The Bureau of Dreams to be Continued by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

The Bureau of Dreams to be Continued

Page 91

elegance and friendliness. “Please take any seat available.” She smiled and paused before continuing; “Well, I see you already have. Now, you can tell me who you are.” She slightly shook her head when uttering a few of the words, causing some of her loose long gray hair to fall on her face, which she brushed back with her right hand. She pulled some papers out of her middle desk drawer, focused on them and said; “Michael Adler?” Zeke saw a little boy take a nervous look at the kids near him, then look at Miss Gracing, pointing his index finger at his chest. She nodded, smiling, saying; “Michael?” When she got no objection, she continued; “What is your home address and phone number?” He answered, apparently correctly and this routine went on with about four more students. Zeke had been intently surveying the procedure and had his answers prepared.

She said; “Zeke Carmichael?” Zeke promptly smiled and waved from the back of the room. “Zeke, what would you like to learn in this class?”

Zeke’s smile ended as he started to spout his prepared answers, at the same time realizing they were no longer appropriate. He didn’t know what he wanted from this class. Five minutes ago he wanted to go home. He glanced at the old black piano facing the room from one corner and said; “I’d like to hear you sing and play the piano.”