Page 15 of Rhymes with Metaphor
“My what?”
The fountain chose that moment to spit out a jet of water, which hung in the air a moment before clattering to the fountain’s basin.
When the noise died, Reg said, “You were studying for your QDOG last I saw you.”
“MCAT,” Joel corrected him.“Medical College Admission Test.I wrote it last week.”
“And how did your QDOG go, then?”
“Fine,” said Joel, but there was a tremor in his voice.
“Looking up the questions you missed?”
“I have two exams today,” said Joel.
“You ought to be drinking coffee, then.”
“I don’t drink coffee,” said Joel.
“You should learn.”
“Are you going to confiscate my milk?”said Joel.
“No.You look more than young enough to drink it.”
Joel’s expression made Reg feel like he’d kicked a puppy.
Joel finished his milk, tossed the empty carton into the wastebin, tucked the textbook into his backpack, and pulled the straps over his shoulders.
“Good luck,” said Reg.New Bug.
“Thanks,” said Joel, and he walked off, looking fragile in the sunlight, like a paper doll being marched towards a bonfire.
Reg watched him go, feeling strangely moved.On his way to the car park, Reg called Martin to talk about the chair.
“She doesn’t appreciate my creative process.She believes that if she winds my handle hard enough, I’ll extrude poetry.She doesn’t understand that my creative brain is a delicate instrument.It doesn’t respond well to being womanhandled.”
“You’ve got to write something or you won’t graduate, Reg.She’s just trying to make sure you finish on time.”
“Maybe I don’t want to finish on time,” said Reg peevishly.
“You could always transfer to Engineering.”
“Now that iscompletelyuncalled-for,” said Reg.“Speaking of uncalled-for academics, I ran into New Bug again.”
“Did he say anything about Juliet?Has she mentioned me?”
“I didn’t ask.I was too distracted by him being a pill.”
“What’s he ever done to you, apart from being young in your presence?”
“He’s so...so...You know the type.New bugs that think they know everything, and they’ve got no respect for their elders.”
“You weren’t rude to him, were you?”
“Not particularly.I showed remarkable restraint, entirely on your account, I might add.”
“I don’t believe you,” said Martin.
