High Letter Grade
a Short Short by Kellis
December,
1999
�Professor, instead of beating around the bush, why don�t you go straight for it?�
�Which bush is that, Marie?�
�Mine.�
Lewis leaned back in his chair and regarded the scrubbed young face across his desk.� Light from the window behind him reflected brightly on cheekbones and nose.� The eyebrows were plucked thin and even, lips a delicately natural pink.� He was certain that her nipples would match.� The complexion was flawless, fuzzy on the upper lip exactly as a newly-ripened peach.� The brunette hair was shoulder length, drawn back in a pony tail.� He had noticed in class that she eschewed the slovenly style of most students, appearing in well-pressed jeans and a snugly clean angora sweater.� Today she wore a beige one with a turtle neck whose soft edges enhanced moderate breasts.� Sapphire studs glowed blue in her earlobes, matching her eyes.
He said dryly, �Miss Hayes, we are discussing what you might do to obtain a high letter grade in my class ��
�Exactly.�
He stared at her watchful expression for a moment, then smiled slightly.� �All right, Marie.� Let�s go straight for your bush, as you put it.� Say what you mean.�
The girl�s back straightened almost imperceptibly.� She said solemnly, �I am offering myself, in any manner you wish, in exchange for an A.�
He took a quick breath.� His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.� �You�re obviously intelligent.� What problems do you expect?� Don�t rush to judgment;� the class has only met once.� It requires neither lab nor math beyond a little set theory.� Most people do well on two or three hours of study per week.�
�And if I don�t want to study?�
He smiled derisively.� �A student who doesn�t want to study?�
�You find that strange, do you?�� Her voice was cool, almost distant.� �I have always been a very busy person with many interests.� And I�m carrying a 15 credit-hour load this semester.� I need to cut myself some slack.� It�s not that I wish to escape all study.� But I need to be sure of a high grade even if I cut class or miss a quiz.�
�You�re kidding!�
�No, Professor Lewis.� I�m perfectly serious.�
For a long moment he didn�t move.� When he spoke his voice was pitched low, hardly more than a whisper.� �I think at this point I should throw you out of my office.� The last time I heard anything like this was during a stroll through Times Square.�
Her chin rose a fraction of an inch but her cool voice never wavered.� �I�ve checked on you, Professor.� You�re forty and divorced, and your wife named a 20 year old correspondent, who fortunately for you was never a student here.� I�m 20 and a student, but now you have no ��
He held up a hand.� �Just a moment.�
Reaching into a drawer, he pulled out a tiny battery-powered tape recorder, pressed one of its buttons and laid the device between them on the desk top.� A turning cog was visible inside it.
�Now, Miss Hayes, if that is your name, please continue with your proposition.� In fact, would you please restate it?� Let�s leave no room for misunderstanding.� What exactly are you offering to do, in exchange for what?�
She smiled confidently, put out her hand and positioned the recorder directly before her.� She leaned forward, directing her mouth toward it.� �What I offer exactly is to fuck you whichever way you wish to do it, once for every class I miss, in exchange for a guaranteed A.�� She looked up, eyes twinkling.� �Does that cover it?�
�Not quite.� Who is your employer � the dean�s office?� University security?� The city vice squad?�
Her eyes glittered.� �I didn�t file a Form 1040 last year.� My occupation is student.� I�m not affiliated in any manner with any legal or moral investigation.� I�m not trying to entrap you, Professor.� I�m trying to get an A without studying or attending class, that�s all.�� She smiled crookedly.� �Isn�t that a worthy ambition?�
He reached across the desk, pressed a different button on the recorder and picked it up.� Back into the drawer it went.� He said, �Take off your sweater.�
She immediately crossed her arms, gathered the waist in both hands and drew the garment over her head.� She wore nothing beneath it.� Her skin was unblemished, underlain by an intricate tracery of veins seen faintly through its near-porcelain clarity.
He took a deep breath.� �The advantage of a pony tail.�
�Yes.�
�They do match your lips!�
She grinned.� �I can see which �they� you mean.�
�You like showing them is what I see!� God, if a cock got hard that quick it would rip out of its shorts.�
�Is one threatening your shorts, Professor?
�You know it is�� Whichever way I wish it, eh?�
�Within reason.� I�m not into pain, given or received.�� She turned up her wristwatch.� �I remind you, Professor Lewis, that you have an appointment with Ted Gillis in six minutes.�
�You know him?�
�No.� His name is next on the list outside your door.� Do we have a deal?�
�Not yet.�� He frowned thoughtfully.� �I can ignore your test grades but not the classes you cut.� If you turn up with an A after attending no classes, the other students will certainly notice.�
�It�s an eight o�clock class, Professor.�
�Believe me, I hate that as much as you do!� All the more reason to be careful.�
�What do you propose?�
His eyes narrowed.� �An A if you attend a third of the classes, about one a week, and ask a question now and then � even better if you argue with me about the material.� We want them to notice your interest in it.�
�How about a B if I don�t make a third?�
He nodded slowly.� �All right.� Providing you don�t cut me!�
She declared solemnly, �I always keep my word.�� She cocked an eyebrow.� �You�ll see more of me the more classes I cut!�
He grunted.� �It�s smarter not to notice that.� Speaking of smarts, Miss Hayes, have you considered whom this arrangement actually cheats?�
She smiled indifferently.� �If your class were an elective, Professor, I�d save the money.� When should I meet you?�
He tilted his head toward the computer monitor.� �I see you have nothing at three on the same days.� I happen also to be free then.� You can make your computer lab at four easily.�
�From where?�
�From your special study hall:� right here on that couch.�
Her expression was thoughtful.� �The gym�s just across the street.�
�The gym?� I have no private access ��
�For me to take a quick shower.� We have a deal, then?�
He got to his feet and stood at the corner of the desk.� �Seal it with a kiss.�
A smile curled her lips.� She rounded the desk and came readily into his arms.� Her arms slipped around his neck.� Lips and tongues connected.� He withdrew a hand to cup her breast.� A moment later one of hers dropped to fondle his genitals.� Even through the layers of cloth she found and somehow retracted his foreskin.
When their lips parted, he asked huskily, �How can a 20 year old know what you know?�
Her eyes glittered.� �Didn�t you notice?� I�m Cleopatra reincarnated.� What�s the matter, Professor?� Don�t you think I�m 20?�
He looked down at the flawless pink lump in his palm.� �I believe this is 20!�
�Wait till you taste the rest.�
She twisted deftly out of his arms and took up the sweater off his desktop.� It floated down over her torso in a beige cloud just as a knock sounded on the office door.
�Better sit down,� she smirked, turning away.
He had to ask.� �Tomorrow at three?�
Hand on the knob, she leered over her shoulder.� �Unless I make it to class.�� Opening the door, she added loudly, �Thank you, Professor Lewis.� You are so nice!�
Both professor and young man waiting with upraised fist looked after her wistfully as she swept down the hall.