Chapter 16

The first two months attending Chitow City University have been an extreme case for Cole. Between his classes and student internship with Professor Linger, theatre director and head of said department, the only thing he had time to do during his free time was study for one test after another. Other than that, he had no time for himself. He actually started drinking coffee just to stay up late at night in order to hit the books, but it's been worth it to pass all his classes.

On a crisp day in November, Cole was upstairs reading a required novel from the list of books assigned to him by his English professor when he received a call from the office through the dorm phone.

"Hello?" Cole said through the receiver.

"Hello, is this Cole Brookstone?" asked the woman working in the main office.

Cole set down his book. "This is he."

"Professor Linger would like to see you in his office. He says it's urgent."

Rolling his eyes, Cole said, "Tell him I'm on my way." He hung up the phone and began making his way to the theatre department.

When he arrived, the professor was on the phone. Cole stood in the doorway, waiting patiently for Linger to finish his conversation with whoever was on the other end of the line. When the professor hung up the phone, he looked at his intern.

"Cole, thank goodness you're here," Linger said, "I'm in a pickle. The leading male role for the popular theatrical show from the 70s, Day of Freedom, is in the hospital going through treatments after catching tuberculosis. We're in need of a new leading male. You've done a leading part before back during your high school years, right? I know it's been a while, but maybe you wouldn't mind taking over?"

"But I thought there was an understudy," Cole said.

"That's also the problem. The understudy is on a three week leave after spraying graffiti on the side of the medical hall building. Oh, this is just a disaster!" The professor placed his head in his hands.

Cole wasn't sure if he wanted something extra added to his lengthy list of other crap in need of finishing. He hasn't been in a play since ninth grade. That's only because he had to fill in for the guy who was the original lead for his play "Wonders of The Earth." Just remembering that period of time reminded him of Carol, gracefully playing the leading female role. How they shared their first stage kiss, leading up to their real first kiss on that Saturday before Christmas.

Cole shook his head, returning back to reality. "Um, well, I don't know. That's a huge step to take. Do you think I have what it takes? Just as you said, I haven't been in a play since high school. And that was three years ago."

Linger snapped his fingers. "Tell you what, Cole. I'll set up a meeting with the Head of Student Interns to offer you a bonus for a thousand dollars for taking the time to do this at the last minute. What do you say?"

When Cole heard the words "a thousand dollars," all he could think about was how that could help with paying off fees. Nodding, he told the professor, "You've got yourself a deal."

"Wonderful. Now you'll have to report for rehearsals everyday at four and you need to study through your lines. The play will be during the week of Independence Day."

Which was two weeks away. Cole had no idea how he'll be able to memorize so many lines in such a short amount of time, but he's doing it, anyway.

He called his parents that night announcing the news. Knowing this would be a great time to visit their son, Lou and Lilly made a promise they would be there. Besides, Day of Freedom was his father's favorite play.

Cole was glad there weren't any kissing or romance scenes. The play is based from real events during Ninjago's Independence War and the man who started it never married. One less thing he had to worry about. His parents were proud and spent Independence Day with him at the university. Even though Lilly didn't have to worry about cooking since the school was hosting a dinner, she still made her famous greenberry pie. Cole couldn't help but have seconds since it would be a while before he could taste his mother's cooking. He's pretty much lived off TV dinners, quick to make meals and restaurant food since he never had time to cook.

He was sad to see them go and they just couldn't tear themselves away, but he made plans and promises to see them at Christmastime.

Home felt so much better. Cole was glad to get a better meal and wished he would've cooked it himself, but his parents forbade him from using even the microwave. Not after the macaroni and cheese incident back when he was thirteen.

He would always go out on the day he and Carol shared their first kiss to the same park bench every year in hopes she might show up. But just like last year and the year before that, she never came. He even sent letters asking if she would come to see him. The first year she couldn't make it because of snowstorms plaguing East Ninjago and last year she was going with her brothers to Spain, but never told him why. This year, she didn't write back, almost making Cole think she's forgotten about him.

Sighing, he went back to his parent's home to spend time with visiting relatives and his father's quartet members and their families. The night of Christmas Eve, he decided to send another letter to Carol.

Dear Carol,

I know you haven't written back in a while, even though I wish you would, but I just thought to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It would be great if you were here spending the holidays with me and my family, but I understand if you're busy or weren't able to make it. I haven't received a letter from you since I started college. Is everything okay? I'm only concerned for you, hoping and praying to the Great Sensei that everything is well. I hope you write back soon. I miss you a lot and hope we can see each other again soon.

Happy Holidays

Cole

He took the letter down to the post office the day after Christmas, knowing she probably wouldn't answer again. But he had determination within him to keep trying.

Once the holidays ended, Cole returned to college, ready to begin a new semester. Professor Linger prized him with a promotion in his internship, bringing him up from a level three to a level two. Not only that, but he also met a new friend joining them in the theatre department who would be sticking around until May.

Her name is Megan. She's a nice girl who wears girly colored hoodies and beanies that always seem to match. They cover the top part of her short black hair, which Cole sees it to be frizzed up all the time. He saw that for some reason she was interested in him, even though he's told her multiple times he's seeing someone, even though she wasn't attending university. But Megan still refused to leave him alone.

When May rolled around, Megan came up to Cole, explaining her reason for why she was there.

"Cole, I was sent here to look around and examine the people here, on stage and back stage," Megan said, "After careful determination, I see you're one of the best tech guys here. We could really use some help over the summer at the Ninjago City Playhouse."

"But I already have a part-time internship here," Cole told her.

"Professor Linger told me your internship only last during the months of September through May for as long as you were attending school here. But nothing goes on around here during the summers. What were you planning to do, anyway?"

"I just decided to take the summer and go home to my parents. And try to see if I can't go and visit an old friend."

"Your parents live in Ninjago City, right?"

Cole nodded. "That's right."

"Which means it's the perfect opportunity to take the summer position. Just think about it. You wouldn't want to be stuck paying off so many fees when you graduate. This can help you pay off next semester's fees. We could really use someone with your expertise. What do you say?"

Megan had a point. He didn't want to be stuck with extra fees to pay off after college was all said and done. But taking this summer position would take him away from training at the monastery, but hopefully Sensei Wu would understand. He's a petty reasonable person to talk to.

Cole nodded. "Well, I don't see why not. Where do I sign up?"

One year of college was busy enough. Now his summer's became just as busy.

He's really gonna need a vacation after graduation.

SO COLE HAS COMPLETED FRESHMAN YEAR. HOW WILL THE SUMMER GO?

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