Calculus

Quiet Quinine is instantly the favorite student of Ms. A. Helen Sharp, as the wife of Mr. Stern and the mother of his child.

Mr. Stern is a bit of a liar and tells tall tales about his accomplishments, which Alacrity is quiet about. She knows that he turned down working from NASA so he could take care of their newborn child as she finished school. "Get your degree, Lacri." He was almost pushy about it. "I shall do everything for you and the child." He lies to cover up the pain of putting his career aside. He never realized he could love his wife so much.

Lacri feels like she has to justify the sacrifice that her husband made. She wants him to never regret his decision.