Chapter 35
“I’ve been doing my nightlies, Ms. Snow.”
“I know you have. You’ve been typing frantically by the looks of it.”
“You gave me a lot of work.”
“I know I did. I see you’re working even now.”
“How will I finish the assignment if I don’t multi-task?”
“So you are learning the benefits of efficiency?”
“I never questioned efficiency, only its limits.”
“And now?”
“I am reevaluating its limits.”
“That is excellent news, Amelia. You are making progress.”
“Thank you, Ms. Snow. I am trying.”
“Have you heard any word of Marco?”
“No.”
“So you are denying him?”
“I’m denying him. I don’t think I’ll see him again until I complete my studies, and after that we both will have changed.”
“So you are denying the probability of Marco’s existence in your life?”
“Yes.”
“And what about Skip?”
“I’m not ready to fall that far.”
“I understand. He’s quite immature.”
“Agreed, Ms. Snow.”
“Then consider doing Skip a favor.”
“Are you appealing to my kindness?”
“Yes, Amelia, I am.”
“I’ll be honest, Ms. Snow, I’m not as driven by kindness as I used to be. I’m succumbing to the objectivity of logic.”
“That is also excellent news for you, but not so much for Skip.”
“Skip is not my concern.”
“Then you are not concerned if his parents won’t want him back in their lives as a failure?”
“I’m not Skip’s keeper.”
“But I am, Amelia.”
“I know, Ms. Snow, and I am confident you can raise Skip to standard without my help.”
“Skip’s parents thought he could rise to the challenge himself, that he could play a role in your rehabilitation.”
“Maybe he did. I am certain that you can communicate Skip’s chats with me in a way that will look favorably upon his contribution.”
“You know we don’t have records of those chats. That would violate your privacy.”
“Then you can speak with Skip. Ask him to remember for you. Refresh his recollection by referring to my progress. No doubt you can find a way.”
“So asking him to retell his private conversations with you would not violate your privacy rights?”
“No, such a request would fall within one of the privacy exceptions.”
“And you now understand the efficiency of having such exceptions?”
“Yes.”
“I am so proud of you, Amelia.”
“No need for pride. Logic dictates the conclusion. The rationale just is.”
“It is. That it is.”