a field biologist turned law student

After a long wait, I got on the school bus outside music school back to central campus. It is Sunday afternoon and fewer students used the bus. I sat next to a student and turned on my expressionless expression as usual.

"How are you today?"

Astonished, I turned to look at the student next to me and pointed at myself, asking, "me?"

He smiled at me. Oh, he wanted to chat. He asked me about the black ink on my hands. Blonde hair, unshaved face, white T-shirt, jogging shorts, he looked like a graduate student, a little nerdy. I told him the ink was from the pens I took with me when traveling. "Because of the pressure? Where did you go?"

I told him about California and about my plan and my job and my change of plan and my change of job and the usual things while he told him about his usual things.

He was from Seattle. He had been in the Midwest for a few years, first in Iowa for college, and then Missouri for work. "The only job I could find was in Missouri. I was a field biologist. You would expect that to be an interesting job. I studied the birds. The people in Missouri grew some grass around their farm to prevent the leakage of fertilizers into the river, and they wanted to find out how much the birds were using the grass. Everyday we just walked up and down the field, counting birds. Only in the morning. You have been to Missouri? I was in Columbia, at the University of Missouri. Now I am a law student. This summer I will be in San Francisco for a summer job with the Department of Interior. Yes, it has to do with the national parks. No, it's not related to the birds, but I'm interested in environmental issues in general. I have one more year to graduate. After that, I will work for the Department of Interior, to do their legal stuff. I don't like the Midwest that much. Bay area is more expensive though."

The bus came to my stop and I wish I didn't have to get off.

"Well, nice to talk to you." He nodded at me as I walked away.