A short story about class at Berkeley
2:17p, late for section – need to run, run, up the steps, passed the door in Dwinelle, up to floor D, room 206. Pant. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Just take a seat,” said the TA. She had short blonde hair and was emaciated. “Let’s continue to talk about Price’s book. Now Jenn, you had something to say about the Orange Free State? What was it about the people?”
“Well I was just saying that I felt as though the people during apartheid were entirely dehumanized. They were treated like animals under the white rule and the dichotomy between white and black wealth was astronomical.”
I started twirling my pen on the bridge of skin between my thumb and my index finger. Oops, it fell. I whispered, “Sorry”, as I reached for the pen. There was a bird perched on the railing…oh wait, what was going on? Orange Free State, must focus.
Daniel, a guy from Texas asked to offer his opinion. “Well I mean I think that they were really trying to protect their culture. It’s quite interesting how people will give up quality of life in order to protect their culture and rituals. I really wish that there was some way we could instill protection of heritage in Africa the same way we do with UNESCO world sites in Europe, America, and Asia. Protecting culture is important, but people shouldn’t have to forgo improving their lives in order to protect their culture as a means of protest.”
“Yeah, that’s actually a very good point. Some people will go so far as to inflict major harm upon themselves in order to protect who they are and where they came from.” The TA marked down in her grade book that Daniel made a good point. It was pretty good I’d say.
Jenn raised her hand. I fucking hated her annoying voice. She was a Jewish girl with big boobs and was relatively short. She had a high voice and had gotten used to being the teacher’s pet in high school. Those were the girls that always got the A when I got the A- for the same amount of work – either because male teachers fanaticized about fucking her or female teachers thought she was ‘cute’.
She went on some tirade about human rights and linked it to the holocaust. I did really get it. Eyes drooping…no wait, stay awake AWAKE.
2:45.
2:50. Tick tock. “Alright, I think that’s enough for today. See you in lecture tomorrow!”
I moved the desk-chair up so I could get out of my seat by moving the desk part in a 90 degree angle. Outside I said “Hey Dan, I really liked that point you made about culture, its really interesting.”
“Hey man, whatever gets me an A.”