Meetings, Meetings, Meetings.  For whatever reason, the department found it necessary that every soon-to-be graduate met with at least one department head before their graduation.  Unfortunately, that included Bette.  Also unfortunate, was the fact that Bette happened to be very popular for a variety of reasons.  The list of students clamoring to see her was increasing exponentially.  She had already had 10 meetings today and was expecting another 15 tomorrow.

“Here’s your revised list, Bette.  And a cup of coffee for you too.”  He sat everything on her desk.

“Thanks, James.  You’re too good to me.”  She picked up the list and saw how many people were trying to see her, “Christ!  How come they don’t want to have conferences with someone else?  Why not Dr. Jamison down the hall?”

“Dr. Jamison is a 65 year-old, balding, old man.  You, on the other hand, are a very sexy, intellectual, intriguing 40 year-old.” Using his hands as scales, he lifted his right hand, “As a gay man, I still think I’d choose you.”

“Well, thank you James.  That’s sweet.” She continued to browse her long list, when half way down the list she noticed a name.  Her neatly sculpted eyebrows arched.

“I was wondering when you’d see her name on the list.”

Bette shook her head and then spoke, “Fuck!  She requested me?”

“Yes, but she didn’t sound like she thought that it would lead to anything more than advice.”

“James, you know you’re probably the only person I trust with information like this, but its weird how I feel at this moment.”

“How do you feel?”

“Like I need to buy a new outfit just for my meeting with her.”

“That’s intense.”

“Isn’t it?  How bad do you think it is to date someone who’s so much younger than you?”

“I don’t think it’s a big deal if you two find that you are drawn to each other in a special way.  You’re both adults, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s no biggie.” There was a silence in the room, “Are you thinking about asking her out?”

“No!  Violates protocol.”

“Don’t be so uptight.”

“Maybe after she graduates…who knows?  I don’t know James.  I’m just not trying to think about it right now.” She began fumbling with her papers and pens and everything else that could be easily moved on her desk, “I just don’t want to think about her or it or anything…I mean, she’s twenty-something…she’s too young…and me…I’m just…”