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She sighed. “I tried. He said I needed to give it more time.”
“Which you have. This is your second year learning to program.”
Lucy nodded.
“Have you talked to him lately?”
She shook her head. “My brother’s going to graduate from MIT in the spring. It’s all Dad can talk about. He’s so proud. Look at how smart his son is. Won’t it be great when he has two computer science graduates.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “Are you going to MIT?”
“I applied.” Lucy heaved a sigh. “I don’t think I’ll get in. That’s going to be a big enough problem to deal with. Maybe I’ll get into Virginia Tech. He won’t be as proud, but it’s still a good school.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, Lucy, it does. Don’t set yourself up for misery. Going to a college you’re not excited about—choosing a major you hate? None of that is a recipe for good mental health.” I’d seen enough of it when I was in college to know. I’d seen the burnout and depression in students who were just trying to do what their parents expected with no concern for aptitude or interest.
“They won’t listen.”
“Would they listen to me?”
A tiny glimmer of hope sparked in her eyes, but it quickly flickered out. “I doubt it.”
“Would you like me to try?” It wasn’t my favorite kind of parent call to make, but it was still something I considered to be part of my job.
“Do you have to tell them I cheated?”
I shook my head. “Not necessarily. I am going to need you to do a makeup program though. And I’m going to need you to do it after school so I can supervise.”
Lucy’s shoulders hunched. “Okay.”
“You should probably get going so you’re not late to your next class. I’ll email and set up a time to talk to your parents. You deserve better than this. You’re a smart girl, Lucy. And while I wouldn’t say computers are your future—they could be, if you wanted it. But since you don’t? You need to find something you’re passionate about that your parents can get on board with.”
“I like math. I’m good at it. Dad just doesn’t think there are any jobs for mathematicians other than teaching. He wants me to be able to support myself.”
“That’s good info. I’ll see if I can slip in a word or two about actuaries.”
Lucy’s eyes lit. “I’ve read some about that. Working with statistics sounds so cool.”
I laughed. It took all kinds. “Let me take a run at your parents and I’ll figure out a makeup project.”
“Thanks, Miss Jones.”
“You’re welcome.” I smiled at her as she gathered her things and scurried from my office, through the classroom, and out into the hall. I glanced at the clock. I could probably choke down my sandwich before the next class arrived.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.
Or I could spend a few minutes praying for the headache forming behind my eyes to go away before it turned into a full-blown migraine.
7
AUSTIN
Ipulled out the last chair at the poker table in Scott’s living room and sat.
“Hey, man. Glad you could make it.” Cody dug into the bowl of nacho chips and crunched at his handful. “We were starting to wonder.”
