Bed of Roses

Chapter 2

“Eager beavers, are we?” Professor Ward asks as his classroom begins to empty.

It's a Thursday afternoon and half of the students have already left, stuffing their backpacks full of notebooks and sheets of loose leaf paper. The other half has stopped at the sarcastic tone in his voice, crashing into one another on the way out. Peggy is accidentally slammed into the door jamb by three people, the polyester of her shirt catching on the hinge and sounding with a steady rip. She holds the torn hem of her shirt between her fingers, heaves a sigh and looks back to meet the eyes of her professor.

“Before I lose the rest of my class to cold winter nights and Christmas presents from dear ole Gran-Gran—” The class chuckles as a collective whole. “I would like to inform you that, upon your return, we'll be diving right into the good stuff!” He claps his hands together and looks hopefully to his students. “Dissection?” Professor Ward asks, testing the word amongst his undergraduate class.

There is a chorus of cheers and a few groans throughout the group. Peggy can't decide which part of the class she fits into. She has always had a very strong stomach, but surely even the best doctors are surprised sometimes while cutting through human flesh, blood coloring their latex gloves to a dark crimson.

“Now, run free! Fly, my baby birds! I strongly stress that you bring with you a steel stomach when you come back!” he shouts as the remainder of the class files out into the corridor, filling the science wings. “Don't drink too much! Remember: tea is the key! Not Scotch! Scotch is the—well, your liver will appreciate it!”

The science wing bustles with future scholars: doctors, scientists, nurse practitioners. It always smells like a strange mix of dead things and formaldehyde. But, it's usually quiet after classes get out. The science undergrads, Peggy finds, are more reserved than most. It's the liberal arts students across campus who cause an uproar of singing, dancing and theatrical monologues when their classes finish. Today is different.

It's break, for Christ's sake! Time to gather around the dining room table at midday with whiskey, sausage, potatoes and bread sauce. Time to proudly wear ugly Christmas sweaters around the flat and receive terrible presents that you'll eventually return with the tag (still attached) for a gift card. Everyone feels the spirit, really. The building is loud and laughter resonates throughout the corridors, echoing in every wing.

Peggy fixes the toggle-fastenings on her duffel coat and pushes open the building doors with her bottom. The cold air hits her like a two-ton truck, knocking her back a few steps and blowing back her curly hair into the face of a student behind her. She apologizes quickly and quietly before wishing him a safe, happy holiday.

“Peggy!” shouts a voice from the bottom of the steps.

It's Alfie. Sweet, reliable Alfie with the careful eyes, thin lips and brown hair with dull blonde highlights. Definitely a charmer of ladies. With a smile, he raises his eyebrows and holds out his arms for the cautious brunette.

She cracks a smile and waves. “Hello, Alf.” He wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her toward him, planting a quick kiss on her temple. “You're in a mood,” she says, bumping his hip with hers.

“A good one!” Alfie chuckles. “A very good one!” Happily, he throws his arms in the air. “Why not? It's winter break, I'm goin' back to Leeds to see my family—” He tightens his grip on Peggy's waist and smiles at her. “And I've got my beautiful, beautiful best friend standing beside me.”

Peggy has known Alfie since the beginning of last year, their memorable freshman year of college. Some student in the rugby league had been whistling at Peggy and making obnoxious cat-calls in her direction. Alfie took note and quickly threw his arm around her shoulder, pulled her close and kissed her cheek. He then led her away and apologized for their momentary vicinity and the kiss, but said that he couldn't stand when “fat-headed” jocks cheekily called to female students. They have been best friends ever since.