Work Text:
Laurie stared out the library window, trying to work up the enthusiasm to resume studying for his Accounting final. Despite his best efforts to refocus, he realized he had progressed into the third movement of the piano piece his fingers were tapping out on the table. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened. The March sisters, so called after their shared first year dorm and their immediate closeness, were frolicking off to a corner of the quad. The friends had an air of excitement Laurie could sense even from such a distance.
Giving up on his studying for the time being, Laurie decided to go join them outside. By the time he had gathered his papers, found his pens, and exited the library, the group had thoroughly disappeared from sight. He found them around the corner on a secluded group of benches, each busy in her own work. Meg was outlining an essay while Beth was proofreading one of Jo’s. Jo herself attempted to both sew patches on her jacket and review German vocabulary. Amy was alternating between watching the clouds and sketching them. Laurie felt rather ashamed of his own poor effort in the library when faced with their studious work. Before he could decide whether to leave, Beth looked up and smiled at him.
"Can I come in, or is this gathering private?" Laurie asked.
"Of course, will you quiz me while I finish this patch?” Jo replied, gesturing at the pride flag she was attaching.
Laurie agreed, taking the list readily. They all continued working for several minutes, then Meg and Beth dropped their pens at the same time.
"Done!" Meg said with satisfaction. "Now I must simply write it."
"Done," Beth agreed, handing her papers over to Jo.
Laurie finished the last few words from Jo's list, then felt emboldened to ask why the girls were working here of all places.
"Don't laugh," Amy said.
"I would never!" Laurie replied.
Jo rolled her eyes, but began to explain. "When we all had to read Pilgrim's Progress for our Freshman Seminar, we would come out here to get through it together. Even though we're all in different classes now, we still like to work here together when we can. It's our focus spot, and we remember why we are here at this school. We all started in the same place but it has put us each on such different paths."
"I can't believe we are declaring majors next term," Amy said. "I still don't know if I want to concentrate on Drawing, Ceramics, or Painting. I am going to be a famous artist one day, but there are just so many choices."
"At least you're happy with your major," Laurie sighed. "I'm stuck in the Business program for Grandfather, but I really just want to play the piano. I wish Grandfather didn't need me to take over his business. I'd much rather be studying music theory than accounts and economics."
"I still think you should apply to the music program," Jo said, following her frequent recommendation. "Who cares what your grandfather wants, anyway? Study your piano, and when you're a big important composer he'll see you made the right choice."
"Laurie, you must ignore Jo's terrible advice. You might compromise and take a minor, instead. If you do particularly well in your courses this term, maybe your grandfather would let you do both," Meg counseled with reason.
"We can help you study," Beth added, "so you'll have to come join us here again."
For the moment, however, they all went their separate ways, doing the work of the present and not yet worrying over what the future would bring.