Deborah felt her cheeks burn at the mention of him changing diapers, and she hoped he didn’t expect she was really wearing diapers when he saw her face turn pink.
“When did you graduate?” asked Deborah. “I assumed you would be a freshman or a sophomore in college.”
“I got one more semester and then I’ll graduate in December.” He smiled. “I don’t really relish another winter in Massachusetts, but it will be a light load.”
“Wow, I’m really a step down for you,” she said. “Is that Massachusetts as in MIT?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m going to be an engineer and build things. I don’t want to be a hewer of wood and a drawer of water.” He frowned. “Lately Dad’s been wanting to give up running a lumber company. Too much looking over his shoulder for crazies like the people who set that trap for Lia’s dad.”
“They affect my life too. Saw some protesting outside Burger King the other day,” said Deborah. She recalled seeing the protestor with Flower and the terrorist at the movies when she saw Star Trek.
“Well there is a difference between peaceful protesters and the people that leave nails in trees to maim or kill lumberjacks.”
“They are the same people or at least they hang out together,” Deborah yelled. “If you think the Meat is Murder crowd is any different from those tree spiking murderers, you are wrong.” Other students were staring at her. The song had just ended so they only heard her say the last three words, but she had drawn attention to herself. She shut up.
Lia and James walked back since they were playing another Latin song.
“I’m sorry, I was just upset because I love Lia,” Deborah told him. “Here you were thinking I was so mature and I had an outburst like that.”
“I know how you feel,” said Derek and patted her on the back like she was a child.
“Arguing with Derek, Alison?” said Lia. “Shame, shame.” She ran her finger along her other index finger as the gesture for shame.
“We had a little disagreement,” said Derek. “We made up.”
“Prove it,” said James. “Take her back out on the dance floor.”