College choice: B.U., an Orin/Avril decision brokered by C.T.

pivotal · B.S. ~2001 (Orin ~18)

• When: B.S. ~2001 (Orin's late-17/18 college-decision period; freshman fall follows immediately, event 11)
• What: Burned out at a low-70s ranking, Orin chose Boston University — not a tennis power, three subway stops from E.T.A. — "kind of a joint Orin Incandenza/Avril Incandenza decision," with Avril privately favoring it (close enough to come home) while performing non-intrusiveness so scrupulously that "for six weeks [she] would flee any room Orin entered, both hands clapped over her mouth." Charles Tavis flew down to liaise with the B.U. coach; that same interval, at Avril's urging, C.T. stayed on as Assistant Headmaster, "moving in just as he, Orin, moved out" — a resentment C.T. later interprets aloud at length.