Chapter 4.  Reception

 

As Dan and Vic walked to Wendham Hall, Vic asked, “Did you see that beauty in the string quartet?” 

 

Dan’s heart sank.  Vic, too, was attracted to the violinist!  He had invaded Dan’s dream.  It was viscerally irritating.  “But, why?”, Dan asked himself.  “I don’t even know her name.”  Still, he did not like the fact that this very handsome fellow beside him was drawn to that lovely girl.

 

Regaining his composure, Dan replied, “Yes, she was nice.”  Perhaps, he reasoned, an understatement would conceal his thoughts or even cool Vic’s interest in her.

 

Then, Vic dropped a bomb, “I’d like to get her over to my place for an intimate night.”

 

Internally, Dan was ablaze, but he did not want to show it.  He knew he was being illogical.  He did not know the girl.  He needed to maintain a reasonable rapport with Vic, since they would be working together.  With great effort, he was able to sound casual, saying, “Perhaps she’s a Christian girl with high moral standards.”  Dan hoped so.

 

“Who knows?”, Vic opined, “But, I do quite well with the ladies.”

 

Dan decided to leave the discussion there.  He could not bear to think of Vic ravaging his dream girl.

 

As they entered the hall, they could see that the doors to the room designated for the Reception were closed.  They joined the crowd gathering in the lobby.  The faculty members, having shed their robes, were clothed in business attire.  Most were accompanied by wives or other consorts. 

 

Dan spoke, “I’m in the Physics Department ... involved in assisting professors with their experiments.  What department are you in?”

 

“Officially, Chemistry ... Nuclear Chemistry,” said Vic, “But, also, I spend a lot of time in the Botany Department, isolating molecules from plants, hoping to find some that have curative potential.  And, I love to read and study ancient Sanskrit literature.”

 

“Wow,” Dan exclaimed, “you have many interests!  Well, I guess, I do too.  I’m into firearms, especially old pistols and muskets.  I have a rather complete set of machine tools, so I can make any missing or damaged parts.”

 

This comment sparked a conversation about the various gunpowder recipes that antique arms required for successful firing.  Vic was well-read on the subject and very interested in Dan’s hobby.

 

Eventually, the doors swung open, and the crowd pushed toward the entrance.  The Chancellor had placed himself and Dr. Angelo just inside the door.  They were dressed in business suits, too.  As invitees filed in, they were introduced to the famous Doctor and, then, led to their appointed seats by young girls in neat, navy-blue uniforms.

 

When Dan and Vic entered, they had their first contact with their new boss.  Chancellor Grigsby was delighted to introduce them, saying, “These are two of the finest men we have ever had in our student body.  I’m sure they will be an asset to your endeavors.  And, your ‘Math Wiz’ will be along shortly.”

 

Dr. Angelo beamed as he shook their hands and said, “I am greatly impressed by your resumes.  I’m eager to get started.”

 

Dan felt he must interject, “I saw you this morning at the rally in the park.  Then, I was surprised to see you at the Installation Ceremony.”

 

“Wasn’t that a wonderful event?” Dr. Angelo said. “That Bo is an amazing fellow.  I’m going to hang his drawing in my new office.”  Looking toward the Chancellor, he continued, “We saw a chalk-talk evangelist in the park this morning.  He delivered a clear message as he painted an amazing scene.  I’ll show it to you after I get it framed.”

 

Grigsby said, “I’ll look forward to that.”  Then,  he added, “You fellows take your seats and the Doctor and I will be along soon.”

 

Vic was nonplussed by this “religious” banter.  He had never been around an openly devout professor.

 

One of the usherettes stepped toward Vic and Dan  and eyed their nametags.  Her face flushed.  Clearly, she was smitten by Vic’s princely appearance.  Compulsively, she tugged Vic’s  sleeve, and with her left hand, she gestured toward a round table in the far corner of the room.  “This way”, she said, and loosely clinging to Vic, she guided him to his seat.  Dan followed the pair. 

 

“He wasn’t kidding,” Dan thought. “He has a way with women.”

 

Looking at Vic, the usherette smiled warmly and said, “When you’re ready, feel free to visit the food bar.”  Vic was pleased with the adulation shown by the young lady, but he did not encourage it.

 

They sat down at places marked with name cards, but there was an empty chair between them.  Vic said, “That chair must be for the third team member.”  Leaning to his right, he read the name of the missing member, “Hmmm ... Miriam Smithson.  I suppose she is the ‘Math Wiz’ the Chancellor mentioned.  That’s truly odd.  I have never met a high quality, female mathematician.”

 

Dan burst out, “I never imagined that I would be sitting at a table with the Chancellor and a Nobel laureate!”

 

“Nifty!” Vic concurred.

 

Dan scanned the room with his sharp eyes.  He gazed at the receiving line.  Newcomers kept appearing.  Most were faculty members and their consorts.  Then, to his amazement, the violinist got in line.  She was dressed in a stylish, powder-blue suit.  Her lovely face was accented by her luxurious, dark-brown hair with its auburn highlights.  Her olive complexion glowed under the chamber lights.  Again, Dan was awe-struck.

 

Yes, it was her, but she was different.  Her mood was subdued; her demeanor, serene.  The passion she had exuded at the Installation Ceremony was not evident.  Dan watched as she was introduced to Dr. Angelo.  He greeted her as an old friend, giving her a fatherly hug.  Then, an usherette led her toward the table where he was sitting.  He could not take his eyes off of her.  She moved with  gliding grace, like a deer floating through a forest.  He was in a trance.  So, he was startled when the usherette announced, “Gentlemen, Miriam Smithson.”  In awe, he jumped to his feet.  So did Vic.  He reached out his hand and stammered, “Hi ... I’m Dan Diederman ... and, this is Victor Bobreaux.  I ... I mean ... we ... are so glad to have you as part of our research team.”  He felt an unwelcome wave of warmth cross his face.

 

With much more elegance, Vic pulled her chair from under the table and said, “I’ve been very eager to meet you and get to know you.  I was impressed by your performance in the string quartet, and we heard the Chancellor refer to you as a ‘Math Wiz’.  How very exciting.”

 

With a bit of a blush. she gave each of them a  beautiful smile as she shook their hands, saying,  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.  I’ve been looking forward to working with you and the Doctor.”  She  slipped into her chair, and adjusted it with Vic’s assistance.  Dan was unnerved by her presence and irritated by Vic’s greedy dominance of the moment.  Even so, he did note the resonant, pleasant qualities of her voice.

 

Miriam’s chair was set back from the table.  Vic and Dan leaned in from each side to form a triangle, allowing for conversation amidst the growing background chatter.  Dan studied her face.  Her crystal-clear, almond-colored eyes seemed to disclose a pure heart. 

 

Vic was puzzled.  Miriam did not strive for his attention.  “She’s different,” he told himself.  “Where’s the excitement we saw earlier?  How can I get her to desire me?”

 

Miriam saw two handsome men.  Vic had the look of a Mediterranean monarch, with an imperious air.  Dan had the broad countenance of a Dutchman, with a wide, neighborly smile.

 

”I feel like a fish out of water,” Miriam opined, “but the Doctor insisted that I join the team, and he told me how talented each of you are.”

 

“It seems you know the Doctor, well,” Dan mentioned.

 

“Yes,” she replied, “he watched me grow up.  My father and he were colleagues at Harvard, and he and his wife were close friends of my parents.  I hung out with their daughter, Polly.  Amy Angelo was like a second Mom to me.”

 

Dan dropped his voice, “I heard the Doctor say she had gone on to Heaven.”

 

“Yes, that’s precisely how he speaks of her.  She was his soul-mate.  He really misses her,” Miriam responded.

 

“So, you went to Harvard for Mathematics?” Vic queried.

 

“Yes, she replied, “and to the Boston Academy of Music.  Math and Music, that’s me.”

 

“I’m impressed,” Dan declared.  “You did two degrees simultaneously?”

 

“Yes, she said.  But, Music is my hobby.  I did the Music studies for fun ... and to be involved with some performance ensembles.”

 

“When did you come to town? ... I mean ... how did you end up in the string quartet today?” Dan asked.

 

“Well, one of the guys in the group was in some of my Music classes in Boston.  When he heard I was moving to St. Louis, he invited me to be a part of his quartet ...  Now, that’s enough about me.  I worked up an appetite at the ceremony.  Let’s hit the food bar.”

 

The fellows were ready for that, too.  They followed her to the well-stocked lunch counters.  Again, the thorough planning of the Chancellor was evident.  Every item was individually packaged in containers with clear lids with easy-to-read labels.  Picking out lunch was easy.  They selected from finger-sandwiches of turkey or beef, a variety of salads and dressings, a profusion of desserts, and a soft-drink fountain.  No alcoholic beverages were in sight.  Chancellor Grigsby did not want to spoil this glorious day.  He feared some of the faculty might get woozy and behave in an unseemly  manner.

 

As they regrouped at the table, Vic made an attempt to win some attention from Miriam.  He said, “You love music.  Do you like to go dancing?”

 

As she opened her food packs, she replied, “I don’t have time for that.  I practice about 2 hours a day and spend any free time reading or studying mathematical topics.  I don’t like nightclubs  where everyone is gyrating to boisterous rock and roll.  A little ballroom dancing is fine, at weddings or such.”

 

Dan loved her answer, but Vic was dismayed.  “I’ll have to rethink my strategy for winning this gal,” he thought.  Miriam wondered if she had hurt Vic’s feelings.

 

An awkward silence was brushed aside by the arrival of Chancellor Grigsby and his wife and Dr. Angelo, with their luncheon trays and drinks in hand.  As they set their lunches down, the Chancellor said, “Ginger, these are the researchers I have been telling you about.”  And pointing to each team member in turn, he said, “This is Miriam, from Boston, and Vic from our Chemistry Department, and Dan from Physics.  And I want you all to meet my dear wife, Ginger.”  The table being too broad for handshakes, Ginger gave a warm wave to each member as they were introduced.

 

“My, what a handsome group, Dr. Angelo.  Miriam, you remind me of an ivory, cameo profile on a necklace my mother gave me.  And, you fellows look so clean-cut and robust.”

 

The Chancellor chuckled and said, “She used to say such stuff about me when we first met.”  Everyone laughed.   

 

The Chancellor was still ebullient, “I want you all to know that I feel I am a member of your team.  My job will be to secure the funding for your investigations and experiments.  Your job is to find physical evidences of Dr. Angelo’s equations.  I’m excited!”

 

As the six at the table enjoyed their lunches, they conversed about a wide variety of topics.  Various guests stopped by to share a thought with Dr. Grigsby or Dr. Angelo or Ginger.

 

Then, Dr. Angelo announced, “By the way, you are all on the payroll as of this week.  I’m still in the process of moving in to my apartment.  Let’s plan to get started at 8:30 on Monday morning in my office ... that’s 314 Hubble Hall.”

 

Mrs. Grigsby followed with, “Miriam, where are you staying?  I know the men are local, but you just moved to town.”

 

Miriam answered, “In one of the girl’s dorms, Browning  Hall.  It’s close to Melody Hall on the Music Department campus.  I can do my daily violin exercises there and not bother the girls in the dorm.”

 

After a few more minutes of chatter, Miriam spoke again, “I’m sorry to be the first to leave, but I need to get to a rehearsal session at Transcendental Community Church.  I agreed to be in their Sunday morning orchestra.  Dr. Angelo, I’ll look forward to our Monday meeting.  Dr. and Mrs. Grigsby, thank you so much for your gracious words.  And, guys, I’ll see you soon.”  With that, she glided out of the room.

 

Dan felt empty.  He wasn’t sure why.  Vic puzzled,  “Have my charms vanished?”  Both said their “Goodbye”s and “Thank You”s and headed for the exit.