Page 62 of Collision
He’s right. My mother has outdone herself this time. She put a lot of effort into impressing Victor. Mom gives him a pleased smile.
“Thank you, Alexander. But I didn’t do anything special,” she answers, cutting a piece of turkey with disarming grace.
“So, Vanessa,” Victor interjects, patting the corners of his mouthwith his napkin, “your mother says you are an excellent student. Is she right?”
“Excellent? The best, you mean.” Alex grins. I blush and lower my eyes at my friend’s compliment.
“I just do my best,” I retort with a smile.
“You’re very humble as well,” Victor adds.
I frown at him. “Is that bad?”
“No, not at all. But if you are lucky enough to be good at something, you shouldn’t be afraid to say it out loud,” he answers with conviction.
“It’s not fear. I just think bragging is, how should I put it…conceited,” I say emphasizing the last word and add, “And I personally don’t like conceited people.”
“But if it’s true, there’s nothing you can do about it,” he insists.
“Sure, but there’s no need to shout it from the rooftops,” I answer, arguing my point.
He shakes his head, impressed. “Esther, you were absolutely right. Your daughter is a tough nut to crack,” he quips, stroking her knuckles as they exchange knowing smiles. “Are you enjoying college?” he continues, keeping his hand over my mother’s. She gives me a joyful look.
“Yes, I like it very much. It’s a nice environment,” I say shortly.
“What are you majoring in?”
What’s with all these questions? Someone should tell him that it’s considered impolite to interrogate a person in her own home.
“Oh, I’m still thinking about that.” My answer leaves him flabbergasted.
“You still don’t know? Esther, how can she not know?”
Is that a crime now?
“Of course she knows! Vanessa will major in law. We’ve known that ever since she was born. Her innate sense of justice will make her the best lawyer in the state!” she exclaims, laughing.
I, on the other hand, want to cry. “Actually, Mom, I don’t know. I’m still thinking about it. After all, sophomore year just started. I have plenty of time to decide what to do with my future.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Vanessa.” My mother shakes her head with a fixed smile.
“I’m not, Mom. I intend to make the most of this year.” I ask Alex to hand me the tray with the vegetables, and I put a spoonful on the plate.
“Coming into your second year of college and still not knowing which track you’ll take is unusual, but it’s not the end of the world, Esther,” Victor interjects, trying to defuse the steadily building tension. “Tell me, do you belong to any sororities or clubs? I belonged to Phi Gamma Delta. It was one of the most important fraternities at our university. We were quite a group of guys, each one crazier than the last, but boy we were smart! We made that fraternity the most prominent on campus!” He adjusts the lapels of his jacket proudly.
“Phi Gamma Delta? Some of my father’s friends were brothers,” Stella interjects.
“Really?” Alex and I ask at the same time.
“You don’t say!” Victor presses.
“Does the name Chad Mitchell mean anything to you?”
“Of course! I can’t believe it. That guy was a genius. Once, he managed to hack into the central server of the university and changed the entire school’s schedule. There was so much chaos that they had to cancel classes for the day!”
We all laugh at this anecdote.
“Chad is a legend! He works with my father. In the office he is equally loved and feared,” says Stella, taking a sip of wine.
