Janet walked into the chemistry classroom and took her now customary seat in the front row. Although she was nervous, she actually felt surprisingly well prepared. Between Frank's review sessions and her own outside work, she expected her final exam grade to reflect all the effort she'd put into her studies throughout the semester.
The class was largely assembled. A buzz of nervous conversation could be heard throughout the room, which subsided quickly when Frank entered.
He looked around the classroom full of anxious faces, and smiled reassuringly.
"There's no need to look so worried. I wouldn't say the exam is easy. However, it is very straightforward. I haven't attempted to trip you up with trick questions. If you have a firm grasp of the material, which the vast majority of you have demonstrated throughout the semester, you should have no problem at all."
He started handing out the exams. "Not only do I want to wish everyone luck with the exam, I want to wish you luck with the rest of your college careers. You've been a delightful group to teach. Thank you for all the hard work and enthusiasm you put into the class."
One of the more outgoing students, Denise McCoy, spoke up. "You aren't getting rid of me that easily, Dr. Furman. I've signed up for your freshman biology class next semester!"
There was some laughter, and several others echoed Denise's statement. At least half the class had signed up to take Frank's biology class…Janet among them.
Oh, dear. It hadn't occurred to him that so many of the students would follow him to the biology class. He'd figured they would just be grateful to have the college's freshman science requirement behind them.
He went back up to the front of the room, and sat on the edge of his desk. "I'm terribly flattered. However, I'm afraid I have some bad news. A family emergency has come up, and I have to return home. Right now it's looking highly unlikely I'll be back next semester."
Everyone in the class was shocked, but no one more than Janet. She alone knew where "home" really was for Frank. Had he really found a way to get back to Transexual, or was it just an excuse for him to leave Denton? She'd already been pleased that he'd invited her for drinks after the exam; now she was even happier. She was dying to get the whole story from him.
Frank held up his hand to stem the outpouring of protests flowing around the room. "Settle down, everyone. Right now you have considerably more pressing business than my presence, or lack thereof, on this campus next semester. I do, however, want to urge you not to be too hasty to drop the biology class. There are a number of highly enthusiastic graduate students who teach that course, and I know you'll enjoy working with any of them. Beyond that, I would hope your enjoyment of this class went beyond who taught it, to an enjoyment of the subject matter itself. I wouldn't feel like much of a success if you weren't walking out of this course with more of an appreciation for the sciences than you had when you first walked into it."
He looked at everyone and smiled. "Just concentrate on the exam, and let next semester take care of itself."
