Today I checked in with Pamela, and I was pleased to see how well she has been doing. She loves her new job—at first it was a little challenging for her to work with Ms. Reitzell, who is very strict and has specific ideas about how things should get done, but the two have found their stride now, and they are working well. As for the children, they can be a bit rambunctious, but even in her frustration I can see Pamela’s love for them.
She has begun to look into teaching positions for next year, and her attention has been caught by the possibility of teaching in a foreign country. Christine is helping her research this and assemble applications, and I am encouraging Pamela to get those applications done. The idea frightens as well as excites her, but I believe that nothing could be better for her than a bit of adventure.
Well, that is not true. Love would be best for her, the kind of steady, strong love that she has been missing all along. But she is not ready to let that into her life. I saw that today, when for the first time since Christmas she met Christine’s friend Lee.
She was out for drinks with Christine and a few other friends, though Pamela was monopolizing Christine to talk about job possibilities. Lee joined them there, and as before his gaze went immediately to Pamela. He managed to maneuver himself into the seat next to her, and Christine, who approves of the two of them as a pair, excused herself.
“Did I hear you talking about getting a job in London?” Lee asked, catching at the threads of conversation before they could spin away into awkwardness.
“In London, or maybe somewhere else. There’s a position in Edinburgh, too, and one in Nice, and then there’s one in Shimabara, of all places.” Pamela picked up her drink and took a sip, shrugging. “That one is way out there, but it’s worth a shot.”
“Do they all involve teaching English as a second language?” he asked.
“No, they’re all different,” and she passed an amiable few minutes explaining the differences of the positions. She was gratified that he seemed to listen with interest, even when she began to feel that she was running long.
“That all sounds amazing,” he said. “Well, good luck with that. I spent a year abroad after school, best decision I ever made.”
“Oh, yeah? Where’d you go?”
“Cambodia. Peace Corps,” he added when she looked surprised.
“Wow. Cool. What did you do there?”
“Agriculture education, mostly. It was my major at college—well, environmental studies, but I was always interested in agriculture. I gave people a crash course in soil replenishment, livestock management, that kind of thing.” He was watching Pamela as he said this, knowing that most people lost interest at around this point.
Pamela did not. She turned to face him, asking about his experiences and the people he had met, and both their auras warmed. They are a fair fit for one another.
But later, when Lee invited her out for coffee so they could continue discussing their different passions, Pamela’s aura closed around her like a fortress.
“Oh, no, I can’t, I’m sorry.” She got up, scrambling for her purse. “In fact I should probably go. I have to be at work early tomorrow.”
“Whoa, okay, I’m sorry,” he said, holding up his hands. “I’m sorry if that was forward.”
He was genuinely concerned, and I showed that to Pamela. The thick iron gray color of her aura faded a little, so that I could see through it again. “It wasn’t, not really,” she said. “I just—I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”
“Got it. Crystal clear.” He saluted, which made her smile and soften further. “But I’d still be willing to grab coffee with you and chat about which would be the best job to take.”
She angled her head at him, trying to decide whether he was still pressing. He gave her his most innocent smile. He is not conventionally handsome, being very tall with a weak chin, but his aura shows a gentle spirit, and his smile reveals that almost as clearly to a human’s eye.
“Maybe,” Pamela said, slipping the handle of her purse over her shoulder. “See you around, Lee.” And she left feeling wistful.
I think that she is right to wait until she is more comfortable. That she even feels herself able to do so, reveals a strength that she did not have when I first met her. Still, when she is ready, if he is still around, I think Lee could be a good choice. We shall see.