Go See What Dr. Pulaski Wants

“I’d better go see what Dr. Pulaski wants,” I said. Ian caught me up on what I missed in class as we left the building. The dormitory was three stories high and shaped like a capital “U”, with the center section being a common area, and each of the long sections being dorms—one side guys and the other girls—with a courtyard nestled in the middle. The best part, from my perspective, was that it was right across the street from Ozarka Tech’s engineering building. This late in the morning, even the students that loved their sleep were up and about, scattered around with laptops, footballs, and lunchboxes. There was even a pair of dogs with guitars strumming away under a tree.

Ian and Georgia split off for the cafeteria while I darted across the street and into the stucco-and-brick building that housed the classrooms, labs, and offices for the engineering and math departments. Dr. Pulaski’s office was just off the lobby, and I tried to be as silent as possible as I stepped in.

“You missed class this morning,” the old Fox said. He was in his fifties, with gray in his short-cropped red hair and the fur on his bushy tail. His pointed ears were so immobile I sometimes forgot they were real, his square face came in one expression—frowns—and his plain suit left no room for argument. I was just about to give him an excuse when he waved a hand sharply. “Never mind that now. Kyle, I have an idea to help some of the younger students.”

Okay, I thought. Hope he forgets about that.

“I’m looking for tutors for the lower-level classes,” he explained. “Digital Logic, Circuits, and Calculus. Are you interested?”

“You want me to tutor freshmen?” I asked.

“Correct, for six hours per week. We can put you in one of the classrooms that are empty. You’ll get paid whether students show up or not.”

“Ah. Well….”