“That might would have worked, but you said he had already thrown it in the trash. My project work is probably long gone by now.” Vance sadly realized.
Andrew pulled a big packet from behind his back and said, “You mean THIS project?”
Vance grabbed it from him and thumbed it through making sure it was all there. “Yes! This is it!”
“Vance, if we hurry, we can just make it before five o’clock, the deadline for getting it in on time.”
Vance grabbed Abby’s hand and took off running. “What are you waiting for Andrew? Let’s go!”
The three of them made it with three minutes to spare. They stood outside Professor Gunther’s office for a moment to catch their breath before casually walking in.
Vance handed Professor Gunther his project in front of Abby and Andrew. “Here’s my project work professor. Looks like I just barely made it in time.”
Abby chimed in, “After all the hard work I know that you put into that project honey, it would have been terrible for your grades if you hadn’t delivered it on time.”
Andrew patted Vance on the shoulder and added, “Good job. I’m sure Professor Gunther is looking forward to reviewing your work. Isn’t that right, professor?”
Gunther, with a stunned expression on his face looked over the faces of the three facing him. He clearly knew that Vance had already handed in his project yesterday, yet here he was handing it in again today, and with two eye-witnesses in tow. He was ashamed of his actions and was keenly aware that they knew of his treachery. Worse than the shame of students’ awareness of his perfidy, he would have to return the ten thousand dollar bribe he had accepted to carry out this plot against the hardest working student he had ever met. He was puzzled as to how Vance came to learn of his plight. In acknowledgement, he simply nodded to Vance and thanked him for getting it in on time, assuring him that he was looking forward to his insights.
When the three stepped back out into the hallway, Vance turned to Andrew, “I owe you my life man. You have no idea how close my life had come to devastation. If you hadn’t intervened and helped me, my life as I had planned it would be over. Words are inadequate to express my gratitude, but from the heart, thanks man.”
“Think nothing of it. I’m just sorry it took me this long to track you down. You’re sort of a legend around here, the hardest working student I have ever heard of. It would be a crying shame for your record to be tarnished by some kind of grudge by a professor.”
“How do you know me and why would you go to so much trouble for another student you’ve never met before?”
“Ahhhh, I see what you’re asking now. Apparently you don’t remember me, but I did what I did for two reasons. Three years ago, I was having a tough time in advanced calculus. I managed to get in a study group two weeks before the final exam. You were in that group. If you hadn’t shed some light on how to work some of the formulas I found incomprehensible at the time, I would have flunked out and either had to repeat the class, or not be here at all.”
He continued, “Secondly, and equally important to me, I’m also Sigma Chi — ΣΧ, your fraternity brother. I’ve seen you take the shit jobs setting up and cleaning up so people like me can party-hardy. I’m your brother for life, man, and I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing when my brother could be hurt by my inaction. I asked every brother I could find to spread the word to find out where you were. There must have been over two hundred phone calls made on your behalf, but we tracked you down. You had casually mentioned to Stephen that you were going to watch an oldie, ‘Casablanca’ this afternoon, and that’s where I found you.”
Vance eagerly shook his brother’s hand, “And am I ever glad that you did. You have no idea. Thank you again!” In a flash, Vance realized the immense value of his association with the Sigma Chi fraternity. Suddenly his awareness that it took more than hard work to succeed struck him like a thunderbolt. There was an innate wisdom to the path he was following in the footsteps of his predecessor-benefactor.
Chapter 5
On Sunday, June ninth a beautiful sunny day greeted the thousands in attendance at the outdoor graduation ceremony at Harvard University. Both sets of parents were sitting together having finally met for the first time since their children became engaged, to watch them both walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. Abby received her bachelor of arts in Accounting and Vance received both a simultaneous Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Business Economics and Finance. His achievement was met with thunderous applause from the entire crowd and was called out as a special accomplishment by the Dean. Vance was humbled by the jubilant reception of the culmination of all of his hard work.
The wedding was set to take place in two weeks in Columbus, Ohio. The three couples celebrated the milestones that were openly acknowledged that day. To say that both sets of parents were proud of their children would be the understatement of the year. The next morning, Abby was returning home with her parents to complete last minute preparations for the upcoming nuptials and wouldn’t see her beloved for two weeks. They shared a tender but ardent kiss before parting.
As he drove with his parents on the long drive back home to Greensboro, they caught him up on all the happenings since he’d last been home. He had only returned home during Christmas break each year because his summers were always filled with classes.
When they stopped for lunch about half way back, his mother handed him a letter, addressed to him. “This came for you two days before we left. I figured you might not want to wait until we were home before opening it.”
Vance eagerly received the envelope from his mother and quickly tore it open.
Congratulations on your graduation and accomplishments. My information indicates that you will be heading home on Monday, June 10th. I will be at the same hotel of our previous encounters on Tuesday June 11th, conference room three at precisely 2:00 pm. Don’t be late.
Your benefactor’s representative.
Vance showed the letter to his father and mother. “Well, I hope you don’t have any plans for me tomorrow afternoon. Apparently all they need to do is snap their fingers and they expect me to jump.”
“Honey, you must admit that they have invested an extravagant sum of money into your education and that fact alone should earn them access to you on their timetable. Why do you seem so antagonistic about meeting up with them?” His mother asked.
“Mom, it’s not that I have anything whatsoever against my sponsor or the company I hope to be working for shortly. I am appreciative as hell for everything they’ve done for me. What bothers me the most is that….that she-devil of a woman that I have met with every time so far, and judging by the tone of that letter, I’m sure I’ll be the target of her cynicism once again.”
“Are you suggesting that your benefactor has a grudge of some kind against you?” Asked his dad.