Page 1 of Irish Betrayal

one

STEM Summer Program

Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Eight years ago

BLAIR DAISY BARR

Dear Diary~

Today was AWESOME! Mom told me that bragging is unbecoming, but this is my diary, and I can say whatever I want.

I killed it today!

I’m a plant genius!

Someday, I’ll be famous!

See… I bragged, and God didn’t smite me down. Me, Mags, and Gray all got to come stay with Bébhinn in Dublin for two whole weeks while I go to a Trinity College STEM summer program.

I wrote an essay explaining why I should be chosen to attend, and they liked it, so here I am.

Usually, it’s only for 12-18-year-olds, but my teachers at school sent my test scores from the past three years, and BAM, they wanted me. (Mom is so wrong—bragging is amazing!)

Mom and Dad are so proud of me, and my little brother, Laith, is too, even though he’s a little shit. Fine. I miss him a little.

We have to take classes and listen to seminars about all sorts of boring crap, and I’ll listen attentively to all of them and pass any and all quizzes if it comes to that, but I only really care about the hour of plant pathology.

I’ve been reading the Trinity’s summer docket for three years, since I was eight, and I know God had my back when it was announced this year that one of their fellow instructors, Dr. Peter Samson, would be teaching plant pathology!

He teaches botany but has enough research credentials to hold the class. Because plant pathology is all about saving the environment, it’s a perfect STEM addition—the best addition if you ask me.

My passion is plants! One day, I’ll be known for saving plants from extinction. And yeah, I know that being a horticulturist like my mom is pretty amazing, but I want to SAVE green things, not just grow them.

Mom’s the best at it, though, and totally gets my obsession. When I’m not in school, I work at her nursery. I love helping people find the perfect flowers for their parties, especially the brides!

I convinced my friends to beg their parents to let them come with me, because even though I’m crazy smart, I still know that everything is better when we’re together.

AND NOT JUST BECAUSE I’M DEAF!!!

We do everything together, that’s all. Plus, Bébhinn’s cousins, Daniel and Jonathan, are real shits, and it’s so much fun to play pranks on them. They’re know-it-all teenagers with gross pimples and totally girl crazy.

Easy prey for my friends and me. I hate being the youngest, but I already have a plan to attend uni at the same time as them, so all’s well.

I almost FORGOT! Dr. Samson, Peter (he told me I could call him that because I’m special—his words, not mine) held me after class, ON THE FIRST DAY.

He let me tour his private lab that the college gave him because he’s been teaching there for a while, and his classes require live specimens.

Did I mention that he’s handsome? I mean, handsome for an old man. He’d TWENTY-NINE. Ancient. Okay, ancient and handsome.

I suppose his smile is nice too. But who cares about all that? He’s brilliant like me, though, as my father likes to say, I’d give anyone a run for their money. Dad is proud of me. Of Mom and Laith too. I have the best family.

Peter says that I’m a natural—of course—and he looks forward to the next couple of weeks. I wish it were months, but I won’t be greedy. Much.

If my school plans stay on schedule (and they will because I made them), I will double up on high school classes and go to Trinity at the same time as Mags. Gray and Bébhinn will be one year ahead of us—maybe not a full year, because I plan to take uni courses while I’m in high school.

My best friends and I made a pact to go to the same university, and even though Trinity isn’t THE BEST for my future field of study, I’m going where my friends are. End of story.