Several weeks ago in Peltier Hall, I witnessed the following scene:
I had gotten to class early one day and was sitting in the hall, when I saw a man standing in the corner nervously. It was Dr. Alexander. He seemed preoccupied and didn’t notice me. From the other side of the building, I noticed a rather short, thin, and shady looking fellow enter the building. I was shocked to see him there. I had seen him in other parts of campus, but never in Peltier. In was Thaddeus, the custodian from the student union.
In Thaddeus’s hands was a box. It was a rather large box, and it looked like it would hold many papers, if it was called on for that purpose. Thaddeus also did not see me, but cautiously walked across the hallway to where Dr. Alexander stood. Dr. Alexander smiled and took the box from him.
“Well, did you get him?” asked Dr. Alexander.
“Well, yes, it was kind of messy, but I got everything squared away.”
Dr. Alexander looked inside the box. “This will teach them to sit around in the lounge drinking coffee and using big words. I’m going to cancel class and hide this in the library, where I spent by grad school days working my tail off. Posers!!!!! First it was my Tiny Duffy – my rejection letter from the University of Florida – that kept me going. Now, this will be my Tiny Duffy.”
“Well, sir, that’s nice and all, but, uh, could I have my money please?”
Dr. Alexander reached into his back pocket, pulled out a wad of bills, then turned and ran off. Thaddeus smiled and then started walking back the way he came. This time he saw me, and stopped to talk.
“What’s happening, Josh? You better keep in school, stay awake in class, or else this’ll be how you make money,” he said as he held up a broom. I’m still not sure where he got the broom from.
“I didn’t know you knew Dr. Alexander,” I replied.
“Who, that guy? I don’t know his name. I just do work for him on the side from time to time. You know, all a part of my side business, Floors, Inc. I clean up all kinds of stuff. He just asked me to call him Mr. Starbuck. Said it would be safer that way in case I was caught.”
“Caught? What do you mean?”
“Well, Josh, I trust you, but I can’t get into any details. It’s a secret, you know. But, anyway, I’ve got a question for you.”
“What’s that?”
“Who is Derrida?”
“Uh, some philosopher, English literary theorist. Why? And where did you hear of Derrida?”
“As I said, Josh, I can’t tell you. In fact, I got to get back before Johnny and Peter realize I’m missing. I’ll see you later.”
With that, Thaddeus walked back down the hall and disappeared down the stairwell.
I’m not sure what this means, but I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.