Dreams

Going on a Trip

"No! Why would I even want that?"

"I don't know. I just figured - "

"Hey! Has the door to the classroom always looked like that?"

I look at the door. She's right. Instead of a classroom door, there's two giant doors that open all the way out. They don't look right, and I know something is up but...

"Whatever. We've already missed, like, half of Professor Green's classes this semester. Let's just go."

We walk inside and grab a seat near the back of the room, throwing down our notebooks and (expensive, one-use only) textbooks on the desk. My friend pulls her iced coffee out of her bag and starts sipping. As I look past her, I notice a student in winter gear. He has gloves, a hat, and a big, warm jacket on.

"What's up with him," I whisper to my friend. "It's 85 degrees out."

She shrugs.

"Good morning everyone," the professor walks into the classroom. "I hope you're all ready for the big day... ah, and I see a couple familiar faces. Nice of you two to join us."

I shrink down in my seat. Next to me, my friend is doing the same.

"We have 5 minutes before we start, so any last minute bathroom trips, phone calls, or snacks are encouraged. I will be here if you have any questions before we begin," the professor says, sitting down at a desk up at the front of the classroom.

"Dude," my friend nudges me. "We should ask him about the doors."

"Ugh, he already knows we haven't been here most of the semester. That would only embarrass us further," I groaned.

"I'll just ask another student, then," my friend says. She taps the shoulder of a student in front of her, and I realize that the student is also wearing a bunch of winter gear. "Hey... Do you know what's up with the doors?"

The student looks at us like we're crazy; we look at the student like they're crazy.

I grab my water bottle from my bag and take a swig. I look around the room and notice that everyone is wearing winter gear.

Everyone, except my friend and I.

"What's going on," I ask my friend. "What memo did we miss?"

"God. Do you think that's part of the grade?"

"I hope ---"

I am cut off by the doors closing. They make a strange sound as they do.

"All right everybody," I hear the professor's voice over a loud speaker, but I cannot see him anywhere.

All of a sudden, I feel butterflies in my stomach. I turn to my friend, and she looks pale.

"Let's get this show on the road," the professor says. "Welcome aboard flight 343, headed to Grytviken, Antarctica. We hope you enjoy your flight and your two year experience."

WHAT?

"Fucking Antarctica????? I have a date tomorrow," my friend's voice is full of panic.

"Is that what's important? We're not prepared for Antarctica! We have to get out of here," I say, and turn to another student. "We're not supposed to be here. How do we stop the flight?"

Instead of the student, a voice I don't recognize answers me from the loud speaker:

"Everyone is supposed to be here."