University of Console Heroics: Chapter 6

A little over a month into the semester the auditorium for History of the Second Dimension was a lot quieter than it had been on the first day.  Sanders was sitting in what had become his usual spot near the front of the room. The other students were either waiting quietly for the professor or having hushed conversations.

The door opened and Professor Banister walked into the room with his satchel over his shoulder and the large stack of papers that was the student’s first essay. He set them down on the front table. “I have finished grading your first papers. Please note that I graded rather generously and commented on improvements I expect to see from now on. For those of you that are asked to do so, please come see me after class, my office hours are in the syllabus. After you get your paper we are done with class for the day, please use your time wisely and review your work.”

Without another word Bannister left the room. The students waiting until the door shut behind him before rushing the front of the room to get their papers. Sanders waited for the mob to clear out. When he left his chair there were only a few papers left on the front table. He found his and looked it over. There was a red C– on the first page. Below it was a note ‘Very thorough paper but there is no drive, no statement. You’re just reciting the events that happened when you should be exploring why and how they happened. Please see me during my office hours.’ 

Sanders moved back to his chair and shoved the paper in his bag, zipped it up, threw it over his shoulder and left the room.

Professor Banister’s desk was a monument of essay’s and paperwork. Each class had its own stack of assignments waiting to be graded and returned to their creators. His tiny castle wall of papers left just enough room for a desk lamp that lit what little actual work space he afforded himself. He was grading an essay with a red pen, making notations and commenting at the bottom of the page, giving further research direction. A knock at the door paused his pen. “Come in.” He automatically replied.

Sanders entered the tiny office, leaving his hand on the outside door knob. “You wanted to talk to me about my paper?” He asked.

Bannister looked up from his work and immediately recognized Sanders. “Yes I did Mr. Sanders, please come in and have a seat.” He motioned to the chair on the opposite side of his desk. Sanders closed the door set his bag beside the chair and sat down. “You’re a targeting and terrain management major aren’t you?” Banister asked.

Sanders nodded. “Yes sir.”

Bannister leaned back in his chair. “Then why take history of the second dimension instead of Study of the 3^rd Dimension with Malcolm Evans?” He asked.

Sanders shrugged his shoulders. “I felt like I needed to get outside my major for a while.” He answered.

Banister nodded. “And this class turned out to be more work than you expected?” He asked.

Sanders nodded. “A lot more.” He clarified.

Bannister sat up right again. “You’re a shitty liar kid.” Sanders was shocked but kept quiet. 

Bannister stabbed his finger into one of his taller stack of essays. “I don’t have an assistant genius. I grade ever one of these English junkyards myself. Your paper stood out like a sore thumb.” He chastised him.

Sanders cleared his throat. “That was, descriptive.”

Banister sat back in his chair again. “So was your paper. So enlighten me as to why you wrote a perfect paper that asked no questions, made no statements and drew no conclusions.”

Sanders didn’t flinch “It’s all original work, I didn’t plagiarize anyone or anything.”

Banister shook his head. “That wasn’t my point and you know it. You write about the history of two dimensional games like you grew up during that era, and yet your paper shows no bias. You’re a TTM major so why take this class at all if you’re not passionate about the subject matter?” He demanded.

Sanders shrugged his shoulders. “Honestly I just wanted a chance to get to know you.” He answered.

Banister was thrown for a loop. “Why not just introduce yourself?” He asked.

Sanders gestured to the office. “You’re a professor in the 2D era, I’m a TTM major. Without this class I don’t have a reason in the world to even walk into this building much less start a conversation out of the blue with a tenured professor.” He explained

Bannister raised an eyebrow. “Conversation about what?” He asked.

“Your career” Sanders replied.

Banister pointed to the essays all over his desk. “You’ve seen the last fifteen years of my career right here, and every time you sit in my class.

Sanders shook his head. “I mean your other career.”

Banister glared at Sanders “Is that what all this has been about?” He accused. “Figured you would try to dig up some gossip before you graduate?”

Sanders shook his head. “No. This is about me asking as friend and a student about your life before you became who you are today.” He clarified.

Banister leaned his chair back. “Whelp, sorry to burst your bubble kid, the story is nothing but a rumor and even if it wasn’t it would still be none of your damn business.”

“It’s either a rumor you wish was true or a truth you’re trying to forget. You can lie to everyone but yourself.” Sanders offered.

Bannister almost exploded out of his chair. “You keep running your mouth and I’m libel to flunk you right out of my class!” He yelled.

Sanders sighed and grabbed his bag. “I didn’t mean to antagonize you.” Banister straightened himself up. “I was kind of hoping we could actually be friends.” He finished.

Bannister glared at him again. “I don’t need any friends kid, I need A papers from you, from now on.”

Sanders nods sadly and stands up. “You can shut me out professor, but I hope you don’t” He stated.

Bannister wanted to explode again, but he kept his cool, sort of. “Give me one good reason I should trust you? So far you’ve been nothing but a pain in my ass. I have every right to drop you on yours!”

Sanders opened the door a crack and turned around. “The past burns us all from the inside out professor. We either have to let it go or perish in the fire. I’m just trying to be a sympathetic ear.” 

There’s a moment of silence. Bannister is stunned. Sanders leaves and closes the door quietly behind him. Alone again in his office with his thoughts Bannister starts tapping his pen on his desk.