18.1 Graduation
Winter 1998, West residence
Linda finally arrived home. Today had been a hard day. She finally had had her hearing about her doctorate thesis she had submitted. The examiners had been harsh on her, and even though she was more than well prepared, she had needed sometimes to think about their questions.
She was just glad it was over.
Now she looked forward to just relax, maybe take a bath, and read some fiction for a change.
But when she opened the door and started the lights, the room was packed full.
"Congratulations on your Doctorate!", about twenty voices cried out.
"Oh my!" Linda was definitely surprised. "Mae, what's this?", she asked her sister.
"A graduation party for you!", Mae replied cheerfully.
"How did you know I'd pass?", Linda asked her.
"Come on...", her sister said, "You're maybe the smartest person I know, and you work like crazy! There's no chance in the world you wouldn't!"
Maybe that was a bit exaggerated, but Linda still felt flattered a little bit.
"Let me guess – you even got maximum points?", Mae asked then.
"Uhm... yeah", Linda admitted shyly.
"I knew it!"
"Congratulations, you sweet little scientist!", now Brian went forward, and kissed her gently on the cheek.
"Thank you!"
And then Delilah. "Congratulations, Linda! I'm so proud of you!" She hugged her tightly.
"Thank you, Dee!"
"Congratulations! Want a Margherita? Leroy made some, they're quite good!", Diana said to her. It seems everyone wanted to talk to her now.
"Thanks... ", Linda said, taking the glass.
"What did you work on?", Leroy asked her, "Dee said something with plants?"
Linda wasn't used to so much attention.
"Yes, I got some alien plant samples from the SRC. I sequenced their genome code", she explained.
"Really?! So you managed!", Frank said. Linda distantly remembered she might have told him once something about her doctorate work. But she wasn't sure how much anymore, or when it was.
"That plant still gives a big head ache to the astrobiologists at the SRC!", he continued.
Ah yes, he worked there, too.
"Hey Frank, shut up with the nerd talk!", Paolo interrupted him now. "Others want to congratulate her too!"
This was gonna be a long night, Linda thought.
But she was happy.
Frank.....yes...you know her, but she didn’t remember telling him stuff?
ReplyDeleteHe's not really on her radar - yet! xD
DeleteThey don't meet frequently.
congrats Linda! Oh notice Frank already will ya? XD Frank and Leroy really look like brothers here.
ReplyDeleteHaha! He made sure to get her attention!
DeleteYeah Frank just standing in the background all like, "yeah, I'ma get her to notice me. Cuz I'm smart too. That pretty boy aint what she's needin'." And he waited until pretty boy had his say, some others spoke, and then he made sure she noticed him, not an easy thing to do with 'head-in-the-dirt' Linda. And that's not an insult.
ReplyDelete(definitely tons of sugar in that cobbler)
LOL yup gaining her attention is not the easiest unless it's plant talk
DeleteActually I think Linda might appreciate the nerd talk. At least it will be in her element. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL yes talk nerd to her and she won't stop 😆
DeleteAww how sweet of Mae! What a big day for Linda! I hope she manages to enjoy it. So like her that she doesn't even remember what Frank said. Clearly she's memorable for him though, so I will cling on to my ship.
ReplyDeleteAlso, impressed by how many sims you crammed in here - you are very brave! :D
Yep, Mae loves to throw parties, and what better opportunity than her sis getting her PhD? :D
DeleteLOL thank you! It was almost as bad as a wedding! 😂😂