You, Karen, and Tom at the Tournament

You, Tom, and Karen get to Smalltown just in time for the first match at 8:00. Smalltown is a bigger city than Woocottville and the high schools and the college got together in the mid 1970's and built a large athletic complex that they all share. The high schools merged into one district in the 1980's. Woocott Institute has a small building here for coach's offices and such but also has facilities at the main campus in Woocotttville (only six miles away). These details are just a small sample of the weird shit that makes dawan a weird guy.

You haven't seen Karen since before third hour yesterday. You worked all last night finishing stuff for your uncle and Karen switched shifts at the store to get today off. Karen is the expert of the group on volleyball although you pick up on the game quick. The last two weeks with Lui have brought out brains in Tom that no one thought he had and he is fast becoming knowledgeable of the game. After the Fighting Angels won their first match they have a four hour wait until their next match. Tom and Lui go to hang out with Erica. Rather than watch the visiting teams battle it out, you and Karen take off to see parts of Smalltown and maybe get a late breakfast.

When you left in the morning it was warm and you are wearing only a plain black t-shirt. Karen is wearing a tie dye Green River High School Cheerleader Charity Carwash t-shirt from her sophomore year. It had turned into a cold fall day while you were in the gym so before you leave you stop at the sports shop and buy a black Johnson College Admirals hoodie (Johnson and Woocott have a brother sister sort of relation from way back. While Johnson started admitting girls in the 1970's it is still nine guys to one girl. Woocott is looking to admit boys but claims that the changes are too great for such a small college.). You buy a pink Woocott Institute Fighting Angels hoodie for Karen. You have walked almost to the end of the old downtown and see a little mom and pop diner called Cleo's. It looks like it is left over from the 1960's. Your mom and uncle love these places and you find that they have better food than the chain restaurants. You ask Karen what she thinks and she says it looks good.

As you enter the diner you are judged by your sweat shirts as you are 'greeted' by two preppy college couples (you don't recognize their college jackets and assume they attend one of the visiting schools at the tournament) leaving as you walk in. They are rude and upset as they couldn't get beer at 10:00 in the morning and "this place" doesn't serve lunch until after 11:00. They assume you are like minded college students and tell you not to bother with this dive. Your mom worked as a waitress for many years and you remember her complaining about rude customers. You smile at the middle aged server as you walk in and say "I think they just recommended this place to us as we are looking for a home cooked breakfast, like my mom does, and my mother would never serve them."

The server says her name is Peggy as she seats you at the counter and takes your order. After a great breakfast you pay the bill and turn to the door to go. "Keep him happy honey" Peggy says to Karen as you leave, "It is hard these days to find a good college boy for a quality Woocott girl like yourself. You make a lovely couple." Karen walks slowly and looks a little confused for the first block until she stops and says that those college kids and Peggy must have assumed that you were both older and in college and not starting your senior year in high school.

You meet Tom for the next Woocott match which the Angels again win easily. Their third match will be after supper and Tom says that rather than wait around, you and Karen can take off if you want and he will get a ride home from Erica, either tonight or tomorrow. Erica's dad lives only three blocks from the athletic complex and he can sleep there if needed. You decide to leave and wish Lui the best of luck for the rest of the tournament. You then go to Johnson City as there is a big multiplex there and a few movies playing that you and Karen want to see.