The Dean

Earlier this afternoon Billy the work study student shouts from the back room, Yo Fritz, the Dean is on the phone. (Note: Talk to Billy about how to transfer telephone calls. Second Note: Try not to dread, have bad dream about, and avoid execution of task.) When get on phone, Dean says, Why don't you come down to my office for a minute? Say -- to my horror -- Why don't I. Walk down back stairway feeling strangely nervous and exactly as though have been Called to the Principal's office. The Dean's secretary a terrifying Eastern European woman named Svetlana who favors cinnamon colored lipstick. Go on in, she says, without looking up from her calendar. The Dean stands up. Fritz, he says heartily. We shake hands. So I see you spent time in washington dc. Would very much like to see where he has Seen This. Last time spent in DC was in high school. As do not know what is going on, decide to let the Dean take the lead on the conversation. Try to remain alert but brain intervenes and have wild thought that am going to be asked to join the CIA -- do not agree with the politics of the CIA but do like the idea of sneaking around and having a purpose in life -- even an evil purpose -- eventually discard line of thought this as extremely unlikely and realize that the Dean has been talking (I think) about DC for the past several minutes. The Cherry Blossoms, he says in conclusion. Yes, say firmly. We shake hands again. You will start your new job on Monday, says the Dean.