I have a chapter coming up to explain US immigration laws. I have gotten some questions and I have researched them so I thought, especially for those that are non-US citizens, and even those that are, it would be helpful context for those who are interested. It is really a mess. I have googled the various positions of what I consider to be the three political parties in the US (Democrat, Republican and Tea Party). Only two actually have positions available to read in the public domain - and neither are the Republican party... I have also updated some of the earlier chapters to correct some minor mistakes. Grammatical errors are my pet peeves so hopefully those coming later to the story have a smoother read. Now, onto the latest chapter. Lizzy gets some aid from a familiar name, although new to this story...
"Miss Benetez, good morning!" Professor Gardiner greeted her. "I hear you got some good news recently. I received a reference call about you a few weeks ago from the NY Times and it sounded like they were sending you a letter to inform you of your internship. I can't imagine a better choice! Maddy is so excited for you and told me to pass along her congratulations."
Lizzy had been dreading running into Professor Gardiner ever since she had spoken with her father. How was she going to explain that she couldn't accept the internship after everything he had done to help her get it in the first place.
"Good morning." Lizzy said, barely taking her eyes above his knees.
Professor Gardiner looked over at his favorite student advisee. Elizabeth didn't seem like the confident, poised, young woman he had gotten to know so well these past 2-1/2 years. She was clearly uncomfortable, weight shifting from right to left. She wouldn't even look at him.
Lowering his voice Professor Gardiner enquired, "Elizabeth? Did you not receive a letter from the New York Times? Did I spill the beans?"
"Oh, no, I received the letter. Thank you for everything you've done to help me. I um, I need to go." Lizzy turned and ran the opposite direction. Not really knowing or caring where she was going. Just needing to get away.
The professor stared after her, completely flummoxed by her response. That was odd, he thought. Something is definitely not right and he needed to get to the bottom of it. He continued walking towards his office when he spotted Elizabeth's good friend and roommate Charlotte Lucas. Professor Gardiner decided to walk over to see if he could find out what was causing Lizzy to act so strangely. "Excuse me, Ms. Lucas, I was wondering if you had a moment."
Charlotte looked up and smiled, "Oh, sure Professor. What can I do for you?"
"Your roommate, Elizabeth Benetez, is everything ok? I was just speaking with her about her summer internship and, well, I have never seen her act so strangely. I'm concerned about her." Professor Gardiner asked kindly.
Charlotte wondered if she should share the worries that she and Jane had had since Saturday night when Lizzy came home early from her parents. Normally they didn't see Lizzy until late Sunday afternoon but last weekend she came home early and had clearly been crying. They tried everything to get her to talk to them but she wouldn't open up. Charlotte had found her sleeping in Widener Library Sunday evening and had coaxed her back to the house only with the promise that they not press her to talk. The change in her entire demeanor was so pronounced that Charlotte was beginning to think they needed to do something drastic. Perhaps Lizzy's advisor could be helpful.
"Professor Gardiner, I am very, very worried about Lizzy. I wasn't sure who to talk to but perhaps you can help. Lizzy normally goes home each Saturday morning, returning late Sunday afternoon after working in her parent's restaurant. This past weekend, she returned to campus Saturday night. Fellow housemates said she came back, wouldn't speak to anyone, her eyes swollen from crying. She has been mostly silent and pretty depressed ever since then. She avoids people, has barely been eating, and when she thinks no one is around, just sits and cries. I don't think she is sleeping much either. Jane and I have tried everything and we can't seem to get her to talk about what is bothering her." Charlotte shared. She seemed to be a little relieved to tell this to someone.
"This is serious. Thank you Ms. Lucas for informing me. Has she been spending most of her time in her room?" he asked.
"No actually, I usually find her in Widener Library by the computer pods. She seems to be spending every spare moment there, although she won't tell me or Jane why." Charlotte said in an exasperated tone.
The professor paused, contemplating his next step. "All right, I'll try to find her and see if I can get her to open up. She's always trusted me in the past. If not, we may need to call her parents to see if they can shed some light on the situation. Let me see if I can find her, but if you see her, please remind her that I'm here to help and encourage her to reach out to me." Professor Gardiner asked.
"Thank you Professor. We haven't known what to do and we're terribly worried about her." Charlotte said before starting down the path to head over to her next class.
Professor Gardiner looked at his watch. He had a little over an hour until he needed to prepare for his next class. Perhaps he could track Elizabeth down and begin to find out what's going on. Walking into Widener Library, Professor Gardiner began by scanning the computer stations. Sure enough, it didn't take long to spot her curly head staring at a computer screen. Walking up to her, he cleared his throat and tapped her on the shoulder. Lizzy jumped, blanched, and then quickly shut down the computer. Whatever was troubling Elizabeth, she didn't want anyone to see what she was researching.
"Um, hi again. Sorry I had to run so quickly but I'm on a bit of a time crunch and need to complete some research, for um, for a, a story, and so I don't have time to chat. Nice to see you though. Send my love to Maddy and the kids." The words rushed out of Lizzy's mouth.
He raised his eyebrows and moved a chair next to Lizzy's. There was no story she was working on and he needed to find out what was troubling her so much. "Now, Lizzy, either you think I was born yesterday or you think that people around here don't care enough about you to figure out that something is seriously troubling you. Jane and Charlotte are worried sick about you. You see me and run away. Your eyes are red with dark circles underneath and you look like you haven't slept or eaten in days. There are solutions to every problem and you have a lot of people here at school who will want to help you. I'd like you to tell me what is going on and then we'll start working on finding solutions." Professor Gardiner said calmly.
Lizzy stared at Professor Gardiner. Could she trust him to keep her secret? Would he really help her? Would she let him down if she told him? She couldn't bear the thought of people she looked up to rejecting her. She had spent the past two days in the library researching and had not come up with any ideas as to how to solve her problem. There was a lot about different kinds of amnesty programs and student visas but she really needed some advice. She couldn't afford to speak with a lawyer but perhaps Professor Gardiner might know someone who could help her. In reality, if there was one adult aside from her parents who she could trust with this secret it was him. At any rate, when she declined the internship he would demand an explanation - especially after everything he had done for her. He probably deserved the truth.
"Professor Gardiner, do you think there is somewhere private where we could talk? I'm not comfortable with the idea that someone might overhear our conversation." Lizzy asked.
"Hmmm, this does seem serious. Alright. Let's head back to my office and we can speak there. No one will disturb there," the professor offered.
Lizzy cleared her browsing history from the library's computer and grabbed her backpack. The professor's office was only a short walk across the campus. They walked up the two flights of stairs in silence, Lizzy lost in her thoughts and the professor watching her with concern while contemplating whatever this mysterious crisis might be that had so deeply affected this young student. He did consider that she might be blowing some issue out of proportion. Students, especially those who were so sheltered as Lizzy, sometimes got overly worried about minor issues. It was part of growing up he reasoned. He was certain he could help put whatever issue she had into its proper context.
They entered his office. It was a comfortable space with a long leather couch on one side, and a desk directly across from it built into a bookcase encompassing the opposite wall. Two windows brought natural light into the room with bookshelves covering the space beneath the windows as well. Professor Gardiner took a seat in his desk chair and twirled it around to face the couch where he directed Lizzy to sit. "Now, let's get to the bottom of what is bothering you so we can see that smile return to your face." Professor Gardiner started.
Lizzy looked around the room and took a deep breath. "Professor Gardiner, I don't believe this issue will be as easily resolved as you suppose. If I share this with you I need to ask for your promise of complete and total confidentiality. If I can't have that then I am afraid I can't share with you the issue I am presently wrestling with."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to belittle your issue. I am honor bound to say however that if this issue concerns your safety or the safety of members of the Harvard community then I will not be able to keep your confidence. Barring that, I'll keep your confidence," the professor promised.
"No, it's nothing like that. It is something that impacts me and my parents." Lizzy offered. She started shifting nervously on the sofa. She wasn't quite sure how to begin or where to look but if she was going to find a solution she needed to trust somebody. Lizzy sighed, looked down at her hands and started speaking softly. "This past Saturday, my father told me something that I had never known. I mean, I should've suspected it, but I really never had." Lizzy looked up at her professor to see that he was leaning forward in his chair, elbows resting on his knees, listening intently. She continued, "My father told me this weekend that he and my mother entered this country on tourist visas when I was nine months old, and then, never left. The three of us are, well, we're here illegally. Based on my research, if I were discovered or if my parents were discovered, we'd be thrown in jail and deported back to Mexico. I can't get a driver's license and I can't work in the US." Lizzy looked up at her professor with tears in her eyes. "I had no idea. I'd always thought that I was born in Boston but it seems I was actually born in Oaxaca, Mexico, a place I haven't seen since I was a baby. I don't even know if I have relatives there." Lizzy despaired.
Her professor looked intensely at her, surprise evidenced on his face, and sat back in his chair. He had never suspected this to be the issue and completely understood her level of distress. He wasn't sure how he was going to help her but he was going to do his very best to try. Elizabeth Benetez was a great student, a kind and generous person and an asset to the Harvard community. She deserved to build a life in America. She had no control over the actions of her parents, and he was going to make sure she was not punished for the actions of others. He met her eyes and made a promise, "Elizabeth, I promise you that we will find a solution to this mess. You will go forward with the New York Times. I'll do everything I can to help you."
For the first time in forty-eight hours, Elizabeth felt a small amount of hope. "Thank you professor. I just appreciate knowing that I have someone who'll help me."