American History: Lies Your Other Teachers Told You

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Hey," Josh said. "Hope you're all unpossessed or whatever. Last week was weird."

He took a sip of his coffee.

"Anyway. Finals. Today you have a series of multiple choice followed by an essay, so...a lot like the SATs, which most of you probably aren't taking because you're all from weird other dimensions where college doesn't matter or something."

Josh had grown a little jaded.

"Anyway, happy holidays!" He gestured around at the candles. "Enjoy the ambience?"

Comments

Re: Talk to Josh

[spin_kick_snap]

"I was wondering if you'd be willing do me a favor?" Kathy asked, nervously playing with her hair. "I'm looking for teachers to write me a strong letter of recommendation for college and I thought that you might be, umm, willing to do that. For me."

Re: Talk to Josh

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh's eyes lit up. "Of course. Where are you applying?"

Re: Talk to Josh

[spin_kick_snap]

"UCLA is my first choice," Kathy said, instantly all relieved smiles. "UC Berkeley would also be really cool. I'll probably apply to USC, too. And, umm, Stanford. But that's kind of a longshot, you know? I mean, it's Stanford. Even if I got in, I'd need all the financial aid, ever. But I can't not at least try."

Which was a huge step for Kathy, considering a few years ago she would have just laughed at the very idea of applying, convinced it was pointless.

Re: Talk to Josh

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Definitely apply to Stanford," Josh said, Ivy League snob that he was. "I can make this school sound elite and not weird and you're way too smart not to aim that high."

Re: Talk to Josh

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy blushed, pleased as punch at the praise. "Oh, I'm not that--" She checked herself. "I mean, thank you. It's something I work very hard at."

Just like not discounting herself and her abilities anymore.

"I don't know which of us will have the harder job. Me, getting into Stanford or you, making this place sound less crazy than it really is."

Re: Talk to Josh

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Me," Josh said promptly. "We have candles and inexplicable Snuggies."

Re: Talk to Josh

[spin_kick_snap]

"But those probably don't need to be mentioned in my letter of recommendation," Kathy pointed out. "And if they do, I am picturing the college application process very wrong."

Re: Talk to Josh

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Oh, it'll just be a way for me to talk about you thinking quickly and adapting to sudden changes," Josh said. "I was in politics for decades. The college admissions team is unprepared for my level of bullshitting ability."