To the meeting

Your plans for going over your notes have been derailed by the ripe young Latina, but you find yourself smiling as you head down the stairs and outside. You stride confidently towards the main building, looking forward to the first orientation meeting. Getting your first look at students in a group should be enlightening, and you feel a sense of purpose as you enter the building and trot up the stairs to the library.

Entering the room you see that a number of students are already seated, chattering with each other as they wait for the meeting to begin. You notice Grace sitting with some girls including the busty Julia while Valerie sitting is with Sondra and some other friends, both of them looking at you as you walk in. In another group you see the lovely French student Gabrielle preening with some other girls, and you notice that the eyes of many students flicker over you as you join a group of other teachers. You recall that the meetings are arranged alphabetically by year, this one being second year students with surnames from A to M.

"Take a look Mason," Donna Considine says, nodding at the students. "The future leaders of the free world. Or at least the leading customers of Gucci and Prada."

"Really Donna, must you always be sarcastic?" Miss Swanson replies icily. "These are fine young ladies from some of the great families of our country. It would do you well to remember that."

"I do declare I heard the anthem playing just then," Honey Thibodeaux smiles. "Ignore the cattiness and sit down here with me Mr. Carter."

"You're just as bad Honey," Miss Swanson sneers.

"It's Honey to my friends," the Cajun teacher smiles. "To others it's Honoré."

The older teacher just snorts and turns her head away, obviously torn between leaving the group and not wanting to be seen in retreat. You smile ambiguously, seeing Brian chatting with Monica and Christina while Alice Wilder the librarian stands by diffidently. Dean Hawkfeather is standing with Ms. Naylor, their heads together in conference, their eyes flickering to the students and back again.

You wonder what that's about as the last few students and teachers enter the library and Ms. Naylor taps her knuckles on a table for attention.