Sequel: Wish You Were Here. ›
Band on the Run.
Us and Them
I had to wake up early the next morning for work, it was awful because I was worried to death about Cheryl who had refused to come out of the bedroom to talk to me. It was also awful because I was so sore down there I could barely even get out of bed. I wondered if it would be such a bad thing to call in and cancel my classes but I decided against it.
I'd only been working at the university for about year now, so I got up and put on the new dress my mom got me for my birthday and slipped my engagement ring on my finger.
I put on a little bit of make up and examined myself in the mirror. After deciding that I looked pretty I returned to the bedroom where Roger was still asleep. I leaned against the wall and watched his chest rise and fall as he breathed. I watched him for a moment longer before I put on my coat and headed off for work.
When I got to my classroom there were no students there yet, I took the spare moment of loneliness to begin writing notes on the board about "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen. I had finished reading the book a couple of weeks ago, it was one of the two books I chosen to give my final exam on. The other was "East Of Eden" by John Steinbeck
I was almost finished when one by one students began filing in, upon seeing the directions on the board a few groans could be heard throughout the room. I rolled my eyes as I set my jacket on the back of my chair, "How often do you have to read whole novels? Most of the time I just make you read poems or plays in the text book. Which by the way has parts, very significant parts cut out of it."
One of my male students who has asked me out on a date many times since taking my class and continues to attempt at wooing me with his literary skills. When I call on him a big grin appears on his face, "I've already read both books, can I take my exam early."
"No you can't, unless you have some sort of plans that can't be put on hold like say a funeral or a wedding." I went to my bookshelf and began pulling copies of the books out.
"I've got twenty copies of each book that some of you can borrow that I got to keep with me after I stopped teaching high school. Keep in mind if you don't bring it back you can pay for it." I lay one pile of books on one side of my desk and another on the opposite corner, I was on my way to get some more when the phone back in my office began ringing. I instructed the first row to come collect a copy of both books and ran to answer it.
"Nicole, you left without saying good bye this morning!" Roger exclaims, a hint of playfulness in his voice.
"Roger, I'm teaching a class right now. Can I call you back?"
"Yeah I guess that's okay." He sounded so hurt it almost made me cry a little.
"I'll call you back as soon as I can okay? I love you."
"I love you too."
As soon as I walked out of the office the phone rang again, "Roger I'm not kidding I've got to teach this-"
"No, Nicole, this is your father. Haven't heard from me in a while huh?"
I froze like ice, the phone slips out of my hand and hits the desk with a loud thud. A few of my students were now lined up outside my door, all watching me with the same curious expression. I couldn't even speak.
I'd only been working at the university for about year now, so I got up and put on the new dress my mom got me for my birthday and slipped my engagement ring on my finger.
I put on a little bit of make up and examined myself in the mirror. After deciding that I looked pretty I returned to the bedroom where Roger was still asleep. I leaned against the wall and watched his chest rise and fall as he breathed. I watched him for a moment longer before I put on my coat and headed off for work.
When I got to my classroom there were no students there yet, I took the spare moment of loneliness to begin writing notes on the board about "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen. I had finished reading the book a couple of weeks ago, it was one of the two books I chosen to give my final exam on. The other was "East Of Eden" by John Steinbeck
I was almost finished when one by one students began filing in, upon seeing the directions on the board a few groans could be heard throughout the room. I rolled my eyes as I set my jacket on the back of my chair, "How often do you have to read whole novels? Most of the time I just make you read poems or plays in the text book. Which by the way has parts, very significant parts cut out of it."
One of my male students who has asked me out on a date many times since taking my class and continues to attempt at wooing me with his literary skills. When I call on him a big grin appears on his face, "I've already read both books, can I take my exam early."
"No you can't, unless you have some sort of plans that can't be put on hold like say a funeral or a wedding." I went to my bookshelf and began pulling copies of the books out.
"I've got twenty copies of each book that some of you can borrow that I got to keep with me after I stopped teaching high school. Keep in mind if you don't bring it back you can pay for it." I lay one pile of books on one side of my desk and another on the opposite corner, I was on my way to get some more when the phone back in my office began ringing. I instructed the first row to come collect a copy of both books and ran to answer it.
"Nicole, you left without saying good bye this morning!" Roger exclaims, a hint of playfulness in his voice.
"Roger, I'm teaching a class right now. Can I call you back?"
"Yeah I guess that's okay." He sounded so hurt it almost made me cry a little.
"I'll call you back as soon as I can okay? I love you."
"I love you too."
As soon as I walked out of the office the phone rang again, "Roger I'm not kidding I've got to teach this-"
"No, Nicole, this is your father. Haven't heard from me in a while huh?"
I froze like ice, the phone slips out of my hand and hits the desk with a loud thud. A few of my students were now lined up outside my door, all watching me with the same curious expression. I couldn't even speak.