BEING IN LOVE

...

The office was long and narrow, lighted by a single window at the far end.  Shelves crowded with books rose to the high ceiling. Near the window a desk was wedged, and before this desk, half turned and outlined darkly against the light, sat Archer Sloane.

'Mr Stoner,' Sloane said dryly, half rising and indicating a leather-covered chair facing him.  Stoner sat down.

Sloane nodded.  "Good.  I note that you began your course of studies here as an agriculture student and that sometime during your sophomore year you switched your program to literature.  Is that correct?"

'Yes, sir,' Stoner said.

'Do you mind if I inquire a little about your future plans?'

'No, sir,' Stoner said.  He looked at his hands, which were twisted tightly together.

Sloane touched the folder of papers that he had dropped on his desk.  'I gather that you were a bit older than the ordinary student when you first entered the University.  Nearly twenty, I believe?'

'Yes, sir.'

Sloane tapped the folder of papers on his desk. 'I am informed by these records that you come from a farming community.  I take it that your parents are farm people?'

Stoner nodded.

'And what are your plans now?'

'I don't know.  I haven't given it much thought.'

'And do you intend to return to the farm after you receive your degree here?'

'No, sir'

'You have an excellent undergraduate record .
If you could maintain yourself for a year or so beyond graduation, I'm sure, successfully complete the work for your Master of Arts; after which you would probably be able to teach while you worked toward your doctorate.  If that sort of thing would interest you at all.'

Stoner felt himself suspended in the wide air, and he heard his voice ask, 'Are you sure?'
'I'm sure,' Sloane said softly.
'How can you tell? How can you be sure?'
'It's love, Mr Stoner,' Sloane said cheerfully. 'You are in love. It's simple as that.'


It's the love of the thing that's essential.  And if you love something, you're going to learn a lot.  The lack of that love defines a bad teacher .... 


"Stoner" - by John Williams