The Aspiring Journalist
29-year-old Ezra Fitz was pulling into the town of Rosewood Pennsylvania. He had visited the town a few weeks, before when he had interviewed for a professor position at Hollis College. A few days after the interview, he got the call that he had been hired to teach journalism and communications courses. Ezra had a Bachelor's Degree in English and Journalism. He also had a Master's Degree in Journalism. After he finished graduate school, he was offered a job as an embedded journalist in Iraq. He embedded with American troops there. Early on, he saw how difficult war was. Then one day, he along with a few American troops became very effected by war. A bomb had been thrown at the Humvee there were traveling in. Ezra lost his lower left leg as a result.
He didn't remember much of what happened. He awoke days later in a military hospital. The doctors told him that they had to amputate his leg in order to save his life. Ezra was devastated by the loss, but he understood why it had to be done. His mother Dianne visited him once when he was brought back to the United States to a rehab hospital.
Years earlier, Dianne was upset with Ezra's decision of not going into the family business.
At the rehab hospital, Dianne entered Ezra's room and said, "Hello Ezra. I'm so relieved that you survived. I'm sorry about your leg."
Ezra was a bit surprised by his mother's sympathetic tone. He had expected her to come in and belittle him.
Ezra said, "Thank you Mom. I'm glad you are here visiting me."
Dianne said, "Of course, I would visit. You are my son. Even though I'm still upset with the decision you made in the past. I had to at least make sure you are ok. The doctors I spoke to said that you will be getting a prosthetic leg soon. I hope that goes well for you."
Ezra and his mother spoke about other things that day. But after she left, she didn't keep in contact much. Ezra went through physical therapy and learned to walk on his prosthetic leg. He always wore pants and many people didn't know about his prosthetic leg.
He started to looking for other journalism jobs, but was having trouble. He then emailed his former professor Kyle Bennett for help. Kyle had been Ezra's favorite journalism professor at UPenn. When Ezra received Kyle's response email. He found out that Kyle was living in a small town and teaching at a small college in Rosewood, Pennsylvania. Later on, Ezra and Kyle talked over the phone. Ezra told Kyle about what happened to him in Iraq and the difficulties he was having in finding a job. Kyle then suggested that Ezra go into teaching. Ezra was unsure. He had never thought about teaching, but he decided to think about it. Later on, Kyle arranged an interview for Ezra.
Now Ezra was here in Rosewood, getting ready to start a new chapter in his life. He found an apartment close to the college. It was a studio apartment. Ezra didn't mind and he also didn't mind that it was on the second floor. He spent a few days setting up his apartment.
The fall semester was scheduled to start in two weeks. Ezra arrived at the Hollis Faculty offices. There he met up with Kyle. Kyle showed him around the campus and then led Ezra to a faculty luncheon. There Ezra met up again with a few people he had encountered during his interview.
Ezra was then approached by a man in his 40s with light brown hair.
The man said, "You must be Ezra Fitz, the new professor in the journalism department. I'm Byron Montgomery, head of the English department."
"It is good to meet you." Ezra said holding out his hand.
"You too. Kyle has told me good things about you." Byron said.
Ezra glanced at Kyle and said, "Thanks, buddy."
Byron said, "If you need anything, let me know. I know we are in different departments, I just like helping out new professors."
Ezra said, "Thank you".
A week later, Ezra was in his campus office. Today he would be meeting his teaching assistant. He knew the teaching assistant was a graduate student. He was a bit nervous about having someone work under him. He wanted to be a easy going "boss". It was around noon, when he heard a knock on the door.
He opened the door and immediately noticed the wheelchair. He then saw the person in it, a young woman in her 20s. She was petite and she had brown hair and eyes. She smiled at him.
She said, "Hello Mr. Fitz. I'm Aria Montgomery. I just received word that I will be your teaching assistant."
Ezra starred a bit at the young women in the wheelchair.
Aria noticed it and said, "I know you must be surprised. But please don't feel uncomfortable."
Ezra quickly responded, "I was surprised. But please come into my office."
He held the door open as she wheeled into the office. Ezra saw that she was wearing a light green button up blouse and black dress pants. She had a briefcase over her lap.
Ezra guided her to his desk. He watched as she set the breaks on her wheelchair.
Aria opened her briefcase and handed him some papers, "This is my C.V. I thought you would like to look it over. The department sent me here right away."
Ezra looked over Aria's curriculum vitae(C.V.). He saw that she had received her undergraduate degree in Communications and Journalism from Hollis. He had seen that she was involved in a number of journalism and writing organizations.
He then looked at Aria and said, "Very impressive. I like that you have reached out to the community quite a bit. It says that you were a literacy tutor."
"Yes I was. There were some children at the local elementary school having trouble with reading. I volunteered to work with them after school. That turned into a job with the local library." Aria said.
"May, I ask why you received a journalism degree?" Ezra asked
"I started college, thinking about becoming an English professor like my father. Then I took an intro to journalism course and I saw the power that comes from journalism. I know the journalism industry is dying a bit. But I think there is a lot of good that still can be done from it. You see, part of the reason I went into journalism is because I want to help people with disabilities. I want to keep raising awareness of the struggles we face. I know that probably sounds corny to you." Aria said.
Ezra said, "It doesn't at all. Can I ask about why you are in that wheelchair?"
Aria said, "Sure. It was during my sophomore year of high school. One of my friends had just gotten a car and a license. We were driving out in the country. Another friend was with us. A deer came in front of the car. She tried to avoid hitting it, but she lost control of the car. I suffered a spinal cord injury. I'm paralyzed from the waist down."
Ezra thought a bit about the bomb in Iraq and how his life was changed, but then focused back to Aria and said, "I'm so sorry that happened to you. It must have been difficult to go though all of that."
"It was. I learned to live a different life. It isn't easy. I want to assure you Mr. Fitz that my disability won't effect my duties. I might occasionally need help with something. But I promise that I won't be a burden."
Ezra saw the nervousness in her eyes and face.
He faced and said, "I know that you won't be a burden and please don't think of yourself as that. I assume people have given you a hard time in the past because of the wheelchair. What happened to the other people in the car with you?
Aria responded, "The driver didn't get hurt other than scratches and bruises. The other friend with us, had broken ribs and a shoulder injury."
Ezra then decided to reveal his own slight disability to her.
He put his left leg over his lap.
"Now Ms. Montgomery. I have to reveal something to you, but please keep it between us."
Aria looked at him a bit puzzled and said, "Ok. What is it?"
Ezra pulled up the pant leg on his left leg and revealed his prosthesis to Aria.
She gasped a bit and then looked at him.
Ezra responded, "I was an embedded journalist in Iraq. I got hurt over there with some troops. I don't want to talk about it. I lost the lower part of my leg. People who don't know about it, don't notice it because I don't have a limp or anything. The only person here that knows about it is Kyle Bennett."
Aria said, "I won't tell anyone. If you need to talk. I might be able to help you."
"I'm fine. I just don't want people to know about this. I don't want to be treated differently."
He then saw a look of sadness form on Aria's face. He felt that he had insulted her.
He said, "I'm sorry I said that. I just don't want people to know about this. I'm sure it must be difficult for you at times when people see you."
"It is. But I've gotten used to certain things. I better get going." Aria said.
"Ok. About we meet on Wednesday to discuss syllabi and other things for the courses." Ezra said.
"Sure."
Aria later wheeled herself out to the parking lot. She came to her blue minivan. She had received the van a few years before. It was customized with hand controls that allowed her to drive it. It had a nice automatic ramp. She got herself into the van and then drove off the house she lived in with her friend Emily Fields.
The house Emily lived in was a two story home. It belonged to her parents. They were living in Texas because of her father's job in the military. But luckily, there was a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor for Aria. Aria helped Emily as much she could with cooking and cleaning. Aria liked having a sense of independence. She would only ask help when she needed it. Sometimes she hated asking for help. She also felt a bit secure living with Emily. Emily was a strong woman and she was the type who could easily lift Aria up and carry her if needed. Emily worked at Rosewood High as a swimming coach and a PE teacher.
Aria wheeled into the kitchen and started making dinner. She put coated chicken in the oven to bake. She made a salad, which she stored in the refrigerator. She went into he living room and decided to read while the chicken was in the oven.
She tried reading her book, but she couldn't, she kept thinking about Ezra and what he had revealed to her. She had seen a lot of people with prosthetic limbs over the years. She had seen some with more than one limb missing. But, since Ezra was only missing a leg. She knew he was better off than many other people with physical differences. Ezra didn't have to worry about not reaching something or not being able to go into buildings without ramps. But she knew that he was hurting emotionally. She had sensed it there in his office.
She put down the book and then turned on the TV to get her mind off of things.
Awhile later, she heard the front door open and she saw Emily come in. Emily was wearing a sweatshirt that read "Rosewood Sharks". She had a gym bag over her shoulder.
"Hey Em." Aria said.
"Oh hi. How was your day? Did you meet the professor you are going to be working with?"
"I did. His name was Ezra Fitz. He is very nice and I think we will be getting along well." Aria said.
Aria wanted to Emily about Ezra's leg and how she knew he was hurting emotionally, but she decided not to say anything. Ezra didn't want anyone else other than Kyle and Aria to know.
Aria said to Emily, "Dinner should be ready soon."
"Oh ok, thanks. I'm going to up and change." Emily said.
Aria nodded. She continued thinking about Ezra.
The bar wasn't too noisy as Ezra entered it. He was entering the Hollis Bar and Grille that was located on the Hollis campus. He was meeting Kyle there for drinks and burgers.
He saw Kyle in a corner table. Two beers were place on the table.
He walked over and Kyle greeted him, "Hi Ezra. I already got you a beer."
Ezra took a seat and said, "Thanks."
A waitress then came over and took their doers. Ezra ordered a bacon cheeseburger.
He looked at Kyle and said, "I meet my teaching assistant today. Aria Montgomery. I assume you know about her disability."
"I do. I had her in a few undergrad classes. She is a bright young woman. She reminds me of you. I thought she would be good for you as a TA. I thought maybe she could help you in dealing with your leg."
"Thanks. But I'm dealing with that on my own and I'm fine. She is worse off than me. I don't want to sound mean. But she is. I'm still up and walking and she is in a wheelchair. Anyway, I think she she will do fine as my assistant." Ezra said.
Classes started the next week. Aria accompanied Ezra to the classes he taught. She sat in the front. Ezra introduced her to the classes and explained Aria's duties to them.
Aria enjoyed watching Ezra teach. She saw how articulate he was, in the Introduction to Journalism course in explaining things to 18 year olds, who were barely dipping their feet in the journalism world. She enjoyed hearing him read passages from news articles. They would go over schedules and he would give her duties to carry out. The duties ranged from making copies of handouts for students, reading class materials beforehand to help with lectures, doing research, preparing Powerpoint presentations, and any other things Ezra needed help with like grading papers.
It was about a month into the semester when Ezra was at the campus library on a Saturday afternoon. He along with other faculty members had been invited to an author's reading for an upcoming book release. He went over to a refreshment table to get a cup of coffee and then he saw Aria at the other end of the library. She was alone. He saw that she was wearing a long light blue dress. She had a purse over her lap. He then saw an a dark haired woman in her 40s come up behind her and put her hands on Aria's shoulders. He watched as Aria wheeled around. The woman hugged Aria. A few moments later, Ezra saw Byron Montgomery come near Aria and the woman. Ezra then realized that Byron was Aria's father. He remembered how Aria mentioned that she had wanted be an English professor like her father at one point. Ezra then saw the resemblance between Aria and the 40 something old woman. He figured that it was Byron's wife and Aria's mother.
Later on, Ezra met up with Kyle in another part of the library.
He said, "Why didn't you tell me that Byron Montgomery is Aria's father?"
"I didn't know it would be an issue." Kyle said.
"It's not an issue." Ezra said.
Awhile later, the faculty members and other guests listened as the visiting author read passages from his book. All of the invitees had purchased books. They formed a line near a table to get their books signed by the author.
Ezra heard the sound of wheels behind him. He turned and saw Aria along with her parents.
"Hi Ezra." Aria said.
"Oh hello Aria."
He then looked at Byron and his wife, "It's good to see you again Byron. I'm sure Aria has told you that she is my teaching assistant."
"Yes she has. She has said good things about you. This is my wife, Ella." Byron said.
Ezra shook the woman's hand.
Ella said, "It's good to meet you. I'm glad that Aria has found another person to help her along in her dream of becoming a journalist."
The four got their books signed. The Montgomerys went off and started talking with another group. Ezra took a seat at a table. Awhile later, Aria wheeled over to his table.
"Why didn't you tell me that your father was a professor here?" Ezra asked.
"Well, it never came up and my father really doesn't hang out with professors from other departments." Aria said.
"Oh ok. I enjoyed the reading. Did you?" Ezra asked.
"I enjoyed it. I can't wait to read the rest of the book. But it will have to wait. Between being your TA and doing my grad school classes. I don't have a lot of time left for extra reading. I admit that I can't wait for the winter break." Aria said.
"I know what you mean. I always like having time to myself. I'm thinking about writing novels". Ezra said.
"Novels?" Aria asked.
"Yes. I don't think I will ever get a journalism job again. But I've had some ideas for novels for years now." Ezra said.
Aria then asked, "Have you ever thought about writing a memoir about your experiences in Iraq?"
Ezra got a bit angry and said, "No."
Aria responded, "I'm sorry. I just thought that maybe with that experience, you would want to write more about it. I shouldn't have stepped on your toes like that. I admit that I wish I could get a some kind of journalism assignment like that. I know it won't happen because of the chair. My goals are to get out in the world and write stories about people in difficult situations who need help and want to improve their lives. I also want to use journalism to help those in need."
Ezra was touched and he said, "You have very ambitious goals. I will help you any way I can."
Aria smiled and kissed Ezra on the cheek. She said, "Thank you. I need to thank you for being so kind to me. Not all people in academia are kind like you. Some people see the chair and think that I'm dumb. But you and some people don't. I'm thankful for that." Aria said.
Ezra was surprised by the kiss. It was a kiss on the cheek. But he felt so good when he felt Aria's lips on his cheek.
Ezra said, "You're welcome. Just remember, I will help you any way that I can."
Aria said, "I'm meeting up with some others. I got to go. Take care, Ezra I'll see you on Monday."
Ezra felt like his attraction to Aria was growing.