Austin and I would take walks around campus, talking about our classes, our relationships, our research, and our plans for the future. It was our way of getting to know each other better, since we usually talked about other things at lunch. The last walk we took together was a relatively short one toward the end of spring quarter. I had spotted a turtle near Botany Pond on my way to inorganic chemistry, and suggested to him that we try to find it after class. First we searched the bushes near the main gate, and then we tried the pond itself. We discovered no fewer than red eared sliders, ranging from small adolescents to large adults. I told Austin that when I was younger I had wanted to be the next Crocodile Hunter. I don't remember how he responded. We watched as two of the turtles swam on top of lily pads and rested there, supported by the plants. We laughed when a big turtle tried to rest but was too heavy for the pads to hold it up. Eventually one of us had to go: either I had to get to lab, or he had to get back to his apartment (this was usually how our walks and lunches ended). We usually said goodbye in the following way: I would grin and say "well, see you around," and then he would grin and say, "yeah, see you around," and then we'd go our separate ways.
I never said this to him the last time I saw him, because we were taking a final for our Topics in Biochemistry class. He always showed up for tests just before they started, because he studied right up until he took the test and he couldn't study productively in the classroom. On the day of the Biochem final, he showed up just before the test was scheduled to start, as usual. We initially were quite worried because Marie hadn't shown up yet, but then I remembered that she took her final early. I asked him a couple of questions about the material to pass the time and review a little, but we were both feeling good about the test. When the final finally arrived and we got the test, we started it without saying anything to each other. He was still working on his test when I finished, and I was exhausted and didn't want to disrupt the class, so I just left. I prefer to think of the turtle pond walk as our last good friend time.
I never said this to him the last time I saw him, because we were taking a final for our Topics in Biochemistry class. He always showed up for tests just before they started, because he studied right up until he took the test and he couldn't study productively in the classroom. On the day of the Biochem final, he showed up just before the test was scheduled to start, as usual. We initially were quite worried because Marie hadn't shown up yet, but then I remembered that she took her final early. I asked him a couple of questions about the material to pass the time and review a little, but we were both feeling good about the test. When the final finally arrived and we got the test, we started it without saying anything to each other. He was still working on his test when I finished, and I was exhausted and didn't want to disrupt the class, so I just left. I prefer to think of the turtle pond walk as our last good friend time.
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