when i arrived at my class this afternoon, i noticed someone's stuff was in my seat. i know it's not the 3rd grade and i know we don't have assigned spots, but seriously. i always sit in the third row back (out of four), right side, center aisle. i looked around to see who was playing a funny joke on me, but no one looked suspect. it was then that i heard someone say from the front of the room, "oh i took your seat today!"
it was my professor. eek.
don't get me wrong. this professor is really cool. she's funny, engaging, etc....all the things that make a good professor. however, during class presentations (which finished up today, thank goodness) i tend to doodle randomly, stare longingly out the window, make comments under my breath... you know, the typical stuff that rude people do.
i reluctantly took the next seat in (and yes, there is a difference) and began telling myself that i could behave for three hours. pssh. as soon as the words left my brain, i should have known it was a lost cause.
i was staring out the window only occasionally and i had even been able to keep my markers in their package so that i wouldn't start coloring up a storm. i was starting to feel quite proud of my mature behavior when the group presenting made the comment that the lovely man they interviewed began his current job in the 1960s. that's right folks. while my parents were running around in diapers, this man was already a successful some-type-of-librarian-that-i-can't-remember. a quick calculation in my head told me that even if he was a super young library school graduate at age 24, he'd still be in his 70s, probably later 70s depending on the exact time frame. in my head i couldn't help but wonder "seriously...how old is he?!"
except that's the funny thing about being on your best behavior for so long. sometimes when you think you say things in your head, you actually say them out loud. and not out loud in the whispering way. out loud like the freaking declaration of independence. it's like i was announcing the british were coming.
for a second i just sat there with my hand covering my mouth as everyone looked at me. when i finally said "oh. did i say that out loud?' and then finished with "but seriously is that rude?" everyone began to laugh. and not the cute kind of laugh that you do when a baby makes those spit bubbles (something i don't think is cute at all). it was one of those roaring guffaws that people do when they're watching mrs. doubtfire and robin williams declares, "no, i don't need a hand. i need a face," as he smashes his unmasked face into the cake.
eventually everyone turned back around and life continued on for the presenters, my classmates, and probably my professor. however, all i could think about was that when your professor sits beside you, you really should be on your best behavior. and maybe also tape your mouth shut.
