Professor Moore’s Questions

“Hello, Selene,”

“Hello, Professor Moore.”

“I need to ask you a personal question. You can tell me to my face that it’s none of my business.”

Curious now, she asked, “What’s the question?”

“Are you dating anyone?”

After she recovered from her surprise, she shook her head and replied, “No, I’m not dating anyone.”

“Do you have a problem with interracial dating?”

“No.”

“So, you wouldn’t have a problem dating a white man in his late thirties, then.”

She stared at him. “It depends.”

“It depends on what?”

“On who the man is.”

“It’s me.”

“You?”

“Yes. Would you date me, your English professor?”

She couldn’t believe that he was asking her that question. How often had she watched him and imagined being in a relationship with him? She had found out by chance that he was single and had wondered if he would be interested in dating her even though she was one of his students. And here he was asking her if she would date him.

He mistook her silence for a refusal. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I should have known better than to think that you would be interested in dating me. Please let’s forget the whole matter.”

“You’re mistaken,” she was quick to tell him. “I haven’t said that I wouldn’t date you.”

“Does that mean that you would?”

“Yes!”

He smiled, looking relieved. “I’m very pleased to hear that.”

“I’ve always been interested in having more than a professor student relationship with you but I didn’t think that it would be something you wanted too.”

“I’ve wanted it from the very first day you walked into my classroom but I’ve only now worked up the courage to ask you. Are you free tomorrow evening?” Tomorrow was Saturday.

“Yes.”

“Have dinner with me.”

“I’d like that.”

“I’ll take you to Blacklock Soho where they serve the best white chocolate cheesecake for dessert.”

She smiled. “I’m looking forward to having a slice of that.”

“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turned and walked out of the room.

She stood there for a few minutes, hardly able to believe what had just transpired between them. Tomorrow they were going on their first date. They were going for a nice, romantic dinner at a restaurant in Soho. She loved Soho and had passed by that particular restaurant, never once imagining that one evening she would be having dinner there with her English professor.

She wondered what her friends would say. Of course, she couldn’t mention a word to them. Her relationship with Professor Moore had to be kept under the quiet–for now. When they were alone, though, she could call him by his first name, Pierson and they were free to hold hands, kiss and…With a start, she realized that if she didn’t leave at that very moment, she would be late for her next class.

For the rest of the day, she could hardly concentrate and when it was time to go home, she left, happy that she didn’t have to wait until Monday to see Professor Moore. She was going to see him tomorrow.