in walked a fashion-forward, light-skinned guy wearing oversize Fendi aviator shades, matching ascot, button-up shirt, a pair of extremely snug Rockin’ Republic jeans and a pair of Ferragamo loafers. He strolled in as if he hadn’t a care in the world, careful to switch his hips with every step, lightly brushing the bangs he’d so neatly pressed away from his forehead, before taking his seat.
“So glad that you could join us today, sir, ” Dr. J said. “If you didn’t know, class started fifteen minutes ago.”
“I’m aware of that,” the student retorted.
“Well, why is it that you are so late today, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Unless you plan on picking me up from my apartment complex before class for the rest of the semester, I mind,” he snapped.
“Well, also be mindful that your attendance makes up ten percent of your overall grade in this class. So due to the fact that I will absolutely not be picking you up from anywhere at any time, it’s imperative that you get to this class on time if your grade is of any importance to you. In fact, it’s important that you all practice being punctual. In the real world, tardiness is not acceptable and I won’t make any exceptions here. My mentor always told me, half an hour too soon is better than half a minute too late.”
“But Dr. J, you were late to class today yourself,” one girl sitting in the front row noted.
“Valid point,” he said. “Next time you have one to make in my classroom, be sure to raise your hand first so I can call on you. Point taken, though. The fact of the matter is, I didn’t find out I would be filling in for Professor Mitchell until this morning. That being said, I apologize for my tardiness. Those of you who know me can attest to the fact that I won’t be making a habit of it.”
As Dr. J walked around the class passing the course syllabus out to each student, getting a feel for the new faces and personally greeting the familiar ones, I braced myself for what was sure to be a longer, much more arduous semester than I’d planned for. I just knew Dr. J had something up his sleeve. It was inevitable.
“Mr. Dawson,” he said, hulking over my desk in a gray cardigan sweater and checkered dress shirt. “Man, it’s great to see you back! How was your break?”
“It was cool,” I said.
“I’m looking forward to big things from you this semester,” he said, looking me in the eye as he handed me a copy of the course description. “Don’t let me down.”
After passing out the packets, careful to make sure everyone had a copy, Dr. J returned to the front of the class, picked up a marker and went to the board.
“Does everyone have a copy of the course syllabus?” he asked.
Everyone nodded in unison.
“Good. Have you had a chance to review it carefully?” he asked.
Confusion riddled the faces of nearly everyone in the class, each of us looking around at one another to see if anyone knew where he was coming from. I had no idea, but I sensed a curveball coming. Timothy hesitantly raised his hand.
“Yes, sir,” Dr. J said.
“Well, Dr. Johnson, I was just wondering what you meant by that, seeing that we just received our course descriptions less than five minutes ago,” Timothy said. “I’ve skimmed through the syllabus, but haven’t had time to review it in its entirety.”
“Yet another valid point. Thank you for raising your hand before making it. Well, as Mr…. What’s your name, son?”
“McGruden. Timothy McGruden.”
“As Mr. McGruden has noted, none of you have had time to review the syllabus. And none of you will need to. As a matter of fact, everybody grab the packet I distributed to you and hold it above your head.”
Here it comes, I thought as I hoisted mine high.
“Now, rip it in half,” he said.
The bewildered facial expressions returned. No one, including myself could fathom why Dr. J would take the time to pass out something he just wanted us to rip up.
“I’m
“So glad that you could join us today, sir, ” Dr. J said. “If you didn’t know, class started fifteen minutes ago.”
“I’m aware of that,” the student retorted.
“Well, why is it that you are so late today, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Unless you plan on picking me up from my apartment complex before class for the rest of the semester, I mind,” he snapped.
“Well, also be mindful that your attendance makes up ten percent of your overall grade in this class. So due to the fact that I will absolutely not be picking you up from anywhere at any time, it’s imperative that you get to this class on time if your grade is of any importance to you. In fact, it’s important that you all practice being punctual. In the real world, tardiness is not acceptable and I won’t make any exceptions here. My mentor always told me, half an hour too soon is better than half a minute too late.”
“But Dr. J, you were late to class today yourself,” one girl sitting in the front row noted.
“Valid point,” he said. “Next time you have one to make in my classroom, be sure to raise your hand first so I can call on you. Point taken, though. The fact of the matter is, I didn’t find out I would be filling in for Professor Mitchell until this morning. That being said, I apologize for my tardiness. Those of you who know me can attest to the fact that I won’t be making a habit of it.”
As Dr. J walked around the class passing the course syllabus out to each student, getting a feel for the new faces and personally greeting the familiar ones, I braced myself for what was sure to be a longer, much more arduous semester than I’d planned for. I just knew Dr. J had something up his sleeve. It was inevitable.
“Mr. Dawson,” he said, hulking over my desk in a gray cardigan sweater and checkered dress shirt. “Man, it’s great to see you back! How was your break?”
“It was cool,” I said.
“I’m looking forward to big things from you this semester,” he said, looking me in the eye as he handed me a copy of the course description. “Don’t let me down.”
After passing out the packets, careful to make sure everyone had a copy, Dr. J returned to the front of the class, picked up a marker and went to the board.
“Does everyone have a copy of the course syllabus?” he asked.
Everyone nodded in unison.
“Good. Have you had a chance to review it carefully?” he asked.
Confusion riddled the faces of nearly everyone in the class, each of us looking around at one another to see if anyone knew where he was coming from. I had no idea, but I sensed a curveball coming. Timothy hesitantly raised his hand.
“Yes, sir,” Dr. J said.
“Well, Dr. Johnson, I was just wondering what you meant by that, seeing that we just received our course descriptions less than five minutes ago,” Timothy said. “I’ve skimmed through the syllabus, but haven’t had time to review it in its entirety.”
“Yet another valid point. Thank you for raising your hand before making it. Well, as Mr…. What’s your name, son?”
“McGruden. Timothy McGruden.”
“As Mr. McGruden has noted, none of you have had time to review the syllabus. And none of you will need to. As a matter of fact, everybody grab the packet I distributed to you and hold it above your head.”
Here it comes, I thought as I hoisted mine high.
“Now, rip it in half,” he said.
The bewildered facial expressions returned. No one, including myself could fathom why Dr. J would take the time to pass out something he just wanted us to rip up.
“I’m
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