Page 42 of Crystal Iris
It never really makes much sense to call it a spring semester in Boston. It will feel like winter until May. I daydream about a beach vacation as I put on my second layers.
The first day back to school always makes me feel more like a student than a professor—I still get a little nervous. I stayed up late going over my lectures.I need more coffee.
I spot Akira from a mile away. It’s our little joke—our hair; we can find each other anywhere.
“Morning,” she says, handing me a cup.
“Thanks. Next one’s on me.”
I pull her aside. “We have some catching up to do.”
I tell her about the museum.
“You’re talking too fast. Slow down, I can barely keep up,” she says.
“Sorry, we have no time—we’re going to be late for our first day.”
“Whatever, we’re the teachers.”
I try to finish at a more normal pace.
“Has he texted you since?” she asks, drinking her coffee.
“No.” I takea sip of mine.
“You should text him.”
“You think?”
“Do it now.”
safe travels?
good morning
hi
I erase everything I wrote. I have no idea what to say.
“We gotta go.” I put my phone away, and we part ways.
“TheMadonna of the Carnation, also known asTheMadonna with Child, is a Renaissance oil painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It’s permanently displayed in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.”
“Really? Another da Vinci?” one student asks.
“Excuse me?” I wasn’t expecting an interruption.
“There are other artists out there who deserve more recognition,” she explains.
“We will cover various artists this semester. What’s your name?”
“Fran Kelly.”
“We aren’t skipping da Vinci, Fran. However, rest assured, you’ll hear about many others in this class. Now, let’s take a look at the carnation Mary is holding. What is the symbolism here?”
“Passion, blood,” says a student in the back. It will take me weeks to learn their names.
“Correct. And baby Jesus is trying to reach for the flower.”
