Work in Progress

In Chapter Three, Carm and Gino di Angelo open an Italian restaurant. Its success allows them to send all three of their children to university.

Carm and Gino were not only disappointed, but surprised at how their youngest child performed in his first year of university. They let their displeasure be known, and Luca became defensive though he knew he was definitely at fault. He and Gary had lazed their way through most of their courses, and their marks showed it. Their time, they thought, was better spent at student pubs, and attending every sports game on campus and away. By Christmas break, Luca had only managed one B+ and Gary only straight Cs to show for his four months.

Luca didn’t share this first report with his parents, or his siblings. He was fairly ashamed of himself and how lax he had been. He knew how hard Carm and Gino had worked to ensure he could have the sort of future a university education might bring. He resolved to do better. Not just try harder. Do better.

Gary wasn’t overly upset about his poor marks, happy to coast through with minimal effort. Luca didn’t tell him how he planned to improve on all his course work. He wanted an A in everything and he knew, if he buckled down and limited his time socializing, he could do just that.

But in the first few weeks of the Winter term Luca met Joyce, another student from Oshawa. They quickly became inseparable and Luca’s good intentions to study hard and excel were forgotten. Joyce was stunning, with long wavy blonde hair and a body that was both slim and curved in all the right places. They travelled everywhere in tandem, holding hands and often lost deep in conversation. Luca spent a few nights every week in Joyce’s studio apartment off campus and, occasionally, she would stay over in the residence room he and Gary shared.

Neither had much to be proud of, as far as school was concerned. Luca managed an A, an A- and a mixture of Bs and Cs. Joyce was more than disappointed she did so poorly. She was afraid to go home and share her marks and lack of achievement with her parents.

But back in Oshawa for the summer, they were still inseparable when they weren’t working. Joyce got a part-time job at Ristorante Di Angelo and Luca worked full-time summer hours at the auto plant. Both intended to return to their university life for their second year.

Gino and Carm were less than agreeable. Neither could believe how poorly Luca had done in his courses and Gino threatened not to pay his tuition and housing fees for the year. Determined yet again to prove himself, Luca worked overtime at the plant whenever he could. He needed to show he was serious about his studies and, so, saved as much as possible, allowing for a social life with Joyce. He intended to pay the entirety for tuition and living expenses in second year.

The two of them spent most of their free time together. Gary described them as ‘hot and heavy’ and Joyce was happy with that description. Luca believed he loved Joyce, but the novelty of the relationship was slowly beginning to wear off. He felt he was tied down before his time. When he got home from work on the nights Joyce was at the restaurant, they went to the di Angelo home next door and watched sports or the odd movie.

It was becoming just routine, and Luca wanted to spend more time with his own friends about whom Joyce was less than enthusiastic. He began to feel cramped by the relationship, but she had become a major part of his life, and he couldn’t imagine a change.

Luca managed his money well and, by the end of the summer, had saved nearly the entire cost of his second year. Gino was pleased at how his son had rallied and become so industrious. He was proud of him and more than willing to pay the remainder of the cost if Luca hadn’t made enough by September.

Luca was feeling flush. He had never had anything like the amount he’d saved. He began thinking of what he could afford if he worked a bit longer at the plant. University, really, could wait. It would always be there.

When he bought his first car, it was spanking new. He’d had to take a bit of a loan, but Luca knew he would be able to pay it back within a few years. When he drove the red Chevy Metro off the lot, he went straight to visit Joyce at her parents’ home, hoping she didn’t have a shift scheduled for the day.

“Are you insane?” she nearly shrieked. Joyce looked at Luca in disbelief. “How much did you spend on this?”

“I spent some of my savings, and took out a small loan. I can pay it off in a few years.”

“Is this so we can go back and forth from school on the weekends?”

“Yeah. Sure,” Luca replied. “And for everything else either of us, or both, want to do.”

Joyce sighed the most disbelieving sigh possible. “You know I don’t have a license.”

“Well,” said Luca, “time to get one. If you want of course.”

Joyce was unhappy. Not only had Luca wasted money, given train and bus travel had previously been sufficient to bring them home on holidays and the odd weekend, but he hadn’t even thought about discussing such a big purchase with her. And it affected her, too. They did most things together.

“Do you think your father will still top up your savings so you can afford the year?” Joyce looked doubtful. She hoped Gino’s reaction would lead to Luca’s returning the car to the dealer, though she knew that likely wasn’t possible.

“I’ve decided to take a year off to work,” he started.

“What? You shit. Why?”

Luca responded, “It’s just a year and I want to save as much money as possible before I go back to university. I think my parents will accept that. Not happily, but it will be OK.”

“What am I supposed to do? I want to get into grad school as soon as possible. No way do I want to postpone it for a year,” Joyce argued.

Unbeknownst to both of them, the conversation was headed in exactly the right direction. Both had begun to feel the desire, the need to explore the world farther, and not as a couple. With Luca joining the workforce full-time, Joyce thought, the two would have nothing in common. With a car he could come visit her on weekends, and they’d see each other when she came home occasionally. She felt he was being selfish, and trifling with her wishes and hopes for her future.

For his part, Luca already knew he was feeling claustrophobic in the relationship. He liked the idea of more freedom and doing things his way, when he wanted. It felt so good to be working toward a secure future, at least to graduate from university. From there he didn’t know exactly what was next, but he wanted the experience of finding out for himself.

“I have to get to work,” Joyce finally said, not wanting to discuss the car or their relationship further.

“And I can drive you. That works out well.”

Joyce vehemently disagreed, but kept it to herself.

Having a car opened a new world for Luca and, to a lesser extent, Joyce. When she wasn’t working on the weekend, Joyce and he took day trips out of the city, occasionally heading north for overnight camping. They agreed to differ, but stay a couple when Joyce returned to university in September.

“I’ve got the long weekend off, and it’s the last break I’ve got this summer.”

Luca knew what she meant. “OK, let’s do a last hurrah for the summer.”

“I heard Gary and some other guys booked a campsite for the July long weekend. It should be fun.”

“Where?” Luca asked. He didn’t feel much like spending their last free weekend with so many people. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to spend it with Joyce.

Since he had announced his intention not to return to school that year and, worse Joyce thought, bought himself a car and more freedom, she had started to question her feelings about the whole ‘hot and heavy’ thing. Especially, she was beginning to think, with Luca.

“Gary said Slowpoint Beach, and I know it’s always a good time there. A lot of kids and a lot of parties. And booze and a few other select vices.” Joyce smiled at him.

He had heard great things about Slowpoint. The sand was almost white and the beach stretched for miles. Luca remembered there were dances there every Friday to Sunday up until Labor Day. It might be fun, though three nights of camping was more than he thought he could take.

“I just hope Gary’s friends aren’t the sort who like campfire gatherings and toasting marshmallows. That was no way to spend her last weekend of summer, Joyce thought.

They got to Slowpoint Beach at 7 p.m. Friday night. They stopped at a food hut and got something to eat. Shopping for the weekend’s groceries could wait until the morning. The pair then set about to search for the campground Gary had described.

“It’s not the nearest site to the beach,” Joyce said. “Only a 10 minute walk though.”

As soon as they arrived, Gary told them that the brother of one of his friends had an old cottage nearby that he wasn’t able to use that weekend and a few of the crowd was heading there for a party.

The party lasted well into Sunday morning. Everyone was definitely looking the worse for wear. Luca had lost track of Joyce’s movements on the first night and didn’t see her among the partiers who surrounded him.

“Did you hear Four Heads in a Starter Engine is playing tonight at the dance?” a bleary-eyed Gary asked Luca. “They’re going to hit it big really soon; it would be cool to see them live.”

Like Gary, Luca was a fan of fringe music and listened mainly to that genre. Four Heads in a Starter Engine was fantastic and they were sure to cross over into the mainstream charts.

“We should definitely be there,” Luca agreed. “Let’s see if anybody else wants to come,” he said, adding “Have you seen Joyce lately? I dozed off on the couch for an hour or so and haven’t seen her since.”

“She was outside with a bunch of university students. I think they’re from U of T.”

“Joyce kind of hates the band. She may not want to come. But I’m going to go anyway,” Luca decided.

He looked for Joyce to ask her, but she didn’t seem to be in any of the groups talking inside or outside. He wondered if he should stay when the rest left for the dance, to wait for Joyce, but decided they would likely meet there if she wanted to go. Joyce would know Luca intended to see the band.

He finally caught sight of Joyce, who seemed to be in rapt conversation with one of, he guessed, the U of T crowd.

Sidling up to her, Luca listened to what the two were discussing before speaking to her. It sounded like skiing was the topic. Joyce told her new friend that she had always wanted to try skiing but it was far too expensive even to contemplate.

“I’ll get you out on the slopes this winter,” Brant said.

Joyce noticed Luca. “Hey,” she said, “Brant, this is Luca. Brant’s starting a Master’s program in Geography in TO.” She looked at Brant with that smile that first attracted Luca.

“So where have you been?” Luca asked when they had left Brant, who was also planning to go to the palladium for tonight’s dance. Apparently, Joyce told him, Brant knew two of the band members. He offered to introduce Joyce after the last set.

“He’ll introduce you, too,” she added quickly.

“Nah. Never meet your heroes,” Luca replied. “I’m not interested in anything but their music. I don’t want to know them personally.”

Joyce looked at him and gave a sigh of frustration. “Well, I’m going to get introduced.”

“Fine. Good.”

The group made its way to the palladium just before Four Heads got started. Luca stood with Gary, holding a beer.

“He’s going to introduce me now instead of later,” Joyce whispered when she joined them. “You sure you don’t want to come meet them?”

“Yep. Go ahead.”

Luca watched Joyce cross the dance floor to join Brant at the bandstand. There were lots of smiles and hugs. “Good for them,” he thought. He was anxious for the music to start.

He turned to say something to Gary and, when he looked back, saw Brant had his arm around Joyce’s waist.

Nope. That wasn’t cool. He watched as Joyce laughed and turned her head to look at Brant. Despite not wanting an introduction, Luca walked to the bandstand, tapped Joyce on the shoulder and said in an irritated manner, “I changed my mind.” He smiled at the lead guitarist and introduced himself. That was enough social etiquette for the evening.

Luca noticed Brant was no longer holding on to Joyce’s waist. He muttered a quick, “Let’s go. Our group is over there.” He pointed at his small crowd of friends.

Joyce excused herself and joined Luca. “That was so rude,” she muttered to him. At him. “Why couldn’t you wait?”

“That guy had you by the waist. Did it occur to you to resist?” Luca asked.

“Jesus, Luca, it was nothing.”

Luca didn’t agree. When they returned to the group, Luca noticed Joyce’s eyes drifting back to the bandstand and Brant. He was laughing with the two guitarists and what seemed to be the drummer.

“Wait. I want to ask one of them something,” Joyce said over her shoulder as she walked away from Luca.

He quickly caught up with her and grabbed her right shoulder. “For shit sake…I’m coming with you.” He doubted there was a question and checked Joyce’s reaction.

She smiled as they walked toward Brant, then stood at his side. “Are you guys playing Toronto any time soon?” She addressed the bass guitarist.

That information was definitely on the Internet. There was no need to ask, Luca thought.

He glared at Joyce and whispered with great annoyance, “Let’s get back.”

Reluctantly and with a choice swear word, Joyce left the bandstand. Halfway across the dance floor, Luca thought he saw her crying. Forgetting his annoyance he took her hand and asked, “What’s wrong?” This wasn’t the Joyce he knew. He realized he’d never seen her cry.

“I want to go outside for awhile,” she said to him. Together they exited the palladium and found a spot where they could be alone.

“What’s going on with you? You’re being really pissy.”

“Me? You’re the one who dragged me away from a conversation I was enjoying,” Joyce retorted.

“You were obviously enjoying more than the conversation.”

Joyce had stopped crying. She looked at him and asked, “Why are you so mad?”

“I’m not mad,” he insisted. “You seem quite taken with good ol’ Brant there,” he said with more than a note of sarcasm tingeing his voice.

“Seriously, Luca. Just leave me the fuck alone for awhile.”

Joyce hurriedly headed to the entrance door.

He stood for a few moments alone, then returned to the venue. He saw Joyce and Sandra, Gary’s girlfriend, talking while they were on their way to the Ladies washroom.

After an extremely long sound check, the band finally began to play. Couples had taken to the dance floor while several girls danced in a circle without partners.

Luca waited for Joyce to leave the washroom, intending to suggest they go back to the campsite. He’d had enough of the party house. He must have missed seeing her exit as he eventually saw her dancing with Sandra in the center of the floor. As he watched, Brant interrupted the girls and obviously asked Joyce to dance.

“What a royal asshole,” Luca thought to himself. He thought about going over and pulling Joyce to him for a dance. Before he could decide what he wanted to do, the band started playing a slow song. Joyce and Brant moved closer together. He could see Joyce had both arms around Brant’s neck. When the song finished, the two of them stood in the center of the floor talking and laughing.

Eventually, Joyce saw Luca by the bar and joined him. “About time,” he remarked.

“I want to leave,” Joyce told him.

“Suits me,” he agreed and angrily began walking towards the door.

“Luca, wait.”

He looked back at Joyce and saw her beckon him toward her. “Come here,” she mouthed.

The pair of them stood facing each other. Joyce was crying again, more animatedly this time.

“Seriously, what’s up with you, Joyce?”

“I didn’t want to talk about it yet, but there is something I need to say.”

Her voice quieted. “We need to be apart,” she finally said.

“We’re going to be apart in two days when you go back to school,” came his response.

“That’s not what I mean,” Joyce clarified. “I mean really apart. It’s time to move on, Luca. I don’t think we’ll survive the separation this year.” Now sobbing, she continued, “I’m really sorry Luca. Please try to understand why. We’re each going to go out and socialize when we’re apart,” she said. “I want to be able to enjoy myself as much as possible. And you should be free too.”

“So are you planning to come home any weekends?” Luca finally asked.

“Just for holidays. Definitely not every month.”

“That’s just fucking great, Joyce. Thanks so much.” And he walked back to join Gary.

“What was that all about?” his friend asked.

“Nothing,” Luca muttered unconvincingly. “Don’t worry about it.”

He was lost in thought, and anger. He wasn’t completely surprised and, indeed, he was a little relieved. He’d dreaded the moment he had known was coming, though he thought he’d be the one to break things off. But, geez, what a shitty way she did it.

Luca no longer felt like leaving the dance. She was being quite a bitch. As he and Gary chatted, he was wondering how things would be between them on the car ride back to Oshawa. He turned away from Gary and looked behind him. There was that girl from History class. The one whose notes he and Gary had borrowed. The name with the umlaut…Chloë something. She appeared not to have seen him yet, so he tried to catch her eye. When she saw him, her face lit up in recognition.

They spent the rest of the evening on the dance floor.