Mother Is a Freshman

Abby and her teenage daughter Susan live in New York City, paid for by a trust fund from Abby's late husband. The lawyer John Heaslip manages the fund and arranges distributions on a strict three-year cycle. He informs Abby that the next payout won't arrive until February, forcing her to seek other means to fund Susan's tuition.

To access the needed funds, Abby applies for a college scholarship named after her grandmother, worth $3,000 annually. The scholarship requires enrollment at Pointer College, so Abby decides to enroll there. She does so partly to keep watch over Susan and her relationship with the English professor.

Abby enrolls at Pointer College using her grandmother's identity to qualify for the scholarship. She keeps her status as Susan's mother a secret to avoid complicating Susan's life. Soon she starts attending classes and quietly navigates this double life.

Abby enrolls in English professor Richard Michaels's class. Richard is charming and secretly writes light crime novels under a pseudonym, which fascinates Abby. She senses his interest but remains wary of his motives.

Richard invites Abby to an evening tutoring session, and the dean, Gillingham, along with his wife, attends a dinner that evening. During the gathering, the dean casually calls Abby 'Mrs. Abbott,' signaling how easily she could be identified. The successful evening cements the growing romantic tension between Abby and Richard.

After the dinner, Richard drives Abby back to her dorm and kisses her goodnight. Both realize they are falling in love, complicating Abby's plan to keep their relationship secret from Susan. Their romance deepens despite the risks involved.

Richard invites Abby to attend a college dance, hoping to spend more time together. Susan assumes Abby will accompany her date, while Abby feels torn by guilt and the fear of exposure. Abby decides to go to the dance, trying to balance romance with secrecy.

Susan plans to attend the dance with a fellow student and buys into the social scene, unaware of her mother's date. A young boy named Beaumont escorts Susan to the dance, while Abby asks John Heaslip to escort her to avoid signaling a secret relationship.

On the evening of the dance, John and Richard turn up at Abby's house to escort her, revealing they are Yale alumni who know each other. The surprise adds tension as two men with different loyalties arrive to take Abby to the dance. Susan is unaware of the setup but senses something is unfolding.

Susan discovers that Abby and Richard are romantically involved and is initially upset by the revelation. She relents somewhat when Richard asks her to urge her mother to continue her college studies, showing her support for Abby's ambition.

The dance night tests the boundaries of Abby's secret romance as she balances appearances with her real feelings. John keeps his professional distance while Beaumont supports Susan, highlighting how each character manages competing loyalties. The social event becomes a crucible for their relationships.

At the end of the evening, Richard confesses that he is the author of The Gravedigger and the Chambermaid. Abby reveals she has read it—twice—before, recognizing both the fiction and the man before her. The confession closes the loop on their deception and seals their budding relationship.