Pulse

25

J ody Jason had no idea why Professor Pratt wanted to meet her here, though it must pertain to their earlier conversation about some profound change in Jody’s life. In a way, it didn’t surprise Jody that Elaine Pratt had chosen this place. She probably knew it was one of Jody’s favorite spots on campus, an oasis conducive to study and quiet. And private conversations. It was like Professor Pratt to know such things.

From where she sat on a concrete bench in the shade of a fifty-year-old post oak, Jody had a wide and impressive view of the Waycliffe campus. The green, manicured quadrangle, with its concrete paths and uniformly trimmed trees; its occasional lounging student; its encompassing ivy trellised brick buildings. It all looked like a painting by a master impressionist.

Though the afternoon was warm, there was a persistent soft breeze. It was pleasantly cool in the shade of the tree’s clustered leaves, which rattled in the wind.

Jody often sat on this particular bench to read, and it always amazed her that there were never any bird droppings on it. Or, so it seemed, on any of the benches. Maybe maintenance had some special chemical that repelled birds. Or maybe the birds simply knew better, at a prestigious college like Waycliffe.

“You beat me here,” a woman’s voice said.

Jody looked over and saw that Professor Pratt had approached her unseen, at an angle.

“It was so pleasant,” Jody said, “I thought I’d come early and sit here a while.”

Elaine (as Jody informally and privately thought of the professor) glanced around and smiled. “It is beautiful. And useful. As beauty often is.”

Jody scooted over to allow Elaine room to sit down, but the professor chose to remain standing.

“I hope I haven’t screwed up,” Jody said.

Elaine seemed amused. “Why would you think that?”

“This is… such a private and distant place, I thought… well, I don’t know what I thought.”

“That I chose a place where no one would observe us or overhear us shouting at each other?” “Not that,” Jody said with a smile. Might this be about something else altogether? A disciplinary measure? Did Elaine know about those times Jody had sneaked off campus to explore the town after dark? About that over-amorous associate professor she’d kneed in the groin at the annual Waycliffe anniversary party?

What the hell’s going on here? I can think of a few possibilities, and I don’t like them.

“Chancellor Schueller and I have ruminated upon you further,” Elaine said. She seemed to be enjoying this, stringing it out and keeping Jody in the agony of curiosity.

Uh-oh. This didn’t feel like a positive discussion.

Elaine waited. For maximum effect, Jody was sure. Was Jody going to be reprimanded? Cautioned about future behavior?

There should be suspenseful music here.

Jody felt momentarily pissed off. She knew the game now and put on an eager expression. Let Elaine think she was squirming inside. Actually, she was getting bored and at this point didn’t much care where the game would end. Waycliffe wasn’t the only college in the world.

“You’ve been approved for an internship at Enders and Coil,” Elaine said.

Jody didn’t have to fake her surprise. Two months ago she had, almost as a matter of routine, filled out brief applications for summer internships at some of the major law firms in the area. Not really holding out much hope. It wasn’t easy to obtain internships. Usually, somebody had to know somebody for it to happen. Or…

“I’d be replacing Macy Collins,” Jody said.

“Someone must,” Elaine Pratt said.

The summer had started without any of the internships coming through. Jody had pushed the possibility from her mind. It had been a long shot anyway. But now, this late in the season, one of them had accepted her because of murder.

“Often in life, someone’s misfortune is someone else’s opportunity. Pick up the sword and use it, Jody.”

“That sounds so… Roman.”

“The Romans had a lot of things right.” Elaine Pratt said. “And whatever you do will make no difference to Macy Collins.”

Jody wanted to learn the particulars of what Macy had done at the law firm, and how well she’d done it. Obvious questions to ask, and difficult ones to answer. Jody knew that and remained silent.

Causing Elaine to smile. These two could understand each other.

“I pressed for you to be the choice,” Elaine said. “The chancellor agreed and recommended you to the firm.”

Jody could believe that. It seemed that the Elaine and Schueller had a special relationship. Not romantic or sexual… but something drew them together. Maybe something kinky, after all. But Jody didn’t want to even imagine that. Unless maybe the chancellor took Elaine up in his airplane and they…

Jody put on a big grin. Not all of it fake. “Thank you! Really! Thanks to both of you.”

“You deserve it. Enders and Coil’s offices are in Manhattan, but you won’t have to commute. Though the internship doesn’t pay, of course, it does include a small apartment near the firm.”

“In Manhattan?”

“Of course.”

“That’s so great!” Jody said, and meant it. An apartment in Manhattan. Holy shit! This could all work. She had enough left of her student loan to be able to clothe and feed herself. She hoped.

Elaine drew a deep breath, then exhaled loudly and clasped her hands. “So, we’re all set?”

Time to throw shit in the game.

“Professor Pratt, I hate to ask this, but would you mind if I thought about the offer?”

Elaine almost laughed out loud in surprise, but she held a neutral expression. Just like that, dominance had shifted and she was now the one on pins and needles. How would it look if she’d pressed so hard for Jody, and then Jody brushed off the internship? What would Chancellor Schueller think? How would Enders and Coil react? How would this affect Professor Pratt’s career?

“Can you let me know tomorrow?” she asked, careful not to sound anxious.

Jody thought for a long few seconds-in control now and letting Elaine know it-and then nodded. “Sure. No problem there.”

“Here, either,” Elaine said.

When Jody got up, she gave her a big hug.

Jody sat back down and watched the professor’s retreating figure change shapes as it passed through lengthening shadows across the quadrangle.

She didn’t know quite what to think other than WTF? as they said on the social networks.