Page 8 of Learning Curves

Audrey had expected so much more from her first Sustainability Committee meeting.

She’d come up with a long list of initiatives she’d like to see implemented on campus, eager to share her ideas and make a good impression on her fellow committee members, and instead she’d sat and listened to a bunch of men use big words that ultimately meant very little.

“We’ve seen a thirteen percent increase in recyclables collected since installing the new bins around campus,” Harrison Bosko said. “I think we can consider that initiative a success.”

Audrey bit her tongue. These guys were still focused on recycling when there was so much more they could be doing to make the campus greener. But every time she’d tried to speak up and voice one of her suggestions, she’d been interrupted.

Dr. Thompson, who’d arrived ahead of Audrey after pointedly declining to walk over together, was seated at the opposite end of the conference table and hadn’t contributed much to the meeting. Mostly, she’d just gone along with what the men had proposed, which so far, was a lot of nothing.

Once the chatter about recycling bins died down, Audrey tried again. “I’d like to propose an initiative to add reusable containers in the dining halls. Students could receive a discount on their coffees if they brought in their—”

“There’s no room in the budget for the up-front cost,” an older professor from the finance department interrupted. “If there’s nothing else, I think we can conclude today’s meeting?”

Heads nodded all around the room, including Dr. Thompson’s. She hadn’t even looked at Audrey when she spoke. What was up with her? Audrey had had enough of the cold shoulder.

“Very well, folks, I think this was a productive start to the academic year,” Brad Folchuk, the committee chair, said.

“As you know, we meet the first Thursday of every month, but we do have an additional meeting scheduled next Thursday to discuss the new environmental legislation passed by the Vermont House over the summer. I believe Dr. Sharma and Dr. Thompson are scheduled to present the findings of their research into how this new legislation may affect our campus initiatives?”

There were murmurings of agreement, and then the meeting began to break up.

Audrey stood, glad to stretch her legs after sitting for nearly two hours.

Several committee members came over to introduce themselves and ask how she was liking the campus so far, making friendly conversation.

In her peripheral vision, Audrey saw Dr. Thompson slip out the door.

“Audrey, before you leave, I was hoping I could ask a favor.” Dr. Folchuk stood in front of her, an expectant look on his face. “Could you bring some refreshments for the next meeting, something for people to snack on? It’s dinnertime, and these meetings tend to run late.”

Yes, she’d noticed that, and in fact, she was starving, but .

.. was he asking her to bring refreshments because she was the newest and youngest member of the committee or because she was one of the only women?

Regardless, she couldn’t say no to the committee chair, not when she was trying to make a good impression.

“Sure,” she told him. “I’d be happy to.”

“Thanks.” He patted her on the shoulder, much as Stuart had done last week, and she still didn’t like it. “You’re a lifesaver. Have a good evening.”

By the time she left Sierra Hall, streetlamps had come on, illuminating the walkways outside.

The fading glow of the sunset was visible behind the administration building to her left.

Next week, Dr. Thompson would be speaking.

That should be interesting. Audrey hadn’t heard her say more than a few sentences so far this semester.

And yes, she knew she was spending too much time thinking about her former advisor.

Stubbornly, she pushed Dr. Thompson from her mind.

When she got home that evening, she spent some time painting ceramics to clear her head.

She was working on a set of mugs decorated with a pattern of fall leaves, and she loved the way they had turned out.

Hopefully, they’d sell quickly once she posted them to her website.

After that, she FaceTimed her parents. Her mom had been asking for more pictures of her rental house—especially her home studio—so she took them on a quick video tour, walking through the house while they caught up before calling it a night.

The next morning came all too soon, marking the end of Audrey’s first week as a full-time professor.

The week had had its ups and downs, but overall, she was calling it a win.

After work, she’d been invited to dinner with Mercy and her husband.

Rather than the standard bottle of wine, since Mercy didn’t drink, Audrey brought a vase she’d made, decorated in jewel tones and filled with a selection of red and orange gerbera daisies.

Mercy lived on a tree-lined street full of small colonial-style houses, about a ten-minute drive from the campus.

Audrey’s GPS guided her to a brown-paneled house with a well-kept lawn.

A dog barked when she rang the doorbell, and a fluffy golden face peered at her from the glass pane beside the door. It looked like some kind of poodle mix.

Mercy opened the door. “You’re right on time. Come in, and don’t mind Maple here. She gets excited when we have visitors, but she’s friendly.”

“Hi, Maple,” Audrey said to the dog, who was still barking. Maple quickly moved in to circle Audrey, fluffy tail wagging. “And this is for you.” Audrey held out the vase to her friend.

“Oh, it’s beautiful. Did you make this?”

Audrey nodded. “I noticed you favor jewel tones in your clothes, so I hoped this might go well with your decor.”

“It’ll be absolutely perfect in my home office.

Thank you so much. Here, I’ll introduce you to Colin.

He’s in the kitchen.” She led Audrey through the living room while Maple danced around them, still barking occasionally.

A tall white man stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot on the stove.

“Colin, this is Audrey. Audrey, my husband, Colin.”

“Nice to meet you,” Audrey said, extending her hand.

Colin gave it a firm shake. “Likewise. How are you settling in at the university?”

Audrey tipped her hand back and forth. “Mostly, really well. My classes have been great so far. It’s the administrative side of things that’s been more of a transition, getting all my accounts set up and meetings and things like that.”

“I hear you,” Colin said, reminding Audrey that Mercy had mentioned he was a fellow professor. Finance, she thought. “It can be a lot, learning all the ins and outs. Don’t let them dump too much on you. People tend to take advantage of the newest hires sometimes.”

“Especially when you’re a woman,” Mercy added.

“Yeah, Brad Folchuk asked me to bring refreshments to the next Sustainability Committee meeting, and I have a feeling he wouldn’t have if I were a man.” It had been bothering her ever since it happened.

Mercy frowned. “No, probably not.”

“I’ll do it this time, but I hope it doesn’t become a habit. Dr. Thompson and I are the only women on the committee.”

Mercy let out a little scoff. “Lot of help she’ll be.”

Audrey flinched. “I couldn’t believe it at first when you told me she was unpleasant, but I guess I don’t know her anymore.

She was a different person when I was a student.

She was so enthusiastic, so passionate when she taught.

She inspired me to become a professor myself.

I don’t know how to reconcile that with how she acts now. ”

“Sparkling water?” Mercy asked, turning from the fridge with a bottle in hand.

“Please,” Audrey said, then bent to pet Maple.

Mercy started pouring three glasses. “Honestly, I’ve never met the woman you’re describing.

This is my fourth year at Northshire, and the Michelle I’ve known in that time has always been cold and standoffish.

I hesitate to use certain terms to describe women, but you can imagine what the other professors call her. ”

Audrey scrunched her nose. Yes, she could imagine.

“In my opinion, she’s part of the old guard, the tenured professors who’ve been here so long they just don’t care anymore.

She’s set in her ways, always complaining about new technologies and initiatives.

We need fewer professors like her and more like the ones in this room, if you ask me.

” Mercy raised her eyebrows for emphasis.

“Young, progressive minds who want to make the department—and the university—a better, more inclusive place.”

“We’re ‘woke,’” Colin said, making air quotes around the word.

Mercy made a face at him. “Oh, honey, no. Conservatives have ruined that word forever.”

“I know, I know, my sense of humor is warped.” Colin laughed as he stirred the stew. “I think everything’s funny. Thankfully I have Mercy to nudge me back in line when I take it too far.”

“Always.” She leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek, and Audrey swooned a little bit. They were so sweet together. She wanted that ... someday.

Since turning thirty earlier this year, she’d become more aware of her age and that she’d never had a serious relationship. She’d always been so focused on the next step in her career path—graduate school, then her doctorate, then becoming a professor.

If she succeeded in securing a permanent, tenure-track position here, then maybe she could finally start thinking about love.

She’d never been sure she wanted kids, so she couldn’t say her biological clock was ticking, but lately, she’d felt a definite tug toward something more domestic than her current life.

She’d like someone to share a home with, someone to hold her at night and laugh with at the dinner table.

Colin turned to the cabinet behind him and pulled out three pasta bowls. “All right, ladies, the goulash is ready. Let’s eat.”