What's left

There is a smile on my face as I write. Actually, it is a smirk. I am not sure of its origin, neither its intent. But it rests smugly across my face. Perhaps it is from the proud thought of my attempt at writing again after a good long while; after a rigid semester with scrupulous final exams that drenched away all of my wit and left me dry, knackered and empty. For these days it feels like writing has left me. And on other days, I feel like nearly everything has left.

The semester has come to an end with finals written last Friday. Campus was empty at my last visit Monday. Students have left to go home for the break. The halls are empty, and so is the parking lot. But I’m here still, in my room. This pleasant room that has become my good friend over these years; always here waiting on my return from whatever voyage. A trusted and loyal friend I must say.

There’s a panoply of books neatly packed beneath my bed. A packed pile of textbooks, dictionaries and notebooks from the semester - books that constantly fed my thoughts the past four months. They too must be closed for a while now. They too need a break.

But this break will be short, for already there is less than a week left. Summer school resumes soon. And when it does, it shall be back to textbooks, dictionaries, notebooks, and a classroom filled with beautiful ladies who together with me will be writing papers and tests. And of course weeks of internship at the community clinic in Mandeville. This will be most of my summer.

This week, I have been catching up on lost sleep from the past four months. It is such a good feeling to know that I am waking up to a cold and rainy morning with no obligations or assignments, only the touch of a cozy comforter to keep me warm in bed for as long as I wish, and the soothing sounds of folk music.

Problem is I had to spoil this cozy comfort spin by accepting to tutor this lady in Biostatistics. A class I have to study for three hours in order to be confident at teaching a two hour class three times a week. The thing is I never really say no to cash offers, especially when I have time at my disposal. Or perhaps I just got tired, too early, of everything leaving. Either way, I’m glad this smile is still here resting on my face, however smug. For it is proof, for certain, that not everything has left. I still have writing on the one hand. And on the other, that strange ability to make even the most daunting task appear like sipping a glass of orange juice. To these I am thankful for His grace.

The eureka look that appear on a student’s face are my most gratifying moments as a teacher. And today, I was left with a little more than one.