Free Winter Jacket by Eliza Lentzski

her head like a bobble-doll.  “Space the crowds out.”
    Before I could give her any further instructions she hustled away, looking more frazzled than usual.
     
     
    The first students started showing up soon after Tricia arrived with the food.  They said their brief hellos to me before immediately descending on the food spread in the kitchen like sharks in open water.  It never failed to amaze me how one only needed to post “Free Food!” and students came running.  I knew there would be no leftovers by the end of the night.  Even the chip dip bowl would be licked clean.  It wasn’t long before the front of my house was filled with bodies, a collection of students along with my fellow faculty members. 
    From time to time I’d catch a glimpse of a familiar shade of blonde near the vegetable tray or by the window overlooking my backyard or by the television, and each time my breath caught in my throat. This girl was seriously haunting me, not only in my dreams, but in the flesh as well. But there was no reason why Hunter would be at this event.  She wasn’t a graduating senior, and she wasn’t an English major.  It was simply wishful thinking on my part – wishful thinking that seeing her in my office a few days ago wouldn’t actually be the last time I ever saw her.
    I made my way over to the dining room table where Tricia had arranged an assortment of wine bottles and soda.  I gave a knowing smile to some students hovering around the drinks.  I recognized them as seniors, all of legal drinking age, but it was clear they were unsure if they were allowed to drink in front of their professors.  I filled my own glass with a merlot and left them, still warily eyeballing the alcohol.
    More people had arrived when I made it back to the front of the house and the living room.  Most of the English Department had shown up. I smiled and made eye contact with them all as I continued making the rounds.  I really didn’t care for small talk, but if I kept circling, if I kept moving from one room to the next, I wouldn’t be stuck talking to any one person for too long. 
    I had to laugh to myself when I spotted my colleague Thad in the kitchen by the sink, surrounded by a horde of female undergraduates and one male student whom I suspected was gay.  Thad looked like a natural, holding court among the students – their star-struck admiration was apparent in their faces.  I must have been staring for too long though, because Thad looked up from his entourage and caught my eye.  His eyes crinkled at the corners and he raised his glass to me in mock salute.  Despite my misgivings about him – I must have been feeling collegial – I raised my glass in return.  I immediately regretted it though when his grin widened and it looked like he was excusing himself to come over in my direction.
    I spun away and cursed under my breath.  I didn’t want to encourage Thad.  He was annoying and aggressive enough without me smiling at him.  I went back to the dining room, hoping to discover we needed more ice or clean glasses or that someone had spilled red wine on my white rug so I’d have something to do other than chat with my clueless coworker.
    On my way to the dining room, a woman sidled up next to me and bumped her hip against mine. She leaned in conspiratorially. "Nice party, Dr. Graft."
    "Emily. " I grinned, recognizing my teaching mentor with the infectious personality. "I'm so glad you were able to make it."  She'd been on sabbatical for the semester and I hadn't seen much of her besides a few isolated times on the department floor.
    "You look great, Elle." She gave me a quick hug with the arm not attached to her wine glass. "And your dress is so cute," she approved.
    I looked down at my little black dress. "Thanks," I said, self-consciously running my palms down the front of the skirt. "I thought I'd try something different tonight from my typical school attire."
    Emily twisted her wine glass by its stem.