Chapter Text
1974..
Eighteen year old Laura Holt lined up with the other freshmen at the registration desk at Stanford University feeling both excited and a little nervous. She still couldn’t quite believe it – here she was, finally at college. She’d worked hard for it though she reminded herself with a degree of pride. After her father had left two years previously, the Holt family finances were tight so she knew the only way she could get to go to a good university was to get a scholarship. So she had studied hard and been rewarded with a math scholarship to Stanford. She’d also found that throwing herself into her studies had helped distract her from the pain she had felt when he left.
She would have liked her mother to have shown a bit more pride in her efforts though. “Yes that’s nice dear but what is a girl going to do with a math degree?” Abigail had asked her while Laura tried not to roll her eyes. She couldn’t help herself though when her mother followed that comment with, “Well at least you might find yourself a prospective husband there.”
“Mother – I’m going to college to get an education, not a husband!” Laura had replied emphatically.
Abigail looked at her, shaking her head a little at her headstrong younger daughter. “Well you should take a leaf out of your sister Frances’s book Laura – look at her, engaged to be married to a wonderful young man who’s going to be a dentist. She’s got her future set - a man with great prospects to provide for her and their future children. What more could you possibly want?” she went on as Laura gritted her teeth.
“I’ll tell you want I want Mother – I want to be able to provide for myself, and not have to rely on a man for my income or my lifestyle. I want to be successful in my own right..” Laura retorted but her mother cut her off.
“Oh Laura dear you have a lot to learn about life. It’s a man’s world – the sooner you realise that the better.”
Laura went to argue but thought better of it, knowing it would get her nowhere. Anyway, she had thought to herself, I’ll soon be away from all this, living my own life the way I want to.
Frances and her fiancée Donald had helped her bring her belongings up to Stanford. Her mother had insisted on coming as well, driving Laura crazy as they sat together in the back seat of Donald’s car.
“Now always make sure you wear clean underwear dear,” Abigail prattled on as Laura rolled her eyes.
“Mother – I’m not five years old you know!” she replied as Donald tried not to chuckle as he caught Laura’s eye in the rearview mirror and gave her an encouraging wink. Laura grinned ruefully back at him – she liked Donald. He was in his last year of a degree in dentistry at USC and he was a good, decent guy who made her sister happy.
“Well even so Laura it never hurts to remember. And don’t wander around campus by yourself at night. And have you got pepper spray? You never know when you might need that. And make sure you call home at least once a week..,” Abigail prattled on as Laura tuned out. Just a couple more hours Laura, she told herself as she forced a smile onto her face, and you won’t have to put up with her until semester break.
After they had settled her into her dorm room Donald thankfully convinced Frances & Abigail that they should leave Laura to it, sensing that she wanted to be on her own and away from her mother’s nagging. “Thanks,” she said gratefully in his ear as she hugged him goodbye.
“No worries Laura – have fun hey?” he replied with a warm smile as she nodded.
“Oh I can’t believe my little sister’s going off to college!” Frances exclaimed as she hugged her as well. “Look at you, you little thing - all grown up!” Frances gushed as Laura smiled a little wryly.
“Yes well I’m not so little anymore Frances,” she reminded her. She knew Frances meant well but sometimes she found her as irritating as her mother.
“Well good luck dear,” Abigail said as she gave Laura a peck on her cheek. “Now don’t forget to eat your vegetables, no late night parties – make sure you’re in bed at a reasonable time…” she started to go on again as Laura nodded.
“Yes mother,” she replied as she shot Donald a glance that said “Help!”.
“Ah Abigail look at the time – we really should get going. It’s a bit of a drive back to Los Angeles you know,” Donald commented.
“Oh yes of course Donald – you’re so practical,” Abigail replied as she beamed at him and Laura breathed a sigh of relief.
“Goodbye Mother,” Laura said as they hugged briefly then they left her to it. As Laura waved them goodbye she thought to herself with a smile, “And so begins the next chapter of my life.”
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After registration, Laura headed off to her dormitory, 4 East. There were four other girls already there – Barbara, Judy, Carly & Tess. “Hi I’m Laura,” she introduced herself with a smile. “Welcome to 4 East,” Barbara said with a smile. The five of them quickly got to know each other – Barbara was studying psychology, Judy – Business, Carly – Journalism and Tess – Medicine.
Over the years they spent rooming together the five of them became firm friends. Laura continued to catch up with them from time to time when she could after graduation, always looking forward to reliving their time as the ‘girls from 4 East’.