Old Stuff 1: How to Save a Life

It was a rainy day. The kind of day you are happy to see because it would be so nice to sit inside bundled up in a blanket and knowing you are warmer than you should be.
Unfortunately, being midterms week, I felt I should probably go to class. After a brutal walk, I made it down campus to Xavier Hall. I hadn’t been to Poly Sci in awhile, so I had no idea what the professor was talking about, but I could smile and pretend I knew what the pretty junior who always sits by me was talking about. In typical John fashion I dominated the English discussion in my next class, even though I hadn’t read the book. Arkansas, the cute southern girl, was happy to see me, so that was a plus. Theology turned out as boring as always, we talked about my favorite Heresy, (yeah, I have a favorite heresy), but no one seemed to care. After class, the AD Pi who I always find a way to sit next to and I had a nice little discussion before we parted ways.
After laundry with the cheerleader (who commented on how comfy my moccasins looked), my day was pretty boring. I got a couple of games of Madden in, and studied a bit for my History test. I actually studied a lot for my History test, a procedure I'm not familiar with so it took awhile. The weather made it seem like it was 7 o’clock all day, so I was surprised when it actually was 7. I decided to put the controller/book down and hit up the dining hall.
The fake blond looked amazing in the sweatshirt/sweatpants combo, and I told her so. I think she blushed, but it was hard to tell because I couldn’t believe I so blatantly complemented her, so I became totally engrossed in my chicken. I spent a couple of more hours with Japan, China and the Packers, called Mary to let her know I would be back home this weekend, and it was 2 before I knew it.
My friend Pat had dropped off his manuscript earlier, detailing a break up that he promised shed light on his personal life philosophy. I figured, as long as I had time, why not read it? IMing my friend Jordan and the musk of Pat’s work made me feel a cigarette break was in order. My roommate had gone to bed hours ago, so the room was silent except for some Fray my friend had sent me. I scrounged for a lighter, grabbed my Turkish Royals and headed out. There is a bench in between the library and the administration building that was just secluded and out of the way enough to be “my spot.”
When I got outside I remembered it had rained, and none of the benches would be work out. I also realized I was woefully dressed for the elements. Sweatpants, a Brewers hat, Frat T-Shirt and $130 shoes that happened to be closest to my feet when I stood up. It wasn’t raining any more, so I lit a cigarette and decided to make it a “one out and one back” trip. Usually, you have to stop to light up, but I held my hand in front of the flame and tried a few times as I set of down the quad.
My friend Dave was walking back from the library with a pretty brunette, but after the requisite head nod I was alone. I noticed the wind when it cut through my sweats and hit me right in the sack. I got past the clock tower just taking in the night and the Camel when I saw my boy Tim. Tim happens to be a statue that sits deep in thought and stares “torn” off into the distance vaguely in the direction of Laurie (another statue). The night was pretty, with the orange of the lights reflecting off of the wet surfaces, and no stars in the overcast sky. I saw two people strolling up the walkway to Fusz Hall, a blonde and a tall guy, and thought better of letting out a “Howdy.”
My walk seemed to lull, and I got a little downcast. The cigarette burned down and I knew it was just about time to head back, but I saw some folks sitting outside Dematt and thought I might as well swing by to see if I knew any of them. I didn’t, and the two couples moved subconsciously closer together at the intrusion. Again, I withheld a greeting, and turned the corner back towards the mall, lighting another Turkish Royal. The sprinklers turned on just as I was making the turn, and one of the guys disparaged, “good work SLU, we really need the sprinklers tonight.”
I was thinking along the same lines when I realized I had to stop walking. Standing there, two sprinklers were jammed in place; the streams stuck hitting each other. The spray swept over my walkway, and the wetness of the day seemed to dictate a new path. Standing there, I saw two people walking down the path back to the Lower Village Quad, easily distinguishable as a duo.
I stood there, and thought of the junior, Arkansas, the AD Pi, Mary and all the others. Standing there, the two streams spraying their connection all over campus, I remembered Tim, Fusz, the four outside Dematt and village couple. The cloud seemed as ominous as ever, but I took a step, and the surprisingly warm spray actually felt nice as it swept over my face. That step turned into a walk, and I was headed back up campus. A guy and a girl were walking towards me just as I passed Tim, and I threw out, “what’s up?”