Flat-Out Love

“It might.”

Julie walked from behind the kitchen chair and stood in front of Celeste. “It won’t. On the off chance that it does, I can assure you that your hair will fall into gorgeous, billowing curls because of the anti-frizz serum I ran through your hair. And because you have naturally fantastic hair that most people can never achieve, even when they waste money buying celebrity-endorsed spiral curling irons on the off chance that three easy payments of nineteen-ninety-five will solve their hair woes. Just don’t touch your hair. And here’s the scarf I said would match the sweater I lent you perfectly.”

Celeste eyed the pale blue scarf suspiciously. “This is not a scarf. A scarf is thick and warm, and only needed in the winter.”

“Oh my God. Relax, kid. This scarf is just an accessory. Like earrings or a belt. It’s long and gorgeous with little shimmer to it.” Julie wrapped the scarf once around Celeste’s neck and smiled. “The color brings out your eyes. Now here, take my iPod, listen to the playlist I made you, and completely ignore Matt when he drives you to school. Then when you get out of the car, glare at him with solid disgust, and slam the door.”

“Why would I do that? I do not consider that a fitting response to his driving me to school.”

Julie sighed. “Fine, forget that last part. But at least listen to the playlist.”

Celeste scrolled through the music Julie had picked out for her. “But usually Matty and I do reasoning games and logic questions in the car. I don’t think he’ll like this. And I don’t know any of these songs.”

“Big deal. I’ll handle Matt, and you handle the Top Forty. OK, stand up and spin around Let me check you out.”

Celeste dutifully allowed Julie to assess her outfit. Matt entered the kitchen—a messenger bag across his chest and a stack of Internet printouts in his hand—as Julie was adjusting the sweater sleeves.

“Morning, Matt,” Julie said. “Celeste looks nice today, doesn’t she?”

“Morning. Celeste always looks nice.” Matt hurried past them to grab a banana from the counter. “Why is she wearing a scarf?”

Julie practically snorted. “You two are definitely related.”

Matt talked through a mouthful of fruit. “It’s not winter. We have to get moving. You ready?”

Celeste nodded and took her backpack from the floor. “Julie, are you sure this scarf is a good choice for me?”

“You are a beautiful girl, and it doesn’t really matter what you wear. I like the scarf on you, but take it off if you want. As long as you don’t borrow your brother’s T-shirts, you’ll be stu

“I do my best. Come on, Celeste. Julie, do you want a ride? I just have to run a few errands after I drop her off, and then I’ll be back for a few hours before I have to be at school.”

“No thanks. I have to leave in a few minutes for class, and I don’t mind walking to the T.”

“Bye, Julie. Thanks for the scarf. I guess. And my hair.” Celeste followed Matt out of the room.

“And the music. Don’t forget to listen to the music!” Julie called after her. “I’ll see you after school!”

Julie sat down at the kitchen table and sipped her coffee while she went over her schedule for the week.

“Hello,” Roger said as he came into the room. “Oh, you made coffee? Wonderful. I’ll make a cup for Erin. We’re both biking to work today, and we have these delightful cup holders that fit right on the handlebars.”

“It’s a beautiful day for a ride,” Julie said. And it was. The humidity had vanished over the weekend, and the temperature had dropped to a comfortable seventy-five degrees.

“What do you have there?” Roger asked, as he filled two stainless travel cups. “Is that your course schedule?”

Julie nodded. “Yeah. First day of classes today.”

Erin breezed past her, clad in dark pants and a short-sleeve dress shirt, her outfit completed by a bike helmet and riding gloves. “What’s on the educational agenda for today?”

“Applied Calculus and then Intro to Psych,” Julie said. “Those are both Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes. I’ll be home with plenty of time to get Celeste, though, so don’t worry.”

“Applied Calculus, huh? Didn’t you do that in high school?” Erin asked.

“I took an AP calc class, and this seems to be the next step. Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have Intro to Eighteenth Century Literature and then Economics of Poverty in the U.S.”

Erin adjusted her bike helmet and grabbed two water bottles from the fridge. “That’s a good first-semester schedule you’ve chosen. Roger, are we set?”

“We are. Don’t forget that I have my final pre-trip meeting tonight, so I won’t be home until late. Julie, hope your first day of classes goes well.” He patted her shoulder as he walked past her. “I’ll grab my gear and meet you out front, Erin.”

“I don’t know what time Matt will be back from school. If he isn’t home by six, would you order di

“I just got my financial-aid check, and since I’m not paying rent now, I should be fine.”

“Don’t be shy about letting me know if you need help with anything.”

Julie could think of a number of non-financial things that she’d like help with. Gee, would you like to tell me why the hell your teenage daughter is glued at the hip to a cardboard brother, has no friends, barely leaves the house, and is a complete social misfit? Huh?  But considering she didn’t want to disrupt her happy housing arrangement, and the fact that Matt has specifically told her not to bring this up with Erin and Roger, she kept her mouth shut. “I can’t think of anything.”

“I’m serious, Julie. I don’t want you to go without whatever school materials you need. Ask if you need help.” She turned to the front door and charged forward. “I’m coming, Roger! You might as well get a head start, since I’m going to beat you anyway!”

Julie laughed and reached for TheNew York Times. She was a bit surprised that she wasn’t more nervous for her first day of classes. Eager, yes, but not the least bit nervous. She was finally where she wanted to be.

**********

Julie glared at the test in front of her. Fine, now she was nervous. She hadn’t taken a test since last spring, and she hadn’t even thought about anything calculus-related in months, but within three seconds of stepping into her class the professor had informed Julie that she might be able to skip Applied Calculus and transfer into Multivariable Calculus.

My, my! It was hard to think of anything more appealing.

Julie surmised that she must have just been radiating derivatives and explicit functions, because she certainly hadn’t requested the opportunity to place out. The only reason she’d signed up for calculus was to get her math requirement out of the way as early as possible, because who the hell wanted to be stuck cramming a last-minute math course into her senior year?

Julie crossed her legs and started on the placement test. She was alone in a classroom with a teaching assistant, who was presumably sitting with her to make sure she didn’t frantically call some math-geek hotline. Or Matt. But as she moved through the test, it turned out that she didn’t really need any help. Yes, a few of the questions were beyond her, but a lot of the material she knew either from her AP high school class or because she just… knew it somehow.