Chapter 1
“And that just about wraps up my presentation here” Dr.Edwin Han, the philosophy professor here at the University of Toronto, said to the class. This would mark the end of my first philosophy class of the semester. Naturally, many more would come, it was my major after all. “Boys and Girls please help yourself to an introductory level course of morality in a vacuum, we will begin that topic on Monday”
Dr.Han wore a pair of blue-jeans that ran tight around his calves, with each of his knee-pads featuring a flannel design respectively. This along with a sort of Chanel jacket he adorned ultimately contributed to his rather “hip” appearance, granting him more respect among his youthful audience. Not me though, never could I allow such a figure through my guard. In my opinion, everyone who has interacted with me, or anybody for that matter, has a position in social perception, which should be maintained.
This thought occupied me until I eventually found myself marooned in an empty philosophy class, with only Dr.Han.
“How evil!” I thought, “Using ones attire to grant the upper hand in thought! An idea only a conartist could think of!”
“Dakota, it’s long past closing time” Dr.Han chimed in, breaking my train of thought, “You ought to be heading home before it gets too dark.”
“Oh yes, sorry about that Dr.Han” I returned while placing my MacBook in my backpack.
“Just got lost in thought I guess”
“It happens to the best of us,” He says while waiting at the light switch “Hurry now so we can both get out of here!”
Trotting out the door, Dr.Han and I went our separate ways and as the sun had already came down, it was time for me to start heading home. I had to walk though, since my home was located too close to the school to be approved for a dormitory. It wasn’t a long or treacherous walk, but any walk at all is inconvenient when one takes into account the nature of transportation. There were plenty of shops along the way, most notably a grocery store that had stands of produce lining the front of the store. Oh, how I loved to admire the blending of colors the produce showed off! The rich smell, the beautiful mirage of nature! It was amazing, truly.
After a moment of walking down the home-bound trail, the grocery shop began to move into view. I wouldn’t say that I had been excited to see the shop, I was just content that the esthetic lived on another day. Nevertheless, I approached the shop when I noticed a disheveled old man sitting with his back against one of the walls. We met eyes quickly, as I noticed the genial bite into an apple. My eyebrows scrunched together when I realized the truth of the matter, where else would the old man get an apple if not the closet grocery shop. However, I couldn’t quite bring myself to label the old man wrong. What had he done? Who had he hurt? Surely he had broken a law, but what good are laws if even the weakest of elderly cannot simply enjoy an apple at their leisure. Once again, I fell a victim to my thought process, and found myself standing; staring at the man, as he stared back at me.
“Hey, everything alright lady?” An employee yells towards me, breaking me from my trance.
“Yes, I’m quite alright” I respond as I find myself once again on path towards salvation. I noticed while walking, that the fruits were much less vibrant.
Eventually, I found myself on the stone stairs leading up to my front door. I always hated the entrance, it was always clouded by the hideous screams of my parrot, Tango. Regardless, home is home.
“Hey Honey” my mother greets to me as I walked through the door. She didn’t care to look up from her show though, there was no reason to; it was only her daughter whom she saw everyday.
“Did you have a good day at school today?” She follows.
“It was only an introduction to my major class, so it was pretty simple” I respond.
“That’s great to hear!” She says in an overly cheerful voice.
“Hopefully each day is like that!”
“Hopefully” I add as I begin to walk up the stairs to my room.
“Pa-rat, Pa-rat” Tango repeats as I walk into my room. I taught him how to say the word “Parrot” in the hopes that maybe if he could comprehend his existence as a species, then he could perhaps begin to develop some sort of individuality; a conscious if you will. Needless to say this did not work out. In fact it proved a different idea already known to many, that it was the validation of ones ideals that fortify their actions. Tango doesn’t repeat “Parrot” because he’s a parrot, but because his nature is to mimic sound, and it has been validated by the interaction between Tango and I. Truly a magnificent specimen.
I stood there in the middle of my room, wondering about Tango for about another ten minutes, until the words of Dr.Han reverberated in my mind as I thought of the itenerary for tomorrow.
“Crap, the book” I thought. I very well could’ve picked it up on the way home.
“That’s fine I’ll just go to Barnes and Nobles tomorrow with Gwen” I said to myself as I sat in bed. By this time the stars had already found their way out, and I began to sleep.
”Should I have left money for the old man?” I thought before passing out.
