DATo
August 9th, 2015, 01:21 PM
Acceptance
By
DATo
Professor Halbert had little difficulty finding a substitute for his ten o’clock class. He had always obliged others in this regard and for the first time in his teaching career he was calling in a favor. His appointment with Doctor Barnes was concluded quickly and he now had a little extra time on his hands before his two o’clock lecture. Halbert decided to treat himself to a cappuccino and a bagel at Bernie’s Deli on the way back to the university.
"Pardon me. Can you tell me where the men’s lavatory is?"
"Certainly. Down the hall to your right."
"Thank you so much."
Halbert stood at the urinal, his face inches away from the gleaming marble wall. His eyes focused on a tiny pebble in the mortar between the panels of marble. Where would that pebble be in a hundred years he wondered, a thousand, a million years? What would be found where he now stood relieving himself? Would there be a desert wasteland or a thousand story skyscraper? He smiled to think that questions of this kind had probably been pondered by countless generations of people. Funny that he had never considered it before.
He walked slowly to the wash basin and rinsed his hands and then splashed cool water on his face which felt invigorating. The water brought forth the smell of his aftershave lotion. He remembered patting his face with the aftershave that morning and noticing as he did so a grey hair in his mustache. This time he laughed out loud. That was only two hours ago. Two hours. What the hell is time anyway? It could have been two hours, two minutes or two years ago.
Professor Halbert left the medical building and stepped into the most beautiful spring day he could ever remember. The temperature was mild and a slight breeze wafted the scent of lilac from the meticulously landscaped and flowered path which lined his way to the parking lot. Today John Halbert would not buckle his seat belt. He felt daring and adventurous. Was it the promise of the cappuccino or the smell of lilac which had triggered this swashbuckling attitude? He smiled once more, then chuckled aloud. Would there be enough time to get the dayroom his wife Janice had always wanted done by summer’s end? He began to count on his fingers: June, July, August yes, it could certainly be built before her birthday in September.
I like Doctor Barnes, Halbert concluded. He’s a straight shooter but he is also a poet. Won’t be here for the holiday season, he had said. Halbert decided he liked that way of putting it; far more poetic than, You've got eight months.
Professor Halbert decided to have loads of cream cheese on his bagel. He didn’t think Doctor Barnes would disapprove this time.
EDITED STORY TEXT:
Changed "He doesn't mince words" to "but he is also a poet".
By
DATo
Professor Halbert had little difficulty finding a substitute for his ten o’clock class. He had always obliged others in this regard and for the first time in his teaching career he was calling in a favor. His appointment with Doctor Barnes was concluded quickly and he now had a little extra time on his hands before his two o’clock lecture. Halbert decided to treat himself to a cappuccino and a bagel at Bernie’s Deli on the way back to the university.
"Pardon me. Can you tell me where the men’s lavatory is?"
"Certainly. Down the hall to your right."
"Thank you so much."
Halbert stood at the urinal, his face inches away from the gleaming marble wall. His eyes focused on a tiny pebble in the mortar between the panels of marble. Where would that pebble be in a hundred years he wondered, a thousand, a million years? What would be found where he now stood relieving himself? Would there be a desert wasteland or a thousand story skyscraper? He smiled to think that questions of this kind had probably been pondered by countless generations of people. Funny that he had never considered it before.
He walked slowly to the wash basin and rinsed his hands and then splashed cool water on his face which felt invigorating. The water brought forth the smell of his aftershave lotion. He remembered patting his face with the aftershave that morning and noticing as he did so a grey hair in his mustache. This time he laughed out loud. That was only two hours ago. Two hours. What the hell is time anyway? It could have been two hours, two minutes or two years ago.
Professor Halbert left the medical building and stepped into the most beautiful spring day he could ever remember. The temperature was mild and a slight breeze wafted the scent of lilac from the meticulously landscaped and flowered path which lined his way to the parking lot. Today John Halbert would not buckle his seat belt. He felt daring and adventurous. Was it the promise of the cappuccino or the smell of lilac which had triggered this swashbuckling attitude? He smiled once more, then chuckled aloud. Would there be enough time to get the dayroom his wife Janice had always wanted done by summer’s end? He began to count on his fingers: June, July, August yes, it could certainly be built before her birthday in September.
I like Doctor Barnes, Halbert concluded. He’s a straight shooter but he is also a poet. Won’t be here for the holiday season, he had said. Halbert decided he liked that way of putting it; far more poetic than, You've got eight months.
Professor Halbert decided to have loads of cream cheese on his bagel. He didn’t think Doctor Barnes would disapprove this time.
EDITED STORY TEXT:
Changed "He doesn't mince words" to "but he is also a poet".