Chapter 19
Greg was hard at work in his office as well. He was working on trying to figure out when the curse would strike next. It was during one of his conversations with Liz that had him thinking; of all the strange occurrences that had plagued his life of late. If he could figure out what they had in common he would be able to make a prediction. So far all he could come up with was random. He really needed some one who knew math.
“Hiya, Boss” Brenda called out as she entered the office without knocking.
Greg looked up to see her unsmiling face. Uh oh, she must have talked to someone before coming here. Greg put on his most charming face.
“Good morning Brenda,” he said. “How was your weekend? “
“It was fine until I met Liz, typing away at her desk.” Brenda met his charm unflinching.
Liz, she talked to Liz, he had forgotten all about their friendship. Of course she would talk to Liz first. Some panic starts to set in.
“Liz is well?, I hope.” He hedges.
“Liz is just fine, She is just dandy.” Brenda is clearly not happy with his new project.
He would like to tell her, but Greg is not sure she will understand. Telling Liz was one thing, she was there, and saw what the curse could do. It may be better to not get anyone else involved.
“I guess you are wondering where this new set of Independent Studies came from?”
“NO.” Brenda huffs. “I just wanta know why now?”
“Oh.” Greg is relieved, she is not going to quit. “I am on deadline, so to speak, I have till the end of the summer till this collection must be returned.”
The truth, he tells himself, omitting the whole curse thing.
“You kidding. you academics are too much.” Brenda laughs at him waving her arms back and forth.
“I am glad we cleared that up.” Greg gives her a wry grin back.
“Right, what-ever. I am going to see about getting this posted. then Liz and I are off to lunch.” Brenda says as she calms down, no longer angry about the extra work load.
“You’re having lunch with Liz?” Greg sounds wistful.
“Oh man you two have it bad.” Brenda just shakes her head at him. Her black curls bounce around.
“She’s…” He sighs. “Like a beautiful statue waiting to be discovered.” He thinks about the fun weekend the two of them had. How quick she was to defend him or kiss him.
“I am soo out of here.” Brenda’s disgusted voice breaks through his memories of Liz.
“uh, What did I say?” He is confused by Brenda’s lack of sympathy.
She just chuckles at him some more and waves byebye.
…
“Uh, Professor Marten?” The nervous young man standing in Greg’s doorway shuffled his feet and adjusted his hat.
“Yes?” Greg answered him, tired of the extra work he has been putting. Not to mention the lack of sleep these past two weeks.
“Um. I am here about the IDS’s” he ripped his hat off his head and stumbled forward a couple of steps into the office.
“Inca artifacts, right” the nervous young man added. “are you all booked up?”
“Do I know you?” Greg gave his face a rub and waved the boy in before he goose steps himself into a wall or something.
“I took your Intro class my first year. sir. I went on to classic’s studies. but i have a good understanding of-”
“What do you know about Inca history or languages?” Greg broke off the young man’s ramblings.
“Oh my mother sir, she is indian, from peru. I speak spanish but she taught me some symbolism.”
“your mother?” Greg asked in disbelief.
“Yes sir.”
Greg thinks to himself what the hell. If the kid can remember anything from his mother or if he can bring her in…Greg doesn’t let himself finish that thought.
“Name?”
“um.”
“Your name. if I am going to have you as part of this IDS I am going to have to know your name.”
“Jess. Carlos Jess sir.”
“Alright Carlos. I will have to check your work from the classic’s department and go over your grades from my class. Unless you are doing sub-par you should be in.”
“thank you sir. Can I get your signature for the registrar.”
“hand it here.” Greg stood and took the tattered piece of paper out of Carlos’ hand. With a quick flourish of his pen his signs off on the class.
“I will see you first thing in the morning Carlos.”
“I have two classes tomorrow.”
“It’s alright, I am not going to make you work yet,” Greg suppressed a grin at this nervous young man. “I just want to introduce you to the rest of the team and give you the first pieces to work on.”
“Thank you sir.” Carlos gave him a half shy grin as Greg returned the paper.
As Carlos shuffled out of his office, Greg shook his head at the young student’s behavior. It was bad enough when he couldn’t get Liz to say more than two words without mumbling. Now the students, what next?
Taking his sit once again he carefully pens in Carlos’ name in with the 4 other senior that have signed up for this Independent Student. And hopefully would save his life.
…
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