CHAPTER ONE – LATE FOR CLASS

Joan Keppler groaned as her alarm blared for the third time. She squinted at her phone, the bright screen assaulting her eyes in the dim room. "Oh, crap!" she exclaimed, bolting upright. "7:45 already?" She scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over a pile of textbooks on the floor. Joan hopped around her cluttered room, pulling on a wrinkled pair of jeans while simultaneously trying to brush her teeth. "Dad!" she called out, her voice muffled by the toothbrush. "Why didn't you wake me?" Her father's voice drifted up from downstairs. "I tried, honey! You said you were getting up!" Joan spat into the sink and grimaced at her reflection. Dark circles under her eyes testified to another late night of studying. She ran a brush through her tangled hair, wincing as it caught on a knot. "Come on, come on," she muttered, glancing at her phone again. "7:52. I can still make it." She shoved her laptop and a handful of papers into her backpack, then thundered down the stairs. In the kitchen, her younger brother, Tommy, was munching on a piece of toast. "Morning, Sleeping Beauty," he teased. Joan rolled her eyes. "Shut it, squirt." She grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and stuffed it into her bag. "Dad, have you seen my bus pass?" Her father emerged from the living room, holding up a small plastic card. "Looking for this?" "Yes! Thank you!" Joan snatched it from his hand and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "Gotta run. Love you both!" "Good luck with your presentation!" her father called after her. Joan's eyes widened as she reached for the door handle. "Presentation? What presen— Oh no, no, no!" She spun around and raced back upstairs, nearly knocking Tommy over in the process. "Sorry!" she yelled over her shoulder. In her room, Joan frantically rifled through a stack of papers on her desk. "Where is it? Where is it?" she muttered. Finally, she found the folder labeled "Urban Planning Seminar - Final Presentation." She let out a relieved sigh and shoved it into her bag. Checking her phone again, Joan's heart sank. "8:01. No, no, no!" She flew down the stairs and out the front door, not even bothering to close it behind her. Her father's voice floated after her: "I've got it, honey! Run!" Joan sprinted down the sidewalk, her heavy backpack thumping against her spine with each step. She could see the bus stop at the end of the block, and to her horror, the bus was already there. "Wait!" she screamed, waving her arms wildly. "Please, wait!" The bus driver, an older man with a bushy mustache, was just closing the doors when he spotted Joan. He sighed and reopened them. Joan practically leaped onto the bus, gasping for breath. "Thank you," she panted, flashing her pass. "You're a lifesaver." The driver grunted. "You're lucky I'm running a bit behind schedule myself, miss. Find a seat, please." Joan nodded gratefully and made her way down the aisle. The bus was crowded with morning commuters, most of whom were giving her irritated looks for delaying their journey. She squeezed into an empty spot next to a woman engrossed in her phone. As the bus lurched forward, Joan leaned her head against the window, trying to catch her breath. She fished her phone out of her pocket and opened her presentation notes, muttering key points under her breath. "The impact of green spaces on urban mental health... Correlation between park accessibility and reduced stress levels... Case study: Central Park, New York City..." The woman next to her shot her an annoyed glance. Joan smiled apologetically and continued her revision in silence. Forty-five minutes and one rushed power-walk later, Joan burst into the seminar room, her cheeks flushed and her hair a mess. Professor Daniels, a stern-looking woman in her fifties, paused mid-sentence to stare at her. "Ms. Keppler," she said, her voice dripping with disapproval. "How kind of you to join us. Please, take a seat." Joan mumbled an apology and slid into the nearest empty chair, acutely aware of the eyes of her classmates on her. As she pulled out her notes, she heard a familiar voice whisper from behind her. "Nice of you to grace us with your presence, Joan. Some of us actually take this program seriously." Joan gritted her teeth, recognizing Lisa's smug tone without having to turn around. She chose to ignore the comment and focused on Professor Daniels instead. "As I was saying," the professor continued, "today's seminar will be crucial for your final projects. Each of you will present your proposals for improving urban living conditions in our case study city. Who would like to go first?" Before Joan could even consider volunteering, Lisa's hand shot up. "I'd be happy to start, Professor Daniels." "Excellent, Ms. Chen. Please, proceed." Joan tried to concentrate as Lisa launched into her presentation, but her mind kept wandering to her own project. She'd spent weeks researching and preparing, but now, in her flustered state, all her carefully crafted arguments seemed to have evaporated. Lisa's voice cut through her thoughts. "...and that's why I propose a complete overhaul of the public transportation system, focusing on electric buses and expanded subway lines to reduce carbon emissions and improve city-wide connectivity." Professor Daniels nodded approvingly. "Very comprehensive, Ms. Chen. Does anyone have any questions or comments?" Joan hesitated for a moment, then raised her hand. "I have a question." Lisa's smile tightened almost imperceptibly. "Yes, Joan?" "Your proposal is impressive," Joan began, "but I'm wondering about the cost. How do you plan to fund such an extensive overhaul without significantly raising taxes or cutting other essential services?" Lisa's eyes narrowed. "Well, Joan, if you'd been here on time, you would have heard me explain the proposed public-private partnership model. But I suppose punctuality isn't everyone's strong suit." A few classmates snickered. Joan felt her face grow hot, but she pressed on. "I understand the concept of public-private partnerships, Lisa. I'm just concerned about the long-term implications. These deals often end up costing cities more in the long run." "That's a valid point, Ms. Keppler," Professor Daniels interjected. "Perhaps you can address that concern in your own presentation. Speaking of which, why don't you go next?" Joan's stomach dropped. "Oh, um, of course." She fumbled with her notes as she made her way to the front of the room. Taking a deep breath, she pulled up her presentation on the projector. "My project focuses on the impact of green spaces on urban mental health," Joan began, her voice shaky at first but growing stronger as she spoke. "Studies have shown a strong correlation between access to parks and reduced stress levels among city dwellers." As she delved into her research, Joan felt her confidence returning. She discussed case studies, presented data visualizations, and outlined her proposal for a network of small, interconnected parks throughout the city. "By converting vacant lots and underutilized spaces into green areas," she concluded, "we can improve air quality, provide recreation opportunities, and foster a sense of community – all while promoting mental well-being." There was a moment of silence when she finished. Then, to her surprise, several classmates began to applaud. Professor Daniels gave her an approving nod. "Well researched and presented, Ms. Keppler. Your proposal offers a creative solution to multiple urban issues. Does anyone have questions for Joan?" Lisa's hand shot up again. "I do, Professor." Joan braced herself.