Conversations with former students in food courts
The previous post was too depressing to share over here, but I figure there are enough teachers reading this make cross-posting it worthwhile.
FORMER STUDENT: Hey, Scott!
SEK: Howdy, FS.
FS: I miss your class, man. This [next one in the writing sequence] sucks ass. I got a fucking [non-passing grade] on the first paper.
SEK: Did you [do everything SEK taught him to do, e.g. revise, revise, revise]?
FS: This prof doesn’t make us revise.
SEK: But what led to you earning an “A” in my class?
FS: All the revising.
SEK: So what do you need to earn an “A” in this next class?
FS: I told you, though, this prof doesn’t make us revise.
SEK: But how did you earn an “A” in my class?
FS: Revising.
SEK: So how can you earn an in this next one?
FS: I don’t know, Scott, that’s what I’m asking you.
SEK: But—
FS: You gotta help a brother out.
SEK: One more time: How did you earn an “A” in my course?
FS: I already told you, this prof isn’t telling us to revise.
SEK: (shrugs)
FS: (shrugs back)
SEK: (emphatically shrugs while repeatedly overturning invisible cups on an invisible table)
FS: (stares for a minute, turns, walks away) Right, dude, I see what you’re saying. Cups it is, man, cups it is!
SEK: “Cups”? Come back! (FS moves briskly through the food court) WHAT IS “CUPS”?
SEK realizes that standing alone in the middle of a food court yelling “WHAT IS ‘CUPS'”? leaves an odd impression on bystanders and walks away muttering something, most likely “What is ‘cups’?” under his breath.