Chapter 9
As Zack walked off with the director, his assistant asked me, "Would you like to sit in?"
I smiled my best and said, "Absolutely, I would love it."
I was in the hall when Zack walked out and was introduced. "I would like to introduce Mr. Zachary Miller the developer of the Marston keel."
Zack stood there looking as confident as ever. His was alive. He was in his element. He knew exactly what he was doing. He scanned the room and when his eyes met mine he smiled. It seemed that he looked into my soul. That he could see the love that I had for him. All of my secrets were open to him.
He started to talk, explaining exactly how he and Mark had developed the keel and what they were looking for and what they were trying to do. It seems that they were trying to do something else and this came as a notion out of the blue.
He was informative, without being boring and long winded, he made fun of himself and kept the talk light. After he finished, he spent another half hour answering questions. It seemed to everyone's satisfaction.
I sat back in my seat and enjoyed. My student...no, not a student any longer, he was the teacher and I felt something inside that I had never felt before. A certain pride, happiness for him, joy in seeing Zack excelling. I don't know. Could it be love, was I falling in love with him?
Whatever, I felt wonderful. I sat and watched the other engineers gather around him as he came down off the stage. Zack talked and joked with them, making then laugh. As I watched, one young very attractive, woman was standing and talking to Zack, she put her hand on his arm as she talked.
I felt a prick of jealousy, she was being a bit forward with him and I didn't like it. But, Zack in a very casual way sort of side stepped and broke the contact. After a few moments they all left.
I got up and walked toward him. We were alone in the hall. He smiled at me and held his arms out saying, "Well teach, did I do okay?"
I went over and hugged him and he hugged me back. I looked into his eyes and moved closer. I lifted my face to his and our lips met. Softly at first, but then our arms tightened and our lips crushed together.
Then a door slammed shut and we jumped apart. Zack looked and me and gave a little laugh. I felt a little funny but just smiled. He took my hand and we walked out of the hall and then out of the hotel.
I just wanted to spend some time away from the conference and Mathematics. I wanted time to unwind, having been so wound up from the talk. I needed time to relax and I couldn't think of anyone I would rather be with.
We walked a few blocks and found a small park. We sat on one of the benches and just talked. Zack told me of his time in the Army and how he met Terry, Bobby, Rachel and Miriam. He told me about his training, the tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. And a very sanitized version of loosing his knee. He made light what I am sure was a grueling time in training to be a Ranger and I am sure that I could never imagine what combat is like.
Zack could find humor and even see beauty in even the worse situations. I could see what the others saw in him. How they could love him so much.
We got up and walked, ending up at Busch Stadium, and we found that the Cardinals were playing the Reds. I grew up in Cincinnati and my Father and Mother were avid Red's fans. I have been going to baseball games since I was an infant.
Zack insisted that we get tickets for that night's game. I was thrilled. I hadn't been to a major league baseball game in ages. We went to dinner at a small, lovely Italian restaurant and had a wonderful meal.
I think that the food was good, I really don't remember. I was just enjoying my time with Zack. After dinner we walked to the stadium and got our seats. We were right along the third base line.
Just before the seventh inning stretch, Ken Griffey, Jr. hit a long ball right along the third base line and into the stands. Zack leapt and grabbed the ball with his bare hand. The crowd around us went wild. Zack held the ball up and then gave it to me.
Just like that, he gave it to me and said, "Let's see if we can get him to sign it for you."
I looked at him I surprise and said, "Zack, this it your ball. You caught it, you should keep it."
He laughed, "What would an Oriel's fan want with a homerun ball hit by a Cincinnati Red's player?"
Needless to say, I was thrilled and I threw my arms around him and hugged him. The game had continued by this time and I don't think that the TV cameras caught the hug, not that I cared or even thought about it.
After the game, I think that the Red's won, I really don't remember, we went to the players exit and were able to see Ken Griffey coming out of the park, he was with his wife. Zack and I approached and Zack said, "Excuse, me Mr. Griffey, would you sign this ball. It was the one that you hit out this evening and this lovely lady is a big fan."
Johnny smiled and said, "You're not a fan?"
Zack gave a sort of broken smile and said, "I'm from Baltimore."
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