Kathryn Pellicotte ‘29
Staff Writer
These first few weeks of classes have been pretty great! I was cold-called the other day, and I didn’t know the answer, but after rambling that it was my first time in college and I’m still trying to figure this whole thing out, the professor wiped a stray tear from her eye and apologized profusely for putting me in such a position.
Orientation wasn’t too bad. The OLs got a little crazy with their enthusiasm, but overall it was a pretty helpful experience. I learned how to sit quietly through large gatherings and how to make awkward small talk during shared meals. Now, in the rare occurrence that I do see those guys, a few words of fake politeness are usually all I have to deal with. This is exactly what happened when I ran into this dude from my group, Steve. There was a quick “hello, how are ya?” and then I was off on my merry way. Except when I reached the dorm, Steve was still behind me. I held the door for him, thinking nothing of it, but after swiftly glancing over my shoulder, I saw that he was following me down the hall.
Just outside of my door, I whirled around to confront him:
“Look here, pal, do you need something?”
Steve regarded me silently, a sort of twinkle glimmering in his eye.
“Steve, buddy, this is kinda creeping me out,” I said. Why the Hell did my backpack feel so heavy? I shifted the straps on my shoulders and glared down at Steve as if this was somehow his fault.
“Listen, Joe,” Steve began. I crossed my arms defensively, hoping that this would protect me from whatever this guy was about to say. “I just wanted to say that I really like your shoes. I mean, they’re awesome! Yeah, so where can I buy something like that?”
I stared down at the beaten-up Rainbows that he must have been referring to as shoes.
“You mean my flops?” I was flabbergasted.
“Yes, your flops. I really like those flops. I’ve been dying to get a pair of flops ever since I got here because all the guys have flops and they sleep, eat, and do whatever the hell you do in the dorm in their flops. I want that too. You feel me?”
I thought about the brand new box of flops in my dorm that my mom had left me when she saw the condition of my current ones. Maybe this was the closure I needed.
“I’ll tell you what, Steve,” I said, kicking off my flops in a showy way that made them slam against the wall behind him. “I’m gonna give you this pair here if you want them. Go ahead, try ‘em on.”
I will never forget the appreciation that passed over Steve’s face as he slid his feet into my flops and discovered them to be a perfect fit. I watched him walk down the hall like a proud father watching his son take his first steps into the real world. Then, I immediately went into my room, typed up this story, and submitted it to that newspaper club. I will admit that this is kind of out of character for me, but college is all about growth, and who knows, maybe having my exceptional character spelled out in print will score some points with the ladies!
Copy edited by Claire Flynn ’29
Featured image courtesy of Adobe Stock
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