I'm a single woman and a professor of classics at a well-regarded, liberal arts college in the South. Besides the usual emphases on teaching and publishing, collegiality is rated highly. I spent my first year learning the ropes and getting used to the school's culture, its students, and my colleagues. Nearly everyone was warm, friendly, and caring. I say nearly everyone, because of one exception, an accounting professor named Sally. Sally is an attractive, albeit shrewish, and perpetually bitter woman, always ready with a snide comment or one in the subtext. Often it's nothing but thunderously silent disdain. After several attempts at getting to know her and an equal number of rebuffs I gave up on her. I figured, "why waste my time and effort." Toward the end of the year I received a telephone call from Miss Congeniality inviting me to meet her at the school gym after class the next day for a workout. Still having a smidgen of hope, I accepted. We decided to meet at 5 pm.
The next day arrived; I finished my classes, read a couple of chapters, and headed over to the gym. There was a note addressed to me taped to the door. It was from Sally, letting me know that she'd meet me in one of the padded rooms, but not to bother changing. Needless to say I was puzzled. Nonetheless, I complied and went to the room. It was a typical workout room with mirrored walls, and a pad-covered floor. I entered and walked toward the mirror on the opposite wall. I wanted to make sure I was in order. A reflection caught my eye as I was examining myself. I turned. The door slammed shut, followed by the click of a lock, and the lights dimming. The only light came through the bank of windows at the top of the walls. I recognized Sally's silhouette. I wondered, "What's going on?" She stood there, across the room, arms akimbo.
I called out, "Sally, is that you? What's going on?" Nothing.
"Sally, if that's you, you'd best answer. I'm not in the mood for any games." Yet again nothing.
I started for the door and then she spoke.
"Stop!" she commanded.
I was taken aback by the power in her voice. I stopped.
"Over the past year you've been playing little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes, and I'm tired of your act. You're not getting out of here until I teach you some respect and you realize just who and what you are."
"Who and what I am?" I thought? "Who does this know-nothing, pencil-pushing, bitch think she is?" I started again.
As I approached Sally her features became clearer, she stepped in front of me, thrust out her hand into my chest. I was getting angrier by the moment.
She shoved me back, I staggered, she shoved me again, and I fell on my ass. While all of this was happening I'd been concentrating on Sally's face. As I fell back and she stepped into the streaming sunlight, my jaw dropped when I took a look at her. She was stripped down to a matching, black, satin bra, panty, and garter belt with seamed black stockings. "A bit overdone for a warm day," I thought.