Who: Isabel Lagerkvist What: Isa in New Mexico When: Daytime of 2013 October 23 Where: University of New Mexico Rating: G Status: Finished
Although Isa came in as a regular attendant to the symposium, one wave to one of the organizers was all she needed to be invited into the VIP luncheon they held in some back room.
There was only about fifteen of them she could count, and of them, there were only three special guests and she was one of them. As soon as the doors were closed behind her, she shared an embrace with her organizer friend and a quick giggle as they somehow swung in each other's arms, left and right. The beam on Isa's face could grow no bigger as they parted and looked at each other's faces and clothes. "How are you, you're looking extremely well!"
"I could be better," her friend laughed, placing a prosthetic right hand over her chest, the kind that matched her real skin color -- the one that was almost burned out of existence after a faulty mission. She was one of Isa's first friends when she stepped into the Syndicates but lost her a year after due to her injuries. Now, she was back home with her husband and kids to recuperate. That was the official story, of course. "I'm still teaching fourth year students. What a drag!"
"Ohhh, don't rush yourself!" Isa moved her friend's brunette locks -- monofilament, if she was right -- to the back of her shoulder. "I wasn't just saying a compliment, you know. You really do look so much better than the last time we met!"
"Which was when, two years ago?"
"When you were crawling the bottle?" Isa laughed. "I'm glad to see you here, I really am."
"My kid knocked me out of it," she sighed, looking sideways briefly as if her child was there by the silver buffet line but all there was was one of the speakers and three journalists, each a cocktail in hand. "She's started to show some signs."
"Really!" Isa gasped. "What is she?"
"I don't know for sure but so far," she turned to Isa, "he really likes his ice."
Isa's smile grew. "Just like you!" she said, and that beam returned to her face when her friend blushed certainly and nodded. "Is he going to school?"
"I might send him. But," she sighed, "I hope I'll be strong enough to teach the third years by then. And I used to teach second!"
"One step at a time, Mary," Isa said, brushing down her tuft, "You'll get there one day. For now, I think we should talk about this symposium you just put together. Congratulations, it was very good!"
"It takes one to know one," Mary said and laughed cheerfully with her old friend. "Come on, I'll introduce you to our speakers! They'll be delighted to know you."
The room was actually not that big at all but strategic placement of tables -- draped in dark blue cloth -- and chairs -- covered in white -- allowed everyone proper room to walk and mingle. Lunch was a lot of tiny sandwiches, pasta, some kebabs and five kinds of refreshment.
Isa managed not to embarrass herself by going back to the buffet three times although everyone she talked to insisted that she was more than welcome to do it but she stopped herself at the second. After that, there was lots of walking around, lots of smiling and shaking hands, lots of, "Isabel Lagerkvist. I'm part of an online science magazine and I'd like to talk about this symposium for our issue next quarter." It was an alibi she'd run through relevant Syndicate members and Mary winked her approval.
In fact, there was only one other person in the entire room who she welcomed to the whole truth of her being there although she said it with half a lie. It started with a, "Hi!" as Isa leaned forward and shook the older man's hand. He was taller and narrower than she was with bags under his eyes to tell a story and the last few strands of hair around his crown to stand evidence to it. "My name's Isabel Lagerkvist. I'm an active member of the Science and Youth Network over at New York. do you know that?"
"Science and You-- oh yes!" He laughed, shaking her hand more eagerly. "Yes, in fact I do. I used to be a very active member myself but," he sighed as they parted their hands, "I'm not exactly youthful anymore, am I?" He laughed again.
And Isa shared it politely. "Well, you still have your contributions. And what will we be without our elders," she said with a smile. "So I'm really happy to have met you and I'd just like to extend the Network's gratitude on your undying sympathy to our cause."
"It's not just our cause I'm sympathetic to." He cleared his throat and tilted his chin up a bit as he said, "It's our future. The future of our children. I didn't agree to this lifelong career because I wanted the fame, I wanted out children to run wild and free! So while I appreciate your gratitude, Ms. Lagerkvist--"
"Isa."
He nodded. "Ms. Isa, it really is all just a part of my job."
"It's still a difficult one," Isa said.
"Not with passion." He shook his head, smiling. "Oh by the way, I don't know if Mary introduced you to our new friend? Mary, did you--"
"Oh no, not yet!" Mary began with soft urgency as she slipped out a folded sheet from her left pocket and handed it to Isa who opened it curiously. "But that's okay, that's why she's here. You've still got half the day to look for him."
"Who is he?"
"George Li," Mary said although Isa was already reading the details of the photocopied ID on her hand. "I personally invited him to this symposium. He's very smart! Great reader, lover of languages...sometimes I hear he talks to parrots!"
"And he's just 15?" Isa gasped mildly, looking at Mary and their common friend.
They were both smiling as they nodded. "In time," Mary said, "he could teach first years."
Isa nodded, and looked down to the paper she held.
Half an hour after that meeting, Isa moved seats from the fifth row to the front to the third row from the back. George Li looked almost exactly like he did in his ID without the black and white ink and she tapped him softly on the shoulder so that he turned to her while pulling out an earphone. "Yes?"
"Is this seat taken?" Isa smiled as nicely as she could. "It's too cold at the front, I couldn't concentrate!"
"Oh definitely. Please take it." George smiled politely and nodded.
Isa offered her gratitude and placed herself beside him, sighing in comfort as she brought out her notepad and knock pen as one of the organizers took the stage and requested for the audience to settle themselves. "Oh this feels much better." She turned to George. "You're not taking down notes?"
"Umm...no," George said almost dumbly. "Should I?"
"Well, you look so young!" Isa said. "I just thought this was a school requirement."
"Oh, no! It's umm..." He smiled almost sheepishly. "It's just umm...a stupid hobby, I love these things. I think they're interesting. And I'm listening, anyway. I'm a better listener when I don't take down notes."
"It's not a stupid hobby if there's 150 of us sharing this room, all being excited." Isa offered kindly, and her own smile invited a more relaxed one from the boy. "I'm Isa, by the way."
"Nice to meet you," he said offering his hand to shake which she took with a firm up-and-down. "I'm Geo."