You gather your books and pull out your schedule when Dr. Balkin calls out. “, may I see you for just a moment?”
She sits down at the edge of her desk, crossing her legs as she motions for you to sit. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you, .” You blink in surprise. “I’ve looked over your transcripts and grades, as well as the letters of recommendation and all of the hard work you put in to get here, and I must say I was very impressed. This brings up an interesting question.” The teacher catches your eyes, and for a moment you wonder if she can see into your soul. “Why here? You could have gone to almost any school in the nation.”
Her gaze brings the unbidden truths to your mouth before you can formulate a lie. “Well, the teachers are supposed to be among the best available anywhere so I knew I’d get a good education. Plus there’s the prestige of being one of the first boys here.” A small grin crosses your face as you blush. “And for a shy kid like me, I figured here the odds of finding a date was more likely.”
Dr Balkin laughs softly and gives you an approving smile. “I’m pleased you were honest with me, . Thank you.” With that, she stands up and pulls a business card off her desk, handing it to you. “Here is my office hours, number, and my e-mail address. If you need any assistance or have any questions about any of your classes, please let me know.” For some unknown reason you turn the card over to see a room number and 9:00pm on the back of the card.
In answer to your unspoken question, Dr. Balkin says, “I run a sanctioned class for advanced students to assist them with their class work and university admission exams. Not only will this help you with your studies, but it also looks impressive on college admission applications. I would be honored if you would join us. The class meets on Wednesday nights.”
You nod, thanking her for her interest and time as you walk to your next class. You find yourself anxious for Wednesday night to arrive, if for no other reason than to find out what sort of class would meet at 9:00pm on a Wednesday night. Lost in your thoughts, you turn the corner of the hall and run right into… |