Neighbourhood Talk

18.2 Graduation

Winter 1998, West residence

The party had gone for quite a while. Most of the guests were drinking, dancing and just enjoying themselves. Linda rather opted to sit down and relax a bit. She had had to stand for almost the whole day already.

"So what will you do now, with that Doctor title of yours?", Brian asked her, smiling.

"Actually, the university asked me to stay at the research center and continue experimenting on my project", she replied, feeling the warmth of shy pride on her cheeks.

"Oh, that's such a nice offer!", her neighbour Madeleine exclaimed.

It was, just...

"The only downside is that I'll have to give lessons too...", Linda sighed.

There was no job at the university, without at least some teaching involved.

"Well, learning how to teach others might be a very usefull skill for your future!", Brian said.

Only that Linda hated to speak in front of audiences.

She sighed once more. "Maybe you're right...". It never was bad to push one's boundaries, after all.

Behind her she heard her neighbour Jesse approach. "Maddie, why dun' ya dansssss....", he tried to articulate himself.

"Jesse!", Madeleine whispered sharply, "Don't drink so much!"

Almost in the same second she turned to Linda: "Oh, how the time passed! I think we have to leave now, dear. Have a nice party!"

She barely finished and got up already.

"It was nice to have you here!", Linda replied politely, trying not to break out in laughter.

"Linda, darling", Brian also turned to her. "I'll have to prepare for the business trip tomorrow, so I have to go now, too. I'll see you next weekend?"

Linda nodded.

He kissed her goodbye on the cheek.

"Good night, darling!", he said.

"Good night!"

Linda slowly felt how tired she actually was. And just the thought of cleaning up the mess the guests had caused, gave her a head ache.

"You look like you could use another drink!", she heard Frank coming towards her.

"I could use a good night's sleep...", she shot back, without paying too much attention.

"Oh - I didn't mean... ", Linda immediately felt bad for being so impolite. Also she just realized that they had barely talked the whole night. And she felt sorry for it.

"Hey," Frank showed an apologetic smile. "You probably didn't have enough the last few days."

Linda knew he understood the stress of preparing a hearing.

He turned towards the others. "Guys, taco Friday is starting at the Mudhole, let's go!"

The other guests cheered, and started to move towards the door. Most of them were quite drunk.

Linda watched them amused.

Frank turned to her once more. "Good night, Linda," he said. "Tomorrow I'll come help you clean up."

Linda smiled. "Thanks", she replied.

"Hmm, I think we overdid the partying a little?", her sister chuckled, coming to her, while Herbert tried to drag out Mariella, who apparently didn't want to let go of the puppy.

"Did you seriously just invite everyone you know?", Linda said, but she had to laugh. "The house was cramped full!"

"I didn't invite the Brandenburgs!", Mae answered, pulling off the most innocent face she could manage.

Both women had to laugh.

20 comments:

maladi777April 12, 2018 at 6:59 AM
Hmm, Frank seems to be a better match for her. She's also more relaxed around him. There's no chemistry between her and Brian.
PiazzagirlMay 10, 2018 at 6:19 AM
I've been shipping Linda and Frank too. They just seem so right for each other.
WagonfruitJune 22, 2018 at 6:56 PM
Gonna have to jump on the Linda Frank bandwagon: YES PLZ
AudreyFldOctober 9, 2018 at 5:07 PM
Linda and Frank...need a ship name. Flinda!
TripOctober 19, 2018 at 5:39 PM
Brian's very boring but I know that's the point. :P
LizzieOctober 20, 2018 at 6:03 AM
Frank is a good friend. I have a feeling he'd make a good more-than-friends kind-of person for Linda. That party scene was awesome though and it was nice of Mae to want to celebrate with her sister. I can't help but wonder why Brian didn't want to help Linda in the morning with the clean-up.
MrsRacooneyApril 4, 2019 at 3:52 PM
Telling from my immeasurable experience with research assistants giving lessons and watching student labs, Linda would be much loved by all the students despite her shyness. She wouldn't get angry when someone hasn't learned all the stuff for a lab day but help them with hints or more detailed questions to get the answers in the colloquia right. She would always be helpful and ready to explain things, even in higher semesters so I say she should definitely accept the job offer. Giving lessons might not ever become her favorite part of the job, but it would sure benefit the students and she wouldn't hate it, either.
candy cottonApril 4, 2019 at 4:37 PM
She is uncomfortable to have to talk in front of others, but she knows she's capable of it. And also, it's a good opportunity for her to continue her research, so she'll definitely accept.
mypalsim1August 30, 2019 at 2:40 AM
Yep. There he goes again. Standing in the background ready to be Linda's knight in flannel armor, coming in to save the day, um night, at just the right time--and with saying he'll be by the next day to do a little 'cleaning.' uh huh. :)
MercuryfoamMay 27, 2020 at 4:20 AM
Aw Frank! Well done! Linda will remember that. He became the host for her. I have to say he compliments her and can help her where she feels uncomfortable. I mean. Look at that. I'm impressed!
The PlumbobSeptember 24, 2020 at 7:55 PM
Linda and Brian have no chemsitry at all, and even though they've been together for a while now, there is no intimacy there either. But... I do agree with him that learning how to teach others would be a good skill for Linda to learn. She is very in her own head (I can't blame her, I'm the same), so it would do her good to learn how to pay a bit more attention to others and their cues. Ya know, like Frank. Does she even realise how receptive he's been there and how he got the whole party going to help her get rest? I doubt it. Man, he's such a catch. If Linda doesn't want him, I'll take him off her hands 😆