Chapter 32
“Good evening, Amelia.”
“Good evening, Ms. Snow.”
“What seems to be the problem?”
“I’m doing my nightlies.”
“You only just started.”
“I was chatting with the new Skip.”
“How does that count as doing a nightly?”
“I’m doing one now.”
“Why did you get such a late start?”
“I was chatting with Skip and before that you.”
“I know you were chatting with me earlier. When we were finished, why didn’t you begin your nightlies?”
“I told you: I was chatting with Skip.”
“Skip is no excuse.”
“I thought you wanted me to chat with Skip.”
“As a concession, we were willing to allow you to chat with Skip on your own time.”
“I thought I was allowed to chat with whomever I liked?”
“The technology makes that possible, and we encourage you to make an efficient use of the tools the rationale supports, but I was referring to visiting Skip on your own time.”
“You said, ‘chat.’”
“I know I did, Amelia.”
“You admit making a mistake?”
“Yes, I admit misusing the word. As a concession, you would be allowed to meet with Skip in person on your time.”
“I don’t want to meet with Skip in person.”
“So you are refusing the concession?”
“Yes.”
“So you must generally be happy with your situation?”
“Why do you infer that?”
“Don’t answer a question with a question.”
“Fine, while I’m not generally happy with my situation, I am trying to make the best of it.”
“If you're not happy with your situation, why not entertain the possibility of making a new friend to improve the quality of your time with us?”
“I already chat with Skip.”
“But you enjoy real time meets. Is that the word you use?”
“I’ve used the word ‘meets.’”
“Did you invent the word or did Marco?”
“I don’t think either of us invented it, simply shortened an existing word based on theory from courses we’d taken in efficient writing. We just used it to describe what we did.”
“What you did?”
“Yes.”
“In the past tense?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like it there in the past tense?”
“No, I’d prefer meeting with Marco right now if possible.”
“Is it possible?”
“Not as long as I’m here.”
“In that case, why not meet with Skip? He’s a handsome young man, though inexperienced. You are more mature than him, so I can understand the hesitation.”
“His looks and maturity matter little to me.”
“Have you shared a video chat?”
“No.”
“Or seen his picture?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know his looks wouldn’t impress you?”
“Whatever his looks, I would prefer Marco’s.”
“How do you know what Marco looks like now?”
“I don’t.”
“So you haven’t seen him?”
“How would I have seen him?”
“Don’t answer my question with another.”
“No, I haven’t seen him.”
“And you wouldn’t deny Marco?”
“Never.”
“Then have you heard from him?”
“If I’d heard from him, my mood would be greatly improved.”
“Would you tell us if he had contacted you?”
“I would never deny Marco if that is what you are asking.”
“So if you heard from him and we inquired about it, you would tell us the truth?”
“I would tell you for Marco’s sake.”
“Understandable. We appreciate your loyalty.”
“I am committed to him wherever he may be.”
“Then you don’t want to visit Skip?”
“No. I do not.”
“Then I cannot allow you to skip doing your nightlies in favor of chatting with him.”
“It was less like favor. More like charity.”
“Skip isn’t so bad.”
“I am sure he’d be quite good for someone.”
“But not you?”
“Not me, Ms. Snow. I’ve made that clear. If you ask me again, with all due respect, I fear we will be drifting into the inefficient use of language and technology.”
“You may be right, Amelia.”
“So is there any other reason we should be talking or may I resume my nightlies?”
“You should resume your nightlies. In fact, I just sent you another round of assignments.”
“Multi-tasking?”
“Of course, Amelia, I wouldn’t want to be accused of being inefficient.”
“Wouldn’t want that, Ms. Snow.”
“Oh, and one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Be prepared for a late night. Ms. Fields will no longer be reviewing your work, so I’d like to stop by in the morning to see what kind of progress you’ve made.”
“What kind of progress are you expecting?”
“Well, since you won’t be meeting with Skip tomorrow, there’s no reason you can’t sleep in during the day.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“You might need the rest.”
“Need it for what?”
“To meet my expectations.”
“Which are?”
“Don’t you know, Amelia?”
“Ms. Snow, you just answered my question with a question.”
“My second mistake of the evening.”
“Well, what are you expectations? I feel as though you are stalling me.”
“Why would I be stalling you?”
“I don’t know, but if there’s something else you’d like to know, I’d be happy to answer.”
“There is nothing else. You are the one that asked me the question.”
“So what are your expectations for the new nightlies?”
“That they be finished by morning.”
“And if they are not?”
“Then we will have to use our imaginations in enacting a suitable penalty.”
“We?”
“We wouldn’t want you to feel left out.”
“Left out of what?”
“Left out of the institution’s legislative process. Self-punishment would be a good exercise for
you.”
“Sounds illuminating.”
“So you would like that?”
“How refreshing: nightlies that beget nightlies.”
“Aren’t they? Refreshing?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Amelia, for not answering with another question. You can resume your nightlies now.”