My Professor

9. Museum

The Milton Museum of Modern Art was indeed a thirty minute drive from campus, with the beautiful scenery of the turning leaves all along the way.

I'd decided that I, too, would visit the museum that particular Sunday at two - and if Theodore and I just so happened to cross paths again, then so be it.

I parked my car in the parking lot next to the building and scanned the parking lot of Theo's car. I'd spotted a few white Subarus, so when I entered the museum I had a feeling that my afternoon could be either a hit or a miss.

The building was tall, three stories, and minimal on the outside, almost as a palate cleanser before going inside to view the show. I went to the receptionists desk and bought a ticket before slowly beginning making a round of the place. To my relief, I found Theodore quickly; He was in the first room surveying an installation.

"That piece is...interesting," I said as I approached him. On the canvas in front of us was opaque rectangles layered over one another in different bold, vibrant colors. I couldn't make any rhyme or reason for it.

"Yes, I'm not sure how I feel about it, either," he replied. He looked at me and smiled. "I'm glad you could make it."

"What do you mean?" I said innocently, feigning ignorance. "I'm just here to enjoy the art."

"I see," he chuckled. "You're taking this seriously."

"As seriously as I should," I replied. "Art is very serious business."

Theodore looked at me for a moment, studying my face. "I'm glad you came," he said earnestly.

"Me, too."

Theodore and I spent our afternoon together walking throughout the museum, talking, and enjoying the artwork presented. We took our time, making sure to slow down for each piece in order to squeeze as much time as we could out of the afternoon. Eventually, when we couldn't avoid the end of the exhibit anymore, we lingered outside the building together, still talking.

"Well, I guess we should go," Theodore said. "I don't know how much longer the employees will let us linger out here."

"Would you like to go get a coffee with me?" I asked shamelessly. I wasn't ready for my afternoon with him to end.

"Sure," he accepted with enthusiasm.

We parted ways and took our separate cars to a nearby local coffee shop. It was small and cozy, and we found a table for ourselves by the window overlooking the parking lot.

"This is nice," Theodore said after we'd both settled down with our drinks.

"Yeah," I agreed. "I could get used to this."

Theodore chucked and took a sip of his coffee.

"So, are you from around here?" I asked him.

"Washington," he said. "I'm from Seattle."

"Ooo, the big city," I replied with a grin.

"What about you? Texas is a big state. What part are you from?"

"I'm from Austin," I said.

"So you're from the big city, too."

"It's much bigger now than it was twenty years ago," I said.

"Are you twenty?" he asked.

"Twenty-one. My birthday is in February."

"Ah. I see."

"How old are you?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going. It felt like it was reaching awkward territory and I wanted to push past it. I had Theodore all to myself again - somehow - and I wanted to make the most of it.

"Thirty-two," he said.

"And your birthday?"

"March," he said.

"We're not too far off," I said with a small smile.

"Not at all," he replied, returning my smile. "I don't usually do much to celebrate anymore, though."

"Why?"

"After you hit thirty it starts to loose it's appeal," he said.

"Oh." I obviously couldn't relate. "Maybe you just don't have the right person to celebrate with."

"True. I don't have anyone at the moment."

"What do you mean? Like, no girlfriend?" I was embarrassed to ask but I couldn't resist the opportunity.

"That, and I'm not very close with my family."

"Why? If you don't mind me asking."

"My parents didn't approve of my decision to be a professor. They always pushed me to be a doctor, but when I chose not to go to med school they cut me off. I had to cover my costs for school myself and I've been on my own ever since."

"Oh, wow. I'm sorry to hear that." I had my issues with my family, but I couldn't imagine not having them in my life to some degree.

"It's fine," he said. "I'm stronger for it."

"Still, it's not very fair."

"Maybe not, but that's life," he said. "What about you? Tell me about your family."

"My family is small. It's just my mom, my sister, and me. They still live together in Texas, but I try to visit them when I can in between semesters."

"What brought you all the way up here? Other than the obvious?"

"I've always been drawn to the pacific northwest. When it was time to leave for college I felt like it was a good opportunity to come out here and experience it for myself. See if I could envision a future for myself here."

"And how's that going?"

"I'm still torn," I admitted. "I have friends here and a job I like. I know I'll be job hunting, anyway, once I graduate but...I don't know. I wonder if it would be easier to go back home, where I wouldn't be alone."

"You're not alone here," Theodore said. "You have friends."

"Well, sure, but it's not the same as the support of my family." Not that my family had been a pillar of support in my life. My mother was always focused on my sister and her antics, leaving me to take care of myself for the most part. Still, leaving them indefinitely was a big decision. What if they needed me?

"I suppose that's true," Theodore replied.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I hope I didn't rub you the wrong way with that. It's just...I don't know. My family is a little needy. I worry what they would do without me long term."

"It's perfectly fine," he smiled. "I wasn't offended in the slightest."

"Good," I said, thoroughly relieved.

"If it means anything, I will say that your family has been doing okay while you've been here for school, I assume. How different would it be when or if you join the workforce up here?"

"With bills, I'm not sure if I could afford as many plane tickets."

"That's fair," Theodore said. "They could always fly up here."

"You sound like you don't want me to go," I teased him. Instantly I worried that I'd crossed a boundary by saying so.

"What can I say?" he said. "You're an interesting person to talk to."

"I think you are, too," I said, hoping I didn't come off as awkward or needy.

"I'm glad to hear it," he smiled. "It's nice when the feeling is mutual."