Angelina assumed she would drive the students to and from the lodge. But Saturday evening when she called the students away from the still festive bonfire, Brian hurried over. He should drive.
After all, up until a few months ago, he had circuited the UNC campus, Bed Bath & Beyond, and the lodge twice a day, every day. The Arts Consortium was his project. So why should Angelina, who had so generously provided money, buildings, and even her home, take responsibility for transportation?
She thanked him. Brian in his way was just as perceptive—and more conscientious—as his disarming brother, Trevor.
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“I never thought I’d say this, Brian, but the Consortium reminds me of the Black Mountain College—already.”
“Only because of your generosity and faith in the idea. Promise me you’ll tell me if anyone crosses a line. Or if anything irritates you.”
“Off topic,” Angelina said. “But I was wondering if the school might offer a small business course. I could use my experience from the lodge as an example.”
“Angelina, that’d be great. Tell me what day and time and I’ll work it out.”
“I didn’t want to bring it up with Kaya. You don’t know what our relationship was like before she fell for Alec. Speaking of—what’s with them? Going away for a long weekend, this weekend?”
“The start-up is all up to us,” Brian said. “Which is easier in a way.”
Meanwhile, the students had drifted back toward the fire, where they danced to Earle’s chants and the many drums. Those that asked to try a spliff were not denied. Brian was powerless to prevent this. Kaya had never mentioned it as an issue, possibly because if the students wanted to smoke, they would. Either Jacob’s euphoric cannabis or some inferior bush weed.
With Royce and Andrew, really everyone, helping, Brian retrieved the students, who finally hopped in the van. He scanned their heads. Trevor was missing. Right away, Hailey tapped Brian’s wrist. “Want me to stay in the women’s dorm this first night? Until everyone feels at home.”
Brian almost lifted Hailey in the air he was so grateful. On a late summer night, the UNC campus would loom dark and confusing. He shook the keys; he should say good-bye to Carla. Hailey sat behind the driver’s seat and made friends. Brian didn’t have time to find Carla. He got her voice mail. They hadn’t spent an hour alone together in nearly a week.
Hailey sat behind Brian and filled him in about the students. She already knew them by name. He heard her on the phone with Trevor. He and Carla were hanging out with the visiting artists, who were staying in the two large spare cabins.
The next morning all the teachers and students gathered in Angelina’s glass-walled meeting room. Polly, still calm if not smiling much, served coffee or tea, and Carla invited everyone to get breakfast from the kitchen before Brian’s “opening remarks.” She smirked at him, turning away.
Brian talked about respect among all artists; their common tasks; and their shared goals. He encouraged everyone to participate in every class.
To get school credit, students must attend Earle’s poetry class and Alec’s English Lit; Ed Ferraro’s classic American music; and Hollis Clarke’s multi-media art classes. And, in the spirit of the original Black Mountain College, everyone would work, in two or three rotating shifts, on building with the carpenters or cooking and cleaning up with Carla and Hailey.
This allowed time to study the mountain vegetation with Jacob; water colors with Polly; and business fundamentals with Angelina.
Brian was inviting the teachers to stand up and introduce themselves, when Trevor skidded into the room, apparently fresh from running. Mud caked his trail shoes and had dried in splotches along his left side. “Sorry I’m late. Hush, Brian. Running.”
With everyone staring at him, Trevor straightened and turned, flashed a sideways grin, and faced the table again. Beads of water formed at the tips of three light brown braids hanging in his eyes. Brian stared at the droplets, momentarily at a loss. The spheres of water hung without falling. Suspended like that, they contained an energy that mesmerized Brian (and possibly everybody.) Because no other sight or sound intruded until Trevor laughed and shook his head. The water vaporized, casting a nearly transparent, transient spectrum beside a girl’s hand, the girl sitting across from Brian.
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