The Belles of Christiania

Like a giraffe with spindly, wobbling legs, I ran from the parking lot across the campus to Christie’s dorm to help her with her luggage before she left for Palo Alto. Proud, smiling parents crowded the sidewalks with their offspring, so mostly I ran on the lawn. By the time I reached the steps of the girls’ dorm, my heart was pounding louder than the idling engine of the bus, which was waiting to transport her to the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. The luggage compartment in the belly of the bus was nearly filled, so I hoped that I wasn’t too late The receptionist, leaning back casually in her chair reading a book, obviously didn’t feel my sense of urgency. “May I help you?” She barely noticed me. “Is Christie Norheim in her room? I’d like to see her.” I tried to act as nonchalant as I could. “You can see for yourself. The dorm’s open on moving days. Just knock before you go in.” She went back to reading her book, and I couldn’t believe that the strict rules for visiting the girls’ dorms were now being completely ignored. “Excuse me, can you tell me her room number?” Now, she looked at me suspiciously, because if I didn’t know her room number, how could I be her friend? The receptionist most likely got the impression that I was one of those unwelcomed townies, snooping around the campus. “Is she expecting you?” Because of my lack of confidence, she saw right through me. Suddenly, I felt as though I didn’t belong here, and that I wasn’t welcomed. “I promised her that I’d carry her heavy luggage out to the bus.” “She’s in room one-twenty-eight, at the far end of the hall.” “Thank you.” I walked past her desk and ambled down the hall towards Christie’s room. Most of the doors were open, and the rooms were empty. My heart sank, feeling that I had missed her. One of the open doors led into a bathroom, and a sudden flush made me blush and hurry past. I counted the brass numbers on the doors. When I came to room one-twenty-eight, the door was closed. I hoped that Christie was in there waiting for me. Maybe, she felt sorry that she’s was leaving today. I wanted to steal a goodbye kiss. I knocked softly, but no one answered. I tried the handle. The door opened, so I walked in. “Neal,” she said behind me, “what are you doing in my room? You’re full of surprises.” “The receptionist told me I could come in.” I felt my face get warm and turn bright red. It appeared that I‘d been snooping in her room, and she had caught me. “Why are you in my room?” she asked again. “When I called you, I offered to carry your luggage out to the bus. Don’t you remember?” I wondered why there was a handsome upper-classman standing next to her. It wasn’t fair that one of the older fraternity brothers would step in ahead of me. He was obviously bolder and more confident than I was. He was one of the campus leaders, a big man on campus. Of course, for him a freshman girl would be easy pickings. I didn’t know if he was from a wealthy and prestigious family, but I assumed that he was, because he had that aura of superiority. He didn’t appear to be the least bit flustered, while I was all jelly inside. I could try to be blustery, but I didn’t know how. I couldn’t be someone other than who I was. “You should’ve called me again, Neal. I didn’t know if you had really promised to help me, or if you had other things you had to do this morning. Peter is your replacement.” What else would I be doing, now that I had finished my final exams? I wondered if she really meant that I should have called her again. She was obviously more compatible with her aristocratic friend, and that made me feel worse. The thought of seeing them together next year was utterly depressing. I couldn’t really compete with her friend, but I couldn’t quit thinking about her all of the time. “Well, Neal, since you’re here, are you going to help Peter carry my luggage out to the bus? If you’re going to work at the lumber yard this summer, you should be strong enough to carry my heavy bags.” “I’ll take the small ones,” the handsome frat boy said to me. He grabbed the handles of the two small cases and headed out the door. I picked up the two large, heavy cases, and I thought that I was going to get a hernia. My replacement set his two small pieces of luggage on the ground near the bus, and I set my heavy ones next to them. “Neal, dear,” she said, “will you lift them into the luggage compartment for me?” Christie and the fraternity brother were holding hands and smiling, as I grunted and lifted the large cases into the belly of the bus. I should’ve asked my replacement to help me, but I couldn’t reason logically. If I ignored the open flap of the bus, I’d gash my head bending down. “That’s very thoughtful of you,” she said. “How will I ever repay you?” “You don’t have to. I just wanted to say goodbye.” “Are you going to visit me in California this summer?” she asked. “Or do you have to work every day at the lumberyard? Astrid has told me at least a dozen times that she really had fun with Dean at your dinner party, and she said to thank your mother. Are you coming back to Christiania next year?” How could she stand there, being sweet and flirting with me, and not realize that I was dying inside? She was killing all of dreams of a romantic relationship with her.