DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters of the beloved show. I do own Cordova. I keep her locked in the basement with my pet squirrel and my collection of mason jars. Oh. And her name is pronounced Cor-doe-va. Not Cord-e-va. Say it wrong and I will hit you with a frying pan.
Dobie Gillis trudged begrudgingly along towards S. Peter Pryor Junior College's campus. He was still unhappy that he had been specifically chosen to befriend a new foreign exchange student and show him around. He had better things to do than to try and communicate with a guy who probably spoke barely a word of English. He had enough trouble communicating with his best friend, Maynard G. Krebbs, who spoke English. Well, somewhat, anyway. But Professor Burkhart had insisted that Dobie would be the perfect canidate for the task.
"Mr. Gillis, I can't think of anyone better than to help our new student find their way. While your studies may lack, and that is putting it mildly, you are what the students call a nice boy," she had said. "Now, you will meet our student, who is originally from Romania, at the front of the campus tomorrow morning at seven-thirty. Understood?"
"But Professor Burkhart; I-" he had tried to argue, but she instead handed him a piece of paper.
"You will do just fine. It's best if you don't bring along Mr. Krebbs, however. We don't wish to scare off our student on the first day. Good day, Mr. Gillis."
So Dobie did as he was told and arrived promptly at seven-thirty. The only other person, however, at the front of the building was a female with her back turned to him. "Um, excuse me. I'm looking for a Sirbu?" he asked.
The woman turned around and Dobie instantly lost his breath. She was the most stunningly beautiful creature he had ever seen. Long wavy black hair, creamy skin, violet eyes and luscious pink lips and cheeks. "You must be Dobie Gillis," she replied in a thick yet hushed Romanian accent. "Sirbu is my last name. My first is Cordova."
Dobie opened his mouth, but it took a few seconds for actual words to form. "Cordova. What a beautiful name for such a magnificent creature. Where have you been all my life?"
Cordova looked at him strangely. "At my former home in Romania."
Dobie smiled. "Well, it must be destiny that we are to stay close to one another, side by side."
"Hiya, poopsie! Who's your new friend?" an all too familiar voice spoke up from behind.
"Oh, hi, Zelda," Dobie replied unenthusiastically. "This is Cordova. She's our new foreign exchange student from Romania. Now, don't you have somewhere you need to be? Like anywhere else?"
"Only by your side," Zelda slipped her arm through his. She then looked at Cordova, examining her carefully. "Do you speak English?" she asked-in Romanian.
Dobie stared at her, eyes wide that Zelda could speak her language. "How do you-?"
"I speak English very well," Cordova answered in the only language Dobie could understand.
"Beautifully," Dobie breathed.
"Well, I'm Zelda Gilroy, the future Mrs. Dobie Gillis. You can't ask for a better lug than this guy to show you around, but don't count on him for much else. He may not be too smart or have the most handsome face, but he's all heart."
"Zelda!" Dobie cried, looking at her in annoyance.
"Nice to meet you, Zelda," Cordova smiled, shaking her hand. "We should get to the first classroom, no?"
"Right this way, my Romanian Goddess," Dobie brightened as he slipped his arm from Zelda's grasp and right into Cordova's before walking away. Thank you, Professor Burkhart. Best assignment ever.