The Professor and the Nervous Student

7:30 PM

Kelly felt pretty good after the first run through. She knew she'd started woodenly and goofed the slides up a bit but felt the presentation went well otherwise. She looked back at the doctor sitting in the center of the back row taking notes on her tablet and hoped the dry lecture on the role of kelp in the ocean biome wouldn't bore her to sleep before the night was over. She was feeling pretty good all considering. Except for an occasional dizzy spell, Kelly felt better than she had in a long time. A couple more runs like this and the girl felt like her problems would be over. Then she saw the doctor speak into her phone for a moment and then walk up to the stage. She stepped up on the platform, took the brunette's hands, and praised the performance. "That was an excellent job. I know it was a tad rocky in the beginning but you recovered well." the coed beamed with the praise and began to blush a bit. "This is just the beginning though," the therapist said as she used her phone to open the door out to the other office.

A man walked in, waved up to the two of them, and started walking down towards the stage. He looked like a distinguished older man, Kelly would have guessed the late forties to early '50s. He was wearing a worn brown suit and a comfortable looking matching jacket. His belly bulged out over his belt a bit which she felt was pretty normal for older academics she'd met in the past. The man's bifocals looked old with what appeared to be a bit of electrical tape holding the bridge together. His hair was dyed a dark black and had retreated up his head into a noticeable widow's peak over the years. "This is Professor Ronald Pierce. He'll be assisting in the next couple of go throughs," she told the student as the professor stepped up onto the platform. Dr. Valentine quickly introduced them and the two of them shook hands. The professor quickly offered that he taught philosophy at the state university about an hour away from the school Kelly attended. The doctor quickly spoke up. "Thank you, professor. Can you please take your seat in the front row?". The professor nodded, stepped down from the platform, draped his jacket over the back, and took a seat.

"I cannot let you get too comfortable with him. He's the first key in your treatment. You appear to have a problem with male authority figures and we are going to break it." the therapist stated very matter of factly. "This next run through he'll do nothing more than watch you give your lesson. Just remember, follow no one's instructions but my own unless I tell you otherwise. You must concentrate on the lecture and completing it successfully." the doctor warned sternly. "Now take a moment to pull yourself together and let me know when you are ready to begin," the Asian lady said simply as she climbed off the platform and walked back to sit in the rear seat. Kelly glanced down at the front row where the professor was sitting and saw he was watching her every move. She walked over to the desk, took the glass of water, and saw Dr. Valentine giving her a stern stare. The girl quickly gulped it down, **** herself to the podium, and timidly began the presentation again.

It took two more attempts to get through the lesson this time. The first try was a disaster. All she could see was Professor Pierce watching her like a hungry wolf. She stumbled over words, froze in place, and even put the slides up in the wrong order. Several times the only thing that got her back on track was a stern command from the doctor in the back. "Kelly focus. Ms. Blair stop hesitating and continue" and the like were barked at her from the back row. Between the first and second attempts, the therapist gave Kelly another pill. The girl couldn't feel any difference except she was a bit calmer. It was still far from perfect but Kelly was able to complete the lecture mostly by ignoring the professor and focusing on the doctor in the back. At the finish, the coed was relieved and thrilled that it had gone so much better.