Chapter 72: Aggieland

Tuesday, January 3, 1984

We met up at Jasmine’s house around nine-thirty, then headed off towards College Station. We expected the drive to take about an hour and a half, maybe slightly longer. The freeways decades later would cut that by almost half an hour, but for our purposes, we’d have to get used to that timing. It’d matter a lot when we headed down to Houston for a concert or show or whatever.

On the way, Jasmine and I talked about Angie possibly telling Paige. Jas was all for it if Angie decided it was time. We’d face whatever came of it together. She was optimistic that Paige would handle it well. The stakes were the same, of course, but Paige would have Jas to talk to, and that alone might make the difference.

The drive was short enough that we didn’t need to stop for anything, so we wound up in College Station just a bit after eleven. I led Angie to the north side of the campus (where the business school was located). We’d have to go to at least a few buildings to meet the people we intended to meet, and before that we’d want to talk to a realtor.

Angie abruptly flashed her turn signal to the side as we were driving along the set of bars and restaurants called ‘Northgate.’ I shrugged, then pulled into a parking place.

When we got out, Angie said, “Paige and I decided we want to go there.”

She pointed to a bar with a big sign saying ‘Dixie Chicken’.

Paige said, “I saw it the last time we were up here and wanted to eat there.”

We headed in (completely ignoring the ‘18 and older’ sign). It was nearly deserted, probably because most students would be out of town for another week. Country music played from speakers around the place. There were several TVs, but they were all off right now.

A waitress bustled over, got us seated, and brought us menus. We all ordered ice tea. After some negotiation, Angie and I got chicken-fried steak, and Jasmine and Paige got burgers, with the plan to trade so everyone tasted both.

The food was good enough, if not exceptional. I could easily see this place packed wall-to-wall with students during the year, most drinking beer and hanging out. We’d probably be part of that sometimes, even if we were more the sort to sit on our own back porch than at a bar.

Angie asked the waitress if she happened to know any good realtors. By one of those coincidences, her sister-in-law was a realtor (and, allegedly, a ‘damn fine one,’ too). We got an address and directions.

I had no idea how it’d go, but it’s not as if we had a recommendation already. If we didn’t like her, we’d move on to another realtor. This trip was as much about feeling people out as it was about getting anything done, after all.

After lunch, we got back in our cars and headed to our hotel. We were staying at the Ramada, currently one of the tallest buildings in College Station. We’d specifically asked for a high floor and rooms on both sides of the building. More chances to get a feel for the scenery.

We checked in, put our luggage away, and called home. The girls all wanted to ‘freshen up,’ so we agreed to meet in the lobby in twenty minutes.

We tried to phone the realtor we’d been referred to, but her message said she was out of town for a few days. It figured that a realtor would take off during the winter break here. It was the slowest time of the year, probably.

After some phoning around, we got a referral to a realtor named Kenny Platt. He was there, and offered to take us around and see things. We set a meeting for tomorrow at nine.

With luck, he’d be good. If he wasn’t, we’d come back either later this month or next month.

I drove us over to the campus, intentionally going past the Blocker building (where the Business school was located) and parking on a cross street.

“I think your buildings are that way, Angie,” I pointed, “and that way, Jas.”

Jasmine nodded. “Yeah. That sounds right.”

“Except that I can go with you for Finance,” Angie said.

“And I might just go along and hang out, if you don’t mind waiting for me when I talk to the Journalism people,” Jas said.

“Works for me,” I said. “But if it takes us more than an hour, you’ll need to head over there or you’ll miss out.”

“I forgot how late it’s gotten,” Jas said. “Yeah. Let’s split up.”

“I’ll tackle Math first,” Angie said. “You two will have the Business people flummoxed.”

“We’ll soften them up for you!” Paige said.

“You do that!”

We took off in our various directions.

As we walked, Paige said, “It’s weird thinking that this will probably be ‘home’ for years starting before too long.”

“It is,” I said. “This is a lot of buildings. I have no idea what most of them are even for.”

“Yeah,” Paige said. “We’ll learn. It’s way different than Memorial.”

“Thirty-two thousand kids instead of sixteen hundred. It’d better be different!”

“You’ve got a point there!”

We headed inside and followed signs to the department offices. The secretary there took our names and then went back to talk to another secretary. I could hear their conversation just enough to hear voices pick up as first ‘Marshall’ and then ‘Seiler’ were mentioned. Apparently, someone knew us, or at least had remembered our applications. Well, that, or was able to quickly look us up.

The secretary came back and said, “Welcome, Paige, and welcome, Steve! Thank you for coming by. I’ve got someone fetching two of our professors to talk to you. We can give you a brief tour and answer any questions you may have.”

“Thank you,” Paige said, and I echoed her.

A few minutes later a woman, likely in her late thirties, came out, introduced herself as Dr. Marietta Tretter, and led Paige off. As they were going, a man, likely in his late thirties, came around the corner, gave the two of them a wave, and came over to me.

“Steve Marshall?” he said.

“Yes, Sir,” I said, smiling.

“I’m Doctor John Dinkel. I’m one of our associate deans. It’s a pleasure to have you and Miss Seiler here. You’re two of our top candidates, along with ... I’m guessing she’s your sister?”

I nodded. “Angie’s off talking to the mathematics department right now.”

“Rare that we get someone who’s trying to double in Finance and Math, but it probably shouldn’t be rare. That’s a potent combination if you can pull it off!”

“Yes, indeed.”

“I’d love to show you around. Did the three of you come up together?”

“Four, Sir. My girlfriend Jasmine Nguyen is looking at Journalism and is over there now.”

“She as sharp as the rest of you?” he said, chuckling.

“We’re all National Merit Semifinalists, and I can’t see anything in the way of making Finalist.”

“That answers that!” he said. “We’re always trying to beat the crowd over at UT for the number of National Merit students we bring in. Four of you together is quite eye-catching. Come on — let me show you around!”

As he led me out into the halls, I said, “I know several more who are considering A&M, all likely National Merit. Two of them are taking a totally different route here, though, but I’m pretty sure at least one of them is looking at Business.”

“How’s that?” he said.

“My friends Andy Smith and Cal Preston have football offers. They’re both considering Business, but I think Cal’s more serious about it.”

“Out of my territory, then,” he said, chuckling. “I hope they come here, though. We do have some very smart kids on the team. Not all of them, but they’ll get every opportunity to do well off the field, not just on it.”

“They’re not even telling me the decision yet. And their girlfriends might have a say in it, too.”

“It does often work that way!” he said.

He showed me a bunch of classrooms, some study spaces, and a small departmental library, plus a computer lab that I expected would grow significantly over the next few years. We talked about my goals while I was walking. He sounded impressed with my knowledge of business and investments.

When we got back to his office, my eyes went right to his framed diplomas. “Northwestern,” I said.

“Yes, indeed,” he said, as we both settled into chairs. “Had a great time there. A lot of work, but a great time.”

“I was up there for six weeks this summer for a Debate summer program.”

“I saw Debate on your transcript,” he said. “Which means we’re not going to have to worry about getting you to stand up and do presentations. That tends to drive a lot of students crazy!”

“You won’t have that problem with any of us,” I said. “Angie and I are in Debate and Drama, while Jasmine and Paige are mostly just in Drama but are taking Debate and have done a lot of practice rounds and some Extemporaneous Speaking.”

“I tend to feel that speech courses create leaders,” he said. “If you can’t present things and advocate for yourself, you can only go so far.”

I nodded. “I agree. On the subject of Northwestern, I’m not sure if you would’ve run into a couple of people I know up there.”