The Royal Road

Adam

It's April. I hate April. And, I'm late... again. Of all the classes it could have been, it's Adam's class I'm late for. I'm about five minutes late, and no matter how kind and compassionate Adam is, being late is one thing he never tolerates. If I can't make it to class today Adam won't let me take the quiz! Losing ten percent of my grade isn't on my to-do list.

Made it to the seventh floor! I run across the hallway, my satchel swinging like a pendulum.

"Sorry I am late sir." I say bursting through the door.

Can barely articulate with all the breathing.

Adam turns around but it's not Adam. Shit! I'm in the wrong class? Everyone stares at me as if I'm some wacko. My class with Adam is always in a small classroom and not a lecture hall. I'm not in a lecture hall, so far so good. I spot a few familiar faces. Guess this is the class.

"Take a seat, young man. I also just came in." Not Adam is a young black man. His voice is that rare mix of calm and commanding... He couldn't be much older than me.

"Where is Adam?"

Keeping his eyes on the attendance register, "Just let me deal with this first."

"Okay. So, yes, Mr. Adam had to leave during the night. We don't know when he'll be back, though I'm certain it will be soon. Suffice to say, without any bias whatsoever, that you won't notice much difference."

"Any bias whatsoever?" I say out loud. Probably too loud, bordering on rude.

He walks up to me.

"My name is Steven, but you may call me Steve. Adam was my teacher too, I'm well acquainted with his teaching style"

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance sir, I'm Matt."

As I make my way towards the vacant chair I can't help but feel disgruntled. After all I have done, and sacrificed, why didn't Adam tell me? His teacher's aid?

Live forever

"So are you coming to the talk?" Hassan asks me as he steps in my way.

You would think it wasn't easy to blind-side someone in the courtyard. Not for Hassan, the guy is like an assassin.

"No, the reasons why the Clash of the Civilizations failed don't really interest me."

I have plenty of spare time, but I'd rather not spend it on a stupid lecture.

"No, no. Not that. I'm talking about the genetics talk. The live forever talk."

I had been walking up till now, but as soon as I hear him say those words I stop. Hearing that single sentence kills every other sound around me. It's as if Hassan created a vacuum by mere speech.

"That's today?" I ask.

"Yes, it is. Thank God I got to you in time; otherwise you would have gone bitching for a whole week about missing it."

"Now there's no need to exaggerate..."

Hassan's more energetic and deafening voice subdues my own.

"Exaggerate! Don't make me laugh. Do you know what people tell me when I'm describing you?" he says.

"What wonderful company you keep?" I say.

"Don't exaggerate."

Hassan is one of those few friends who has stuck with me since childhood. We have been through thick and thin.