Dots and Zeros [Completed]

7. Eugene

I open the front door and take my shoes off with my feet.

'So,' mama says. 'Second year of college has started.'

'Yes,' I say. 'First two days down. Well, one.'

She's sitting on the couch with the TV turned on. I close the door behind me and drop my backpack to the floor. I sit down on the couch next to her.

'I can't believe lucky you are,' she says. 'A whole day without any classes planned. And still going to the library on a free day, I'm impressed.'

'You said you didn't have time to pick up your book,' I say. 'What are you doing here?'

'I was done way earlier than I thought I was. And you can't rush lab work you need to wait for. So I just went home. Do others in your classes have that few hours as well?'

'Yeah. Is it different from when you went?'

'It is. I had to physically go to school for thirty hours a week.'

'Gross.'

'I know. How are you feeling?'

'Lucky I don't have thirty hours of contact hours at school.'

'Sure,' she chuckles. 'And besides that? How's the eating going?'

I fold my legs under me and sit more comfortably.

'It's been fine,' I say. 'The last two days I crossed them all off.'

'I'm proud of you.'

'Thanks.'

'Are you proud of yourself?'

I sigh and bend my neck back. I look to the ceiling and close my eyes.

'I know, I know,' mama says. 'Let me act like a mother for once.'

'Yes, I'm proud of myself.'

'That's all I needed to know.'

I feel a hand on my knee. I lift my head back up and look at the TV. I have no idea what we're looking at.

'So, what's the next challenge?' mama asks.

'I don't know.'

'I have an idea.'

'What is it?'

'How about you make yourself some sort of quota. To talk to two different people every week.'

'Two? That's a lot.'

'Doesn't have to be two new people every week.'

'That's better.'

We watch the TV in silence for a while. There's two men talking in Spanish. The English subtitles go by too fast for my liking. They seem to be having a shouting match. As the scene progresses, they talk faster and faster.

'How do I do that?' I eventually ask.

'Do what?'

'Like... approach people.'

'Just be bold. You'll notice soon enough if they're not into it. Remember to not take that personally. Especially in the beginning. They don't know you well enough yet to be able to mean that personally.'

'Wisely said.'

'It's what I'm a mother for.'

'You're a mother? Never would've guessed.'

I can see the corner of her lips curl up from the corner of my eye.

'I mean it, though,' she says. 'Be bold. You don't want to depend on others to make a move. Friendships could last a lifetime if you're brave enough to keep reaching out. If you want to be friends with that person of course.'

'Sure.'

'And it's also a matter of practice.'

'So it's going to take me ten thousand hours before having mastered it?'

She shrugs.

'Better start as soon as possible,' she simply says.

'It sounds like a lot of work.'

'It can be fun work. Like going to the movies together. Or on trips. That last one is more of an advanced level activity, but you can look forward to it.'

I hum.

'What's for dinner tonight?' I ask.

'I'm just as clueless as you. Let yourself be surprised.'

'I guess I have no other choice.'

I stand up from the couch and retrieve my backpack.

'Can I put your book in the study room upstairs?' I ask.

'Yes, that's great,' mama says. 'Thank you.'

'No problem. Enjoy your fighting men.'

'I will,' she laughs.