The drive up was nerve-wracking. My father's besetment came out in the form of reckless driving and a short temper.

And…my mom just cried.

When we got out to unpack, I hugged my dad for a long time, promising to keep in touch. "Especially when I need money." I added. I wanted to end our separation on a humorous note.

I promised my mother I'd dedicate my first major screenplay to her, and then gave her a quick hug. "If I hug you for any longer," I said, "I have the feeling you are never going to let me go."

I stood on the Doric steps of a building called Manning Hall, and watched them pull away until they were out of sight. Then I took a deep breath, slung my camera bag over my shoulder, and pushed my way into the crowd of incoming freshmen.

--

The admissions counselor looked pained to be stuck behind that glass booth.

"Salutations!" He whined sarcastically. "This is Convocation. Hallelujah and welcome to Brown. You're gonna wanna take these-" He ferociously shoved my signed credentials into my hands, "past the Van Wickle gates, they're the big gates over there with all the people, you can't miss 'em." Jabbing his finger in the air at a row of fenestration, he handed me a lanyard, commanding me to walk in that general direction to get my student I.D. taken, and, "Next please."

I didn't talk to anyone, even though the building and surrounding lawns were packed to the gills with people.

They all looked mental, wandering around like handicapped zombies, and even that was a tame description. They also resembled fish, gaping wide-mouthed at the high glass ceilings and Gothic architecture, whirling in circles, eyes peeled for a familiar face. They stumbled around with a mob mentality, following each other like cows, (with no regard for other people's luggage…) as if the person in front of them had a slighter clue to where the fuck they were supposed to be going. I had no clue either, but at least I tried mapping out the campus from the paperwork given to me, instead of rambling around haphazardly! All the chaos seemed to funnel out from the Van Wickle gates in one massive line. Even this small attempt at order wreaked havoc, as the tightly packed students fidgeted even more than Roger on PCP, waving their formalities and receipts in the air, threatening deadly paper cuts to anyone stupid enough to stand within a two foot radius behind them. Each student's luggage was splayed at their feet, waiting to be picked up and moved elsewhere, and more than once a student with his or her nose buried in a campus brochure tripped and fell flat on their face, feet entangled in the straps of someone else's backpack.

And they called themselves Ivy Leaguers…

It was the making of pure comedy, and I was sure to capture every second of it on film. I struggled to keep the camera in focus, and lug my heavy duffel bag at the same time. I had a few close calls with the distracted and traumatized, but kept all my clothes in the bag and all the gears in the camera.

It was a long and tumultuous walk from Manning Hall to my dormitory. Apparently, my place of residence was somewhat off campus, on Waterman Street, in a house aptly named Watermyn. It wasn't a frat house per say, but an independently established campus residence, owned by the college. The walk got even more harrowing as I put distance between the throngs of people and me. I began to wonder if I was even in Providence anymore.

Out of nowhere, several earth-shattering explosions were heard to my left. I had the reflex to duck and take cover, but a group of jocks clad in Bear's teamshirts- probably juniors, moseyed past me and laughed.

"Don't freak man. It ain't bombs. It's hazing."

Another one smacked his friend a high five and agreed enthusiastically. "Yeah man. Freshman Kill Daaaay… Hee hee hee… Dude, you should get over there, it's wicked awesome to watch."

"Wait, are you a freshman?"

My heart rose to my throat. I swallowed. "Um. Yeah?"

They giggled immaturely and one of them said, "Oh, don't worry. We ain't gonna do nothing. Not now anyway. Hee hee hee. Just stay away from the gates, and watch your back. Heh heh…"

"Uh, oh. Okay. Okay thanks. I will…"

I let out a gust of air and kept walking. A few last, smaller explosions went off, followed by some screams and squeals of delight. I kept my head down and tried not to look obvious, or too much like a timid freshman. Explosions? I wondered. The worst thing for Freshman Kill Day I'd endured in high school was an Atomic Wedgie and some left over cafeteria celery shoved down my crotch. These seniors were getting advanced!

At last I reached Watermyn. It was a fairly small building compared to the others I'd seen, but was well maintained and very homey. Checking the papers, I climbed a small flight of stairs to my room, which was on the right side of the hallway. According to the plan, I was to have just one roommate. I wondered if he (or she? Was Watermyn co-ed?) was here yet. Maybe they'd been blown up a few minutes ago, and I wouldn't have to worry about company. I chuckled at my cruelty and made my way down the hall. I was excited to get in and call Roger to relay all I'd seen and heard.

The door to my room was ajar, and someone's voice, a male, sounding frantic and a bit incensed, poured out into the hallway.

"What do you mean you can't ship it today? Luke, I need it today….To-day. No, no… Today. Lucas…Call Fed-Ex….Yes!…I don't give a fuck!…What?…No! Just ship it!"

I knocked quietly enough not to interrupt, but loudly enough to be heard. Whoever was inside didn't appear to hear me, so I slowly pushed the door open and peeked my head in. The person was on the phone, angrily wringing his coat collar into a spiral. He looked slightly older than me, and he was a bit shorter and more athletic andhusky. He was African American, with a closely shaved head and nicely tailored, nicely pressed khaki slacks and a starched whiteblouse and navy tie.

"What? No I don't want to talk to Georgia!…Luke, honestly, would you want to talk to Georgia?…I rest my case! This is totally out of hand…Yes, yes, I know. …I know…No! I'm at Brown…. No, I just GOT here. …Just. Got. Here. …Lucas, you're breaking up. Someone's here, hold on….What? No, someone's here. At Brown. In my room….I think it's my roommate. Luke, I have to go. …To. GO! You're losing the connection…I'm hanging UP Luke. GOODBYE! I'll call you later. …What? No!…Just ship it!"

He slammed down the receiver, and looked up at me, a bit flustered.

I stepped back and said, "Um, hi."

He threw his coat on the bed and laughed. "Hi. Sorry you had to hear all that. My friend Lucas, geez, I guess he's incapable of getting things done on time. But hello. My name is Benjamin. But you can call me Benny. Everyone else does." He rolled his eyes. "Even my business partner." He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. "Are you my roommate?"

I laughedas well,and shook his hand. "I imagine so. Hi. I'm Mark."

"Nice to meet you Mark. Again, I'm really sorry you had to hear that. Well! Roommates, hey? I kinda already claimed this bed, only because I needed somewhere to drop my shit and get on the phone. But if you really want it I'll switch."

"No, no, that's okay, this one's fine."

"Well great. I think we'll get along all right! That is, if you don't promise me you'll ship me something and then completely disappear until the day before it's needed and claim you forgot. Ha ha ha…"

"Nope, nope. I think we're all clear in that area. I don't think I'll be around much anyway. And believe me, I've had my share of missed deadlines and unreliable friends."

"Well, then, we've got something in common. Is this your first year?"

My heart rose in my throat again. He didn't look like a senior, but I didn't want to take that chance.

"Yes." I pretended to cower."Please don't haze me!"

He erupted into laughter and clapped his hands together. "Oh, don't worry dude. I'm a sophomore, but I ain't that bigheaded yet. No worries. What's your major?"

"Well, uh, presently, film," I held out the camera proudly, "With a minor in technical staging."

"You've got everything going for you. I hear that department's all it's cracked up to be. Good luck with that. Maybe if we send Luke a clip of me having a mental breakdown he'll HURRY UP AND SEND IT!" He screamedat the inanimatephone.

I laughed again.

"What do you do?"

"Business and real estate." He cooed in a very commercial tone.

I raised an eyebrow. "Oooh…"

"I know, exciting right?" He laughed sarcastically. "Well don't let me keep you from moving in, or whatever it is you plan on doing. Right now I have to get to the library for a fax machine. You can only imagine why." He chuckled. "I'll come back later and we can chat or whatever. Just…don't strip naked or decide to become a freaky axe murderer while I'm gone, okay?"

"Dang. I was planning on doing both."

He laughed heartily, shaking his head. He walked out the door.

"Do you mind if I use the phone?" I called after him.

"Sure go ahead!And if anyone calls for me, hang up."

He giggled all the way down the hall.