I couldn’t believe this was happening. I’d done nothing wrong. Maybe the provost wanted to discuss something else with me. In any case, it wouldn’t be good to make them wait.Getting up from the table, I shot a look across the cafeteria at Cara, but she was speaking to an older woman in a similar uniform as hers and wasn’t looking in my direction.But everyone else stared at me as I made my way to the exit.The Morefield Building was on the other side of the campus, near the library and bookstore. It would have been a pleasant walk if my stomach wasn’t twisted into knots.The phrase ‘suspended or expelled’ played like a drumbeat in my head as I walked along on the neatly edged sidewalks to the main offices of the school.Inside the Morefield Building, I followed the signs to the University Provost's office and told the secretary I was there.“Please sit down,” the secretary said. “Provost Shires will be with you as soon as possible.”“But I have a class in a half hour,” I objected.Wh
After walking across the campus to the Kensington Building, I found Dr. Clark’s office on the second floor. The door was open, so I knocked on the frame.“Come in,” Dr. Clark called out, although I couldn’t see her.I stepped inside and looked around the room at the personal touches and mementos my Ethics professor kept in her office. Photos of children and humorous knickknacks covered the shelves near her desk.A worn couch and chair were in front of the desk. A knitting basket embroidered with smiling cats sat on one end of the sofa. But I still didn’t see Dr. Clark.Suddenly, she popped up from the floor on the other side of the desk. The designer dress she wore to teach her class had been replaced with jeans and a sweatshirt.“You’re Daisy Wilson, aren’t you?” she asked as she bent over and picked up a cushion from the floor.“Yes, ma’am,” I replied.She put the cushion on top of a filing cabinet. “I’ve been told to keep an eye on you and report any agitating speech. The college a
The note stayed on my mind all the way home to the apartment. After I pulled into the garage, I read it aloud.“You should be ashamed of yourself! Drop out and go to school somewhere else where they don’t mind being in classes with a Beta-lover like you.”Why was I receiving this much hate for pointing out a lack of diversity? I was disappointed in my fellow students. How did young people become this intolerant of others?But it wasn’t going to scare me away or make me stop writing my report.I went upstairs to the apartment and made myself an iced coffee before sitting down at my computer.The email from Dr. Clark was waiting for me. I downloaded the files and began reading the data.Dr. Clark kept track of her student’s grades, attendance, and whether they graduated or not. The university divided them by their class: Alpha, Beta, Omega, or hybrid, and their age and their family’s income.I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Dr. Clark's records went back ten years. The discriminatio
After tossing and turning for hours last night, I finally fell asleep before Victor came to bed. So, I let him sleep while I got ready for my day.He awoke as I was gathering my things before going out the door.He jumped from the bed and rubbed his eyes. “What time is it?”“You’ve got over an hour to get to work,” I replied. “I’m leaving early this morning. I promised I’d stop by Archer Manor to see the finished renovations on my way to school.”He yawned. “I forgot the shelter’s opening is tonight.”“You can skip it if you’re too tired.” I kissed his cheek. “Amy will understand.”“The mayor expects me to be there,” Victor said through another yawn. “The shelter is important to the city. I’ll come home early this afternoon and take a nap.”“That’s a good idea,” I told him. “I just started a fresh pot of coffee to get you through the morning. See you this afternoon, darling.”I kissed him again before going down to the garage and getting into my car.Crossing my fingers, I looked upwa
I struggled to maintain a cool head and thought of an appropriate joke to tell the class.Amy was the one to tell jokes. She told me hundreds all through grade school. Why couldn’t I think of one now?It didn’t matter if it was funny or not. Professor Barns would say it wasn’t as amusing as his, no matter what joke I told.“Well, we’re waiting, Miss Wilson,” Professor Barns said.I stood and faced him.“Respectfully, Professor Barns, I’m not doing it,” I said. “I’m here to learn, not to tell jokes. I’m sure there are others in this room who feel the same way.”There was a brief burst of applause that was quelled by Professor Barns shouting at me, “Sit down!”I did, and he gave me a last glare before returning to his podium.It was hard to concentrate for a while after the lecture began. Not all of the students were on my side. Many of them gave me cold stares and whispered behind their hands.I was very uncomfortable throughout the lesson, and I doubted I’d ever be able to enjoy the c
“Dad, get the women and Mayor Pratt away from the windows,” Victor told Harry before turning to Heather. “Please take the family to the rec room to finish their meal.”Heather nodded and led the family out of the room.“Benson, can we put something against the windows in case they throw anything else?” Victor asked.The way he stayed calm and protected the most vulnerable among us was a sign of a true leader and another reason why I loved him.“I’ll check, sir,” Benson said and hurried from the room.Amy was determined to go outside and face the mob. She pulled her arm from my grasp and headed for the front door.“Amy, no,” I said as I tried to stop her from going outside. Something had set the crowd off, and they were getting far too dangerous.“I have to do something, Daisy,” Amy insisted. “Did you see the terror on those kid’s faces? They deserve safety and comfort.”“I agree,” I said. “But let the police deal with the protesters. They stepped over the line by breaking your windows
Why would John Cameron’s son suddenly try to cause problems for my best friend?John deserved to be in prison for what he did. Yet, it was likely Josh Cameron felt like he was avenging his father in some twisted way.“How cowardly to go after your friend’s homeless shelter,” Victor said.“Being a pathetic bully must run in their family,” I said.Victor took my hand. “It’s a good thing John is still in prison.”“But he isn’t in prison, Mr. Klein,” the cop said. John Cameron disappeared from prison two weeks ago. We discovered he bought off his guards, and they let him stroll out the door.”“Why wasn’t I told about this?” Victor demanded. “John Cameron had a grudge against my fiancée and myself. We should have been notified immediately when he escaped.”“I hope the guards have been punished,” Mayor Pratt said. “Some people will do anything for money.”“I’m afraid they disappeared with him,” the detective said. “We know they left the country by private jet bound for Virople.”My stomach
Alex called at noon the next day. I was relieved to know he and Cassidy were home safely.“I want you and Victor to come to dinner tonight,” he said. “Be here around five, and we’ll have that talk you’ve been wanting to have with him first.”“I’m nervous,” I admitted. “Will you help me make him understand why I didn’t tell him before this?”“Don’t worry, sweetheart. When I tell him everything, he will understand and be glad you kept the secret,” Alex assured me.“Was your trip successful?” I asked.“Yes and no?” Alex replied. “I’ll tell you and Victor all about it later this afternoon,”“Okay,” I agreed, wondering what that meant. “We will see you then.”I hung up and went to the kitchen counter with my laptop and sat on a stool. I would work on my report until it was time to go to the mansion.I had gotten a few of my questionnaires back overnight. Every one of them told the same story.They were discouraged from applying to colleges by their high schools and then rejected when they