not quite done

It's a Wednesday night. In two days I'm leaving to go up for graduation. My mom is already on her way.

Alexander calls.  He begins, "Mom, listen, and please don't be mad."

That's basically the same as saying, "I know this will make you very very angry. But please, try not to be."

He continues. "It turns out that I still need one more history class to fulfill my major requirements." Alexander switched his major to History in his senior year. "But don't worry. There are a couple of qualifying summer courses being given up here that start June 22. My degree will still be for the class of 2015."

I take a deep breath and keep telling myself, "There are worse things."  I repeat these words over and over in an effort to remain calm.

Taking a 3 or 4 credit course is expensive.  Alexander's apartment lease ends June 1, so he'll need to find a new place to live. Oh, and another thing — he's required to serve on Grand Jury Duty, beginning June 9 through June 23. The Cornell class begins June 22 and he can't miss even one day.

Alexander's been deferred from jury duty so many times that if he doesn't serve I think he can be arrested. I enlist the help of Sarah D at my state senator's office, and she helps Alexander get another delay if it turns out one is needed. I love when local politics work.

But then Alexander calls to tell me that the two qualifying Cornell history courses are not attracting any students. One of the courses has one registered student and the other has zero.  He now needs to find a qualifying history course (that's a history course pre-1800's) at another school that ends by August 14. Not so easy. 

We both search around. I focus on NYC schools. Columbia and NYU don't have courses that meet the criteria.  But Fordham does. A course on Crime and Punishment in Europe from 1500 to 1800. Perfect. it begins June 30 and ends August 4. Now he can even go to jury duty as originally planned.

Alexander is still in Ithaca. He's living with friends who are still there. He'll be home tomorrow, though I still don't know when.

But he has a plan. He sounds happy. And two days ago he finally received his phone; the lost one was never found.

In the end, it all works out. I take another deep breath.