Sons of Fortune by Jeffrey Archer

to
offer. A fool leaves Yale with only a degree, a wise man with enough knowledge
to face whatever life throws at him. Seize every opportunity that is offered to
you. Do not be frightened of any new challenge, and should you fail, there is
no reason to be ashamed. You will learn far more from your mistakes than from
your triumphs. Do not be afraid of your destiny. Be afraid of nothing.
    Challenge
every writ, and let it not be said of you, I walked a path but never left an
imprint.”
    The
president of Yale resumed his place after nearly an hour on his feet, and
received a prolonged standing ovation. Trent Waterman, who did not approve of
such displays, rose and left the stage.
    “I
thought you weren’t going to join in the standing ovation?” said Fletcher to
his friend as they filed out of the hall. was “ Just
because everyone else has for the past ten years, doesn’t mean I shall join in
the ritual,” if I remember your sentiments correctly.”
    “I
admit it, I was wrong,” said Jimmy.
    “It
was even more impressive than my father had assured me it would be.”
    “I
feel confident your endorsement will come as a relief to Mr. Waterman,” said
Fletcher, as Jimmy spotted a young woman laden with books walking a few paces
ahead of them.
    “Seize
every opportunity,” he whispered in Fletcher’s ear. Fletcher wondered whether
to stop Jimmy making a complete fool of himself , or
just let him find out the hard way.
    “Hi,
I’m Jimmy Gates. Would you like me to help you with your books?”
    “What
did you have in mind, Mr. Gates?
    Carrying
them, or reading them to me?” replied the woman, who didn’t break her stride.
    “I
was thinking of carrying them to begin with, and then why don’t we see how it
goes from there?”
    “Mr.
Gates, I have two rules I never break: dating a freshman and dating someone
with red hair.”
    “Don’t
you think the time has come,” said Jimmy, “to break them both at once? After
all, the president did tell us to never be frightened of a new challenge.”
    “Jimmy,”
said Fletcher, “I think . .”
    “Ah
yes, this is my friend Fletcher Davenport, he’s very clever, so he could help
you with the reading part.”
    “I
don’t think so, Jimmy.”
    “And
he’s also very modest, as you can see.”
    “Not
a problem you suffer from, Mr. Gates.”
    “Certainly
not,” said Jimmy. “By the way, what’s your name?”
    “Joanna
Palmer.”
    “So
you’re obviously not a freshman, Joanna,” said Jimmy.
    “No,
I’m not.”
    “Then
you’re the ideal person to help and succor me.”
    “What
do you have in mind?” asked Miss Palmer, as they climbed the steps to Sudler Hall.
    “Why
don’t you invite me to supper this evening, and then you can tell me everything
I should know about Yale,” ventured Jimmy just as they came to a halt outside
the lecture hall. “Hey,” he said, turning to Fletcher, “isn’t this where we’re
meant to be?”
    “Yes,
it is, and I did try to warn you.”
    “Warn
me? About what?” asked Jimmy, as he opened the door for Miss Palmer and
followed her into the room hoping he could sit next to her. The undergraduates
immediately stopped talking, which took Jimmy by surprise.
    “I
apologize for my friend, Miss Palmer,” whispered Fletcher, “but I can assure
you he has a heart of gold.”
    “And
the balls to go with it, it would seem,” Joanna replied. “By the way, never let
him know , but I was extremely flattered that he
thought I might be a freshman.”
    Joanna
Palmer placed her books on the long desk and turned to face the packed lecture
theater.
    “The
French Revolution is the turning point of modern European history,” she began
to a rapt audience. “Although America had already removed a monarch,” she
paused, “without having to remove his head...” Her eyes swept the tiered
benches as her pupils laughed, before coming to rest on Jimmy Gates. He winked.
    They
held hands as they walked across the campus to their first lecture.