Chicago in 2035
When Francis Grant walked past the cafeteria on the second floor of the McClain Hall, many students turned their heads. Jodi Meng, eating her lunch at the cafeteria, was reading the Silent Moon literary magazine. Sensing the chatting noise coming from the table behind her, she glanced up to observe. A man looking about in his early thirties walked by the cafeteria heading toward the faculty offices at the end of the hallway, ignoring the attention he was receiving. A man like that must have been so used to random attention, Jodi figured. Francis Grant was 5’10’’ in height, slim (lean is probably a better word), well-built. His ocean blue, well-fitted shirt on his shoulders and upper arms showed he went to the gym often: the material of the shirt covered his body like silk. Perhaps it was his body that was wearing the shirt, not the other way round. One can see his triceps filled with the sleeves seamlessly. His hair was dark brown, slightly curly with just enough volume to frame his smartly shaped head- his jawline was muscular while his forehead was wide, his nose straight and his upper and lower lips well balanced, sitting at the most comfortable spot on the face. His hair shined lustrously against the sun beaming through the skylight. His eyes were blue with gray undertone, looking straight, focused, self-absorbed. He walked in a steady, swift pace. Utterly a beautiful male. Jodi joined the girls, gazing at Francis for some moments before returning to her magazine. Who is he?
Jodi’s office was at the opposite end of where Francis was heading. Jodi was a professor in English Literature. He must be a new member of the accounting faculty. The new semester just started. It was in early September. I have never seen a professor in the accounting department that young. He maybe is just visiting or working as a graduate assistant. Jodi did not intend to give it more thought, but the conversation from the table behind her just entered her ears.
“I know him. He is the new professor. Francis Grant.” One girl said.
“Really? Have you gone to his class?” Another girl sounded excited.
“Yes, just yesterday. It was our first class. When he walked into the classroom, everyone was shocked.”
“Why?”
“I guess no one expects a professor that young, and sexy.” Giggled the girl.
“Lucky you. What was the course he is teaching?”
“Managerial accounting.”
“Is it OK I sneak in your class?”
“Why not, come next week. Wednesday at 1:30, Room 405. He is funny too. His smile is a killer. Pearly white, straight teeth. Completely in a wrong profession!”
“Is he married?”
“I don’t think so. He does not wear a ring. I checked.”
“Let me google his name.”
“What do you find?”
“Not in Linkedin. Not on Facebook. In the accounting faculty website, yes, with a photo! Here!’ “Nice! Date of birth?”
“Didn’t say.”
Managerial Accounting it is. New professor. What is his background? Distracted by the chatting, Jodi could not finish reading the article in the magazine. She tapped on her phone to check the time. It was five to 1:00 already. She had better get going to prepare for her 1:30pm class. She gobbled up the last few bites of the beef dip sandwich. Without looking back at the girls, who still had a heated conversation about Francis Grant, she turned to leave. Francis Grant. Not a bad name for a good-looking fellow, indeed.
***
After Jodi finished her class, she was exhausted. The three hour long class was a writing lab. She grouped students into four to brainstorm and write a summary of a fictional story. Jodi was a professor who was known to be dynamic, caring, and passionate in her teaching style. She always had extra time to answer students’ questions after class and was always enthusiastic about knowing students’ creative ideas. When she headed back to her office on the third floor of McClain Hall, it was almost five o’clock.
Holding stacks of student’s assignment, her steps on the stairs felt heavy, although she felt an urge to hurry. She needed to pick up her two young daughters from the campus daycare center by 5:30 pm. Today her husband had to work till late at night at the hospital and she would have to prepare dinner quickly too. Her busy mind and tired steps gave her a rush of dizziness when she got on the third floor.
Just when she was speeding up her pace, she heard someone called from behind.
“Miss, you dropped something.”
Jodi turned around to find that it was professor Grant. Francis Grant. His translucent, focused eyes made Jodi feel a bit intimidated.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize I was dropping things.”
She looked up briefly to Professor Grand while bending down to pick up the dropped papers. Professor Grant lounged over to pick it up for her and said, “Here. Let me help you.”
He took over the entire stack of students’ assignments from Jodi and said, “Don’t worry about it. Where are you heading? If I am guessing correctly, you must be professor Jodi Meng.”
Jodi blushed. “Yes, I am. And you are Francis Grant.”
“Yes. I am. Nice meeting you.”
“So do I. Thank you. I had a long day. You see. I am in a rush too. I need to go pick up my daughters.” Jodi’s mind was fluttered, thinking of what the students described about him this morning.
She said, “how do you know my name?”
“I have read through the faculty website and it is easy to remember your profile because you are the only female professor in the English Literature Department.”
“Oh, indeed.”
“How do you know my name? I am new here.”
“Oh. By chance I overheard students talking about you this morning.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah. Well, welcome to Mason. It is a pleasure. And... thanks for helping me.”
“No worries. Have a great evening.” Professor Grand handed back the stack of papers to Jodi. Then he turned away in an instant. They parted to go opposite directions. Jodi couldn’t help turning around to observe Professor Grant’s back view.
Francis Grant. Accounting professor. He is in a wrong profession. Incredibly handsome. Jodi’s heart was still racing.
