Page 72 of Single Malt

How could I argue with someone who just wanted to do good?

I should have seen this coming. When the story of Malala Yousafzai had hit the news, Aline had been obsessed. After reading the bookI Am Malala, Aline’s desire to become a teacher had never wavered. Of course, the story was inspirational, and Malala was someone to be admired. I was proud of Aline for wanting to become an educator, but I hadn’t considered that she would want to go anywhere dangerous with her degree.

In hindsight, it made complete sense. If it hadn’t been a professor sharing an experience, it would’ve been a commercial or advertisement, someone bringing it up at a charity event. Granted, she might not have had the same flexibility with her schedule if she was working, but I had no doubt she would’ve found a way to make it happen.

Which meant I had to stick with my plan to go with her. I couldn’t think of anything else.

“Freedom?” Dr. Ipres cut into my thoughts. “Are you all right?”

I frowned, trying to think of what I could’ve been doing to make her think something was wrong.

“You’ve seemed a little off the last couple days.” Dr. Ipres stood and stretched, her spine making all sorts of popping and cracking noises. “Is it graduation? Some people have difficulty adjusting to the idea of no longer being a student, especially those who are full-time straight through graduate school. And you even did summer semester classes, so it’s bound to take some adjustment.”

I sighed. “It is strange, thinking of not being here, but it’s a good sort of strange. Or it was, at least.”

“What changed?” She came around her desk and sat next to me in one of the ‘student’ chairs.

I could talk to her about this, I suddenly realized. She knew Aline fairly well through me but didn’t have an emotional investment to cloud her thinking. She’d be able to provide a logical sounding board, and I didn’t need to be worried that she’d freak out like my parents were going to do.

“Have you heard of the organization Neutral Ground?”

“They put together teams of educators, doctors, nurses, construction workers, that sort of thing, don’t they? Because they don’t claim a specific country, they can sometimes get into places where other groups can’t.”

I nodded. “Aline signed up for one of their trips.”

“Well, I know she wouldn’t have done it during her last semester. She can be a bit absent-minded, but not that much. What’s the problem then? Because your expression is saying that you have one.”

“It’s in October,” I said, “which isn’t exactly optimal when it comes to employment.”

“Especially for someone who’s going into education,” Dr. Ipres added. “Yes, that could cause some difficulties if she’s set on going.”

“It’s even more complicated than that,” I continued. “The one she’s registered for is in Iran.”

My mentor’s eyes widened. “That’s an…ambitious first choice. Did she say why she chose that particular country?”

“She basically asked for the first open slot for a teacher, and that was it.”

“That makes sense,” Dr. Ipres said. “Most educators would need to go during the June to September timeframe. How does she plan on scheduling around work? I’d think not too many places would be willing to let a teacher leave one month into the school year, especially since those trips are usually several weeks long.”

“That’s the best part.” I shook my head. “She doesn’t plan on applying for anything until after we get back.”

“We?” Dr. Ipres echoed. “Do you mean to say that you’re also going?”

The question surprised me. “Of course.”

“How was she able to sign you up as well? I would think that the final interview would need to be with you.”

“She didn’t sign me up,” I said. “But once I saw how determined she was, I knew it’d simply be easier to apply than waste time talking her out of it.”

“I thought you’d planned to have a position lined up before graduation.”

“I did.” I shrugged. “But there are things that can’t be planned for, like a stubborn little sister.”

Dr. Ipres studied me for a moment, her gaze so intent that I almost squirmed. “They’re her plans, Freedom.”

“What?” I didn’t get it.

“Going to Iran with Neutral Ground. Those areherplans. You aren’t required to make them yours.”