A Scripta

Jack shoved his notebook into his backpack.  He preferred to wait until most of the lecture hall cleared out before getting up himself, as the doorways were usually clogged in the first few minutes after the class.  He looked down the hall at the bald man erasing the blackboard.

At first, Jack wasn't sure what to make of this guy.  He took over the semester just as they started into Alexander the Great.  He skipped over a lot of things in the book, but he had told them the mid-term exam was going to be half book, half lecture.  There were also two smaller papers instead of one large one, one paper covering up to 30 CE, and the other paper after that time period.  Today they had to pass in a thesis statement for the first paper.

"Mr. Whitney," called Dr. Thonotis from the front of the room, "A word, please?"

Jack looked around the room - it had pretty much cleared out.  He went down to the lecture stage.  "Yes, sir?"

"I noted your thesis statement," he said, putting his hands behind his back and leaning against the table.  "Not too many people write about the Sacred Band of Thebes."

"Well, I know a little about it.  I thought this would be the best way to find out more."

He nodded.  "I notice you have a ring.  You're married?"

"Yes.  My wife and I just had two children."  He smiled proudly.

"My congratulations to you, then.  I am surprised at how you're balancing your schooling with two newborns."

"We have a lot of help."

"Well," Thonotis said, standing up straight, "it is very unusual to have straight men write about the Sacred Band of Thebes.  Makes them uncomfortable."

Jack peered at him.  "Do you not want me to write about them?"

Thonotis laughed.  "No, no, that's not what I meant at all!  I do want you to write about them.  I want you to know I have a special place in my heart for them, Mr. Whitney, so I will be looking at your paper very carefully."

Now Jack understood.  "Oh.  I'll be sure to give them the respect they deserve."

"Excellent."  He turned from Jack and went to the table.  "Oh, by the way, Mr. Whitney, the proper format of citing personal interviews is Last name, First name, Type of interview, Day, Month, Year."

Jack turned around.  "How do you--"

Thonotis waved.  "Have a good day."  He went out the rear door.