Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Three Word Wednesday XXI

Welcome to Three Word Wednesday.

Each week, I will post three (or more) random words. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write something using all of those words. It can be a few lines, a story, a poem, anything. This is a writing exercise. It doesn't have to be perfect. The idea is to let your mind wander and write what it will. I'll also attempt to write something using the same three words.

Be sure to leave a comment if you participate.

This week's words are:
Professor
Stairs
Unlikely


"What're you doing over the break?" Professor Russell asked, his back turned as he erased the board.

"Aww, nothing. Just work... watching lots of football. You?" I spoke as if he were a friend rather than my college professor.

"I think I might head down to New Orleans this weekend. Take in some blues. Drink a beer or two."

He wore jeans and a leather jacket. I surmised that he was probably in his mid-to-late twenties. I sat on the corner of the desk and we continued to talk for a few minutes as the class emptied.

"See ya next quarter," I said as I opened the door. I was often the last student to leave.

"Take care. You have my number if you need anything."

Russell was my favorite Professor. He had that rare ability to make each student feel important. Class was laid back and fun, yet it never got out of control. He took an interest in each student's life outside the classroom.

When he found out I was interested in comedy, he asked me to let him read some of my material. And even offered to call some guy he knew at a club to help me out. His door was always open. He was the only professor I ever called at home.

Walking down the hallway of the computer building, I had that feeling of free that only comes with the last day of school. Opening the doors to a three-week winter break, a bitter wind smacked me in the face and literally made me take a step back. I pulled my coat tighter around me and scuttled down the stairs.

Crossing the parking lot, a car stopped in front of me.

Looking up, I saw it was Valerie Hunter. She was also in Russell's class. At some point during the quarter, we both realized I had hit on her a couple of years earlier at the mall. I got her number, called a couple of times, and that was it. It was a not uncommon cycle. She rolled down the window.

"Hey!"

"Hey, Val."

"You all done?"

"Yeah. That was my last one. You?"

"I have one more final tomorrow. Psych 101."

"Who do you have?" I asked.

"Himmler."

"Ugh. Hitler." I'd had him freshman year.

"He's not that bad."

"Nah, he's fun. Crazy old German guy who may or may not believe in time travel."

She laughed as I continued, "You got Russell for anything next quarter?"

"Uhh, I'm actually not gonna be here next quarter. I'm transferring."

"Oh. Where to?"

"I'm moving to Birmingham to live with my grandmother. I'm gonna go to school and finish my degree there. But I wouldn't take Russell again anyway."

"Why not? He's my favorite teacher."

She scoffed.

"You don't like him? I thought everybody liked him," I continued, not believing any student could possibly dislike Russell.

"Yeah, well that figures. Guys usually love him."

"What does that mean?"

"He--," she hesitated. "He hit on me. Did some things that were inappropriate. And then told me if I said anything, it would affect my grade."

"Oh," I was stunned and had no idea what to say.

"And I'm not the first female he's done that to."

"Wow," I raised my eyebrows and tried to sound like I believed her, though I wasn't sure if I did or not. "I had no idea."

"Well, just keep that in mind."

That's the last time I ever saw Val. I went back and forth in my mind over what she had said. I thought it highly unlikely that Russell would ever do something like that. Surely she was making it up. She was probably just bitter about a bad grade or something. But what if she's wasn't?

I thought about it often over winter break and after. I never asked Russell about it. Never said a word to anyone about it. But from then on, whenever Russell would be kidding around with a female student, or when some female would be staying after class, I would think back to what Val told me.

Never knowing whether or not it was true, I still let it affect my view of him. And that is what I hate more than anything.

But to this day, I still consider him my favorite professor.

"Valerie, call on me. Call on me, Valerie. Come and see me. I'm the same boy I used to be..."

25 comments:

  1. I sense a "Mrs. Robinson" post coming on...

    Or maybe not.

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  2. Oooh! You say the words Professor and Unlikely and I'm intrigued. Throw in some under-the-stairs action and it's on like Donkey Kong! I'll let you know when I post it on Naked Blathering.

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  3. The world's shortest 3-word Wed. It was Professor Stairs in the unlikely library. Sorry, it just made me think of "Clue"

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  4. Its up but its not my best....nope....and that was my original thought InterstellarLass!!!

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  5. I'm feeling slightly impatient here, Bone...

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  6. TC: Sorry, it took me awhile to get going today. So you're the impatient type, huh?

    Lass: Ooo, so you're gonna participate this week?! Let us know when it's up.

    Carmen: Clue! I can totally see that, Carmen.

    ATag: I'm coming to check it out right now.

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  7. I really liked your story. I really do hope that it's fiction.

    That Professor word throws off the whole thing for me to write one. Course I've got other things on my mind right now...and I'm not allowed to blog about them.

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  8. I loved that story!
    Please tell me it's more than just fiction.
    It was so realistic.

    I don't know how you do it.
    It seems like every fiction piece you write has me believing it's real.

    I can't wait to read your first book, Mr. Bone.

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  9. nice piece, bone!

    i've been thinking about giving this a try for some time, and i finally decided today is the day! i'm posting it now.

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  10. The best fiction reads like real life and the best personal essays read like fiction

    I assume that it wasn't from your use of the word "I" and not stating that it's fiction

    It was great. Didn't get where you were going until you said it, and that's a good thing.

    I loved it.

    Maybe it's fiction, because Bone interested in comedy writing :)

    Great blogging....

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  11. Renee: Thanks, Renee. Once I switch to New Blogger or Wordpress, I'm gonna start labeling my posts with "fiction" and "3WW" and things like that.

    Elizabeth: I'll never tell :) I will say the majority of my 3WW's have been fiction. But a few have been mostly true.

    Alison: Thanks for participating! Hope to see you each week :)

    Pia: Thanks. Glad I didn't give anything away. That's always a good thing, like you said. Love your entry this week, as well.

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  12. I'm okay...mostly angry. There's some drama going on now by others that is making me angry...and I can't post about it on my blog (my place to gripe) because people involved read it. Silly me, I gave them the link. But that's when I thought that we were friends.

    Thanks for your concern. I really appreciate it.

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  13. Thanx!! I hope this will bring more people to my much abused blog. I will start writing!!!! Plus, I love writing!!! :)

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  14. True story? I like it a lot. I knew a prof. like this one. He was never fired but many girls droppped his class. And he was loved by all the guys.

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  15. *cringe*

    I am the impatient type with many, many things. This happened to be one of them! What can I say? I knew I wouldn't have time between 3:30-9:15 to check it and I was looking forward to reading it!

    I had that feeling of free that only comes with the last day of school. I LOVE that feeling! Um, guess I should say "loved" considering I no longer go to school...

    Speaking of the new blogger... when are you switching over? Huh, huh? I'm not digging it to be honest... but I'm really stubborn.

    Renee: *hugs* I did the SAME thing, and then haven't been able to blog about a few things I've really needed to get off my chest.

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  16. TC: I almost sent DH (who's outta town) an email about it. But since he's a guy...he would just tell me I should quit which I don't wanna do. This will all blow over soon.

    BTW: Thanks!

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  17. Oh my, I saw a comment you put on TC's blog and it reminded me that DH's Birthday is in 12 days too. No clue what to get him.

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  18. But since he's a guy...he would just tell me I should quit which I don't wanna do. .

    Sometimes men give over-simplified pieces of advice, huh?

    Glad you've got a good outlook about it anyway! :)

    I'm not sure I'm going to be any help with he birthday present giving though...

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  19. Here you go:

    The faculty meeting droned on. It seemed unlikely that they?d get out before dinner. Resolutions were debated and passed. The university had to fix the elevator for what professor would willingly take the stairs.

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  20. Renee: I hope things get better soon. I think that's a common thing. You start a blog and want to give everyone your address. Then at some point, you find yourself unable to blog certain things or about certain people. I'm the same way.

    Oh, I forgot that your DH and I share the same birthday. Just remember, whatever you get him, you can only spend half as much on me :)

    EagleCat: Well thanks for participating. Glad you found it.

    Hotpinksox: Thank you. Haven't seen you around in a few days.

    TC: Sorry it took me awhile to get going today.

    When am I switching over? Well, I was holding out in the name of solidarity, I thought!

    Actually, one of the main reasons is that I was thinking of switching to Wordpress. And last I checked, you couldn't import to WP from New Blogger, only Old Blogger. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but it does in my head.

    Sage: Thanks for participating.

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  21. Haha, no apologies necessary. I was the impatient one, and I'd apologize for that, but well, I'm not really sorry: I wanted to read your story!

    I had major writer's block yesterday too. I was emailing back and forth with E & DC and was like "I do have a 3WW post to write, you know" and even after we stopped emailing I stared at the blank screen, with no clue what to write. I started and erased several times along the way. ;)

    Well, I was holding out in the name of solidarity, I thought!

    Rub it in a little more. :P

    I've heard that about WP: you're probably going to have to make a decision somewhat soon though you know.

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  22. The blogger beta not working on WP makes perfect sense to me.

    I posted my 3WW on Wednesday for the first time

    Think you should do more regular posts like this one as I can't imagine it not being true, except for the interest in comedy thing :)

    Show more sides of Bone and change that screenname please.

    I watch Bones and really don't like the visual images.

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  23. so you want half of a plasma screen TV? ;)

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  24. TC (anon): Correct you were :-/ I had to switch over today. I cannot believe they're not giving people a choice. OK, I've ranted enough about that though :)

    Pia: I watch Bones and really don't like the visual images.

    LOL That made me chuckle. Change my screenname? Hmm. You really think so? This is the first I've heard of this ;-)

    Renee: Just give me the equivalent in cash. I'll put it with my ricksha profits and buy me a plasma.

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  25. OK, I've ranted enough about that though :)

    Are you sure?! I'm not sure you can ever rant enough about blogger...

    (Btw, I didn't want to be right...)

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