"I know."
Ethan needed the distinction to be clear.
"I'm not asking somebody to do it for me."
"I know you're not."
David stood.
"That's why I'm here."
He shook Ethan's hand with Ricky-like efficiency.
Then left.
Ethan stayed at the bench after the door closed.
"You set this up a while ago."
"I set it in motion."
Marcus picked up his coffee.
"I didn't know how it would land. That part depended on you."
"You said I gave the right answer."
"You did."
"What was the right part?"
"That you want to finish the thing that was interrupted."
Marcus tapped the workbench.
"Not just get a degree."
He looked at Ethan.
"That's the distinction."
Marcus explained.
"A lot of people in your position want the credential because they believe the credential fixes everything."
He shook his head.
"They're chasing an outcome instead of the work."
Marcus leaned back.
"David can tell within about 5 minutes which person he's talking to."
"And if I'd said the credential?"
"He'd have been polite. Given you some resources. Then left."
Marcus watched him.
"But you didn't say that."
"Because I didn't mean it."
"No."
Marcus nodded.
"You didn't."
The call came 17 days later.
Tuesday.
Ethan was beneath a sedan dealing with an exhaust problem that had turned out to be more complicated than the customer described.
As exhaust problems often did.
His phone buzzed.
Ethan ignored it.
Buzzed again.
Ignored.
Third time, he rolled out.
Checked.
Unrecognized Arizona number.
He nearly let voicemail have it.
Answered.
"Is this Ethan Walker?"
A professional female voice.
Efficient.
The sound of somebody who made many calls and had learned to reach the point quickly.
"Yes."
"This is Linda Chow from admissions at Maricopa Community College. I'm calling regarding the assessment pathway we discussed with David Reyes."
Ethan straightened before realizing he had moved.
"I have some news."
"Okay."
"The evaluation panel reviewed your previous coursework and your assessment scores."
Linda paused.
"You did well."
Another pause.
"Better than well, actually. Your mechanical-reasoning score was in the 91st percentile."
Ethan said nothing.
"There are remedial requirements, as David probably explained."
Linda continued.
"One math module and one writing module. Both may be completed concurrently with your first semester rather than beforehand."
Another shorter pause.
"We'd like to offer you reenrollment for spring semester, conditional upon remedial completion, with full credit granted for prior coursework meeting our grade requirements."
Ethan remained silent.
"Mr. Walker?"
"I'm here."
He pressed the phone harder against his ear.
"Sorry. I'm here."
He forced himself into practical questions.
"What does conditional mean exactly? What happens if I don't complete the remedial courses?"
"If both modules aren't completed by midterm, enrollment would be suspended pending completion."
Linda's voice remained clear.
"But based on your assessment, I do not expect that to become an issue. Those modules are calibrated for significantly lower starting competency than you've demonstrated."
She paused.
"You're not starting from nothing, Mr. Walker. You're resuming."