Henry was 5'9" of longish golden blond hair, lifeguard's chin, innocent eager eyes, and 146 lbs of good intentions. He had a bit of a crush on Vic, and was also an industrial design major, which is exactly what Victor needed.

Henry was hunched slightly over, staring at Herbie's heat-injector mind control device, which Vic borrowed (or "stole", if you prefer, since Herbie had no clue that he'd taken it) following the conclusion of the latest freshmen henhouse menagerie get-together. It was clear Henry had never seen anything quite like it. As evidenced by his saying to Vic, "I've never seen anything quite like it. What is it, anyway?"

"That's not quite as important as making another one. Can you do it?" Henry gave Vic a quizzical look rife with doubt. Vic went on, encouragingly, "I mean, that's what you do, right? You create machines and stuff? You take it all apart and put it together or improve it or like that. That's all I need. For you to figure out exactly how this thing works, what it does, and then build me another one just like it. No biggie."

Henry gulped, clearly aware that such an undertaking was indeed a biggie, whether or not Vic knew it. "That's not exactly what I'm learning to do, you know."

As a matter of fact, Vic did not know. "What? You're an industrial designer, right? This is an industrial piece of...I dunno, something or other...I need you to decipher its design. Fits the job description."

"Hardly. That's an industrial engineer. And I'm not even a real industrial designer yet, it's just what I'm studying to be. I'm gonna, one day, design the look, the casings, the shape and general outer form of different machines and stuff for both function and pleasing aesthetics."

Vic crossed his arms, pondering. "So that's different, huh?"

"Yeah, that's different."

"Huh."

Henry ran his hands over the outer casing, fingers moving skillfully across the surface, with a delicate precision more reminiscent of a young pianist than a mechanic. He then peered inside the side panel, letting out a low whistle in admiration of what he observed within. He grinned then, seeing how various components fit together and functioned in unison. His attentiveness was not lost on Vic.

"So can you do it, then?"

Henry turned and looked at Vic, a smile starting to spread across his face. "Yeah, I think I can pull it off. What's this thing's primary function have to do with?"

"Heat."

Henry rubbed his chin. "Now that makes sense, given the heating coils and interior cooling system in there." Henry looked at the machine again, then back at Vic. "Weirdest thing, though, almost all the parts used are really pretty common. This is, like, a real Radio Shack do-it-yourselfer, whatever it is. I mean, it may do something really sophisticated, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't need advanced micro circuitry or a plutonium core to do it."

"So you can do it, then?" Vic leaned forward hopefully.

"Yup. Think so, anyway. How fast do you need the copy?"

"Fast. Soon. I kind of stole this one and need to put it back before it's missed."

Henry smiled. "One condition."

"Name it."

Henry suddenly looked a bit uncomfortable. He fiddled with the side panel on the heat-inducer, ran his fingers along the length of its cord, flicked specks of lint off its casing. "Umm...well, it's nothing technical, or like that. I mean, I have everything I need here at the school shops as far as parts and equipment go. We have some cool tools and--"

"Henry. What?"

Henry looked up at Vic like a little kid asking exhausted parents for a fifth ride on the Ferris wheel. "Will you go out with me?"

Vic's face burst into a brilliant smile. Had the question been posed at the start of the semester, Vic would have spewed forth a string of denials, excuses, and put-downs before turning and stalking out of the room. But this was not the start of the semester, and a lot had happened since then.

"Deal."

Henry's face lit up. He was going back in line for the Ferris wheel. "Really??"

"Really. It'd be my pleasure."

"Cool! Well, we have a deal, then!!"

Henry stuck out his hand for he and Vic to shake on it, which Vic ignored. Instead, he bent down and kissed Henry ever-so-delicately on the forehead. Henry felt his heart skip a beat. Vic stepped back, heading toward the door. "Just remember to keep things all hush-hush. Mum's the word." He put an index finger to his lips.

Henry nodded, looking as if he'd swallowed his tongue. "Uh-huh."

"And I really appreciate your help, man. Really."

Another nod. "uh-huh."

"So. Pick you up tomorrow night at eight? Dinner and a movie, on me?"

A faster nod. "Uh-huh."

Vic gave Henry the thumbs-up, and slipped out the door. The sound of the closing door was punctuated by the sound of 146 lbs of flesh impacting dully with the mechanicicals lab floor. Henry had fallen backwards off his stool.