Page 29 of The Battle of Maddox
“Started,” Rand said. “I was going to be a history teacher, with a concentration in Mesoamerica.”
We all turned our heads and stared at him.
His eyes must have darted around behind his glasses at us. “What? I’ve always been fascinated by Aztec, Inca, and Mayan cultures. Come on. Why the hell do you think I have that Mayan medallion in the entrance?”
I shook my head, laughing. “Randall, I cannot see you teaching high school history, surrounded by teenagers.”
“I liked learning and I thought it would be cool to help other kids like that.” He shrank in his seat a bit.
Clapping him on the shoulder, I clarified myself. “No, man, no. It’s cool. I just can’tseeyou doing it. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have.”
He shrugged and I knew I had mis-stepped with him. “I was going to college for business. I wanted to find a nice advertising firm and be an account manager.”
Rand, Holland, and Ora, cracked up laughing. Holland went on, “Are youkidding. You? In management? You can’t get enough of the spotlight! I was shocked you even suggested the hats and glasses.”
I grinned. He was right, I loved the spotlight almost as much as I loved the music. “This isn’t about us, today. We’re here to support our newest band member.” I tapped my hat. “How about you, Ora?”
“I didn’t,” he said. “I went to tech school and learned to be a paramedic.”
“That’s cool,” Holland said. “So, if I like, broke my leg I could count on you to help?”
Ora just gave him a sideways glance. “Could you not break your leg instead?”
“Did you want to go to college?” I stared at Ora, who shrugged.
“No money, parents just wanted me gone.” He stared out at the field. “Kinda wish I had, even if I wound up in debt.”
“What would you have studied?”
“Environmental sciences.” His answer was unhesitant. “Save the trees and all that shit.”
“How did we not know this about each other? But, Ora, you still can,” Holland said. “You’re a millionaire now, dude, remember? Why don’t you? It’s not the same, and you don’t have to go into the field, but there’snothingstopping you from doing the course work.”
Ora blinked, and blinked again. “You think I could get into college?”
“Duh? Just take the exams. You, too, Doxx, Rand. Just go sign up for college. I’m sure you can get in and tuition isn’t a concern.”
I tipped my head. “I never thought about that. I would love to have a college degree, even if it’s not going to do anything for the band.”
“It shouldn’t be for the band,” Holland said. “It should be for you. Go study eclectic Russian lit for all anyone cares. Shit, you speak Welsh. You should get a linguistics degree. That would be amazing.”
Pausing I stared at Holland. “I speak Welsh, Greek, ASL, and ancient Latin.”
“Holy…why have you never told us that?”
“My mom was Greek, and I spoke it growing up.”
“Oh…” Ora said in Holland’s speechless stead. “Didn’t know that man. Sorry…”
“But, just think about that. Getting a languages degree? That would be amazing,” Rand said.
“Guys, it’s okay. I’m okay with talking about my mom.”
Holland picked at his shirt. “We just never know.”
“I was nine, you guys.”
“You saw it happen,” Ora whispered.
