Page 20 of Cocky Nerd
Her mouth is full of stuffing. “Iapplied.”
“So you didn’t get inanywhere?”
“I got in everywhere that I applied. This may come as a shock to you, but college was always going to be my fallback in case I didn’t get accepted to the good trainingschools.”
Her brother snorts and shakes his head but saysnothing.
“It’s fine, Johnny, it’s what she wants. Would you like moregravy?”
“I’m sorry Mrs. Montgomery, but it’s not fine. Yes I would like more gravy, thankyou.”
Mrs. Montgomery passes the gravy boat to Olivia, who places it in front of me,grinning.
“It’s not fine, because your daughter has an excellent brain, and regardless of her talent and passion for ballet, her brain is the only thing that she can rely on to provide for her long-term. That is, if she plans to provide for herself financially. If your plan is to marry a wealthy man while pursuing your lifelong dream of dancing, well that’s up to you I suppose, it’s justdisappointing.”
“To whom? It sounds great to me—thanks for the tip. I hadn’t thought ofthat.”
“I really don’t see some rich guy falling for thatsasshole.”
“Nathan.”
Olivia gives her brother thefinger.
“Classy.”
“Your brain is what you’ll have to rely on when your body begins its inevitable demise. It happens to all dancers. You have to think of yourfuture.”
“Yes I’m aware ofthat.”
“What kind of job are you going to be able to secure if you break yourankle?”
Mrs. Montgomery gasps at the thought ofit.
“I can do administrative work. Artsadministration.”
“Any decent administration position will require a BachelorsDegree.”
“It doesn’trequirea degree, but it might help to have a degree. It also might help to sleep with the rightperson.”
“Olivia.” Her father drops his utensils on his plate with aclang.
“What—I’m not saying I’d do that! Obviously.” She snaps her head around to me. “Do you have any idea how many peopledon’tget a job after graduating fromcollege?”
“That’s a lazy argument,” Montymutters.
“And statistically invalid. College graduates earn far more money than high school graduates—even in the same positions. Over fifty percent more. That’s afact.”
“What about college dropout geeks who fundstartups?”
“They’re just lucky,” says Mr.Montgomery.
“They’re an anomaly,” Isay.
“They’re geniuses,” saysMonty.
“Well, so amI.”
“No one’s saying you aren’t special,Sweetheart.”
