"Well, Shannon, it looks like it's your turn!" Kristy said. I grinned. "Yeah, I guess it is." I rearranged my pillow and grabbed a handful of popcorn before I shared my story. "My parents were ecstatic when I graduated valedictorian. They nearly burst with pride when I got a full scholarship to MIT." "Not that you needed it," Claudia joked. "No," I agreed, "My parents could afford tuition many times over. They were just glad to have another reason to shine." I loved my parents, and they were good to my sisters and me, but I secretly felt we were often trophies on a shelf. "While many of my classmates began their college careers as 'undecided', I had no doubt what my major would be. Ever since I joined the astronomy club, I wanted to work in the final frontier. I majored in Aeronautics and Astronautics, and by taking summer classes, completed my bachelor's degree in only three years."
Claudia made a disgusted sound. "I can't believe anyone would willingly take summer classes except for Janine the Genius." I laughed and said, "Well, she willingly taught them. I had Dr. Kishi for several physics classes. I admit, it was a little odd at first." The others looked as if they were pondering the genius of Bradford Court as their professor. Claudia suddenly looked horrified. "I just had this flashback to when she used to tutor me. We'd both get so frustrated," she said.
I cleared my throat and went back to my tale. "Well, I liked her as a professor and she actually became a good friend as I worked through my master's and doctorate degrees. I moved to Washington, D.C., hoping to work at NASA, but in the meantime, started teaching a few classes at the Catholic University. D.C. is such a great place to live and there is so much to do!" Mary Anne interrupted me as she exclaimed, "Oh, I know! There's the National Zoo, the Smithsonian Castle, the Holocaust Museum…" she trailed off as she noticed Kristy and Stacey giving her Looks. "Sorry," she squeaked. We all laughed, remembering her love of guidebooks.
"Anyway, I was reading the newspaper when I came across a classified for a position at NASA. I quickly sent in my resume and paperwork and got an interview. It was grueling. There were background checks and security clearances. Several rounds of interviews. Finally, the news I had been dying for was revealed. I had landed the job! A week later I was in my new office and laboratory," I said proudly.
"So what do you actually do?" Dawn asked. "I wish I could tell you," I said. "But it's classified. All I can tell you is that I work for NASA. I can tell you about my personal life, though. Next weekend is my first wedding anniversary. Tucker and I wanted to on a cruise to celebrate, but neither of us could get the time off. Besides, his dad is having a swanky benefit that we must attend." Mallory groaned. "Greg's parents are always having these snooty parties that we get stuck going to. Of course, I have to deal with cold shoulders because we're not married and I don't come from money." I shook my head, "Well, I am very lucky that my in-laws are very down-to-earth, but as one of the senators from Virginia, image is everything. Tucker and I have to go and show our support. I try to stay away from the politics, but it happens. Sometimes we luck out and my dear husband gets called to the hospital. Babies don't wait to be born, so he must go."
"I think it would be very hard to be married to a doctor, especially an obstetrician," Jessi commented. Stacey replied before I could. "I thought I couldn't ever get used to it, but you do eventually. Generally, his surgeries are scheduled, so we don't have too many emergencies. Especially now that he's out of residency." I shrugged. "I work a lot of hours so I don't have to deal with him being gone much. If he takes a an evening or two off, I will be sure to get home, but if he knows someone is due soon, I'll usually work a little later. What I like most is that when it's our turn to have kids, he'll know exactly what is going on and can help keep me calm. When Tiffany had her baby a few months ago, I was a nervous wreck, but she wanted Mom and me in the delivery room. Her husband wasn't much help, either."
"How is Tiffany?" Mary Anne asked. "Oh, she's great," I replied. "Little Liam is three months old, born just a month before Jake and Tiff's first anniversary. She's back at work at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and loves it. Maria is married, too. She's in Seattle, married to a linebacker for the Seahawks. I think she loves the stay-at-home wife thing, but I'd get too bored. And of course, Mom and Dad still live across the street." "Yeah, I saw them Thursday night when I came up from New York," Kristy said. "They invited us out for coffee, but I was too exhausted from working then driving up. Mom and Watson had a good time, though." I nodded as I yawned and stretched. Our parents had been friends for a long time. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the clock. "Three fifteen!" I exclaimed. The girls all looked startled. "We'd better get some sleep if we want to make it to the Good-bye Brunch," Mallory said. "Set the alarm, I'll need plenty of time to get ready!" Claudia announced. Stacey voiced her agreement.
As we settled down into our sleeping bags and pillows, we began chitchatting over the news we'd shared. I missed being part of a group like this. I had friends, of course, but none with any shared history. No memories of sleepovers, pizza parties, and first dates. Even though I had a wonderful life that I wouldn't change, I resisted sleep, just to hear the quiet murmuring of my friends. I held onto that moment of nostalgia as long as I could. Finally, my eyes grew heavy and as I drifted off, I let go of childhood once more.