“Well. I’m pleased your mother and I found the money to send our only child away to . . . what was it? ‘Reach her full potential not only as a unit of productivity in the capitalist society but as a soul in need of sustenance.’ Because you sound positively overwhelmed with excitement about it.”

“My generation isn’t supposed to be good on the phone. I’m the living embodiment of society’s expectations.”

When her father next spoke, Esther could hear the smile all the way down the line. “Now, there’s the precocious little sulk bag I know and love. I was getting worried for a moment there.”

Esther nodded. “Me, too, Dad.”

“Love, I know I already asked this, but . . . are you really going to your lectures?” When Esther didn’t respond, her dad went on, “It’s just, I remember what is was like—those first few weeks—which I know seems improbable, because I’m so old, et cetera, et cetera, but . . . so much is changing for you at the moment, with moving away and . . . everything, that sometimes having a little routine really does help.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Esther whispered, then held her breath for a second so that her dad wouldn’t know she was crying. “I think focusing on my courses might be a really good idea right about now.”

Besides, hadn’t Noor said that Goth Girl did English, too?

Daisy was just heading out to her first Stand-up Comedy Club social when an anguished cry stopped her in her tracks. Susan was out buying milk—when Daisy had offered her soy milk as a substitute, Susan had narrowed her eyes and hissed—but Esther was in.

“Hello?” Daisy knocked on the door and pushed it open to find Esther lying prostrate on the floor next to her open laptop.

“Help me,” Esther said, words muffled by the rug as she waved a hand at her computer.

Crouching down, Daisy saw the familiar university crest in the corner of the screen. Not daring to believe it, Daisy whispered, “Esther . . . are you trying to work out which lectures to go to?”

“I don’t even know what modules I’m doing . . .” Esther rolled over to click through the multiple tabs she had open on her browser. “There’s so many ways to study books. Who knew?”

“Didn’t you look through any of this before you applied?”

“Was I supposed to?”

“Yes.” Daisy dipped her head to give Esther a very stern look, but she took enough pity on her to check her watch before lifting the laptop onto her knee and reading through the information. She could miss the first five minutes of her social if she had to. Setting Esther on the correct academic path was much more important than having fun.