The return of Swinging Sam
Chapter 1
Hal, Butch and Prudence came bounding into the house at the end of the school day. The October weather had been unusually warm and the kids could not wait to get out back and play for a while before tackling their homework. It had become the pattern for the Everett children to come home from school, get a snack and then play for an hour or so then do homework before dinner.
They ran into the kitchen and were surprised to find Nanny on the phone laughing with whomever it was she was speaking to. They had become very used to Nanny being prepared with their snacks at the ready as soon as they came into the house. However, they quieted down and sat at the table and waited patiently for Nanny to finish her phone conversation.
While they were not attentively listening they could not help but over hear some of the conversation. "Oh Roger, that is wonderful news and I could not be more pleased" …. "Of course I would be glad to meet you there" … "Yes I know that neighborhood quite well, it is lovely." "Yes I have made note of the requirements you listed and I don't think there will be any problem finding exactly what you're looking for. Yes, yes I look forward to seeing you too. Goodbye Roger."
As soon as Nanny hung up the phone she smiled brightly at the children "Thank you for waiting so patiently children I have your afternoon snack all ready for you." She hurried to the counter and brought over a tray of chocolate and peanut-butter brownies and placed the tray on the table. She returned with 3 glasses and filled them with cold milk. The children were so excited about this special treat they immediately put the phone conversation out of their minds. After their snack was eaten, they ran outside to play and feed the animals.
The Professor was walking to his car in the University parking lot when he was stopped by his colleague. "Hey Hal did you hear the news?!" Professor Fisk was almost giddy with excitement. Professor Carroway was just smiling and shaking his head at Fisk's behavior. Hal Everett took a deep breath and turning to speak with the professors he smiled and said "No, but I am sure you are going to tell me." Professor Fisk said "well you will be especially interested in this news at it may have a direct affect on you" he winked at Hal. Professor's Carroway and Everett looked at the other professor waiting for him to continue. Finally, Hal sighed and said "Ok, I'll bite – what is so important and will have an interest to me?" "Well", Fisk paused for dramatic effect. Finally Professor Carroway said "just spit it out already Fisk". Putting his hand up in surrender said "Ok, OK I heard from a very reliable source that none only than Professor Roger Samuelson is returning to the staff." He turned a sidelong look at Hal Everett waiting for the response. Hal was indeed surprised to hear this news, but was not very interested. Yes, he would have been much more uncomfortable had he not had it from a very reliable source that Professor "Swinging Sam" Samuelson had moved back to wherever it was he came from to marry. Hal asked Fisk "Why would this be of any interest to me? I don't imagine that I will have any interactions with him." Professor Fisk rolled his eyes, again for dramatic effect, "Oh come on Hal, aren't you the least bit concerned that someone who had dated your own Nanny is coming back to town?" Professor Carroway at that point, perked up and asked "Nanny dated this fellow?" Hal was about the reply that they had gone on one date (he was not about to tell either of them at Samuelson had declared his love for Nanny before going back to his former girlfriend) but Fisk jumped in and said "Yes and apparently Nanny made quite the impact on Swinging Sam, and rumor had it that Nanny and he were quite the match, until that is, when Swinging Sam suddenly went back to his former university." At this point, Hal had had quite enough and very curtly said to Fisk "Look here Fisk I don't appreciate you including Miss Figilily in your gossip mongering and would appreciate it if you would stop. Professor Samuelson went back to his former position to pursue his career goals at that university. His date with Miss Figillily had no bearing on that whatsoever." "Now if you'll excuse me, I want to get home to my children." With that Hal Everett quickly walked to his car and could not get away from this distasteful conversation fast enough.
Later that evening, while eating dinner with the children and Nanny, Young Hal has asked his father "Dad how was your day, you seem a little upset". The Professor looked up at Hal and shook his head then looked at Nanny who was looking at him with concern as well. "No, my day was just fine, nothing out of the ordinary-just the usual. I did, however, find out that Roger Samuelson will be returning to the staff and it is causing a bit of a stir at the University." At this, Nanny turned to Professor Everett and asked "why would Professor Samuelson's return to the University cause a stir?" Hal looked at Nanny and said "well it appears that Rogers return to the campus is a little unexpected given his sudden departure last term". "Oh I see", Nanny replied.
Butch then chimed in "Hey Nanny weren't you talking to a Roger on the phone this afternoon?" Young Hal than added "Hey yeah you were on the phone when we came home from school today." Prudence than asked "Are you going to go out with "Swinging Sam" again Nanny?" with a bit of concern in her voice, she as the other children, remember all too well the feeling of upheaval they had all experienced when Professor Samuelson told Prudence that he loved Nanny.
Nanny stood up and started clearing away the dirty dishes. Harold turned looking at Nanny and sensing that she was not going to share her phone conversation. He then turned to the kids and said "Kids why don't you go finish your homework". Prudence started to say "But Daddy why was Nanny talking to Swinging Sam? Will she go on another date with him?" The Professor cleared his throat and repeated to the kids they should do as they were told. The children begrudgingly left the table. After the children had left the room, Harold turned and said "Nanny?" Nanny turned and replied "Yes Professor" indicating that she was not going to discuss the matter. Harold realizing this replied "Uh nothing – I have some work to do in the study" and left the table.
Nanny took a deep breath, she did not like the idea of keeping secrets from the family, however, she had been asked by Professor Samuelson for a favor and to keep his confidence, and she intended to do just that until Roger was ready to share his news on his own time.
Later that evening, Nanny brought a tray with coffee and some of the brownies into the Professors study. As she placed that tray on his desk, Harold looked up at Nanny and asked "Nanny were you speaking with Roger Samuelson today?" Nanny looked up at the Professor and said simply "Yes I did Professor." The Professor again picked up on the fact that Nanny was not going to share any parts of her conversation with him. He simply nodded his head and said "Oh – OK". "So I guess his coming back the University was not news to you. But then again, most things are not news to you, are they?" Nanny distinctly intuited his discomfort. While she wanted to put his nervousness and curiosity to rest, she was not at liberty to share what she knew. She cleared her throat and said "Well, if you will excuse me Professor I think I will retire for the night." "Good night Professor". Harold frowned and said "Good night" rather briskly. Nanny paused then turned and left his office and went directly to her room.
The next few days brought with them a very tense atmosphere in the Everett household between Nanny and the Professor. The Professor knew that Nanny's personal life was just that, personal; however, he also was more than a little concerned about Nanny's involvement with Roger Samuelson, whatever it may be. He respected her enough not to push the issue but was concerned why she would be involved with a man who, as far as he knew, was an engaged man.