With that thought in mind,I raised my head,squared my shoulders,and set out in the direction of my dorm,glancing ( and then ever so discreetly) at the campus map clutched in my hand.It took everything I had not to stare when I caught my first glimpse of a real live college football player.What confidence,what reserve,what muscles !I only hoped his attention was drawn to my airs of assurance rather than to my shaking knees.I spent the afternoon seeking out each of my classrooms so that I could make a perfectly timed entrance before each lecture without having to ask dumb questions about its whereabouts.
After class I decided my stomach(as well as my ego) needed a little nourishment ,and I hurried to the cafeteria..I accidentally stepped in a large puddle of ketchup.Keeping myself upright and getting out of the mess was not going to be easy ,and this flailing of my feet was doing not good.Just as I decided to try another maneuver ,my food tray tipped and I lost my balance.As my rear end met the floor ,I saw my entire life pass before my eyes :it ended with my first day of college classes.In the seconds after my fall I thought how nice it would be if no one had noticed.But as all the students in the cafeteria came to their feet ,table by table ,cheering and clapping ,I knew they had not only noticed ,they were determined that I would never forget it .Slowly I kicked off my ketchup-soaked sandals and jumped clear of the toppled tray and spilled food .A cleanup brigade came charging out of the kitchen ,mops in the hand .I sneaked out of the cafeteria as the cheers died down behind me .