2/26/97

It was another computer science lab class...everyone had a question because as usual no one understood the assignment. Sammy, the TA, was trying to explain things, but he wasn't doing a good job. Our homework was supposed to be due at the end of the period so I had mine in my hand. Interestingly enough, my packet of papers held an uncanny resemblance to my English portfolio, with my final copy on top and the purple review sheets on the back. The kid sitting next to me asked me if my program ran properly, and I told him I never checked it. Since I figured I probably should, I grabbed a little red post-it note (out of nowhere, I guess) and wrote "This thing runs a-ok!" and then I stuck it to the papers. I looked back up to Sammy, who was obviously overwhelmed with questions. The bell rang, and everyone stood up and started yelling out their problems and finally Sammy just slammed his hands down and yells "Homework NOT due today, due TOMORROW!!" and everyone cheered. I, however, was done with mine, and I didn't want to mess with it anymore, so I took it up to him and handed it in. I asked him if he knew when the next help session would be, and he didn't, so I left.

Out in the halls, there were hardly any people. I'm not quite sure I know which building I was in, because all of the stairs and floors were marble, and there are no buildings like that on campus that I know of. I considered getting a pop, but I decided against it.

I walked outside and instantly I could tell the weather had changed, not only because people were wearing shorts while I was wearing a coat, but the fact that it was freaking HOT was another good indicator. So I took my coat off and hung it over my arm and started walking to my next class. I heard someone yell out, thinking that they were making fun of my jeans, but then I realized they yelled "Nice pants tonight, Neal" I looked around to see who said it, and it was Mr. Quint, my former guidance counselor from high school. He was reminding me to wear nice pants that night. Nice man, that Mr. Quint. He lives in Arizona now. His house finally sold, and he escaped Auburn. Another success story. Anyway, Mr. Quint walked into some other building (I mean he entered it, I don't mean he smacked into the side) and then some big guy was riding towards me on an old bicycle while waving at me. When he got closer, I could tell it was Tony, an Auburnite who is several years older than me.

I kept walking when I realized I didn't know where I was. I didn't recognize this part of campus, but I had seen it before. That sounds like a contradiction. I mean that I recognized the buildings and the landscape, but I didn't know where I was in relation to the rest of campus. So I just kept on walking and I approached this group of girls sitting on a slight bank. I had just planned on walking by, but as I got right next to them, the adult with them yelled out "Okay, NO FIGHTING!! I want no name calling, no spitting, no hair pulling--nothing childish! Work this out like ADULTS!!" All of the girls were wearing volleyball uniforms, and they were somewhat divided down the middle, so I figured this had to be some inner-team problem about playing time or team strategy or whatever. So the adult woman, who I assumed to be their coach, told them to start talking about their problems. Right away they began yelling at each other. She came over to me and said "I should have known better than to think they could behave. You want to know what has torn the team apart?" and I said "Sure." She grabbed my shoulders and turned me around to look down the hill at a chicken shed. She said "See that chicken shed? We had several fun raisers...bake sales, car washes, stuff like that...to raise the money to build that chicken shed. Now you see there right next to it? See that chicken shed? And then the one behind that one? Well, state law says we can only have one chicken shed. This group o' girls here on the left wants to keep this chicken shed, and this group over here on the right wants to keep that chicken shed."

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