Again, But Better

Shane
Leo, you should go talk to 
someone. You don’t actually 
want to lose that scholarship, 
right?
Leo
I just want to be normal.
Shane
There is no normal.
He doesn’t respond for a minute. Then:
Leo
Thanks for being here.
Shane
You’re the closest thing I have 
to a brother, Leo. Call me, beep 
me, if you need to reach me
=
)
Leo
Sorry we don’t talk anymore.
Shane
It’s not too late to change that. 
I’m here!
Leo
g2g

---

24. Through Accepting Limits
It’s Tuesday, March 8, and I have the first draft of my study
abroad guide typed up and saved on a thumb drive. When I get
to 
Packed!,
I boot up the white MacBook, plug in the drive,
email it to Wendy, and wait. Nowadays I’m working side by
side with Tracey, Declan, and Donna on a regular basis.
Whenever they’re doing something they can share with me,
I’m shadowing them. Today, I’m shadowing Declan, who’s
working on a photo spread for their April issue. I end up
periodically excusing myself throughout the afternoon to go
refresh my email.
“Are you expecting something important that you keep
running back to your desk?” Declan laughs when I return for
the third time.
I sigh. “I’m sorry. Just an important email. Ignore me!”
At the end of the day when I’m packing up, Wendy
emerges from her office and walks over to my table. My throat
tightens. I’m pushing in my chair to leave when she stops in
front of me.
“I read your draft,” she opens.
I try to swallow. “… Thanks?”
A smile spreads across her face. “I love the direction
you’re taking with this. You’re on for the article! I think we’re
going to use this to kick off a series, gathering pieces from
people studying abroad all over the world. I’m going to put
together some notes, and I’ll call you in for a meeting to
discuss everything soon.”

---

My hands jump to my cheeks in astonishment. “Wendy, oh
my goodness, I’m so excited. Thank you! This means so much
to me!”
I blast Avril Lavigne’s “new” album through my iPod and
dance down the sidewalk on my way home.
Wendy pulls me into her office Wednesday afternoon, and we
go through my piece together, point by point. She tells me
what she likes and gives me notes on how I can improve it.
Wednesday night, I brainstorm Wendy’s notes. Thursday
morning, I type up a second draft on the white MacBook at
work, and Thursday afternoon, Donna goes through it with me
before I turn it in to Wendy again. Donna is great! She’s really
funny, easy to talk to, and endlessly generous with her time.
Thursday night, I check in with Leo.