fandomhigh | Professor Chaucer's Office Hours, Tuesday

"He let me think that I'd raised him, Geoff. I couldn't remember and he wanted it to be true so bad...but I've been working so hard to get back to normal, and he just kept lying to me."She sighs heavily. "And now that I've had some time, I'm not angry...I get why he did it, but it still hurts he'd lie and be so...so...selfish. I wonder if I even know him like I thought I did."

"I think you know him just fine, CJ. Remember, this has been hard on Jack, too. You're his mother, and that means a great deal to him, and you forgot him. That's...a difficult thing, to face the possibility of being forgotten by someone you love."

He perches on the edge of the desk and takes her hand. "I'm sure he regrets it. He's a kid still, he probably just didn't think about how much it would hurt you."

Looking down at her hands she is the picture of contrtion. "I know, Geoff. That's why I can't think of what to do to tell him I'm sorry for getting so mad...and making a scene. In the Perk...can you believe it?"

"Jack can handle it. And I know you can too -- you've never been one for worrying too much about making a scene if you thought you were right. Why not just...find him and tell him you're sorry and you forgive him? Sometimes the simplest way to say a thing is the best."

He squeezes her hand. "I can talk to him for you if it would be easier."

"Would you? Just tell him I'm not mad at him...and I love him no matter what." She strokes her fingers along the back of his hand. "Enough, before I get all weepy. Tell me your story."

Geoff nods, and tells CJ a brief but somewhat randy story about a young woman, her lover, and the young man they play a trick on.

When he's finished, he grins and says, "All right now, your turn. I want to hear about your classes and plans for this term."

"Oh, please. Like that's not boring...Ok. Speeches, S/M/R paradigm, and advanced deconstruction of messages. I plan on making them talk...and probably cry, and if they really piss me off I'll set the room on fire."

Grinning, Geoff asks, "Any chance you might be interested in stepping into my Lit class for a brief guest lecture sometime? One of the topics we'll be covering is oral literature, and I think it might do them some good to get a basic understanding that speaking is about more than just words coming out of your mouth."

"I would love to do that! What are you covering?"

[[ooc:*glee*]]

"Let's see...we're doing Lysistrata right now, and then Plato and Dante. But I can schedule the lecture on oral literature pretty much anytime you're free." Geoff grins happily. "I'm working out arrangements with the new journalism professor to do a lecture as well. Which reminds me -- have you met any of the new teachers yet? Anyone interesting come on?"

Grinning like a kid at Christmas...

"I'm free pretty much anytime you want me, Geoff. Just give me a day to prepare. Oh, and you need to ask the new government and campaigning teacher. He'd just love the chance to do some oral lit. He's a lawyer and you won't get him to shut up...but that's the risk you take. His name's Josh Lyman, and make sure you tell him it was my idea."

"How about week after next? I'd say next Monday, to go along with the section on Aristophanes, but that seems a little short notice for you. What about week after? We'll be covering Plato's Symposium, and the concept of dialogue as literature, so I think you're lecture would fit well."

He grins at the idea of getting another guest lecturer. "I'll go see Professor Lyman right away. Can I assume you know each other, then?"

"OOh, Plato. I'm absolutley up for that. Plato was a phenomenal orator. This is exciting." She shifts a bit, her smile becoming more michevious. "Josh and I worked together at the White House. I've known him for quite a while. Enough to know this is right up his alley."

"He's a friend of yours? Then I can't wait to meet him. Thank you, CJ!"

Geoff grins broadly, sharing her excitement. "I'll put you on the schedule, then. Western Lit meets fifth and sixth periods on Monday -- when would you like to give your lecture?"

"I can do 6th, if that's ok." She smiles at his enthusiasm. "And I should probably get a copy from you, since it's not anything I've actually read since college."

"Sixth will be perfect. I can give my lecture on form and give them some reading time during fifth. And there are copies in the bookcloset -- I'll bring you one, unless you want to just grab one during the next class you hold there," he says, nodding his head back toward the classroom.

"Might as well get started, right?" she follows him

"Might as well, milady," Geoff replies, laughing. He leads her into the classroom and opens up the book closet, grabbing her a copy of Lysistrata. "I assume you want the English translation, not the original Greek?"

"Right...my Greek is limited...but I work it. Make myself sound really smart." She laughs softly and takes it. "Wait, this is Aristophanes, not Plato."

Geoff looks at the book and ~~facepalms~~ and shakes his head. "So it is. Imagine that." Laughing, he sets it back on the shelf and pulls out a copy of Symposium instead. "Still Greek, but now with the correct author."

She laughs softly and takes the Plato. "Lysistrata is a good one too. I was in a production of it in college."

"Were you? I'll bet that was fun," Geoff answers, smiling at her. "I'm surprised there aren't more productions here, a...mummers club or something."

He shrugs. "But I suppose the students are busy enough as it is. Phoebe Halliwell is apparently involved in one way or another with ten different classes. I promised Principal Smith -- who seems like a pretty nice fellow, by the way, if a little odd -- that I'd push her drop the independent study if she looked like she was overworking herself."

"And I get the feeling drama here is a form of punishment. I wonder if the new principal will keep up that tradition?"

Geoff laughs. "I might have to talk to the principal about that one. Gives something of a negative impression of my subject."

"Well that's true. Hate to have people prefer dental work to literature." She laughs softly and looks through the book, realizing it's been years since she's even thought about it. "I'd better get cracking on this Geoff...otherwise they'll know I'm off my game."

"It's all right, CJ. You don't have to do the entire lecture, just your section on communication. I'd...been thinking about having the students engage in some kind of dialogue, presenting an argument in support of one of the points put forth in the reading, and then refuting someone else's arguement. Of course, last term all that accomplished was that I had to kick two of my students out of class for fighting."

He shrugs, smiling ruefully. "But, I'd thought that, with the things you teach in your class, the idea of oral presentation would fit right in. Of course, honestly, you're welcome to lecture on whatever you like. Just as long as it has some vague connection to the reading."

"Oral..connection. Got it." She smiles mischeviously and kisses him on the cheek. "I'm always up for that. See you later, Geoff."

Geoff laughs. "Well, you know me. The poet with the talented mouth, right? What else would my classes be about?"

He returns her kiss and gives her a quick hug. "Take care of yourself, CJ. And give my love to Ten."

Professor Chaucer's Office Hours, Tuesday

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