The vintage car he had cared for so diligently for decades had low air pressure in the tires—and, and, it was no longer winter, but late spring or early summer.
What the hell?
His head was still spinning as he restored the pressure in his tires at the BP station—then off to school he rolled, looking in the mirror dejectedly at the wooly growth on his head. But there had been no time for the barber.
He passed the bank and noticed it was 12:13 p.m. and panicked. His first class was at 10:00 a.m.!
By the time he made it to campus it was 12:34. He did not recognize the new security man who seemed to object when he walked past him in a hurry without signing in. A few heart-pounding moments later he made it to class to relieve whoever had been assigned to take up his slack. He did so in a state of humiliation. He was glad to see the students there, recognized their faces, though their names were lost in mist.
The woman that turned to stare wide-eyed at him he did not recognize. “Excuse me, sir, may I help you?”
The class murmured, some speaking his name like it was taboo. Then a strong hand came to his shoulder and he heard the ‘clomp’ of feet behind him. He turned to see the new security man and Dyson, Head of Campus Security. Dyson did not seem himself. “You know, Luther, that there is a no-contact order against you concerning the school and the staff and student body. Let’s make this easy, okay?”
With that they laid easy hands on him and walked him out as mumbled statements, whispers, and even some laughter, sounded behind him.
I can’t believe this. What has happened to my life?
He could not even bring himself to speak to Dyson, he was so utterly humiliated.
Did I hurt someone?
Have I been sick?
They stood by his car—seeming tense and with a wisp of pity flitting across their eyes—until he pulled off, driving off in tears, slow, salty tears steadily streaming down his face.
No, Luth, no! Whatever did you do to so utterly ruin your good, hard-won life?
Determined to more closely examine the clutter that had become of his house, in order to determine what had become of his neatly ordered life, Luther Watts drove his trusty El Camino back home to confront his recent, slumberous past.
