Fiction119
Her nose was buried in a book. The young woman was walking slowly across campus, more like drifting, as she read and reread a particularly difficult passage in her textbook. It didn’t make sense to her. Granted science wasn’t her strong suit anyway but she needed to take these classes. They were required. Bah!
Dawn’s contemplation on what she was reading was interrupted when someone slammed into her shoulder sending her stumbling and her book falling to the remnants of the most recent snow where the pages rippled in the chilly winter breeze.
“Watch where you're going!” was yelled at the strawberry blonde as the small group of boys continued chatting and laughing as they continued on their way.
“Rude,” She muttered, absently rubbing her shoulder, making a face at the fading back of the boys.
—
Cass was coming back from lunch, headed to his office as his office hours started in just fifteen minutes, so he needed to be there. He saw a group of boys run into a young woman who looked familiar and gave them a clearly disapproving look when they spouted their greeting to him.
“I saw that,” he said before giving a pointed look toward Dawn. “You need to apologize and if I see such behavior again, we will be having a different sort of conversation.”
He heard one of them whisper that they thought he was the cool professor, but ignored that. He didn’t want anyone thinking he would tolerate such behavior.
—
She was bending down to pick up her book when a yelled out ‘sorry’ had her looking up and spotting the boys who had turned around and were apologizing. Dawn wasn’t feeling particularly charitable so she just picked up her book, brushed off the snow as best she could and made a face at the boys who just turned away and continued past the professor that was standing there. “Stupid boys… if my book is water damaged I won’t be able to sell it back.” The young woman muttered, doing her best to make sure all snow and dirt was wiped clean. “This thing cost me an arm and a leg.” Her expenses were tight… so she was really hoping for a larger return for her books at the end of the year. Fingers crossed she would get half her money back… even though last year she only got a quarter of that. One could still hope though. One could still hope.
“Thank you sir,” Dawn said to the teacher as she got closer, immediately recognizing the biology teacher. Blue eyes flicked between the older male and the building that they were standing right outside of. “Do you have office hours right now? I don’t suppose you happen to have a free slot do you?” She might not be his student this semester but she remembered how good he was at explaining stuff from her last class with him. With luck he could explain this nonsense her current science teacher was trying to drum into her head one dry passage at a time.
—
Cass nodded, opening his bag and pulling out a wipe and a tissue. He had all manner of things constantly in his bag, now that he had two young sons. He imagined he would only accumulate more with his daughter to come into the world in June. He handed them to Dawn.
“Yes actually,” he said, “I was just headed to my office now. Ive got about 10 minutes before my office hours start, but you’ve already finished with class Ms. Delumos. Not that I’m not willing to help if I can.”
He was a biology major, though he gotten a business degree and had to study agriculture as well because of his father’s wine business, he and his brother would eventually inherit and take over. He knew his brother would be so glad when the school semester was over and he could fall back a little.
“Walk with me and explain what it thats got you held up?”
—
Dawn happily took the offered wipe and cleaned off the cover of her book, the pages would have to be checked and treated later. “Oh I know sir but I really should have taken my classmate’s suggestion and signed up for classes using ‘rate my professor’ as a guide for good teachers. Mr. Smith just lectures but doesn’t really explain. At least I don’t really understand it. So if you can help me I would really appreciate it.” She would have to keep that particular website in mind when signing up for her next semester since she really didn’t want to encounter another teacher like Mr. Smith. He might be a wonderful teacher for some students but for her…. Not at all. “Maybe I’m just more of a hands-on learner or something. I want to pass this class with flying colors, like I did with your’s but this one… I think I might be going gray, or bald, for how much this is frustrating me.”
It was all likely way too much information but it did help explain why Dawn was seeking out a different professor that she wasn’t a current student of. “It's this passage here.” She flipped through the textbook, quickly finding the chapter, and page, she had been trying to wrap her head around. The young woman pointed it out, holding the book out to the professor so he could read it as well while they headed to his office… if he didn’t want to consult her outside that is. She was ok either way since she had kind of ambushed him. However she got assistance with this problem she would gladly take it.
—
Cass looked at the book, reading the passage as they walked on their way to his office, noting the passage was a little oddly worded, but he figured he could break it down all the same. Thankfully, the science didn't stray to far from his own field of expertise.
“Its written strangely, but if you look here,” he started to explain, only pausing to unlock his office door and take a seat at his desk, motioning for Dawn to sit as well before he continued his explanation. After a moment he got up and pulled a textbook off the bookshelf in his office and handed it to Dawn.
“I do believe their may be a better explanation and examples in this book, but if not I'm sure the university library has something you could make use of.”
He hoped his explanation was adequate, but he was the biology professor, even if he did understand the current subject matter. “Also Professor Bixon teaches that class as well and she might be able to help further if you need more explanation that I was able to offer you.”
He sat back at his desk again, “anything else I can help you with Ms. Delumos.”
—
Dawn listened intently as the professor did his best to explain. It wasn’t all that clear but it was a ton better then her teacher though. So much better. By the time Cass suggested she go to Professor Bixon for further help Dawn felt like she was this close to understanding. She just needed a little longer, maybe a bit more reading would help. “Um… Not really but may I borrow this book? Maybe I can compare it to my textbook and see if there is anything else that it can help clarify for me.” If he couldn’t spare the book she would have to see if the library had it.
—
Cass nodded, waving a hand at the book, “you’re welcome to borrow the book. My office hours are posted on the door, just drop it off when you have the chance. If I'm not in, you can leave the book with the department receptionist.” He gave her a smile, she was a friendly girl and had strived to do well in his class. He liked students like her.
A knock at the door hand him looking at the time, “come in, come in,” he called.
“Alright Ms. Delumos, take care. I’ve got a few students to attend to, but again, just bring the book back when you have time.” He waved as Dawn left, greeting a student from his midmorning class and settling in to spend the next few hours answering question before he could go home to his wife and children.
