Michael experiences doubt

Michael returned to the warmth of his room. He wondered if he should have agreed to go with Tim. He hadn't read any of The Joy Luck Club for lecture the next day.

And why on earth had Tim asked him to go, anyway? He had just started talking to him, telling everything he thought about Amy. He had talked to him like they had been friends for a while. It made Michael feel funny, to have someone ignore him for so long and then suddenly be so friendly.

He heard three sharp taps on his door. He opened it.

—Ready? Tim asked.

—I'm not sure I should go, said Michael. I've got some studying I really need to catch up on.

—What class?

—Contemporary American Literature.

—You're in that class? I have a friend who's a TA in that class-Helen Zachary.

—She's my TA.

Tim knew Helen? He would have never imagined it, but there was no reason why they wouldn't be. They were the same year, and both literature students. Michael's heart thumped when he realized what it meant. If he knew Tim, and Tim knew Helen, then it could end up that he might meet her, that they could be something other than one of thirty students and a TA.

—She's really cool, Tim said. She's one of my best friends in Santa Zita. We met freshman year, when we and all our friends lived on this hall. Do you like being in her section?

—It's great. It's the best class I've had at UCSZ.

—That's so funny, that you're in Helen's section. Anyway, don't worry about studying. What are you reading, right now?

—The Joy Luck Club.

—Oh, yeah. Tomorrow, just say that it's a woman's redefinition and reempowerment of her cultural and gender identity through imaginative storytelling.

—Okay. I'll remember that.

—Helen's really cool. She won't care if you haven't read it. She probably hasn't read it herself. Helen's a little like, Amy, or, I should say, Amy reminds me of Helen, but I like Helen a lot more. So, let's get out of here and go to the claimstake.

—All right, let's do it.

Michael grabbed his coat from his chair and followed Tim's steps as he left the room.