Mariel Desjardins adjusted the strap of her book bag once again as she walked across campus, her books and lecture notes heavier than usual, the thin leather strap digging in to her shoulder enough to hurt. The late autumn air was unusually heavy with moisture, and she noted with pursed lips and a wrinkled brow that fat snowflakes were already drifting down in the blue evening light. It would be, she said to herself, a long night after all, and now she regretted putting the navy kidskin pumps with the five inch heels...
Yes, she disliked these night classes, these "Continuing Ed" courses,
but as most of these students were adults they were at least well motivated, and as she was teaching an Intro to BioMedical Ethics class this term, most of this class was made up of nursing students, though there were a few pre-Med undergrad types thrown into the mix for fun. Still, after a full day teaching at the medical school, and ethics consults at the hospital coming out of the blue from time to time, these night classes made for a heavy load and were taking a toll. But with ongoing budget cuts and an ever shrinking endowment, this was, it seemed, her lot in life...