   "I'll see you tomorrow," said Angela, as she and Jeff disappeared out the door. The two of them hopped in the car and took off. Half-way to the school, she decided to engage in some idle conversation. "So is this Kessler kid your girlfriend?"
   Jeff paused and smiled. "That's a bit premature. I only started seeing her yesterday."
   Angela grinned, "I'll take that as a probably."
   The car pulled up in front of the school.
   "Shall I wait in the car?" He asked.
   "Aw, what for? It's twenty after one. All the kids are in class. Nobody's gonna see you. C'mon."
   They ambled up the school steps and headed towards the Principal's office. Mr. Lazarus was slightly surprised to see both of them.
   "So how did he do?"
   Angela put her hand on Jeff's shoulder. "This kid's a genius. Just give me another few days with him. Listen, there's something I've got to ask you."
   "What's that?" asked the principal
   "It would save me alot of time and trouble if, for the next few days, Jeff here came by and picked up Stacy Kessler's videos. Besides, it wouldn't hurt him to go and study with her, after studying with me."
   The Principal pondered this for a moment. "Well, I'll go along with that if Stacy or her parents give me a call and indicate that she's o.k. with it. He paused for a moment then turned to Jeff. "I just hope that she turns out to be more of an influence on you, than you are on her."
   "I now consider to her be more of a colleague than a distraction," Jeff Announced.
   The principal was skeptical. "That's all well and good, Mr. Feingold, but are you sure she considers you to be a colleague and not an annoying pest?"
   "As a matter of fact, she's probably the only girl in the school who does."
   "Alright then. Here's the video. It includes everything except the drama class and phys-ed." I suppose that in her condition, she'll be needing someone to help her type, anyway. Just make sure you time it so you always arrive here while classes are in session." He handed Jeff the video. "Godspeed, Mr. Feingold."
   "Thank you sir."
   "I'll be in touch with you about his progress," assured Angela.
   Everyone bid each other adieu. They hopped back in the car, and Jeff directed her to the Kessler residence. They knocked on the door, and Stacy answered.
   "Jeff!" she could not contain her elation upon seeing her new friend, accompanying the woman she was expecting to deliver her video.
   For a brief moment, Jeff completely forgot himself, and put his hand on her cheek, just like he did in his daydreams. "Hiya Angel." Instanatly recognizing his faux paux, he quickly panicked and apologized "Oh no, I'm so sorry!" He jerked his hand away from her face.
   "What on earth are you apologizing for? So that's the nickname you gave me in your fantasies? Interesting."    Angela observed this akward courtship ritual with bemusement.
   "Stace, this is my tutor Angela. She was origianally slated to bring you these daily videos, but Principal Lazarus gave me permission to do it from now on, as long as it's alright with you and your mom."
   "Pleased to meet you, Angela." She turned back to Jeff. "Of course it's alright with me, but why aren't you being tutored right now?
   "That's only for three hours each morning. I'm free to spend the rest of the day with you."
   Angela pulled the video out of her handbag. "Here, maybe the two of you should watch this together. Are you two in any of the same classes?"
   "Just sociology." Stacy akwardly took the video. "Would you like to come in, Angela?"
   "Thanks, but I've got another client to see in a half-hour." She turned to her student. "Jeff, before you go watch that video with her, can you come to my car for a second? I need you to help me with something."
   "Sure." Hang on, Stace, I'll be right there.
   Stacy disappeared into the house as Jeff and his tutor walked to the car.
   "So what do you need help with?" He asked.
   Angela turned around and surprised him. "Jeff, I don't really need help with anything. I just wanted to talk to you alone for a minute."
   "About what?"
   "Did you notice the expression on that girl's face, when she saw you?"
   "Yeah, she was pretty pleased."
   "That's putting it mildly." Angela put her hands on his shoulders as she spoke. "Jeff, she was elated. I'm a woman. I recognize that look. I swear, if this were the 19th century, that girl would, at this very moment, be your wife."
   He was beside himself. "Well needless to say, I'm sure you must've noticed the similar reaction from me."
   "Jeff, I'm going to tell you something that is more important than any homework assignment. As a matter of fact, I'm gonna give you some advice that is more important than anything."
   "What's that?"
   "Do not leave that house today, without looking that girl in the eye and saying 'I love you' at some point. It doesn't matter if she says it first, or you do. Believe me, if you don't, you will live to regret it. You have no idea how many guys have." Angela got into her car and rolled down the window. "Take my word for it. The old adage about there being 'plenty of fish in the sea' is absolute horseshit. She's blonde, she's beautiful, and she's obviously sweet on you. Don't blow it. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, she drove off.
   Although Jeff already had his sights set on making the leap from "friend" to "boyfriend" official at some point this week, he wasn't sure whether or not today might be a little too soon. He entered the house and closed the door behind him. Mrs. Kessler was helping Stacy insert the video into the VCR. The fallen grandfather clock was still in the middle of the room.
   "Hi Jeff!" Mrs. Kessler seemed as happy to see him as her daughter.
   "Hello Mrs. Kessler. Mind if I stick around and watch the tape with Stacy?"
   "Jeff, you're always welcome here. If either of you need me for anything, just holler. I'll be in the backyard, gardening." She winked at the two of them, and left the room.
   Jeff sat down next to Stacy, facing the television. "You know, you've got the coolest mom ever."
   "I would have to agree with that."
   "Of course, my mom would probably be just as cool, if you were her kid instead of me."
   "Jeff, a little of your self depricating humor is charming, but I sure hope you're not planning on rubbing my nose in it all afternoon. Can you do me a favor and turn up the volume a little?"
   He picked up the remote, and did so. Mr. Langsdale's overly familiar voice poured from the TV's speakers. For a couple of minutes, the two of them just stared at the screen, while he droned on. Jeff picked up the remote once again and put it on pause.
   "Stace, there's something I've gotta ask you."
   "What's that?"
   "Look at all that stuff on the blackboard." Jeff was referring to the jumble of lines, numbers and equations on the board behind Langsdale. "Do you really understand any of that? It absolutely looks like Chinese to me."
   "You know, here's yet one more thing the two of us have in common. Math has never been one of my strengths. Can you keep a secret?"
   "Sure."
   "Two weeks ago, I did Dana's history assignments for her, and in exchange, she did my math homework."
   "That's the most brilliant scheme I've ever heard." Jeff was amused. "Dana is a certified mathematical genius, so why not?"
   Stacy gave him a soulful admiring look.
   "Why are you looking at me like that?" He asked.
   "You just called Dana a certifiable genius."
   "I'm in the same math class as her, and believe me, there's no denying that."
   "I was just thinking about how she never has anything nice to say about you."
   Jeff once again shifted into his self depricating mode. "Well, maybe if I were a genius at something..."
   "Jeff, you are a genius. Believe me, what you did in Mrs. Pickering's class last Friday was pure genius. I'm not exactly sure what you call it, but here it is three days later, and I'm still thinking about it and laughing."
   He grinned. "Yeah, Dana's probably still thinking about it too...and gnashing her teeth."
   "You know what?" Stacy had an idea. "Let's fast forward through this useless math lecture and see what we're both missing in sociology this week."
   "Now there's an idea." Jeff held up the remote and did so. As soon as he saw Mrs. Pickering, he realized that the camera was positioned exactly where he usually sits in the class. "Oh my goodness, it's just like being there, except you're seat is empty and Dana isn't flipping the bird at the camera." On the screen, the teacher was having Carl read an excerpt from some book or another, as usual. Jeff looked over at Stacy while she was watching the t.v.
   "Why are you looking at me?" She asked.
   "This is what I always do when Carl starts reading. I just stare at you and zone out. This is a special treat, having the luxury of actually being able to stare at your face, instead of the back of your head."
   She smiled, and the two of them sat in relative silence for the next three hours, watching the tape, with Jeff occasionally taking notes for her.

5:00 PM

   Before they knew it, it was getting dark outside.
   "Jeff, I've gotta go to the bathroom again." Stacy announced.
   "I'll go get your mom." He started to get up.
   "That's not necessary."
   Jeff had a look of surprise on his face. "You sure?"
   "Believe it or not, I feel a little more comfortable with you helping me. A girl gets to be a certain age, it's a little less embarassing having your husband doing that, than your mother. You know what I mean?"
   Immediately, Angela's words raced through Jeff's head. Although Stacy obviously only used the word "husband" as a metaphor, he felt it was still more than just a coincidence. "Are you sure your mom would approve of that?"
   "Actually, I had a talk with her earlier today. She said that if this had happened to her when she was my age, she would've felt weird having her mother take her to the bathroom all the time as well." She paused for a moment. "I'm sure my dad wouldn't be too crazy about the idea, but what the hey, he's still out of town for the next couple of days."
   "Alright, no problem." Once again, He helped her out in the bathroom. As they finished up, he noticed that it was now dark outside. "Stace, I don't want to overstay my welcome..."
   "What are you talking about? It's only five o'clock." She nodded towards a clock on the wall. "My mom and I aren't even going to be having dinner for another hour. Come with me outside. I want to show you something." He followed her out the back door. "Check out my hill." The moonlight revealed an area of the lawn that rose up at about a forty-five degree angle. To Stacy, it was like having a yard with a built in chaise longue. She sat down on the grass and laid back. "C'mon, lie down next to me." He did so, using her cast as a headrest. "Jeff, do you realize how lucky we are to be living here in Southern California? At this time of the year, most of the rest of the country has temperatures in the 30s and 40s, and here we are, lying outside in the evening without even wearing sweaters. Check out all the stars."
   Jeff was indeed a bit hypnotized by the display above him. Faircrest was just far enough from downtown Los Angeles so that the lights of the city didn't block out the galaxy. "You know, most people cite the symmetry of the universe as proof of the existence of God. Frankly, I don't see anything symmetrical about it at all. On the contrary, I am dazzled by it's randomness."
   "Can you pick anything out? Besides the obvious ones like orion's belt, the pleiades and the big dipper?"
   "I've often wondered why they call it 'the big dipper'. Have you ever seen a ladle with a square bowl and a handle that skews horizontal? You wouldn't be able to get much out of a punchbowl once it's half empty, with something shaped like that."
   "Are you always this droll?" Stacy was actually enjoying his wry wit.
   "Unfortunately, yes. I'd probably be alot more popular if I learned how to keep my big mouth shut." Jeff turned and looked at her. "I would imagine that you've always been popular."
   She thought about this for a moment. "I suppose that depends on one's definition of 'popular'. I've always had friends, some of which I'm closer to than others."
   "I mean with boys. I can't imagine any guy looking at you and not falling in love."
   "I've always had friends of both genders. It's only within the last year that I've started thinking about boys as being potentially more than just friends."
   "Well I've always thought of girls that way. But its only been within the last couple of years that I've been finding it difficult to keep those thoughts to myself."
   There was about ten seconds of akward silence. Stacy finally decided to quit stalling.
   "Jeff, kiss me."
   She only had to say that once. He leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek, much like the one he had given her the previous evening.
   "Jeff...." This time she was going to be a little more specific.
   "Yeah?"
   "I mean really kiss me."
   It was clearly time to seize the moment. He rolled over, put his arms around her, and planted a huge one on her lips. It lasted nearly a minute. Stacy's head was in the clouds. This guy really knew how to kiss. He slowly lifted his head away from hers. Both of them were slightly dizzy.
   She tried to catch her breath and speak at the same time. "I sure wish you were the leading man in the school play."
   Jeff found this to be a curious comment to make at this time. "Who is the current leading man?"
   "Sol Gurvitz." Hearing this, Jeff couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Jeff, that's not nice." Despite her words, she couldn't help laughing herself.
   Jeff could barely speak. "In other words, the school play doesn't have a leading man, it has two leading ladies."
   Stacy had managed to calm down a little. "Well, at least in real life I've got a leading man." Jeff didn't miss his cue. He kissed her again. It was even longer than the first one. Eventually they both came up for air. "You have absolutely no idea how frustrating it is not to be able to move my arms right now."
   Suddenly, the backyard light went on, and Mrs. Kessler came out the back door. Jeff instinctively resumed his prone position next to Stacy, although he knew that her mother was probably already hip to what was going on.
   "Jeff, I just got a call from your mother. She says that dinner will be ready shortly, and she'd like you home. I told her I'd give you a ride."
   "Thank you. That wasn't necessary." Jeff got up, helped Stacy to her feet, and they all went into the house, which was now redolent of cooked vegetables. Obviously dinner was just about ready at the Kessler household as well.
   They continued walking out the front door. When they got to the car, Jeff opened the passenger door and was about to step in, when Mrs. Kessler stopped him. "Jeff..."
   "Yes?"
   She nodded towards her daughter. "I believe your girlfriend would probably enjoy one last kiss before you leave."
   This had to be the ultimate capper to the best day of his life. Not only was the object of his dreams now officially his girlfriend, but her mother was giving the relationship a big thumbs up.
   He wasted no time in complying. He turned and gave Stacy one last kiss. Remembering what Angela had said, he whispered "I love you" in her ear, and she did the same.
   "Stacy, keep an eye on the stove. I'll be back in less than ten minutes," Announced her mother, as Jeff slid into the passenger seat. The brief ride home was mostly quiet. As soon as the car arrived at Jeff's house,  Mrs. Kessler parked, and shut off the engine.
   "Jeff, I've got something to show you." She reached into the glove box, and pulled out a few photographs. "Stacy would kill me if she knew I was letting you see these, but I'm going to show them to you anyway." She turned on the car's dome light.
   He examined the photos, which appeared to be of a much younger, akward looking Stacy, with stringy hair, braces, and a sweatshirt that had a cartoon character on it. "I take it these are from a couple of years ago."
   "Wrong," Mrs. Kessler answered. "They were taken last May."
   Jeff couldn't believe it. "You're kidding..."
   "No I'm not. In only four short months she somehow managed to morph from that into the beautiful young lady you now know and love."
   "Who knows," Jeff mused. "Perhaps at some point I'll also morph into something presentable."
   "Jeff you're just fine the way you are," She couldn't help but be charmed by his self deprecating humor. "I knew that this would be the year that Stacy started taking more of an interest in boys on a romantic level." She put her arm on Jeff's shoulder. "You have no idea how relieved I am that you showed up, and not some high school senior with a motorcycle." She winked.
   Jeff was slightly embarassed. "I'm sorry my grades aren't better."
   "Stacy tells me that the troubles you've been having in school are largely a result of you being distracted by her. Obviously that's no longer an issue. Something tells me that by the time the two of you are back in school next week, it's going to be a whole new ballgame."
   As he got out of the car, they said their final goodbyes, and he disappeared into the house. Mrs. Kessler headed back home, looking forward to dinner with a daughter who was now in a really good mood.