Professor André

Chapter 1

"Let's not sit together for a week. A senior on youtube said that professors allow us to sit anywhere we want on the first day to change us if we talk too much." Jessica says.

I turn to look at her, confused. "You were watching videos?"

"Yes, I was.

Okay, fine! Whatever you say."

We are five minutes early for our first class at Camburgh University. We were both hysterical when we found out that we were both accepted into this university. It has always been our dream ever since high school to attend the same prestigious university.

Jessica wanted to study law but switched her major at the last minute, which didn't surprise me because she is indecisive and hates making decisions. I decided to study literature because I want to become an author.

"Where's the guide?" Jessica says, turning toward me.

"The what!?"

"The thing for us to find our first class. I have no idea where our class is." She says, moving her hands around.

"Oh yeah!" I fumble through my bag and reach for my phone. Jessica has hers but is too lazy to open her bag and look for herself.

We follow the map to class 107. Many students rush pass us to get to the first lecture, while others strut pass. Jessica and I nervously walk into the room. The room is large, and seats are stacked up together like popcorns in a cup. There is a passage separating the chairs and a burgundy carpet on the entire floor. The seats are blue and look very comfortable. There is also an electronic board and a podium, and a desk made out of wood. A chair is also behind this setup because why not.

"Remember! I'll be sitting away from you for seven days; you can live without me, right?"

"Jessica, please!" I reply, rolling my eyes.

She smiles at me then quickly walks away. I watch her as she goes to sit beside a Muslim girl wearing a cream-colored hijab. The girl immediately smiles at her when she sits down. I walk in the other direction to sit beside a guy wearing glasses; he smiles at me, and I smile back. I look across the room to see if I can see Jessica from where I am seated, but there are too many students between us.

I take my iPad out and open notes while I anxiously await my first professor. It is my first day at university, and I don't know what to expect. A few minutes later, another student walks in. He is dressed professionally but still manages to look casual.

Instead of walking up to the seats to sit, he stands behind the desk at the front of the classroom. Puzzled, I focus my gaze on him, wondering what he is doing.

"Good morning students, I'm Professor André, but André is fine. I'm not sixty!"

The entire class bursts into laughter after he says he isn't sixty.

"I will be your English Literature teacher for the time you will be here. He says, setting down his bag.

"Since today is your first day, I will be introducing this term's curriculum and just answering any questions you may have." He continues.

Convinced this is a joke, I watch him waiting for the real professor to walk in and for him to get into trouble for pretending to be our professor, but this never happens, and this Andrè guy seems legit.

He turns on the electronic whiteboard and proceeds to set it up. He then walked around to the front of the desk. He then rolls up his sleeves, adjusts his watch then leans on the desk.

"I will start with the question. Why did you choose to study  English literature as your major?"

The guy beside me raises his arm, and André points to him.