Doreen finished typing the last line on Dion’s statement of resignation. The keys on her typewriter, an old Caravagnio 630c she received as a graduation present, clacked away with surprising speed from someone whose fingers were in their late seventies. Both Doreen and the typing device were older than Dion. Astonishing it still worked, but he knew how taking care of things could make them last. The aged dormouse pulled the paper off the roller, stapled it to Dion’s letter of resignation, and put it in a textbook sized manila envelope that served as his file. She took a sip of weak coffee from her ‘world’s best grandma’ mug sitting on her desk. It was one of an endless number she kept stashed away somewhere. Dion rarely saw her use the same one twice. Into her third file cabinet it went, top drawer, under the Ds.

“Well, Dr. Thade,” she stated after another sip of weak coffee. She drank three pots per day. This was pot number two. “that’s that. Turn in your keys to Louis over in security, and we’ll mail your severance in’a couple weeks.”

She held a large envelope full of even more papers out to Dion. Despite all the coffee, her hand did not shake. Used to all the caffeine, maybe, but it had little caffeine. The skunk reached out and took them, thankful he was not going to have to muck around with email. Hard copies suited him just fine.

“Thank you, Mrs. Zend.” Dion tucked the papers under his arm. He did not bother checking them; there was no need.

Doreen was as fastidious a document keeper as he had ever seen. She was Carston Community College’s filing system. With five decades of experience, she had her system down perfectly. Administration liked this as it removed the necessity of buying a fancy computer system. Just fold it into Doreen’s system. It worked as long as she was not out sick, which was rare. Darren Peabody covered for her when that happened. Dion witnessed this once. Everything was basically in suspended animation until she returned.

He could have turned and walked off. Leave everything behind and start his new job. Conscience bothered him. She reminded him of Grandma Eumelia so much. In mannerisms, of course, not in skunk-like qualities or being stabbed to death. He had to say goodbye.

“Uh…. hm. I’m…. I think I’m going….” He started. Doreen adjusted her sweatshirt emblazoned with wildflowers. They flanked the words ‘Carston Wildflower Days Fun Run’, indicating where she got the sweatshirt. She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue.

“… I feel bad about leaving. Um, the program.” He finished his thought and expected her to get angry.

Instead, she smiled. “Oh, Dr. Thade. You always were a worrywart.” She reached up and patted one of his paws. “You gave us six good years. We’ll be just fine.”

Six years. That long already? The time seemed to fly by. Once Dion hit his stride, the lessons just came naturally to him. The first year was the most awkward, but after that he started to enjoy it. Got up there, gave his lectures, graded tests and papers, and worked in the lab. Nothing fancy, particularly with Carston’s underequipped laboratory. But, he had enough chemicals, reagents, burners, and all the other entry level science stuff to show students the basics. Some of the Bunsen burners were particularly fiddly. Effort was required to keep from using his magic to compensate for them, as easy as that would be. He managed to hold off on using it not only around students, but whenever he was on campus. Discipline dictated he only use it in private; with Liz being the only person who saw him do it since he left home. If he could hold off on using it during graduate school, he could avoid using it during a job he did not care about.

Wait, did he care about this job? No, not really, right? He could not remember his students’ faces year to year. Names and auras, yes, but not faces. The top grade holders or those with a particular passion for chemistry. Why should he? It was just a job. And this was just until he got a job at a big name school, which he achieved with great success…..but why was he apologizing?

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“….do you have someone to take over?” He asked without thinking.

Doreen gave that patient look she practiced on her grandkids. “Well, no, not as such. But we’ll find something. We always get by, so don’t worry.”

Guilt. “Um, sorry… maybe….”

“Oh, heck, Diomedes Thade.” She chided. “We both know you’re going on to bigger and better things, a bright kid like you. We’re all glad we had you as long as we did.”

“Okay…” No decrease in guilt yet. “… but, what about the classes?”

“We have Mr. Boland to teach the basics. That’ll do us fine till we find another doctor.” Doreen replied.

Dion was not so naïve to realize Mr. Boland was unable to teach the advanced placement stuff. Even if he were capable, he was not credentialed enough for the big schools to accept him. He should have said something else. Something to make him feel like he was not just abandoning the school that gave him a job when no one else did. The money was decent; they managed to save up enough to put a down payment on a house near Crawford University’s campus.

All of the sudden, he did not want to go anymore. Oak Pointe was far larger than Carston and even larger than Aledo. He did not want to get swallowed up by a big city. Being around so many more people scared him. Awash in a sea of faces, all of them jostling each other….. no, it could not be that bad, right?

This was where he belonged. This was what he was working for. He would never be able to work with a big pharmaceutical company on making the next cure all without playing in the big leagues, to borrow a phrase from his baseball-watching cousin-in-law. Discomfort was to be endured; he needed this.

“You’re better to me than I deserve. Way better…. um… so, sorry and…”

The dormouse cut him off. “You say that every time you see me. Stoppit. A young many like you shouldn’t talk like that. Nothing to be sorry for. No apologies needed.” She smiled. “Besides, you did a good job.”

He appreciated the sentiment, but did not feel that way. Never would. Especially not now, with him leaving. The thought that he deserved nothing but a swift trip to the grave cropped up in his thoughts every so often. This was one of those times. Guilt of what he is overwhelming him. He should leave. Go back to Liz. It helped.

“Yes. Thank you again, Mrs. Zend.” Dion finally managed to say. “I’m sure it’ll all be in… uh, good, good hands without me.” That sounded really conceited. Better make up for it. “Um… not that… I did much.”

Doreen chuckled in that way one did when a child says something awkward. “Well, if you ever want to come back, we’ll be here.”

“Um, heh.” Now it was Dion’s turn to smile. Nice of her to say that. It was like she knew someone like him wanted an escape path in case things did not work out. The lifeline of a perpetual second-guesser. “I’ll… keep that in mind. They’ll be in trouble if you ever retire.”

No chuckle this time, she laughed. “Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ll keep working till my legs fall off. Run along now, Dr. Thade. Don’t want to keep your wife waiting in the car all day.”

Dion slid into the car next to Liz. She took her earbuds out and slid her phone into her pocket. She was watching some action movie. He came in at a scene where the action man was spraying automatic gunfire into the carapace of some kind of low budget space bug.

“How’d it go?” She asked.

Dion handed her the folder. “Fine. Um… they don’t have a replacement for me.”

“Oh… hm. Not surprising. You are irreplaceable.” She smiled at her own joke and kissed him on the cheek. He wanted to say that was not helpful, but it was. Despite himself, his cheeks and inner ears flushed.

“They can’t do the program without me. I kind of feel bad.”

“It’s a little late for that now.” Liz put a paw on his thigh. “This’s your dream, though. Big college, lots of opportunity. It’s what you wanted.”

Oh, right, big school. The time had come for performance anxiety. “…. I don’t think I can…”

“You’re always second guessing yourself. You can do this.” Liz knew it was coming and nipped it in the bud.

“…. but you left your job and….” Only for Dion to sprout another.

“I can get a job anywhere. If I’m with you, it’s fine.” Only for the rabbit to nip it again.

It did not seem like such a problem anymore. For the time being, it faded into the background. No guilt. Well, maybe a little guilt. Liz kind of liked where she worked. She chatted about her coworkers over dinner. He almost felt like he knew them. They even threw her a little going away party, complete with cake. She made sure to save him a piece. It was nice, even if it was a carrot cake. Not Dion’s favorite, but Liz conformed to the stereotype of it being her favorite confection subtype.

“How do you always know what to say?” He asked.

“Magic.” She teased. “You thought you were the only one?”

“That’s not how….” Mid-sentence, Dion dropped the incredulity and got the joke. “Oh… heh, um… I think I’ll…. drive the car now.” Jokes still took a moment to register, especially when nervous. He covered the awkwardness by starting the car.