Chapter Thirty-Nine: Sense of Self:

Wallace needed someone to help straighten him out. The folks in his apartment complex wouldn’t be of much use. He needed someone outside of his circle. Heh, his circle. In a way, it didn’t feel like it. But in another sense, it did. Still, he needed an outside opinion. There was only one place that he could think of. Not that he wanted to do this or anything.

Wallace took a breath and knocked on the door.

“Enter,” Professor Liz said. The country boy opened the door and poked his head inside. Liz sat at her desk, grading quizzes.

“Are you busy right now?” Wallace asked. The professor glanced up at him. A little smile came across her face.

“Wallace,” she said. “Come in. What’s on your mind?” She shoved away her paperwork. Wallace walked inside.

“Um… I just needed someone to talk to,” he said. Liz raised her eyebrow.

“About what?” she asked. “Please, take a seat.” The country boy walked over to a chair in front of her desk and sat down.

“Now, talk to me,” the professor said. “What’s on your mind?”

“Well…” he said. “I don’t know if I belong to this school.”

“What makes you say that?” Liz asked. Wallace shrugged and shook his head.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I just feel out of place.”

“Why do you feel out of place?” the professor asked.

“I don’t really know,” Wallace said. He rubbed his forehead.

“How are you doing at school?” she asked.

“Fine. I’m in the school play.”

“Oh really?”

“I’m an extra, though.”

“I see. Are you happy about that?”

“I guess…” The country boy noticed her pursing her lips. He made a face at her.

“What’s that look for?” Wallace asked. Liz shook her head.

“Nothing,” she said. “It’s just…”

“What?” he asked. She shrugged and shook her head.

“Nothing,” the professor said. “If that’s what you want, that’s all you. I’m not going to stop you.”

“Thank you for that,” Wallace mumbled to himself.

“Is there anything else?” Liz asked. The country boy glanced up at her.

“Huh?” he asked.

“Is there anything else going on in your life?” the professor asked. “Do you have anything else going on in your life that is on your mind?” Wallace looked around for a bit.

“How long do you have?” he asked. Liz sat back in her chair.

“I’m available all afternoon. I don’t have another class until this evening,” she said. The country boy took a breath. He tried to figure out where to start first.

“Well, lately there have been all of these girls hitting me,” Wallace said. This really caught Liz’s attention.

“Really?” she asked. “How many?”

“I don’t know. About seven or eight of them? I don’t really know,” he said. “I haven’t been counting.” Wallace nervously laughed.

“Are you interested in any of them?” the professor asked.

“There was one,” the country boy said. “We’ve actually gotten quite close.” He clenched his teeth. Liz raised an eyebrow.

“How close are we talking?” she asked. “Are you dating now?” Wallace shrugged.

“I don’t know,” he said.

“You don’t know?” the professor asked.

“I don’t know how she feels about me, and I don’t know if I still want her,” the country boy said.

“Who do you want?” Liz asked. He shrugged and shook his head.

“I don’t know,” Wallace said.

“Do you like any of them?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he said. Liz blinked at him, confused.

“Then… what do you want?” she asked. The country boy shrugged and shook his head.

“I don’t know,” he said again. Wallace tried to think of something else to say, but nothing came to mind. Instead, he and the professor just sat there in silence.