The time was approaching and Rodolfo was preparing to start the session. Nervousness invaded his body and it was not for less, because it was the first time that he tried something similar. He prepared the table where he was going to arrange to place his board and the various artifacts that he had to use. Sweat was running down his forehead and he was trying to hide it quickly so as not to show signs of inexperience.
“Hello there? Do you hear me?” Rodolfo asked with a slight tremor in his voice.
He looked at his board uneasily, trying to remember every step he had to take. Regrets invaded his head and the desire to leave grew stronger, but he was not going to give up so easily.
“If you are listening to this, please give a signal.”
For long minutes not the slightest sound was emitted and Rodolfo crossed his fingers, clinging to the hope of being able to connect with someone. Silence roamed the room and tension was in the air. Rodolfo felt as if he were walking through a gloomy cemetery, alone and at night, looking for some merciful soul to help him find his way out. However, the pessimism increased with each movement of the clock’s hands.
“What are their names?” Rodolfo said, almost shouting “Is there someone? Please give a sign” despair showed in his actions. “Well, I think I’ll say goodbye.”
With a great sadness on top of him, Rodolfo was preparing to end the session that he had prepared with so much effort; until suddenly a slight murmur began to be heard from afar, which shook him considerably. His heart began to pound and his pupils dilated at the sudden manifestation.
“Hello, Professor Rodolfo,” says a student suddenly. “I’m George, I am a freshman student, nice to meet you”
“Hi, professor! Sorry, my microphone was not working. My name is Cristian.”
Rodolfo began to explode with joy at the presentations of his new students. His eyes narrowed and the daisies were easily seen by the huge smile that was drawn on his face. For an instant, he thought that all the lessons his eldest daughter had given him to learn how to use the computer had been in vain. Rodolfo gleefully picked up his notebooks to begin his class and put aside his trusty board that was full of instructions of how to turn on the camera and microphone, so that he could have a successful first online class.
Fernanda Poblete González is a chilean senior English Literature- Creative writing student with a minor in History and Religion at Lindenwood University. Some of her writing has been published in the Arrow Literary Journal and the Academic Heart and Mind.
