by Douglas Young<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Moxley Sorrel\u2019s office door was the open one. As intimidated as he had been in college approaching a professor, Dr. Sorrel did all he could to make students feel comfortable getting help with a course, continuing a compelling class discussion, asking for advice on a major or what courses to take, or just to chat or say \u201cHey.\u201d He enjoyed students and welcomed a break from reading, writing, grading, or whatever work he was doing. Almost all the students were sweet, several could be quite amusing, and many just needed a confidence boost.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Whenever a student was unpleasant or taxed his patience, Moxley reminded himself how troubled he was in college and that teaching and mentoring students was his job. Other faculty offices\u2019 blinds were drawn, their door\u2019s little window papered over, and each door shut tight even when the light was on inside and the professor was clearly there. Students knew how much most professors really wanted to see them. Moxley vowed always to have his office blinds all the way up, his door window clear, and the door open wide.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ensconced reading on his computer that afternoon, he was slightly startled by the hesitant knock at the door. Turning to see who it was, he immediately smiled at Blossom Porter, one of his most pleasant students whose happy, wide-eyed curiosity during lectures always lifted his mood. The tall and pretty brunette-blonde had a joyful demeanor that made the world better, and Moxley relished their chats for her enthusiastic frankness.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDidn\u2019t mean to startle you,\u201d she said with a feigned smile. \u201cShould I come back later?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo. Not at all. Come on in. I was just lost in reading but could use a break. Have a seat.\u201d He stood and gestured across his desk to the chair for guests.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He sensed something was amiss since she looked at the floor, moved slowly, and stayed silent.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat can I do for you, Miss Blossom?\u201d He raised his head with a jovial expression to try to pick up her spirits.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, I just got out of Professor Ewing\u2019s class\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGet a good nap?\u201d he asked, recalling how bored he was whenever enduring a presentation by his colleague. \u201cTalk about being guilty of boring in the first degree.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 While relieved she finally flashed a genuine smile, he noted it quickly vanished and she normally would have erupted in laughter.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI was just wondering if you could please answer a couple of questions before next week\u2019s test,\u201d she asked softly. He was struck by the contrast with her usual strong and confident voice.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFire away, dear.\u201d He leaned back in his chair.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hesitating, she gradually opened her notebook and asked a few questions about recent lectures. He enthusiastically explained what she needed to know for the test, trying to make the material as intriguing as possible. Nodding, she wrote much slower than usual and only faintly smiled at his funny anecdotes despite typically laughing louder than anyone in class.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She still wrote in her notebook for a minute after he finished talking and, for the first time that semester, he felt some tension with her since she normally would continuously juggle talking, smiling, and laughing. Instead, she stared intently at her notebook and quietly wrote. When finished, she gradually looked up to offer a weak smile and a thank you.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIs there anything else I can help you with?\u201d he asked, hoping to cheer her up. \u201cI hope you\u2019re not worried about the test. You did really well on the last one and you appear to be taking a lot of notes. Don\u2019t stress over this, Blossom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo. Thanks. I\u2019m not,\u201d she said softly looking at his bookshelves. \u201cNot over that anyway\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For the first time in the few months they had known each other, he felt her emanate a keen anxiety mixed with exhaustion or even depression, in total contrast to her usual ebullience. Recalling the intense loneliness that haunted his student days, he did not want her to leave looking so down and alone.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAre you all right?\u201d he asked gently.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI guess,\u201d she replied looking at the floor. \u201cOr as all right as I\u2019ll ever be, or deserve to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He paused to study her face as she stared at her hands.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlossom, if there\u2019s anything I can help you with, I hope you\u2019ll tell me. It\u2019s pretty plain to see that something\u2019s sure troubling you. Does it have anything to do with the class?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, no.\u201d she shook her head, looked back up at the bookshelves, and sighed, something he had never heard from her. \u201cSomething else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIs there someone you can talk with about it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She blinked and shrugged her shoulders. \u201cYeah, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, whatever you\u2019re fretting about, I\u2019m confident you\u2019ll lick it. You\u2019ve gotten through everything else, haven\u2019t you?\u201d He smiled. With her face still frozen in sadness, he tried again.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAs Ronald Reagan\u2019s favorite president, Calvin Coolidge, said, \u2018If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMine already ran over me,\u201d she replied drily.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou must be pretty torn up about it, sure enough, since this is the longest I\u2019ve ever seen you go without smiling, and by far.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she said barely above a whisper while glancing at him and smiling weakly.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo. You have nothing for which to apologize, Blossom.\u201d He waved his hands. \u201cI\u2019m just trying to cheer you up and let you know I\u2019m here if ever you need any help or just to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThanks, but you might not think much of me if I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNonsense,\u201d he declared with a surprised frown. \u201cGood Lord, child. You\u2019re such a lovely young lady who\u2019s working hard and doing very well, and you\u2019ve got a fantabulous future ahead of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She looked at his eyes to intuit if she could trust him. He returned what he hoped was his most empathetic expression, suddenly realizing this was his day\u2019s most important work. As she looked at him intently, he held her gaze, blinked, raised his eyebrows, and smiled a little, hoping to reassure her that she would be okay and he would never think less of her.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI had an abortion,\u201d she said in a distant voice, her eyes still locked on his as he noticed her chest rise and fall.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When she said no more, he nodded and got up to do something he almost never did. He\u00a0 closed the door. Returning to his seat, he made a point of patting her slumped shoulder as she looked at her feet. Early that term she talked of living with her boyfriend and his mother, but he also remembered she was only 19 and had spoken of her religiously strict family. When she stayed silent, he spoke.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlossom, I still think every bit as highly of you.\u201d She looked at him again with the trace of a silent laugh as he smiled at her.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThanks. I\u2019m glad someone still does.\u201d she raised her eyebrows.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAw, everyone does who really knows or loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI doubt that,\u201d she responded in a stronger voice. He thought he detected a hint of anger.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIs Todd not supportive? You\u2019ve always said how good he\u2019s been to you. Is he giving you a hard time?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo \u2026 not too much.\u201d She frowned. \u201cHe didn\u2019t like it. But he could\u2019ve been a lot worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI know y\u2019all live in his mother\u2019s house. Is she upset?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, she doesn\u2019t know \u2013 no way.\u201d She shook her head emphatically.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd she doesn\u2019t have to. If you think it could harm y\u2019all\u2019s relationship, she doesn\u2019t ever need to know,\u201d he noted as she shook her head again.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cTodd wanted to go ahead and get married and start a family.\u201d She looked at the desk. \u201cHe\u2019s 28 and I\u2019m sure if I was that old I probably would too, but I just turned 19 and I really want to be the first person in my whole family tree ever to get a college degree,\u201d she stressed looking up at him. \u201cYou see, Dr. Sorrel, my momma started college but then got pregnant with my oldest sister and dropped out and never went back, and then each of my sisters went to college but got pregnant and left too. Neither\u2019s gone back and I reckon they never will.\u201d She looked resigned.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cTodd just doesn\u2019t understand,\u201d she continued. \u201cHe never went to college and is in construction, like Daddy, and they both make good money. But I\u2019m a girl, Dr. Sorrel. I can\u2019t do that. I just so want to make something of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSure. Of course, you do.\u201d He nodded.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know what yet.\u201d She shrugged and threw up her hands. \u201cBut I know I don\u2019t want to be like all the other women in my family. I mean \u2013 don\u2019t get me wrong \u2013 I love \u2019em all dearly. They\u2019re my closest kin, and I so adore all my cute little nieces and nephews. But I just really think I can get a college degree and do some things \u2026 have some chances that nobody in my family\u2019s ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s wonderful, Blossom. Thoroughly commendable. And it is your<\/em> life, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThank you, Dr. Sorrel,\u201d she said with a nod and a tired smile.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHas your family supported your pursuing a degree?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, yeah.\u201d She nodded eagerly. \u201cThey\u2019ve been telling everybody how \u2018Blossom\u2019s gon\u2019 be the first one ever to get a college degree. Who\u2019d a-ever guessed it\u2019d be the baby of the family?\u2019 Laurie and Zara are a lot older and were both cheerleaders and on the homecoming court. So, other than being \u2018the runt of the litter,\u2019 the only way I\u2019ve ever stood out was being pretty good at school. So the last<\/em> thing in the world I ever wanted was to disappoint Momma and Daddy like my sisters did when they dropped out of college.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd you haven\u2019t and you won\u2019t.\u201d He raised his head and paused. \u201cMight your folks be supportive of your \u2026 decision?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGood Lord, no.\u201d She looked at him surprised and shook her head furiously. \u201cRemember we\u2019re Baptists and Daddy even preaches sometimes when the pastor\u2019s away. They\u2019d be shocked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cReally?\u201d he asked. \u201cThey do know you live with your beau, and have for a while, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah, but they don\u2019t like it.\u201d She rolled her eyes before her face slowly went blank. \u201cAnd this is different \u2026 way worse.\u201d She widened her eyes before looking down at her folded hands.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, how \u2018shocked\u2019 could they be that you got pregnant living with your boyfriend? Or do you tell them y\u2019all have separate bedrooms?\u201d he barely managed to get out before laughing. \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u201d She looked up at him and briefly giggled for the first time that day. \u201cAnd Momma and Daddy were real excited when Laurie and Zara got pregnant, and neither of them was married either, and each was living with her future husband. And\u2019s that another thing.\u201d She sighed. \u201cI was really hoping to be the first girl in the family \u2013 maybe the whole family tree \u2013 not to have a shotgun wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd you still can,\u201d he emphasized with a smile. \u201cYou\u2019ve told me you want to marry Todd.\u201d She nodded. \u201cIf your folks know that, maybe they\u2019ll accept y\u2019all living together more. For a long time now, most American couples have before they wed. Do your parents know y\u2019all intend to marry?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, yeah, and they like him and support us getting hitched. Todd would love for us to go ahead, but I still want to finish my education first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cA wise move indeed \u2013 especially since you just turned nineteen. So many coeds who marry drop out, have children, and never go back to school or, if they do, not until the last child has flown the nest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cExactly. Thank you. That\u2019s what I keep telling Todd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cautiously, he spoke again. \u201cDo you think you might feel better if you talked \u2013 confidentially, of course \u2013 with your minister?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She gave him a look that exclaimed, \u201cAre you nuts?\u201d before he raised his hand, nodded, and looked at the desk suppressing a chuckle.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, how about your sisters?\u201d he asked. \u201cSurely, they might understand what you\u2019re going through, and better than anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMaybe.\u201d She took a deep breath. \u201cBut I can see them giving me a real hard time for not making the same call they did. You see, their hearts were never into going to college. They just went \u2019cause Momma and Daddy thought they should. The minute they got pregnant, they told everyone, all excited to plan the wedding and baby room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He paused, clasping his hands under his chin. \u201cSo are Todd and I the only people you\u2019ve told about this?\u201d he inquired.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cY\u2019all are it,\u201d she said evenly and sighed.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, I\u2019m right honored, and you\u2019re welcome to stop by anytime, Blossom. If you\u2019d like the benefit of a professional, any sessions at the campus counseling office would be free, and those folks are so nice. Most of them are ladies too. And, Blossom, not to minimize your pain one iota, but I guarantee you that they have all counseled many, many girls going through exactly what you are. In fact, nothing you say to them is going to surprise them in the least \u2013 and I have complete confidence that they will support, encourage, and help you in every way they can. You don\u2019t have to face this all by yourself, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Looking at him, she blinked and nodded. \u201cThank you. That means a lot, and I really appreciate it,\u201d she said. After a pause, she looked at his desk.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBut I don\u2019t know if I deserve any help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d he exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMy church says I\u2019ve committed a mighty terrible sin. Maybe God won\u2019t forgive me, and shouldn\u2019t. Maybe I let my selfish pride wanting to be the first Porter ever to get a degree trump doing what\u2019s right.\u201d Sighing deeply, she descended further down the same path. \u201cAnd now I have to live with that for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He intertwined his fingers on the desk and leaned forward.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlossom, look at me.\u201d She did with her bleakest expression yet. He swallowed before speaking. \u201cNow I know you\u2019re feeling a world of guilt and actually wondering if God will even forgive you, and I don\u2019t know what that church of yours or y\u2019all\u2019s pastor or your parents have ever said to you about abortion or what or who they think God will forgive. But when I read my Bible<\/em>, it sure strikes me that our God is a mighty merciful and forgiving Father who loves us all dearly, including you. I think it\u2019s in Ephesians 2:4 where the Apostle Paul writes, \u201cBut God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.\u2019<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cJust look at all the folks in the Bible<\/em> that God forgave who committed all kinds of sins \u2013 and far worse than any of yours.\u201d He raised his head and eyebrows. \u201cAdam and Eve broke the one command He gave them and yet He still forgave them and even let Adam live to be 930. Noah was a drunk, but God still chose him to build the Ark. Moses was a murderer<\/em>, yet God still picked him to lead the Jews to the Promised Land. David not only committed adultery with Bathsheba, but even arranged for her husband to get killed in battle, yet God still kept him as the king of the Jews. When Christ was arrested, the disciples fled, and His favorite, Peter, even denied knowing Him \u2013 thrice<\/em>. Yet Jesus still forgave them all and even kept Peter as the head of His church. And look at Paul, the man who persecuted so many Christians and actually helped execute some. Yet Christ forgave and saved him too, and Paul went on to write most of the New Testament.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd if you\u2019re worried about living with your boyfriend, look who God chose to help bring down the walls of Jericho \u2013 Rahab, a prostitute!<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNow, can you look at me and honestly say you still wonder whether God loves or forgives you for whatever sins you worry you\u2019ve committed? Truly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She paused, blinked, and smiled at him. \u201cNow that you put it that way, I guess not. Maybe there\u2019s hope for me after all,\u201d she said with a dry chuckle. For the first time that day, she showed a trace of her old self.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAs Pope John Paul II proclaimed, \u2018Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song,\u2019\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI ain\u2019t Catholic, but I\u2019ll sure take it,\u201d she stated and sat up straighter.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He felt his own body loosen up and smiled. Not sure what to say next, he was relieved when she spoke.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t know how much I appreciate this, Dr. Sorrel. I sure feel a whole heap better than when I came in here. Thank you, sir. Thanks a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, Miss Blossom, to see a flash of your electric smile and shining self again just made my day.\u201d He nodded with a grin.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAw,\u201d she said and shared her first heartfelt laugh of the day. \u201cWell, I\u2019ve taken up way too much of your time, and it\u2019s \u2013 Good Lord! \u2013 well after five.\u201d She quickly gathered up her notebook.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201c\u2018Fear not,\u2019 as the Good Book says, since I\u2019m typically here well past this time anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To her perplexed look, he replied, \u201cI guess I have no life\u201d and laughed. As she gave a mock pout and began to stand up, his face got serious again and he raised his hand for her to sit down. Looking curious, she did.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlossom, before you go, I want to make just a couple of quick points if you have time.\u201d She eagerly nodded.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhile I\u2019m elated you\u2019re feeling better now, remember that whenever we go through any crisis or intense emotional pain, we can\u2019t just snap our fingers and make it vanish. You may still have all kinds of troubled feelings for some time.\u201d She slowly nodded with raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSo I do hope you\u2019ll seriously consider going to the counseling office. Your tuition has already paid for any sessions there, and you\u2019d likely have to pay hundreds of dollars just for one session with a shrink off campus.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI know. I will. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd, Blossom, over the years a number of gals have sat in that same chair telling me essentially what you did, and every one of them got through it and went on to graduate, get married, and have children.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAw,\u201d she exclaimed. \u201cWonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cEspecially once you become a mother, I suspect any lingering guilt you may have will quickly fade away. Indeed, you probably won\u2019t have time to feel much guilt about anything. You\u2019ll just be filled to the gills with motherhood.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They stood chuckling, and Moxley did something he only did when convinced a student really needed it. He came around the desk to give her a hug. She eagerly embraced him. When he began to release her, she held on several more seconds. Sensing she was fighting back tears, he patted her back.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou will<\/em> get through this, Blossom,\u201d he stated as she nodded forcefully. He kept his arm around her back as she regained her composure.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI do want to be a mother–\u201d she got out before wiping a tear as he rubbed her shoulder.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSure you do, and one day you will when you\u2019re good and ready,\u201d he replied. She nodded and tried to smile.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hesitating, he lowered his voice and leaned forward. \u201cIn the meantime, please take whatever precautions are necessary so you never have to suffer through this again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAmen,\u201d she replied loudly with wide eyes and a big nod. \u201cI\u2019ll definitely see to that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGood,\u201d he responded with a chuckle, \u201cand you can focus on earning that degree so you can\u00a0 choose to marry and have children whenever it\u2019s best for you and Todd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I can be the first in the family to get \u2019em in the right order too,\u201d she exclaimed with a grin.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCheers, and when you do have children, what a magnificent mom and family you and Todd will make,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThanks. I\u2019ll sure try.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be something else.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Douglas Young \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Moxley Sorrel\u2019s office door was the open one. As intimidated as he had been in college approaching a professor, Dr. Sorrel did all he could to make students feel comfortable getting help with a course, continuing a compelling class discussion, asking for advice on a major or what courses to take, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1872,77],"tags":[1565,1873,1123],"class_list":["post-16340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-egophobia-89-90","category-english","tag-douglas-young","tag-egophobia-89-90","tag-english"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6DakB-4fy","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16340"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16340\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16341,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16340\/revisions\/16341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}