A roomful of men

Peggy looked out upon the classroom and noticed that the whole place seemed to be full of male students. Husky male students, some of whom looked old enough to have served in the military. There was only one empty seat on the front row; every other seat was occupied by a male student.

And they were all looking at her.

Some seemed bored; some seemed amused; some looked as if they had not seen a woman for a long time. But they were all looking at her.

Not at the art teacher or the wall behind her.

At her.

The art teacher was gesturing for her to come forward and take off her robe.

"If you please, Miss -- I'm sorry, but I don't believe I know your name."

"It's Peg -- er, Paula," she said, clutching at the lapels of her robe and trying not to look nervous.

"Well, 'Paula'," said the art teacher, "come over here, stand on this dais, and take off your robe. I know you're not that experienced but I promise you things will go more smoothly the more quickly you take your first pose."

Dear God, thought Peggy. Can I actually go through with this?