The Academic
“Vincent, hurry up and finish your morning sketches. We’re going to be late for our meeting with your counselor!” Vivian called through the intercom. Vincent closed his tattered Algebra book and slipped it discretely into his messenger bag. Today was the last day of his junior year and he was nervous about the meeting. He took a deep breath as he walked down the long hall that led to the main staircase. “Good morning, my love,” Vivian said as she smiled and grabbed the car keys. Vivian Shoemaker was a wildly successful ceramics artist. “Good morning, Mom. Can we take my car?” Vincent asked. Vivian dangled the keys to her Aston Martin and replied, “It’s your special day, so I’m going to let you drive mine.” As nervous as he was, he couldn’t help but feel excited as he grabbed the keys and rushed to the spacious garage.
On the way to school, Vivian asked Vincent if he had made any decisions yet. She and her husband, Calvin, had been lobbying for months for him to apply to the same art school where they met. Vincent said nothing and rolled his eyes as he tried to focus on the road. “Well, I know you’ll make a responsible decision,” Vivian added hopefully. As Vincent pulled into the parking lot at the exclusive Portland School for the Arts, Vivian reached into the back seat to grab Vincent’s bag for him and was surprised by the weight. “What are you carrying around in that thing? You’re going to have to get that yourself,” she said as she got out of the car. Relieved she hadn’t seen the textbooks he was smuggling, Vincent made sure the bag was securely closed and changed the subject as they walked into the beautiful school.
“Hello, Vivian! Hello, Vincent! How are you all doing this morning?” Mr. Gregory asked as they approached his workspace. “Just fine, Mr. Gregory, thank you. Calvin sends his best. He’s out of town this week doing research for his next book. How are you?” Vivian replied. Mr. Gregory coughed rather alarmingly, then smiled and said, “I’m wonderful, thank you. Well, Vincent, let’s talk about your plans for after high school, shall we? I’ve seen your portfolio and have no doubt you would be a fine candidate for Harvard Art School like your parents, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Vincent took a deep breath. “Actually, Mr. Gregory, I’ve been thinking of going to the Rhode Island School for Doctors. Science and medicine are my true passion,” he explained. “Vincent, we have talked about this!” Vivian exclaimed. “Your father and I are willing to support you if you want to study medicine as a hobby, but you need to think about your future. We have worked too hard to let you throw it all away on this silly little dream. How will you support your family? You think your wife and kids will want to move in with us?” Vincent shook his head and continued, “Mom, calm down. I’m 17. Maybe I don’t even want kids, I don’t know. Either way, plenty of doctors have families and they find a way to make it work.” As Vivian was storming out to call Calvin, she added, “I will not have my son living in some academic commune!”
Mr. Gregory turned to Vincent and tried to offer some encouragement. “She and your father just want to see you use your talents to provide a comfortable life, so you don’t have to struggle like most academics do. It’s normal to question your path at this stage of your life and even rebel against the conventional wisdom of your parents and teachers. On the other hand, you might take a minute to think about what your mother said. If you go to a good art school and get a stable creative job with a nice salary and benefits, you’ll be able to afford to pursue these academic interests all you want. If you go to RISD, you might be able to make enough to scrape by for a few years, but hardly anyone manages to turn medical science into a sustainable career. Only the most famous doctors are able to earn a respectable living, and that has just as much to do with luck and timing as anything else.” Vincent brushed off Mr. Gregory’s sage advice and whined, “I thought you, of all people, would be cool about this.”
Vivian returned to the room after reporting her son’s betrayal with a fresh resolve. “We’re leaving, Vincent,” she said curtly. “Sorry for wasting your time, Mr. Gregory. I don’t know where he gets this from, but we’re going to New York to see Calvin immediately.” Vincent jumped to his feet. “Mom be serious! It’s the last day of school,” he shouted. “I am being perfectly serious. Your father obviously wants to talk to you about this, but also he’s horribly ill again,” Vivian explained. Mr. Gregory, having battled illness his whole life, gave a knowing glance. “Aren’t we all,” he said through a cough. “See, if you would let me go to Med School,” Vincent started to say. “Vincent, that’s enough!” Vivian interrupted. “Mom, please! How can you ask me to just give up on my dreams?” he pleaded desperately. “Not another word. We’ll talk about this in New York.”
- Written for “A Time You Begged”