UNIVERSITY by Bentley Little

Author:Bentley Little [Little, Bentley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Signet / New American Library
Published: 1995-03-31T21:00:00+00:00

Jim did not manage to put the face completely out of his mind, but he did push it far enough to the side that he was able to concentrate on his afternoon classes and the newspaper. The paper was even finished on time again. If they didn’t watch themselves, they might actually start meeting their deadlines and passing themselves off as an efficient, professional, and competent staff.

He had no intention of going back into the newsroom alone, so he’d brought his backpack with him to Production, just in case he was still working after everyone else had left. But most of the editors and copy editors were still around after putting the paper to bed.

He found that he still didn’t want to go back into the newsroom, though.

It was night.

He imagined the lights shutting off, the door slamming shut and locking, the computers all winking on at the same time, that green three-dimensional face screaming at him from all four monitors.

He wanted to tell the other editors what had happened, but he found himself too embarrassed to do so. Faruk, he was sure, had overheard at least part of his conversation with Dr. Emerson, but if he had even an inkling of what had occurred, he gave no sign of it, and when Jim asked him to close up the newsroom, shut off the computers, and turn off the lights, he did so without comment.

He felt guilty for sending Faruk off unprepared, and he breathed easier when the news editor returned a few minutes later.

“Thanks,” he said sincerely.

Faruk looked at him strangely. “You’re welcome.”

They were all leaving now, packing up their stuff, getting ready to go, and Jim made sure they all left in a group, so that no one was left on the floor alone. When Jean remembered that she’d forgotten the folder with her design project and went back in Production to get it, Jim made sure that they all waited for her until she returned. It might have seemed strange to some of them, but he didn’t care and he didn’t offer any explanations.

Faruk was taking the paper to the printer, Jean was going to the library to study, but the rest of the editors were going to the Club to relax and unwind. They invited Jim to accompany them, but he begged off, explaining that he had to stop by Howie’s room and see how he was doing.

They parted outside the building, heading off in their separate directions, and Jim made sure that they were all out of sight before he started running toward the parking lot.

He did not stop or slow down until he reached the safety of the dorm.

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