“I’ll be fine,” I assure her, mentally rearranging my schedule to make room for the added work.
“You’ll tell me if it’s too much?”
“It isn’t,” I assure her. And it’s not. Helping people makes me feel good. Taking care of others is my thing. Plus, spring break is around the corner, so I can catch up then.
“How did I get so lucky?” She gives me a quick hug before shooing me out the door. “Go, enjoy the afternoon sunshine. It’s gorgeous out today, and it’s supposed to be rainy all weekend, so enjoy the nice weather while it’s here. I’ve just sent forty freshman psych papers your way, so they’ll keep you warm when the temps drop this weekend.”
“All right, I’m going. Safe travels.”
“Thanks. I’ll be in touch this week,” she tells me, tossing a stack of folders in her bag.
I leave the Dixon building and step outside. Hannah was right. It’s a gorgeous day, especially for early March. The temps are only in the low fifties, but after the cold snap we had, it feels good. The sun is warm on my face, and I decide to follow Hannah’s suggestion. I park myself on a bench by the fountain and pull up my QT app.
“Hey, it’s gorgeous here and I hope things are good wherever you are. I have a rare afternoon open, and since I’m about to be inundated with work, I need suggestions on how to spend my last few hours of freedom before getting back to the grind this weekend. So…what should I do? Sit by the fountain and read? Go for a walk? Try to book a last-minute massage? Tell me in the comments. I’ll do whatever you suggest and post the results tonight.”
While I’m waiting for strangers on the internet to give me life advice, I pull up my family chat. I have eight notifications, so either Luke got a new tattoo and he’s spamming us with pictures, or one of PJ’s kids just did something adorable. It’s a toss-up, to be honest.
Katie: Mark your calendars everyone. Felix is turning 2 and we’re throwing a party here at the farm. The theme is Old MacDonald, so get your overalls out, Uncle Luke.All hands on deck. It’s the last Saturday in April. Ian, do you think you can make it home for the night? The kids miss you! (And so do we!)
Luke: My overalls are always ready. My question is this: are the other moms ready for shirtless Old MacDonald? Cause I’m ready for them.
Mom: Have a third kid, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.
PJ: Mom, are you on cock duty?
PJ: Cake. CAKE. Shit cake.
Dad: Shit cake? That sounds terrible. Marlene, don’t make a shit cake.
Katie: Yeah, vanilla’s probably a better choice.
Luke: PJ, why does your phone autocorrect cake to cock? Just curious.
I laugh out loud, catching looks from a few students passing by. God, I miss my family. And though Felix’s birthday is dangerously close to finals, I can’t miss it.
Ian: Count me in.
I close the message app and reopen QT, curious to see if I have any replies.
One hundred and eighty-one. Damn. It’s been, what? Three minutes. I scan the comments, rolling my eyes at the various users who have creative ways for me to spend a few hours. And maybe I shouldn’t have suggested massage…
A fair number of people think I should get a tattoo, but that sounds painful, so I’ll leave that pastime to Luke. A couple of people suggest finding a pick-up game of basketball, but, clearly, they’re new here. Sportsballing is not for me. A few people suggest taking a nap, but I’d rather not waste the daylight. That leaves me with a few options: do yoga, go for a run, or go to a strip club.
The internet is a strange place.
I drive home, change, and head out the door. I haven’t really been on a good run since undergrad, but it’s like riding a bike, right?
* * *
Booker
I’m weak, I think to myself as I exit the rink, exhausted. I may be strong physically, but three punishing hours of workouts don’t make me any less of a coward. I can lift weights and skate until my legs feel like Jell-O, but I can’t stand up to my father.
I barely mustered the courage to talk to Tony, the athletic academic advisor. All the color drained from his face when I stepped inside his office. I had no doubt my dad threatened the poor guy’s job.
We had a brief conversation wherein he told me I was no longer enrolled in Psych of Human Sexuality, and then I apologized profusely for whatever ugly things my dad said. He said it wasn’t my fault, but I have a feeling I’ll be making my own schedule for next semester. Or worse, my dad will make it for me.
I’m restless. I should go home, but the house is empty. Whit and Lucy are visiting their parents this weekend. They even took Stefan with them. Apparently, Whit’s creepy-looking hairless cat has become quite attached to Lucy’s dad. I don’t think the feeling is mutual, but Dr. Alvarez probably realizes that he has no choice. Whit is here to stay (and so is his cat). Knox and Willa are heading into Philly with Rose for the night. He’s taking his girls to meet the fam, and I don’t know who’s more excited, Willa or Knox’s grandma. Two months ago, she had no clue Knox existed, and now she has a grandson and a great-granddaughter. Ty and Phoebe are gone, too. They’re in Delaware planning Phoebe’s mom’s baby shower.
