Today's Reading
In it, he'd outlined the steps he'd already taken, saying he'd set aside some land and money and described the cat he was already sheltering. He supposed that to a scientist he sounded pretty naive. But he figured once he got to talk to Dr. Hisanaga in person she'd see he was in earnest. He would exude seriousness from his pores. People didn't think he was particularly deep, especially his family. He'd disappointed all of them—father, mother, sisters, grandmother, and George—for so long. The failure to finish school, the abortive music career, the anxiety, the rehab. But he'd gotten his life in order in the last ten years. This animal sanctuary was his idea from start to finish. He'd put careful planning into it, and it would be a lasting contribution to society and the environment. Too bad they couldn't see past his youthful mistakes to understand he'd see this through.
Davy glanced at his phone. To his secret relief he was already too late to meet Dr. Hisanaga. He'd email her again and drop the fact that he was ready to give up a large chunk of land and money. Maybe he wouldn't have to work on a pitch much as long as he had cash. Or would he?
He looked to Zoey Fong for an answer, but she'd pushed him out the door and unzipped her backpack. Zoey strode to her lab door and took out an enormous key ring jangling with keys, frowned at it, then produced another ring, just as big and full. Apparently that wasn't the one, either.
Davy was impressed. The bag wasn't small. Was it all keys? If so, it probably weighed Zoey—Ms. Fong—down hugely. She groped around in the backpack once more and pulled out a tiny key ring, and then promptly dropped all the other keys to the floor with a clatter.
More cursing.
Davy bent and picked them up and handed the keys back while Zoey locked her door.
"Well, good luck finding your boss."
"Thanks," she yelled over her shoulder, speeding down the hall.
He stood watching the tidy movement of her limbs in jeans and a white shirt. Her hair swirled as she flew around the corner.
She was kind of exhilarating.
But it wasn't until a couple of minutes later that Davy noticed he was still hanging on to the envelope that Ms. Zoey Fong had given him to hold.
Should he run after her? But he wasn't sure if she'd gone up or down the stairs. And she'd been moving so fast he felt almost dizzy. Should he slip it back under the door? He looked at the envelope and then the solid length of steel door dubiously. Not a crack. You had to admire the craftsmanship.
Well, too late to chase her, and he didn't really think he should just leave it propped up in the hallway. He'd try to find out her email from the university website and let her know he had it. Maybe they could meet, drink some coffee. Have a conversation.
The idea of the pair of 'them' making conversation like normal people almost made him laugh out loud in this abandoned university hall.
He tucked the envelope in his jacket pocket. Whatever was in it, he hoped it wasn't important.
Zoey Fong breathed a sigh of relief as she exited the Agate Building and walked into the cool Vancouver air. It hadn't been the best day, but she'd managed to grab her supervisor before he hauled off for parts unknown and phone connections unreliable.
It was her own fault. She'd lost track of time and Dr. Smerek was in a different building. She could've just locked up and stepped out, but she had to finish her report, and couldn't leave anything important because her lab mate Alec had a talent—a highly annoying and extremely well-honed talent—of coming in when she wasn't there. And if things weren't in place, he'd leave his little notes everywhere.
'If you need help cleaning up your mugs all you have to do is ask. :-)'
Or
'I can show you a trick to shutting that cabinet.'
Or
'Must be going well because I couldn't find the cassettes because they weren't in their "usual" spot. ;-)'
He unfailingly used her Post-its, too! Even after she'd deliberately given him his own packet. She'd even picked a color that she didn't use—green— so that his notes would be distinctive. And she'd pointed this out to him so he'd feel special.
...
