Dennis walked across the Paseo, the sun reflecting off the glass walls of the student union and radiating off the brick walkways. He checked the time on his phone and saw he’d missed the three-hour window when the sandwich shop on campus was open. He couldn’t even find a soda or a coffee at the university anymore as the Associated Students had voted to eliminate vending machines to promote better health. But at 2 p.m., he desperately needed a jolt of caffeine or sugar or something to remove the sour taste in his mouth so he could get through the next three meetings on his calendar.
He cut between the science building and the parking garage to the convenience store across the street. He lingered in the candy aisle staring at the chocolate and caramel and gummy confections, then instead picked up a bruised apple to go with the giant diet cola cup he’d filled up. His phone pinged and he saw Mindy’s name flash across the screen.
Mindy had encourage him to make the move from tenured professor to administrator four years ago. The extra pay could get them a home loan before they got priced out of the market. So he took the job and salary increase without thinking that he had also traded away his summers off, his engagement with students in the classroom, his peace of mind, the chance at a sabbatical every five years. Now he paid the mortgage while Mindy sent him pictures from France of her with the kids, and told him she couldn’t wait for him to join them for a week in July.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket as walked to his office. He had 15 minutes before his next meeting.
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