Auburn Circle
again, provided that no one else had developed a sudden, passionI blinked. Throughout the semester, similar words had janate desire for mediocre science fiction. Although I wasn’t entirely gled in my ears, casual prejudice against my people, or at least the averse to making the journey again, I wasn’t sure that my corpogroup with which I was inevitably associated. I had waited outside real form would be up to the task. I subconsciously raised one arm the stadium time and again to watch football games, surrounded to my forehead, wiping away the half-formed droplets of sweat as by eighty thousand of my best friends. I didn’t drink – it was hard my other hand brought the water bottle to my lips. in a college town, but neither alcohol nor I had any desire to get Having paused in her work, the libraracquainted. All the same, I was treated like ian was staring at me with disapproval “With that in mind, they might as the worst kind of alcoholic – we all were, sharply spelled out in her face. I lowered well ban hair as well – budding regardless of who we were. the water bottle slowly, my tongue still alcoholics could easily soak their First, they’d said only water bottles and parched, staring back at her. For a moment, backpacks were allowed in. Then, no backI considered repeating my earlier phrase curly locks in alcohol beforehand packs – they might have had beer hidden – “Sure is hot out there, isn’t it?” – to start and lick them during the game..” within them. After that, you couldn’t bring the entire exchange over again, but before I water bottles unless the police sniffed them decided whether or not to give it a try, she spoke: “We really prefer for vodka. Then they prohibited professional cameras – those for people not to bring their own drinks here.” Her voice remained crafty college kids might carve them out and hide beer inside. And emotionless, even as a hint of something like reproach bubbled no more water bottles either – that involved too much sniffing. near the surface. While they were at it, they told us not to bring jackets – heaven I pointed deeper into the library. “Someone over there has…” only knew what sneaky teens might hide in them. With that in She didn’t turn. Instead, she paused for a moment, thinking mind, they might as well ban hair as well – budding alcoholics carefully before rephrasing her statement. “We prefer clear concould easily soak their curly locks in alcohol beforehand and lick tainers. Just so that we can see…” them during the game. In fact, it was best to keep them away from My voice was flat as I nodded across the hall. “Theirs isn’t clothes altogether – what’s the worst that could happen? At least it clear.” would stop alcohol from getting into the game, and that was really The first sparkle of emotion tickled her expression, giving her all that mattered. eyes the briefest flash of humanity. I had no way of knowing quite From a young age, I had been taught to show respect, be it how it would appear to watch someone a foot taller than you beto elders or authority figures. It was the way one was supposed gin to look annoyed, but I could imagine that the tiny counter to live. So I would let them search my bags and sniff my water between us would begin to seem far too small. She gulped. “The and shave off my hair – it was the right thing to do. I knew it was rule applies mainly to college students…” just the best way to keep everyone safe at the football games. I
“Auburn University Band Camp Set” by Matthew Livaudais 61