Measure Twice, Cut Once: A Novella

Abstract

The beige phone, greasy from being handled dozens of times each day, begins to ring. "Hello. Counseling and Student Development," I hear the student helper cheerfully say. It's too early in the morning to be cheerful. "Okay, I'll tell her." She turns to me. "Excuse me, Mika, " the student helper says a moment later from the cluttered receptionist's table. Thoughts broken, I look at the darkly tanned girl with artificially highlighted hair. "That was Kyle. He's running a little late, but he'll be here in a few minutes."