Whispers

Words: 944

“Youth certainly is wasted on the young,” Cecilia Moon noted, pointing to a corner of the campus quad.  In the dark crook of a building, a group of average college students gathered in a circle, passing around a thin, stick-like object.  One was holding a long-necked bottle, pouring its contents into a plastic cup for his companion.  Smoke was billowing from them, and the stench of it mixed with the alcohol was enough to make anyone nearby who valued their health want to gag.

Feeling her cheeks grow hot when one of the students noticed her grandmother pointing, Camryn Moon pushed Cecilia’s arm down.  “It’s rude to point, Grandma.  Especially at druggies.”

“What is that they’re passing around?” Cecilia demanded, her gaze still on the group.  “Is that a cigarette?”

Camryn chuckled as she tried to pull her sixty-year-old grandmother along.  “Something like that.  Come on, we’re going to be late for class.”

“It’s such a shame,” Cecilia remarked, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth in disapproval.  “When I was their age, I would never have thought to poison my body like that.”

Sick of hearing about the superiority of the older generation, Camryn politely snapped, “When you were their age, you didn’t know that smoking was bad for you, and not a lot of women went to college – you didn’t.  I don’t see how you can make the comparison.”

“Going to college is no excuse for smoking and drinking,” Cecilia retorted, but it was clear by the stony expression she now wore on her wrinkled face that she’d been offended.

Camryn sighed, knowing all would not be well unless she apologized.  “I’m sorry, Grandma.  But I didn’t bring you to school so you could criticize it.”

After a long moment, Cecilia nodded, her worn eyes softening.  “No, no, I’m sorry, dear.  I’m normally more adaptable to new surroundings.  It must be the hour – really, whoever heard of starting a class during dinner time?”

“It’s better than getting up at the crack of dawn,” Camryn muttered.  She kept it under her breath though, as she knew her grandmother would disagree.

The late hour of her most hated class was what kept her from falling asleep during it.  Camryn was still a freshman at her local college, so her semester schedule was filled to the brim with required classes.  The other ones she didn’t happen to mind, but come on – genetic engineering?  Whoever heard of that as a required science class?

But it was her whining about it that brought her grandmother to her college campus.  Cecilia had been over her family’s house for dinner one night, and Camryn was frustrated over a paper on cell division.  Though of an earlier generation, Cecilia loved new technologies and scientific developments.  So it was with a heavy heart that Camryn asked her professor if her grandmother could sit in on a lecture.

“Here we are,” Camryn announced minutes later, as they walked into the half-filled average classroom.  After introducing her grandmother to the aging male professor,  Camryn tried to direct Cecilia toward a seat in the back.

But Cecilia plunked herself down in a desk in the front row.  “I’m sitting here,” she declared.  Then she whispered to her granddaughter, as if sharing a bit of gossip – “That professor is such a cutie.  I hope I’ll be able to concentrate.”

“Grandma!” Camryn exclaimed, terrified that someone had overheard her.  “I don’t think Grandpa would approve.”

Cecilia shrugged.  “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

The lecture began.  Camryn knew that other students were staring at her grandmother, wondering who the old woman was.  So it was with an embarrassed groan that she watched Cecilia pull a spiral notebook and pen out of her huge purse and assume note-taking position.  Chuckles abounded from the other end of the classroom.  Thankfully those close to them were considerate enough to keep their laughter in.

A nearby whisper – “The old bag really thinks she can understand genetic engineering?  Science fiction movies weren’t even good when she was young.”

Cecilia glared at the whisperer, but inside she knew she was thinking the same thing.  Her grandmother was sure to make a fool out of herself sometime during the class. 

The professor continued to talk.  Something about how DNA replicates itself.  Cecilia didn’t care.  Sweat was pouring down the back of her neck.  She knew she was being watched by the whole class, as by then they’d figured out that the old lady was with her. 

But Cecilia kept taking notes.  Camryn knew her grandmother wasn’t oblivious and must be hearing the whispers.  Yet Cecilia’s pen flew across the page.

Another whisper – “She’s probably writing out her grocery list for when the senior center goes to the supermarket.”

That time, the professor’s head snapped up, zeroing in on the student who’d uttered the phrase.  “Perhaps you can explain what DNA stands for, and the four bases?”

Silence.  Then Camryn gasped in horror.  Her grandmother had raised her hand.

I’m never going to be able to show my face in this classroom again.

The professor searched for any other hands first, clearly trying to avoid embarrassing the old woman.  No one dared; all were dying to see what the woman would say.  With a resigned sigh he nodded in Cecilia’s direction.

Cecilia lowered her hand.

“DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid.  The four bases are Guanine, Adenine, Thymine, and Cytosine, and are typically represented by capitalizing the first letter of their names.”

The professor raised an eyebrow.  “That is correct.  Excellent, Mrs. …”

“You can call me Cecilia, doll,” Cecilia flirted, a huge grin on her face.

There were no more whispers.