The Alpha For Her

Chapter 6

“Well,” Candy said, “I feel bathed in the warm compassion of a wise mentor.”

“What’s a triad?” Billie asked.

Vera chuckled.

“It’s a group of three,” Jennifer answered.

Billie sank back in her chair.

“Well, roomie?” Candy said to Vera.

“Flint did say that we could work together — if we like,” Vera responded. “So, for this one, I think that I’d like to work solo. I’m sure that there will be other challenges. See you ladies around.”

People were milling, some exiting hurriedly.

“Triads,” Candy said.

Billie’s eyes widened, and she sat up. Then like a grade-school child, she began pointing at herself and Jen and Candy. Candy burst out laughing.

“You can be so cute sometimes,” she said. “I would love to work with you. Jen?”

“Sure,” Jennifer replied, her mind still not focusing.

“Cool,” Billie said. “So, I suggest that we use our room. I’m thinking that Vera will want to be alone.”

“I’m afraid that Vera is alone,” Candy said. “But, it’s too nice of a day. I suggest that we gather our things and set up poolside.”

“But, Mr. Dryzek just said–”

“Mr. Dryzek,” Candy said, coolly, “has set us up with an impossible test. He – how did he put it – he dangled the trappings of success before us, and when, weary and awed, we wallowed in those trappings, he chides us for accepting the proffered hospitality.”

“You think he was being mean?”

“No. I think that he was using human nature to illustrate a point. And so, I think that we should do something of a turnabout. I think that we can enjoy his trappings, and work. See you both poolside, then? Jennifer? Jen?”

But Jen was transfixed. Bea was with a small group of people chatting, when Lois, smiling brightly, walked up to her.

“Beatrice,” Lois said, “Mr. Dryzek would like to see you in his office. If you’ll follow me…”

Jen saw the ashen look on Bea’s face. She turned, and saw that Candy and Billie witnessed it too.

“Poolside,” Candy said. “And I do recommend dressing comfortable.”

As they walked back to their rooms, Billie was thinking out loud about the challenge, going on about what a typical seventeen-year-old would be like, and what they would want in course selection.

Jennifer’s mind wasn’t on the task. She kept thinking about Dryzek, and if she had really understood his silent compliment. And, if she had, she wondered what it meant.

With few exceptions, there were all about her, beautiful people with beautiful bodies: Candy and Billie not the least. When they met back at the table by the pool, they were in bikinis, tastefully wrapped in parros – Candy’s was sheer. A few other groups were working in the sun, and they too were so pretty – even the lone man.

So, what was Flint doing? In another time, in another place, she thought that he might have been flirting with her. But with all of those people eager to stand out, and, dare she think, please the man, she knew that he had his pick.

She suddenly had a vision of that chubby little black girl, all dressed up, standing alone at the bus stop, clutching a bundle of balloons, and trying very hard not to cry. Was it going to be that all over again? Was she going to be set up, only to have—

“Jennifer James,” Candy snapped. “You haven’t heard a word that either of us has said. You are drifting. What’s the matter, girl?”

“I…” she began. “I’m sorry. I…I was thinking about…it’s nothing. You’re right. I’m not pulling my weight. You were saying something about…parameters?”

“That was ten minutes ago.”

“Sorry.”

“We need your focus.”

“It’s okay,” Jen,” Billie said. “I know that when I have something on my mind, it helps to switch gears a while. C’mon, let’s you and me do some laps. It’ll clear your head.”

“What? No. No, I’m okay. let’s just–”

“No,” Candy said, rising and doffing her wrap. “Young Willamina has a point; we need to clear your mind. So, let’s go. Last one in does the final layout.”

“But,” Jennifer said, “I’m not in my swimsuit.”

“Cut offs and a tee will do just fine.”

“But I’m not–”

“Let’s go,” Billie said, grabbing Jen’s hand and dragging her.

The pool was bathwater, and they were the only ones in. Billie was so right, swimming was just what Jen needed. She loved the water. She loved water in all of its glorious forms; whether it was swimming in a pool, fighting ocean waves, or just relaxing in a shower, she found something so soothing and so primal in water. Soon, she was keeping pace with Candy and Billie, and, just as soon, their studious laps became raucous play, their squeals of glee ringing in the courtyard.

“Okay,” Candy said, as the three held the coping and let their legs float. “So, what’s bugging you, Jen?”

“I don’t know,” she said, shutting her eyes against the sun. “It’s hard to put into words.”

“You feel out of place,” Billie said.

Jen looked at her.

“I know, because that’s how I feel too,” Billie went on. “Everywhere I go, if people know about me, it feels like they judge me. Of course, it’s not all bad judgments; a lot of it is sympathetic understanding. But that’s a judgment too, and I hate it.”

“But,” Jennifer said, “you named your website …and damned proud.”

“It’s easy to be proud when you’re hiding behind a blog – when your words are in a twelve point Georgia font, and the person that everyone sees is a self-selected, Photoshopped image. Here, now, where everyone knows my bio – I get all the looks, and I know what most of them mean.”

“If people judge you,” Candy said, “it only shows their true character.”

“You know how dumb that sounds?”

Vera burst again into her silvery laughter.

“Yes,” she said, chuckling. “The sort of thing that your school councilor would say.”

“Bingo.”