Campus Comedy (1)

Valentine's Day is just over. Valentine's Day always reminds me of this particular incident in my Canadian Literature Class. Our lecturer, Dr. Smith, was a fortyish bachelor who looked older because of his balding head.

Dr. Smith was a stern looking but excellent lecturer. His interpretation was illuminating. However, the class noticed he had an unusual habit. During lectures he would either look towards the ceilings or pretend to look at his notes. The references to his notes were unnecessary because of his long years of teaching. We noticed that he seldom looked at us!

One day, one of the life wires in class, an American student, decided to play a trick on Dr. Smith. Jane shared her idea with us. Since it was a harmless joke and a creative idea, the class decided to co-operate with her.

On Valentine's Day of February, 1981, all the students eagerly awaited Dr Smith's arrival for class. As usual he began, "Margaret Atwood's works......". Dr. smith noticed a card addressed to him. It read, "Dear Dr. Smith, if you could kindly look at your students at eye level and find a student holding a red silk rose, he/she is in love with you!"

Dr. Smith looked up nervously and turned red when he saw all the 26 students holding a silk rose! The class burst out laughing, and for the first time, we saw Dr. Smith breaking out in laughter!

Jane's idea worked. After that, Dr. Smith looked less at the ceilings and at his notes!

Gan Chau



Dr. Smith looked up nervously, and lo and behold, all the 26 students in the