Episode II

Dr. Gerald Pettigrew stood in the doorway of classroom C-504, holding review sheets out for the students exiting his American Government course. Normally the doctor wouldn't have been passing out papers himself, but his assistants had recently both quit. One of the girls had dropped out of school so that she would have enough time to raise her first son. The other assistant however, Sharona, had become so emotional and weepy that her counselor suggested she transfer to the Film department. Finally, Peter Williamson, the doctoral candidate that normally assisted with lectures had come down with the flu and had had to cancel his last few teaching commitments.

Once the last student left the classroom Pettigrew grabbed his attache case and slammed the door behind him. Because he had let one of the students talk him into giving them a test review he was late for an appointment to interview a possible replacement for his assistants.

The young man standing outside his office was clearly the one who had applied for the position, and Pettigrew was curious to determine why. Combing his errant brown hair back with his fingers the student called out to the tardy professor, "Dr. Pettigrew I presume?" Grunting an affirmative answer the professor unlocked his office door and motioned the young man inside.

"Now Mr. Brown, you are a computer science major. I'm curious to know why you've applied to be an assistant to a political science professor."

"Well sir, I've always wanted to make a difference and I think that politics might be the way to do that. I am studying computer science, and I want to work with computers, so I'm not thinking about switching my major. But a couple weeks ago I was talking with my girlfriend and she was complaining about gun violence, about how rampant it was and wondering why politicians didn't do more about it. I realized then that politics was where the real action was. While I will never be a politician I thought that perhaps I could help them out with my leet, I'm sorry sir, with my excellent computer skills. And there is this gang problem in the city, perhaps if I make some political connections I can do something to help solve the situation."

"Hmm...so I assume you'll have no problem running computerized tests and managing an electronic gradebook?"

"Oh, no sir, I've done both as projects in the past."

"Very well. Are you available this Friday at two?"

"Yes. Does this mean I get the job?"

"Indeed. I'll have the paperwork ready for you on Friday when you show up."

"Thank you sir, thank you!" After earnestly shaking the professor's hand the young student popped up from his chair and strode out of the office. Curiously he burst into tears as he entered the hallway, but in his excitement he attributed it to his relief at obtaining the position, his first real job.