“I’m starving – let’s eat!”

“Sure,” John responded, “I’m starving – let’s eat!” Walking over to where she sat on the bed, he extended his hand, and she took it, rising to her feet with a smile. “Mmmm … nice manners. I like that.” Once out of the dorm, she slipped her arm in his, saying, “Tell me, how did you ever decide to come to Clarion?”

“My sister Doe goes here, and my parents thought it would be good for us to both attend the same school.” John said. “She said there was a fight over admitting boys at first, but thought once it happened, things would settle down pretty quickly.”

“Um,” Jane paused and then asked, “Doe Russell? Are you Doe Russell’s brother?” John nodded, “That’s her. You two know each other?” Jane’s smile turned to a laugh. “Oh, yeah … we know each other. Wait until she finds out I’m your roomie!”

John wanted to ask what she meant by that, but they were approaching the door of the dining hall, and Jane stopped him, filling him in on a few Clarion traditions: “You must say Sir or Ma’am to all employees – even the janitors. We must behave like polite young ladies – or gentlemen, in your case. Frosh like you will be expected to fetch a glass of milk or another dessert or anything else upperclassmen ask for. They’ll be polite, but you’ll have no say in the matter. And no elbows on the table. Understand?”

“Got it,” John said. “Sir, ma’am, go fetch and be polite. That shouldn’t be too hard.” Jane grinned and walked him into the dining hall, where a series of round tables big enough for four students dominated the main room. Two cafeteria-style serving lines moved students to the left or right, and Jane led him to the right-hand line, and then through the serving area. The food looked good and smelled great, and John looked forward to a relaxing meal after a day full of surprises.

They found an empty table, and sat down. John had just enough time to eat two bites of his dinner when two more students joined them. One was Table Girl – Gina, he remembered, and the other one was a buxom brunette. Remembering his manners, he stood as they put their trays down on the table, earning an approving smile from Jane.

This is Gina, and this is Bethany – just call her Beth.” Jane said, gesturing to each girl. “Meet my new roommate, ladies.” “We met earlier,” Gina said. I was working the reception table. “Well, I wasn’t,” Beth said with a smile, “Nice to meet you.” After they sat down, John took his seat, only to have Gina ask him to get her a glass of water. “Of course,” he replied. Can I get anyone anything else while I’m up?” They all replied in the negative and off he went.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Jane was barraged with questions.

“Is he really wearing the school panties?” Gina asked. “Yes – and he looks good in them, too!”

“How’s he hung?” Beth asked with a broad smile. A blush and a grin answered her question, and the table dissolved into giggles.

Gina smiled as she asked if he’d shaved yet, and when Jane said no, both girls volunteered to help.

When Jane told them whom his sister was, both girls laughed out loud. “That’ll be interesting,” Beth said. “I don’t think she knows yet,” Jane replied, smiling sweetly.

John couldn’t understand why the three of them were giggling when he returned with Gina’s water, but he sat down to eat, only to have Beth ask him to re-fill her half empty glass of milk. Realizing this must be a tradition, he set his face in a smile and set off on what he was sure wouldn’t be his last errand.

It wasn’t. In fact, John spent the next twenty minutes or so running errands for Jane and her friends, and girls at two other tables. He could see others doing the same thing as he was, including a couple of boys and they exchanged greetings and made jokes as they passed each other. Eventually, he managed to eat half his dinner before the requests to fetch dessert came rolling in, followed by the requests to bus tables. John did his duty with a smile and as politely as he could, and by the end of dinner, he left with his three table mates, after busing the coffee mugs they had sipped from while watching him service other tables.

“Nice job, roomie,” Jane allowed as they left the hall. “Yeah,” Gina added, “You’ve got a bright future as a waiter someday.” The girls all got a good laugh at his expense, and Gina and Beth headed off to visit friends as Jane walked him back to their dorm.

“You really did do well, John,” Jane said. “Now there’s only one more thing to do to really make you a Clarion girl – or guy. Its not in the rulebook, but it is a tradition.”

“No problem,” John said. “Another adventure?”