Page 2 of Full Service
“I do, but the TA currently hired couldn’t start until Thursday, so here I am.”
“Ah, I see. Well then, good luck with that. You’ll need it.”
He winks at me, and I manage another small smile. Dr. Brown is a nice man, just not someone I want to spend too much time with. No, I prefer to spend time alone. Just me and my one-eyed fish named Vertebrata.
Listen, I’ve never been accused of being unique. I was this close to calling her Fish, but the way her eye scowled at me told me she was not impressed.
She’s actually quite judgmental and very opinionated.
“Has the semester started out well?” Dr. Brown asks, and I nod.
“So far so good. Had a few students not show up, so I dropped them and then got complaints from them, asking what happened. So, you know, the usual.”
“Ah yes, the fun begins. It’s the same every year. Never gets old.”
I nod and discreetly glance to my left, trying to see if I can get a glimpse of ass-guy again, but I don’t see him. He’s wandered off. I’ll probably never see him again. Which is for the best. I don’t need to relive that, nor do I need to entertain ideas of him. I will not be driving by or strolling across the parking lot or lurking around the back door of his place of employment now that I’m pretty sure he’s a student.
I’m a respectable professor. I don’t lust after students. That’s never happened in the ten years I’ve been teaching. And it certainly won’t happen now.
Dr. Brown excuses himself after a few more minutes of chatting about the beginning of the semester, and I’m left to sit in the sun, grading the endless papers before me.
I really need to put these assessments online. That would make my life so much easier.
Maybe I’ll have my TA help me with that. I do have online course shells where students can log in, check grades, and submit assignments, but I haven’t put any of the quizzes or tests online yet. The process of doing so is overwhelming with the office hours I have to keep, the research I need to do, and the committees I am required to serve on. Having a TA enter these online and get it set up would help me greatly.
I make a mental note to ask my TA to do this when I meet him.
Just as I begin to get back to grading, my phone rings. I pick it up, a small laugh leaving my mouth when I see who’s calling.
Lee O’Conner.
“Hello, Mr. O’Conner,” I say, and I hear shuffling on the other end of the line.
“Silas. It’s me. Lee.”
I let out a huff of laughter at that. He always does this, announces who he is despite knowing I can see who’s calling me. Must be an old habit from the rotary phone days. Lee is ninety-two years old and is honestly the only friend I see on a regular basis.
Even Chris and Gregory are once-a-year friends. Before the abominable dick explosion at the club, the last time I saw them was last spring when they got engaged.
But Lee’s different, he makes sure to call me every day just to check in. I think he’s lonely but won’t admit it. And to be honest, I think I may be as well. My parents were older when they had me, and both passed away years ago. I have a sibling who lives on the other end of the continent, but we rarely speak. Maybe my friendship with Lee reminds me a little of home.
Fuck, I need a change, a fresh start.
Good God, I need to get laid.
“I know who it is. Your name appears on the screen, Lee. I even greeted you by name,” I say, leaning back in the wrought iron chair and crossing my legs at the ankles. “What are you up to, old man?”
“Who’s calling me old, asshole?” Lee says with a laugh. “I’m young. Mostly.”
“Sure you are. So, what are you doing today?”
“Me? Oh, just went on a walk and tried to convince Vera to go on a date with me. She refused.”
“I’m sure she did. You’re a creep, Lee.”
He chuckles at that. “At least I don’t send her dick pictures like you do to the guys you’re interested in.”
I run a hand down my face. “I do not send dick pics to people. Jesus.”