He didn’t speak on the way to his office, but he offered me tea and waved his hand toward the chair across his desk in a friendly manner once we got there. Weighty academic books mixed in stacks with children’s stories on every flat surface. He poured hot water from an electric kettle into a mug and peered at me over his glasses.
“I’d rather you tell me if you’re having any issues that makes your papers late than worry that you’re struggling with the coursework and aren’t asking for the help you need.”
The blunt statement made me blink. I wasn’t sure what I expected. Scolding probably, or some pointed words about not slacking off in the home stretch. My current grades assured me of graduation in May except for in Dr. Endicott’s class. I had no problem with diagnostics, neurodivergence definitions, treatment strategies, behavioral health, or the business ethics and management courses. Advanced statistics, the math side of psychology, was not my cup of tea.
Dr. Endicott raised his and took another sip. “You have a couple of months left, and this is a required course. Employersare going to look at these final grades because they have nothing else to go by. What’s going on?”
I couldn’t tell my advisor that I forgot to finish my report because I got caught up in a silly baby dance marathon with my sexy ex-client and his adorable baby girl. With Evie bouncing and shaking her ruffled behind, and Gil mimicking her moves in a pair of slim chinos, there was no way I could think about correlation and regression analysis of diverse elementary demographics who experienced mass acute trauma events.
Guilt swamped me. How selfish could I get? Before I could open my mouth to explain and apologize, my professor spoke up again.
“Family trouble? Work responsibilities taking up too much time? Got a new girlfriend? It’s not my place or intention to pry into your personal life, but I do take my duties seriously. You show great promise, Mr. Burkhart, and the world needs more qualified, intelligent, and empathetic youth counselors.”
“I’m gay, so no girlfriend.” No boyfriend either, just a guy I couldn’t stop thinking and dreaming about. “My last work position recently ended, so I should have more focus going forward. I’m sorry I handed in the last report late.”
Dr. Endicott jumped to his feet and turned to a precarious stack of books and papers in the corner. “Oh, that reminds me.” He shifted a couple of textbooks and an ABC reader with cartoon bears on the cover before pulling out a colorful brochure with smiling people on the front. “I forgot you’re gay. I have his for you.” He handed over the papers.
The spark of worry that my academic advisor decided to either proselytize or sign me up for some gay recreation group winked out when I read the cover. “Prism House. LGBTQ+ youth services.” I looked up to see him smiling at me.
“They’re looking for an intern for the summer and autumn. Their full-time counselor is leaving the job before the winterholidays, and they want to find someone new for the post. I remembered you told me you’re gay, and then I forgot again. Sorry!”
I opened the brochure and skimmed some of the info. “This looks wonderful. Thank you, Dr. Endicott.”
He waved a hand and sipped some more tea. “Call them. I’ll send over my recommendation letter right away. It’s a good fit for you, I think.”
Whether he told them about me because I was the only one of his students who came out to him or he thought I actually had skills that could help, I didn’t care. This looked like the perfect position that aligned with my career goals, and I wasn’t going to let anything distract me from the opportunity.
“Thank you so much. I’ll call first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Excellent. You’re still getting eight points off for the late turn-in. Don’t let it happen again.” He smiled while he said it, though, and waved me out the door in a friendly manner.
Hope buoyed my steps as I rushed down the hall and out into the frigid air.
Spending time with Gil and Evie was a lot more fun than researching and writing, but I couldn’t let it get in the way of my future. Completing coursework mattered for a lot more than getting good grades. One day soon, kids and teens would rely on me to help them, and I needed to know everything to serve them in the best way possible.
Would my time with the sexy single father and his daughter pay off as much as hard work in the long run? The fact that I considered the future when I thought of them felt strange, but also sent a zing of want through me. I shook my head and dug my keys out of my pocket.
Before I could psych myself up for the phone call to Prism House, text Gil to see how his day went, or get home to study for an upcoming test, I had a lunch date with my close friendChandra to get to. We’d bonded in college even though she was two years ahead of me and stayed in touch throughout my master’s program and her law school days.
Most people in my life hovered on the edges. My family sent infrequent check-in texts. I got along with my roommates, Emilio and Dave, but they weren’t really friends. Study groups formed and broke up based on class needs, but no one stuck together afterward. Gilbert took over any empty social spots and quickly transcended friendship.
This wasn’t high school. Not that I’d had tons of friends then either. As a skinny, freckled, gay ginger, you’d expect bullying more than in-crowd acceptance. I was lucky. Mostly people ignored me. My degree program advisor said the experience could help me form empathy with young people I counseled in the future.
I spotted Chandra at a corner table in the café and headed over. “Hi, girl!”
She raised a sculpted eyebrow at me. “Hi, yourself. I already ordered coffee. I have exactly an hour, so let’s dive right in.”
Her straight to the point attitude always made me laugh. “I’m not one of your clients, you know. Can’t we just have a nice chat?”
The server came by and took our orders – falafel wrap for her and portabella burger for me – and then whisked away again. “Speaking of clients, how’s your friend? Gilbert, was it?”
I couldn’t help but smile, which made Chandra narrow her eyes at me. “He really appreciated the recommendation for the attorney. Giovanni’s helping a lot.” I filled her in on the basics without compromising Gil’s privacy.
She’d have to get to know him first. Maybe we could get together with her and Peter sometime. She’d like him. Peter would try to make him go to the gym. He still tried to convince me to take up cross-fit, whatever that was, every time I sawhim. The idea of introducing Gil to my closest friends warmed something deep inside.
“He has a daughter, right?” She sipped her coffee while watching me over the rim of the mug. “And you’re dating him. Are you ready to take on a kid?”
The arrival of our lunch plates gave me time to think. I took a big bite of my burger before responding. “Well, I am an experienced and certified childcare provider, you know.”
