The circle of friends reclines on the grass in their special clearing off the beaten track. They are soaking up rays beside the creek running through the woodlot. Barbie languorously passes the joint to Jose, stretched out beside her. He takes a satisfying drag and smiles.
“Nice of Mister Sunshine to drop in for a visit, eh?” He passes it on to Tamara, who takes just a light pull before handing it off to Quentin. Q takes a couple of tokes and passes it on to Mouse.
Tamara sits up, feeling just a bit spinny, taking in a deep breath in an attempt to clear her head before the dissection lab she has this afternoon. She smiles down at Quentin, who flashes his own pearly whites in a wolfish grin.
“You’re not leaving,” he asks.
“Yeah, babe, I can’t afford to miss the lab.” She leans over and gives him a kiss before she struggles to her feet. She looks down at Barbie laying there. The girl is totally wasted. “You coming Barb?”
“I don’t think it’d be such a good idea Tam. I think they’d notice.” And she starts in giggling.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Later.” Tamara waves to the group and hurries off to the Bio building. The air feels good, the sun is soft and warm but she’s got a bit of a head. That’s it for me, she thinks, not for the first time. Can’t afford to toke up at lunch any more. No way no how.
Tamara has wanted to be a doctor since she was small. Since her brother got the doctor kit she wanted for Christmas.
But she’ll have a real doctor kit soon.
She’s worked too hard and too long to get here. Slaving night and day to get the math, but she did it. And now Tamara realizes that she has to get her head into the program or she’s gonna end up booted out. That is not in the plan. Stick to the program. Get it done.
Yes.
