FOUR

Itwas the end of the term at Harvard and Adam's as well as all the other students' degrees for engineering and architecture would be decided by this final project and the professor was talking to each student individually about their degree status. They had each signed up for an appointment and after Adam had signed up, he had received a note from Professor Naismith moving his time to the last appointment of the day; Adam's heart sank. To him it had only one meaning-he was not yet going to receive his degree, if he was going to receive it at all, and Professor Naismith, who had never shown any special bias toward Adam, was going to be kind to him and not make him face any other students after the crushing news. The appointments fell one on the heel of another, and Adam would be protected from walking out of Naismith's office and having to answer the question, "Well? Are you receiving your diploma?" And for that, Adam was grateful.

Finally it was Adam's time to enter the somber office of Professor Naismith. The professor was a formidable man, tall, almost quite as tall as Adam, and serious and he had a pleasing southern accent. He had told his class that he was originally from Virginia and was honored to be teaching at Harvard. He impressed upon his students that they were fortunate to be matriculating at Harvard and therefore, should take their studies seriously-very seriously as degrees were not easily granted, especially in engineering and architecture as people's lives depended on the integrity of structures. They would be responsible for people's lives in the buildings they designed or the bridges they constructed.

Adam had a great deal of respect for the man and if anyone was to tell him that he was to be denied a degree, he was glad that it was he who would tell him; Professor Naismith wouldn't be maudlin and sympathetic, talking about wasted time, effort and money. Naismith would be honest in his estimation of Adam's talent-or lack of. And so Adam walked into the office braced for the worst. He had already written in his head what he would say in the wire to his father-what he would tell him and his family about his grand failure. And as he had waited, his mind created many and varied scenarios of telling the people of Virginia City that he had flunked out and that his father had wasted a small fortune on his eldest son.

The professor's office was warm and darker that Adam liked; he himself, preferred the sun. On the many overcast Boston days, Adam had longed for the sunny days of Nevada even though out west, sometimes the sun was so bright that the only way to tolerate it was to squint and pull down the brim of the hat so low that one had to tilt back the head to see what was ahead.

"Sit down, Adam. Please." The professor indicated the two leather chairs on the opposite side of the desk behind which he stood. Adam took his seat. The professor sat down, folding his hands on the blotter of his exceptionally neat desk. Adam hadn't worn a hat; the spring day was warm and it didn't look like rain was in the forecast. But he had worn his suit and sat nervously trying not to fiddle with the starched collar and the tie. He could feel the sweat breaking out on him, he was so nervous, and his mouth was dry. He felt his lips stick to his teeth.

"I would imagine," Professor Naismith started, his hands still clasped on his desk, "that you have wondered why I asked you to come in last, why I kept you waiting. And were I you, I would imagine the worst case scenario but if that is what you've been thinking, you have underestimated yourself." The Professor moved his hands and picked up Adam's portfolio that had been lying on the side of the desk.

In the portfolio was Adam's final project that was given at the beginning of the spring term and due at the end. That project would determine if he received his degree in architecture or not. There were only nine architecture students who were in line for the degree and although Adam had always been either the first or second student in the class, he knew that ranking could change at any time. For the project, each student had been given a different type of structure to design, to make the blueprints and to write up the justification. They had also had to build a miniature structure of the assignment and the surrounding grounds. It had to be turned in two weeks before the final paperwork and they were to design as if money was no object.

They had assignments before where they had a budget within which to stay and the students had to write various contractors in different cities for estimates, explaining that they were students and were studying architecture and would appreciate to know how much the contractor would charge for certain services. It is only because the businesses knew that they would have their names written and mentioned in the Harvard students' projects that they took the time to comply; working architecture graduates may use them later or recommend them to others.

Adam had been given a hospital to build. When he had received it, his heart sank. It seemed as if he had been given the most difficult and least creative project of all the students. The other students, once they were all having lunch together in the Hub after the first class, sympathized deeply with Adam. He was well-liked by the other students but some of them were envious of Adam's good looks and his brilliance. Most of them came from wealthier families but they all knew that Adam had been raised on a ranch and some of them referred to him as " the Cowboy." Some of them only referred to Adam as "Clodhopper" and "Shit-kicker" behind his back and with snobbish disdain, but others used it in a friendly way to his face.

"So, Cowboy, looks like Naismith has it in for you. What'd you do to him?"

"I don't know," Adam said, sipping his coffee. "Anyone want to trade projects?" he asked in a light manner; he knew it couldn't be done.

"I'll take your project if you'll throw in that little blonde you were with last weekend," one of the students said.

"Deal," Adam said, grinning and they all laughed. "But you could have her without any trade. I think she likes variety. I think she can fit anyone and she does have a bag of tricks."

"Wonder what school she graduated from?" one of the young men said.

"Who cares?" Adam said. "But I bet she was at the top of her class."

"Well, as long at she's on the bottom of me, that's fine," another student said and the men laughed again.

But Adam was determined to do the best that he could with his assignment. He was envious of the cathedrals, universities, grand manors, hotels and such that other students received but Adam was pragmatic and knew that he had to complete his hospital. So he started thinking about how a patient would view a hospital and he decided that was what was most important.

So Adam visited hospital wards in the surrounding areas. He studied where the nurses stayed, how they managed to know when a patient needed them. He looked at the surroundings and found the hospitals in the middle of cities where industry occurred, disgusting. Coal dust managed to settle everywhere and Adam couldn't imagine how an ill person could become well in such an atmosphere. And Adam thought of Nevada and why his soul longed to be there again. It was the crisp, clean air and the warmth of the sun. There, a man could see the blue sky and hear birds and not the constant droning of street traffic. So Adam was determined to design a clean, friendly environment-people in the hospital were afraid enough-and gardens in which the patients could sit. He divided the hospital, not into male and female wards, but by the disease or disorder that needed to be treated.

And Adam took special care to design a section just for children and another for mothers-to-be. He remembered being ill as a child, how frightened he was and that fear stayed in the back of his mind along with the death of his mother. So Adam began to work feverishly and although he was not a narcissistic man, he couldn't help but feel pride in what he had accomplished.

Professor Naismith's opinion coincided with Adam's. "I am very impressed with your final project, Adam. Not only have you managed to create efficient space, the space is wholesome and would assist both the staff and the patients in keeping a cheerful outlook. I judged your work, Adam, on the basis of myself as a patient, how I would feel being there and I must say, although no hospital is inviting, up to now, most people saw them as a place to die but I believe that a person could feel hopeful being in such a hospital as this. I am going to recommend that you be granted your degree."

Professor Naismith stood and put out his hand. Adam stood up, a smile slowly crossing his face. "Thank you, Professor. Thank you very much. I was certain that I was going to be denied."

"No, my boy. I have to tell you that I have been very impressed with your work in all the classes I've taught in which you were a student. The other professors and I agree that you are one of the finest men we've taught and will make a great architect."

The professor sat back down and indicated for Adam to do so as well. "I asked you to be last because I wanted to tell you that I have recommended you for an internship with Athens, Priestly and Coleman. They have asked for two graduates to train as interns and I have recommended you and Bracewell." The professor reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a business card. "You have an appointment with them next Wednesday at that time. If you can't make it-but I recommend that you do-speak to them and let them know."

Adam took the card, running the tips of one hand's fingers over the engraved words. They seemed magical. "Thank you, sir. I'll be there." Adam stood up and the professor did as well and they shook hands again, both men broadly grinning.

"Let me walk you to the door," the Professor said. "Oh, and Adam, I have a small favor to ask."

The two men stood at the opened door.

"Whatever I can do, I shall. What is it?"

"My daughter is coming to visit from Virginia and I was wondering if you would escort her to the end of the term dance. She isn't yet 17 and I believe that I can trust you with her. She's been raised by her aunt in Richmond and has been in a private girls' school-very sheltered."

Adam's heart sank. He had plans to take one of the town girls who would repay him with her body for such an honor. And now he would have to take the professor's daughter to the dance. And she was only sixteen. But he knew better than to decline.