ASSISTING STUDENTS

I am in a university dorm room which is co-ed.  It is occupied by a young man and a woman who are preparing their assignments.  These assignments have something to do with musical composition and history, and just prior to me becoming aware of my dream, I know that I did much to assist them with their work.  I feel very satisfied with my tutoring, and as they walk out, I decide at the last moment to join them.

We walk into a large lecture room where they put their assignments on the desk.  I am mildly surprised to recognize the professor sitting there, although I couldn’t quite remember his name.  The room is quiet as all the students seem to be busy with their work, and the three of us also silently take our seats.  The professor obviously has other ideas and suddenly gets up and begins to play a clarinet, just some arpeggios, mellow and liquid rippling up and down through various keys.  Obviously this is something the students are familiar with, because they all break out in groans and laughter, as though sharing a private joke. 

“Oh, you don’t like my clarinet playing?” the professor asks in mock surprise, and bounces off towards the piano, where he duplicates the rippling arpeggios on that instrument.  “Maybe I should wear a dress while doing this!”  The classroom dissolves into laughter, the joke completed.

And this is where I recognize him.  He appears to be a very gentle person, humble, but totally accomplished in his musicianship.  He is rather heavy-set, tall and black-skinned.  I nod and smile widely, enjoying the way the students are reacting to this display.  I tell the couple I came in with that I know this man, but from a different circle in my life.  “I haven’t seen him for years!  We first met in the SCA”, I say.

The couple laugh with new understanding.  “So his comment about the dress has more meaning than we realize!” responds the woman.  I nod.  “Yes, there his name is Fardou, and he is a middle eastern persona, and he usually wears loose pants and a long tunic over them.  And you should see his turbans!!”  We start laughing again, “And during events, he likes to play a bassoon – beautifully!”  I add. 

We sit there for a moment, savouring the memory of many performances by this amazing man, and then I get up and go towards him, eager to greet him, even though I know that he will have no memory of me…