So, Id been rehearsing until it was time to go to bed. To be honest, Id done only Andrews subject today. So what? I had some time to get ready for the other ones as well.
«So, whos going to speak first?» he asked.
«Me!» I shouted out.
«Hmm Why so impatiently, Ella?»
«Ive just been preparing for your subject»
«What, for the whole night?» he interrupted me.
«Absolutely not!»
«Then, whyre you so confident? Did you know that people behave like this only if theyve been studying all night?»
«I didnt.»
I didnt want bad blood to appear between us. And I hoped it wouldnt.
«Ella, youre quite quick on the uptake!»
«Thank you!»
«Its not a compliment, you know!» he laughed.
«Whats it, then?» I asked.
«Its nothing! Just nothing! By the way, do you know any synonyms for the word «nothing?»
We all were taken aback. What synonyms? For what word..?
«No one knows a single synonym,» I said.
«Oh, and why? Arent you the students of New York University?» he asked, pretending to be bewildered and raising his eyebrows.
«Theres an expression. I hope you know at least that,» he turned to the blackboard and wrote the following:
Ignorance is bliss
«So, whats this and who said this?» he asked.
«Its a well-known proverb,» Edward said.
«How do you know that, Edward?» Andrew asked.
«Well» Edward yawned, «I just heard something about it.»
«Ha-ha! And thats it?»
«Well, yeah» Seemed like Edward was just waking up. Although the afternoon was well along. He hadnt slept for the whole night getting ready for Andrews class, I supposed
A lazy guy, yes.
«I think its an idiom,» I quickly put in a word.
«Prove it, then.»
«Well» Although I didnt want to be like Edwards who knew absolutely nothing. «Its been said that idioms and fixed expressions are an integral part of folklore»
«Wait, what does folklore have to do about ignorance?»
I couldnt answer the question.
«It means youre ignorant, Ella,» Andrew said and smiled.
My God! Fair hair, blue eyes. And his smile And his aquiline nose
He always wore black jeans and a suitjacket, a white shirt under it. So he did now.
Of course, I was ignorant in comparison with him because he knew practically everything, and I knew practically nothing!
«Okay, now, lets pass over to your home assignment. What was it, Ella?»
I was really happy hed been asking me more often than the others.
I was flattered. And Id try even more, for Andrew to be impressed. No, for me to steal the scene for him! To be like the excellent brightness of the sun!
«Well, it was about the Anglo-Saxons,» I started. «They»
«No, no, Ella!» He interrupted me. «I only asked you what the assignment was. Lets listen to somebody else. Youve already shown your knowledge today.»
What? How come? Id been preparing for his class for the whole night!
He smiled. First, he asked me anyway! It seems like he quickly changed his mind.
«Now, Catherine!» he called the girl.
Catherines my best friend. I just call her Kate. It suits her better. Kates a dark-haired girl. Shes got big brown eyes. Shes a Jew. Jews are so nice! They always treat you as if you belonged to them, even if you arent! So, I treat her as if she belonged to the English too. Were finger and thumb. And we both studied in America, far away from our homelands, so we were in the same boat. In contrast to her, I have got blue eyes and fair hair.
Kate lived in the student hostel with me. Her room was just next to mine. Her mother is a Jew too, and her father is an American. They both lived in California at that time.
Ive also got another best friend, Tülay. Shes from Turkey, but she studies in London. We always write letters to one another: I send mine to the UK, and she gets hers to the USA. Tülay lives in London with her family, and she has decided itd be better for her to stay there. And Im a Bedouin. I like going from one place to another. Thats why Im here, in New York.
«So, Catherine?» Andrew asked, distracting me from my thoughts.
«Just call me Kate,» she said. «Itd be more convenient for you to call my name when you need.»
«Okay. Sure! So, Kate» he paused, «tell us all about the Anglo-Saxons, the Anglo-Norman language and all that jazz.»
I felt sorry for Kate. How would she make her speech?
Fortunately, she did it very well.
After Kates speech, Andrew turned to me:
«So, Ella, see how well-prepared she is? You should take an example by your friend!»
«Of course,» I said and then smiled too.
I wanted to watch his reaction. I smiled sincerely indeed. Im not a bad girl. I dont have any false feelings. Frankly speaking, I dont even know how one can show false emotions. Your feelings and emotions must be truly sincere.
He stood, his mouth wide open. He didnt say anything.
After some time, he continued speaking:
«Okay, thats it. Now, lets pass over to our todays topic. And its not William Shakespeare,» he looked at me cunningly. He looked at me again!
«Whats it?» Sally asked.
«Its Beowulf,» Andrew smiled.
«What?» Edwards mouth formed an O.
«Beowulf, Edward,» Andrew said, his speech seasoned with irony.
«And whos Beowulf?» Edward seemed to have just woken up.
«Well, Edward doesnt even understand where he is,» the teacher laughed. «Do you, Edward?»
«No.»
«I see that too,» the man went on smiling.
«How about thinking big, Edward?»
«It can pay to, though,» the boy agreed.
«Okay, okay,» Andrew paused. «Let me put you in the picture about Beowulf. Beowulf is an Old English epic poem, one of the most important works of Old English literature. And did you know that the story is set in the 6th century? In other words, in the year dot.»
I thought about what he had just said. Was «the year dot the same as the 6th century?
Then, I asked the question to Andrew. He laughed.
«I think so. And why are you asking, Ella?»
«Because I dont think its the same thing,» I replied boldly.
«Nice try!» Andrew chuckled. «But dont you know that everything too old can be called happening in the year dot?» He looked at me.
Everybody stayed silent.
«Now, back to the topic,» the professor said. «In fact, Beowulf hits the spot just out of the gate. First because its written in Old English. Second its not just odds and ends but the blend of fictional, legendary and historic elements.»
I tried to listen attentively.
«And what about dialects of Old English? Do you know any?» he asked.
No answer.
«Okay. Well speak about that later. Now, another question. Would you like to study Old English as a foreign language?»
I said:
«Yes, Id love to. Studying and speaking another language is quite cool for a person.»
«Why do you think so?» he asked.
«Because any language develops our mind.»
«Indeed?» he smiled. «Okay. And what about speaking it? Do you find it hard? Does it give you any trouble to speak Old English?»
«I dont think so,» I answered. «By the way, Old English isnt that foreign, I suppose. First, its the same English, but a bit old.»