The Cat's Meow, I Say!

When I saw that The University was calling me, I ran like a speeding bullet calmly left the classroom in which I was sitting to someplace more private (i.e. without students).  The closest place happened to be a stairwell whose wall is entirely made up of windows, and has an unobstructed view of the sun the entire day.  It is hot in there.  I immediately started sweating, but who can tell if was from the heat or the anxiety?

I knew it was Dr. Chair, and since he was five days late in calling me, I also knew I had a fight on my hands.  I had prepared myself mentally for the fight, waiting with questions such as, "Which objectives did you and Professor Nightmare feel I did not meet?" and "Why didn't you confront me about that objective during our meeting, when I could have produced an artifact proving that I have already met it?"

Following this confrontation- which I would ultimately lose- would come tears and questions like, "Is there any way we can work out something else?  Maybe I could do an independent study from my new city to strengthen the weakness you feel I have?"  HAVE MERCY, OLD MAN!  PUH-LEASE!

But before I could get any of that out, he said (without apologizing for being 4 days late, mind you), "I have some good news and some bad news, which would you like first?"

Gulp.I know what the bad news is already, what can the good news be?  Maybe he already has decided to let me write a paper instead!  Well, okay, that's not the end of the world.  I wonder how long he wants it to be- 12 pages?  Twelve pages seems fair.  I bet it's on the laws regarding religion, I was a little weak on that.  

Wait, did he ask me a question?

"Bad news, I'll take the bad news," I said after what must have been an awkward pause.

"The bad news is we lost your petition. Blah blah Education Department blah blah blah moving blah lost in the shuffle blah blah."

They lost my petition?  Wait, THAT'S the "bad news"?  I have to drop off another petition?  Wait, then what is the good news?  Oh my god, what is the GOOD NEWS?  There is no way.  I know he did not waive my course for the "first time in ten years- my entire career here at The University."  Is he still talking?  Focus, Ms. Peaches, focus!

"The good news is, I am approving your petition to waive the course."

I must have sounded like I was in love with man (and at that moment, I probably was) because, Dear Reader, I swooned.  I said, in the swooniest of all swoony voices, "You areeee?"

He continued by saying that he and Professor Nightmare (who shall now be named Professor Cat's Meow) both agreed to waive it because I impressed them so much at the meeting.  They didn't see my shaking hands!  I impressed them!  I impressed the man who laughed at me when I told him I wanted to graduate in May.

And now I will.

 I didn't hear the rest of his compliments because I was too busy jumping up and down like a fat kid on a trampoline- and sweating just as much- and imagining my much, much brighter future.

To wrap up:
I have officially finished my Teaching Certificate and Spanish Degree at The University.  Monday I will apply for "graduation" even though the ceremony was yesterday.

I will save (actually, Mama & Papa Peaches will save- bless their hearts) the $1024 cost of the course.  I will save the $300 in gas it would have cost for me to drive 5 hours (roundtrip) twice a week for six weeks to attend said course.  I will graduate in May instead of August, giving me a much better chance of finding a job.

Now my biggest worry is that I didn't pass the Praxis and who cares if I didn't?  I can take it again in June if I need to do so.