Provisionally Accepted

"Don't take anything for granted!"

Maggie yelled this at me as I walked away. If only I could understand what she meant. It was strange how she said it. Take what for granted? Her? My education? My job? Life in general?

"You taught me a lot!"

I grew embaressed and sped up my pace. I was relieved to dump her. Maggie was out there and should have been born a male so she could lead some wacky cult. Besides, she was a student and gave signs of becoming problematic as a girlfriend.

I made my way to the library, grateful my one week fling was over. On my way to the reference section, I kept eyeing the sexy young brunette that looks like Moira Kelly from Twin Peaks. She was half my age and her name was Grecia. She worked in the library and was from some far off country that I can't place but love thinking about when I see that arched stare of hers.

Her blue-green eyes follow me when I come in. I come here often for research. She is wearing a white blouse today, almost see-thru, and the tightest blue jeans I've ever seen at this school on a student. (It's fairly conservative here.) Her eyebrows are angular. I wonder if they grow in naturally like that. They give her a constant look of judgment and Grecia judges me everytime I'm in here. I love it.

But why can't I talk to her? I have nothing to say. That's why Maggie was so easy to date and dump: she did all the talking.

I feel manifest destiny when I see Grecia. I deserve to conquer her and be her American man. Conquering Maggie was my training, like scaling a bunny hill to prepare for Mount Everast.

God Bless you Maggie Gothchalk, of whom will get an A if she can just remember the elements on the Periodic Table, you gave me the ego boost I need. Today's the day I claim her.

I vow to do it after a bit of research for our grant-funded project on cardiac rhythm. I sigh because the grad kids should be doing this stuff, not me, but I do it right.

I got heart murmurs on my birthday this year. I wanted tenure, but heart murmurs was what I received. I realize time is short.

"I'll remember the strength that you gave me now that I'm standing here on my own..."