Page 38 of Forging Chaos

We arrive at the law building, and Mom makes small talk with some of the professors, who acknowledge me the same way they did when I was ten. Like some kid who doesn’t really belong in this room. Which is true. There’s nothing for me here except Thora.

She walks in alone, wearing one of the outfits she got when we were at that store. Once again, it looks like it was custom-made for her. I slip away from Mom and roll toward my brilliant girl. Wait. Okay, fuck it. She’s brilliant, and for the next month or so, she can be mine. We’re at least friends. “Hey,” I tell her, and her eyes shoot upward, widening in surprise.

“What are you doing here? Did you set this up?”

Thora’s eyes dart around the room, and she fidgets with her purse.

“Did I set up a graduation ceremony for smart kids? No.” I laugh to try and set her at ease. “I’m here with my mom. She apparently has been a guest lecturer for you guys.”

Thora nods, and I watch her shoulders relax a bit. Shebites her lip. “I called off work to be here. They were already mad at me about leaving halfway through Wednesday night…”

“Did Gunny not serve as a suitable replacement?”

That makes her laugh and I feel accomplished for a minute until someone in a suit bangs a spoon on a water glass and calls everyone to pay attention. “Good evening, scholars and families,” the suit guy says. “If you could all please find a seat, we’ll get started. I know we all have a busy day tomorrow!”

Some of the undergrads cheer and hug their families. Thora sits on the end of a row, alone. I try not to take it personally that she didn’t sit with me. I did tell her I’m here as my mom’s date. I zone out while they talk about how hard everyone worked for four years, how smart they all are, and how important political science is to society. I perk up when they start listing international fellowship awards and call Thora’s name as a Rhodes scholar. I whoop loudly. Mom smacks me, but Thora turns and smiles at me, so I don’t care.

Then, they call Mom to the mic. She gives one of her typical speeches about how she grew up in the foster care system and relied on scholarships and need-based aid to get through college and law school. She discusses the importance of family law to her judicial career and pivots to the women’s law foundation and the work they do supporting their clients.

“And that’s what really brings me here,” Mom says. “I have one last surprise award for a student who has volunteered countless hours in the law clinic on campus and who has helped others achieve the small legal victories they needed in order to achieve big things in their personal lives. It’s my pleasure to award a five-thousand-dollar grant to…” Mom points at Thora. “Thora Janssen!”

Thora turns white and stands with her hands over her mouth. I tug on my ear to make sure I heard correctly, but halfthe room is repeating the phrase “five thousand,” and I have no idea what is going on. I promised like twelve hundred bucks to my uncle’s foundation for the award, thinking I’d cover her plane ticket since that’s what she was worried about.

Thora makes her way to the stage and takes the check, shaking hands as people take her photo. Mom wraps an arm around her and smiles, then slips away while other bigwigs from the college congratulate Thora.

“Mom,” I hiss. “Five G?”

She waves a hand. “Oh, please. She needed way more than you donated, and once some of the other law firms heard about her, they all chipped in. This seemed like a nice number to get her from here to there, don’t you think?”

When I finally get Thora alone at the punch bowl, she’s still rather white and shaky. “You gonna make it?”

I hand her a glass of the sweet liquid. Usually, I’m not able to drink something with this much sugar, but I’m still enjoying a no-restrictions diet, so I clink my plastic cup against hers as she stares at me. “Ooh, this is gross.” I set my glass down on the catering tray in the corner.

Thora shakes her head. “Did you know about this?”

I sigh. “Thora. I had no idea you were getting five thousand dollars today,” I tell her in all honesty. “But I loved watching your face when you did.” I bump her shoulder. “You don’t have to worry about shit now. You can just…fly off into the sunset.”

She nods and continues sipping the punch she obviously finds acceptable. “I’ve never experienced not worrying. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

I grin. “I can think of a few ideas if you’re stuck.” I wink at her, and she shoves me, so I pretend to lose my balance androll back in my scooter, causing her face to twist in alarm. “Just fucking with you.”

“You are terrible,” she digs a finger into my shoulder. “And those socks are atrocious.”

“You love it. Come to my place and watch me take them off.”

She sighs and shakes her head, setting her empty punch cup on the tray by my full one. “Nah. I gotta go get ready to graduate tomorrow. Isn’t that wild?” She looks at the check sticking out of the pocket of her purse. “And I guess I need to stop by an ATM to deposit this.”

I clutch my heart. “Thora. Do you mean to tell me you don’t have mobile banking? There’s an app for that, sweetheart.”

She rolls her eyes. “Bye, Odin. See you around.”

She turns to leave. “Call me,” I beg, shooting my shot. “Let me take you out.”

She looks down at the check and back up at me, and I watch as she spends an eternity deciding what to say next. “Yeah, okay,” she says. “That would be fun.”

I try not to jump or pump my fist in victory as she leaves the ceremony.

CHAPTER 29

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