Part 2: Carrots and Ice Cream

By Firefly

“It is not often I have a student who is both brilliant, but also lazy.”

This coming from Professor Barnes who was sitting on the edge of his desk after class had ended and Lily had come up to speak with him. It was a conversation he had to approach delicately because he believed in all of his students and didn’t want to scare her off. He crossed his arms over his chest, fingernails idly scratching at the edge of one of the strips of the tape holding the plastic down over his most recent tattoo. A series of hooves intertwined to form a unique design embroidered with what looked like Celtic knots and crosses.

Lily reached up, running fingers through her thick hair, smoothing it out a little bit more as she considered her words.

“Look. Professor Barnes…”

She paused when he held up his hand to stop her mid-sentence.

“Miss McKinsey, you’ve been giving me excuses since the day class started. Why is it, that you’re one of my smartest students and yet the only one who is on the verge of failing out in her first year? Based on your assignments, you should be at the top of my class, and yet you continually earn yourself zero’s because you’ve only handed in what, two assignments? On-time? That sort of thing isn’t going to cut it out in the real world my dear. How many times do you think your employer is going to accept you being late on a project?” Professor Barnes tilts his head to the side. This was the first time the pair of them had really had this conversation. But in his mind, it was needed. He didn’t like to see anyone fail, even if it was their own fault. Everyone deserved a chance.

Lily lowered her gaze to the floor, taking a sudden interest in the scuff marks on the toes of her flats as she spoke.

“I’m sorry.” She said softly, unsure what else to say.

“I’m sorry, but I’m sorry, isn’t going to cut it this time Miss McKinsey. I have a limit for how many sorries a student can turn in before I’m at my limit. I need to see real change from you before the end of this quarter or I’m going to have to recommend you be removed from my class and I imagine the other instructors are likely to follow suit, your record so far does not paint a very bright picture despite the fact that you are here on a scholarship only given to a hundred people a year for leaping off the page. So far, I’d say you’re just another book on the shelf. I want you to earn that scholarship and shine as brilliantly as you’re meant to. But at this rate, that’s not going to happen. Do you understand what I’m getting at?”

Lily nodded, “I do. I just don’t know WHAT to do about it. I’m trying…”

“Try harder, or find something that ignites your passion and doesn’t feel like trying. Being able to absorb information without having any passion for it serves little purpose. Being the smartest person in the room is pointless unless you can use that knowledge for something you Love. When I graduated, I could have gone into research. But I hated that corporate world. I hated that place in the lab, I found my passion in passing knowledge on to others. Never once do I come into work and feel like I have to force myself to work hard at what I do.” He lifted a glass tablet from his desk and flipped through it several times until a picture of Lily along with her student account came up.

“You’re here under a general degree, but what is it you want to do after you’re done at University? What is going to get Lillian McKinsey out of bed every morning, ready to take on the world?”

Lily opened her mouth to respond and yet again Professor Barnes lifted his hand to stop her, “Don’t answer. Don’t give me an excuse. I want you to think long and hard about your future, and your place in this university then come back to me tomorrow with your plan. Or at least the ability to ask how you can make up the waterfall of zero’s I’ve had to put on your record. Understood?”

“I understand Professor Barnes. Thank you.” Her voice sounded weak, almost defeated. It was a reality she’d been trying to avoid staring in the face for the last few months and it was just getting worse and worse. This was not making things any easier. How many letters could she send home telling her parents things were going great and she was doing very well in university? How many times could she keep lying?

“Don’t thank me with words. Thank me by doing better. Maybe add an extracurricular or two to your schedule and get that blood pumping so you get a good night’s sleep and get up on time, hm? Now off with you, I expect to hear back from you tomorrow. For better or worse, your future is yours to make Miss McKinsey!” He said this as he slid off his desk, scooped up his bag from his desk, and walked towards the far exit that lead to the staff lounge. He waved a hand before disappearing out the door into the hall and leaving Lily standing there in a myriad of thoughts.

Had he done the right thing? Only time would tell.

Lily adjusted her messenger bag slightly and smoothed out her skirt idly, taking a moment to poke her belly softly. She’d gained a bit of excess weight since she’d come to university, that certainly wasn’t helping her struggles. But the worst part is she knew Professor Barnes was right. She needed to do something because she was running out of rope to hold onto and keep herself afloat. In her bag, her phone tittered audibly, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Pulling her phone out of her bag she’d open up the message.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Serrah: Wanna go get some ice cream?

Lily: Yeah. I think I could use it.

Serrah: Yay! I’ll buy since you did last time. Meet me at the tubes in twenty?

Lily: Sure. See you then.

Serrah: You ok? You seem a bit off.

Lily: Just got an earful from Professor Barnes. I’ll explain when we meet up.

Serrah: Hm. Ok! See you soon Lils

————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Lily gave her screen a flick making it go dark before stowing her phone back away in her bag. Twenty minutes, Not enough time to get back to the dorms and change but long enough to stop by the admissions office and ask about her scholarship payment delay. She nodded and slipped out of the classroom, letting her thoughts wander as she headed off towards the main entrance of the college which was nearly a ten-minute walk because of the college’s size.

Walking at a bit of a quick pace, Lily slipped into the admission’s office which was essentially a giant glass cube in the middle of the front lobby. It was one of the tech department’s pet projects with shifting projectors and holographic displays showcasing the college within the cube while housing the main desk and a rather bored-looking worker tapping away on a computer. Lily slipped into the office, a small chime signaling her arrival and making the bored guy at the desk look up.

“Welcome to HighTa…” He trailed off recognizing the uniform and the fact that Lily was a student.

“How can I help you?” He asked, shifting his tone to a slightly more interested one.

“Uhm. I just wanted to look into the delay in my scholarship funding, it’s a few days late.”

The receptionist pulled his chair a bit closer to the desk, typing away and looking up at Lily, “Name?”

“Lillian McKinsey.”

He nodded and took a moment flipping through screens for a moment or two, “Ah, You’re one of those students.”

Lily tilted her head, “Excuse me?”

The receptionist looked up, “Sorry. You’re one of the few who got caught up in the funding shuffle. There was a bit of a maintenance issue and several student payments got recalled and are being sent out this week. Seems you’re one of them. You should have gotten a letter.”

Lily paused a moment, thinking back to a letter from the college she’d thrown out earlier last week. She nodded, “About how long until the payments clear? I’ve got my dorm fee’s to settle and other expenses.”

The receptionist tapped on the keyboard again, “About a week and a half by the looks of it. Dorm fees and such are set to be deducted automatically anyways so it’ll just clear when your funding lands, as for other expenses. I’m afraid I don’t have much I can offer in terms of help. If it’s cost-of-living related I do believe the support staff is offering a bit of temporary help for those with delays in funding. Never hurts to give them an ask! Anything else I can help you with?”

Lily sighed a bit, “Fair enough.” Although she wasn’t one to ask for charity so it was likely that wasn’t gonna happen, “What month is my academic review?”

“That would be…” He glanced down at his screen, “A month and a half from now, 15th of Auddas.”

“Alright. Thanks.”

“Any time! Have a wonderful day! Careful if you’re going out, WNet mentioned a pretty good storm coming in later today. Speaaaaaking of which I need to inform the outdoor clubs…” He spun about in his chair to a holophone and was off in his little world before Lily even turned to leave. She slipped out of the room quietly and headed out the front of the college to the well-manicured path that lead to the gates. To the side was a Japanese-style Velotaxi except instead of a bicycle built into the front it was a woman dressed in intricate tack and equipment hitched to the open-air front. A ponygirl, likely one of the ones from the college’s career tracks or clubs taking their turn running the student taxi.

The woman looked up, the sun reflecting off the rather shiny white catsuit she wore. She had a thick silicone bit wedged between her teeth and her arms were bound behind her back in a rather thin leather sleeve. The thin sleeve told most that she was a newer ponygirl. The female let out a small noise towards Lily as she came out of the college. A nicker as some would call it. Similar to a horse and accented with a small tilt of the head, like asking a question.

Lily waved a dismissive hand, “No thanks. I can walk.”

The female let out a soft snort in response and went back to what looked like napping while standing up. Closing her eyes and just breathing softly.

Lily shook her head slightly and slipped on by, walking down the path towards the gates that were about half a kilometer up the manicured driveway. It wasn’t often she used the taxi service at the college. Lily had very little interest in society’s obsession with Human-Ponies and the green movement that had brought them to center stage.

Lily stretched a bit as she neared the gate, Serrah was standing there, leaning against one of the stone columns that flanked the gate.

“What took you so long? You could have used the Taxi you know…”

Lily huffed slightly, “I’ll pass, I’ve got my own feet to carry me along thanks.”

Serrah chuckled, “Indeed, but while you’re not really interested in ponies, they DO make life quite a bit easier you know…It’s no different than any other convenience.”

Shaking her head, Lily would fall into step beside Serrah, “It’s not so much that I disagree with that point. It’s that it’s…always in your face. Like I get it, society has moved towards this change and EVERYONE is shoving it in your face. Y’know?”

Serrah shrugged, “I guess so. But…” She trailed off.

“Nevermind. You’ve got enough stress without us arguing about the benefit and place of Human-Ponies in modern society. So let’s just enjoy a bit of time together and unwind a bit, you can tell me about this big ol’ discussion with Professor Barnes.”

Lily smiled appreciatively and so the two of them headed off into the ‘tubes’ a series of hyperloop trains that ran throughout the city. Of course, they were only going a few stops to a nearby local ice cream shop that they often frequented called ‘The Milky Way’. They chatted the whole way, going on about their days, And Lily explaining her time with Professor Barnes.

“…And so he told me he wants to see some effort or he’ll have to request I be removed. Like…ugh!” Lily said this as she pushed the door of the shop open, holding the door for Serrah who slipped inside behind her.

“I know it’s not what you want to hear, but is he wrong? You do sleep in an awful lot and even in our classes, you’re never on time submitting assignments. Maybe it’s time someone gave you a bit of a shock to your system and you made some changes. It’d do you some good. Plus you’ve got by dorky butt to support you if you need it!” Serrah beamed as they walked up to the counter.

“He’s not wrong, and maybe I should. But I just have this…mental block and…”

“That’s an excuse, Lily. Anyone who wants to make a change, will.”

As they arrived at the counter the young woman working there looked up and smiled, “Welcome to The Milky Way, would you like to try our new Carrot and Daffodil Ice Cream in support of the Olympic Hurdle Team?”

Lily wrinkled her nose and ignored Serrah’s opinion for a moment, motioning to the young girl at the counter, “See Serrah, this is what I mean. I can’t even go to an ice cream shop without having pony culture shoved in my face now. Like…Carrot and Daffodil, C’mon…”

Serrah looked to the girl at the counter apologetically, “It’s no different than supporting anything else Lils. Just calm down, nobody is SHOVING it in your face. Nobody is telling you to lace up a pair of hooves and run with the rest of them. It’s just part of things. No different than supporting a charity.”

“…At least a charity has meaning.” Lily mumbles.

“As opposed to a culture that has changed the world for the better? Do explain how that has no meaning.” Serrah said sharply.

“Fine. Just drop it. Sorry. We’re trying to relax today.”

Serrah nodded, “Exactly. So now I’m going to be cheeky and shove some culture in your face…” She turned to the girl at the counter and said, “Two large Carrot and Daffodil in a bowl please!”

“Serrah!” Lily Protested.

“Oh hush! Maybe you’ll like it. Let’s try something new.”

Lily let out a dramatic sigh and the pair of them stood waiting for their strangely flavored ice cream.