Chocolate and the ESC

There were a few occurrences today that I wanted to put down in print.

#1: So, I sat down in Isaiah class two weeks into the semester. We were having a quiz on the chapters we'd covered so far. After the quiz, we switched papers with the person next to us and graded theirs. I even wrote "c.b. Scott Ogden" at the top. Took me back. Way back.

I glanced at the name on the paper and saw it to be "Derek Orme". Looking at the guy sitting next to me, I tried to visualize him six years ago, but the same age and with a first name of Carson. Seemed to fit well enough, so I axed him "Is your name Carson?" He said no, it was Derek, like the paper said.

Also, he said he had an older brother named Carson. That would explain the six years he didn't age. And the wrong name.

I told him that Carson was my EFY counselor six years ago. He asked if it was at Tacoma, WA. I said yes.

Also, I was just on the Critical Language Scholarship website and looking at the past participants of the program to see the kind of competition I had when I saw a couple of people who were from the University of Puget Sound. UPS was the tiny, Methodist college that the Tacoma sessions of EFY were at. There was a large, black lunch lady called "Big Mama". I marveled that UPS actually had a number of students represented in the ranks.

Plus, Derek, Angela, and the girl with strawberry blonde hair and a crooked nose who sits in front of them all went to the BYU Jerusalem Center this last summer. They all have that backpack I hate. I like to pretend that they have no idea how great it is that they got to go. I love to tell myself that no one would enjoy and get more out of such an experience than I would. I almost feel bad about judging people like that.

But, then last Tuesday, Derek cornered me after class and started talking about a summer sales job that he was recruiting for. I listened politely, but automatically, the feeling of our relationship changed from friendly and open to business. I was not a fan, but kinda wondered about summer sales. Now, I know I wouldn't be good at selling. I know that for a fact. I'm not good at talking to people in my own language. If it was a Japanese selling scheme... maybe.

So, I agreed to meet and talk with him about the job on Thursday after Isaiah. He said he was allowed to buy me lunch. We first tried the Museum of Art cafe, but it closed at 2:00 and our class got out at 3:50. Didn't get in there. We ended up going to the Cougareat and got some Subway. I knew I was turning him down eventually, so I only got a six-inch.

We sat down and started talking. I said the Critical Language Scholarship would be the biggest obstacle between me and the job. Then he went off for a long time about his boss, Jason, and how he was his spiritual mentor and role-model and stuff. I didn't think there was anything wrong with that, but I'm not really looking for a spiritual mentor besides my priesthood leaders right now. Also, as he was going on about Jason, I saw Cambrie Roueche go to Teriyaki stix behind his head and then sit down and eat while reading a book.

He asked if I had any questions and I said I didn't and we set up an appointment with Jason for Friday morning. At IHOP. Nice. Free subway and next free subway. Then we stood and parted.

I walked over to Cambrie's lonely table and sat down, starting to tell her Derek's story. She interrupted with a greeting. Well, salutations to you, too, Camb. After three minutes or so, she closed her book and said "I'm not being rude, but I have to go." I believed her. She left. I sat there for a while. After a minute or too, just long enough so I wouldn't have to run into her again, I stood up and walked home.

Then I met with Jason this morning. Last night, Sarah said that I should have nothing to worry about when applying for the CLS. She really believes that I'll get it. I believe her. So, I softly refused Jason's buying me a bagel at Einstein's (Change of venue) and told him I wasn't interested. He was an interesting man. Very intense and it seemed like he always meant what he said. Or at least tried to seem that way. It was uncomfortable to say the least.

I rode my bike back to the library to study for my Arabic speaking appointment.

After Isaiah today, Derek waited for me and asked me about my meeting with Jason. He called me on the one thing I was scared of, he said that I wouldn't know for sure until February if I got it or not. So I pulled out a "Oh, yeah, but I did some more research into the participants and competitiveness and realized that I was more of a candidate than I thought." Mostly true. Thanks, Sarah.

He kept on walking and talking with me and I really didn't want to, so looking for an escape, I saw they ESC and said that I had to go there. He thought for a split-second whether he should follow me or not, but then said, okay, well, see you on Tuesday.

I walked up the stairs and noticed one of my fellow climbers was holding the Isaiah hand-outs we just got in class. "I don't really need to go here." I told her. "What?" she said confused. "I just didn't want to talk to him. He was trying to get me to do summer sales." "Oh. I have a friend who did that." "Yeah? How'd it go?" "I have no idea." "Oh, okay. Do you need to go here?" "Yeah, I have lab." "Oh. K. Good luck!" "Thanks... See ya..."

She was really cute. I'll have to talk to her on Tuesday.

#2: I had a muffin to leave on a girl's front porch, so I walked into the library to return some books. I was walking towards the door when I saw Derek stopped and talking to some guy. So, I turned around and walked all the way around the library to the other entrance so he wouldn't see me. I was supposed to be in the ESC building.

As I was walking in, I heard a voice say "Male, alone, entering, no phone, no ipod." That was me. I turned to see Jenny Brooks writing down on a piece of paper. I went over and sat next to her. Asked her what she was doing. Sociology. Sounds tough. It isn't really. oh.

Hey, I need to take a muffin to Brittany. Does Katherine have a tournament today? Yeah. She had one yesterday, too. Well, will you help me take a muffin to Brittany? Sure, when? When do you have time? Ten minutes. Sounds great, I'll be back.

So, I went to the No Shhh! zone and got on a computer. I made a piece of paper that said "There's muffin I'd rather do than go to tomorrow's prom with you. -Scott Ogden 528 N 400 E Provo, UT 84606". Then I printed it.

Then I really needed to go to the bathroom, so I went to the administration office and gave the paper to Kami Coppins. She held it for me. Thank, Kami. I went to the bathroom. Then I got the paper back.

I returned to Jenny Brooks' hiding place just as she sent me a text asking where I was. Little did she know. So, we walked to her car over by the RB. On the RB stairs, I met Rafiq, the other Scott in my Arabic class that dropped after a week and a helf.

We went to my apartment and got the muffin then headed towards Brittany's house. On the way over, we saw a sign that read "Free Chocolate Milk".
"Pull over! PUll over!" I said to Jenny Brooks, but she didn't. I was really sad. Why would anyone pass up such a beautiful opportunity. Then she said that if it was there on the way back, that we could stop. I thought that was fair.

We dropped the muffin and then stopped on the way back. Also, Brittany's house doesn't have a door-bell. We walked up to the truck behind the sign and the nice men gave us free chocolate milk. Then they asked us if our apartment comple.. xes.. ices, x', were accessible by a truck of this caliber. We said no. They said, enjoy the chocolate milk without the sales pitch. We said thanks, will do. We did.

I kept the cup. Don't ever want to forget.