I couldn't believe I put myself in this situation. Of course it was my own arrogance and stupidity, but in my 19 years I never had a problem that didn't work itself out on its own. Now here I was on the verge of losing my scholarship grant and telling my parents that I would need $25,000/year to stay in school and finish my degree. Not only would they be angry and disappointed, but they'd likely force me to come home and transfer to a state school or cut me off financially if I decided to stay.
I'd always been a good student, albeit a bit lazy when it comes to assignments that didn't hold my interest. In high school I mostly floated by on my intellect and charm, having learned early on that I could typically get through classes by exerting the bare minimum. Thanks to grade inflation and excellent standardized test scores I was able to earn a scholarship to a private university on the condition that I maintained a 3.5 GPA.
I couldn't wait to leave home and experience life on my own at college. I was a pretty popular kid at my small high school, but never had much success in the romance department. I'm a handsome guy, but never felt comfortable with my body enough to ask any girls out. Once I got to college, I told myself I would lose 10 lbs. and get toned up. The girls would be more mature and appreciate my hairy body, and even though my cock wasn't the longest it was still reasonably thick and I could pleasure them with my fingers and mouth.
Of course it hadn't gone quite as I planned. I partied every weekend and took advantage of my unlimited meal plan at the campus food court. By second semester of freshman year I had gained 12 lbs. and had been rejected by the three hottest girls in my dorm. I responded the only way I knew how: false confidence. My classes had been relatively easy in the first semester and so I started acting like the smartest guy on campus. I thought my academic prowess would attract some of the more serious girl students since I hadn't had success with the bimbos.
I assumed my classes in the second semester would be just as easy as the first, and for the most part, they were. I was still taking general education courses, most of which require a high school-level effort to earn an easy A, particular calculus. In high school I was a math whiz, having coasted through AP Calculus with ease. I was too lazy, however, to take the AP exam for college credit so I would be forced to take Calc 101 with the rest of the freshmen. It's a Monday/Wednesday/Friday course at 8:30am, but I knew I'd be able to ace all of the exams without even trying, so going to class would be unnecessary.
I missed the first Monday calculus class due to partying too hard over the weekend and sleeping in. I wasn't too worried as most classes tend to have students transferring in and out during the first week anyway and I wouldn't miss anything crucial. I attended the next class on Wednesday so I could receive the course syllabus, and that's when I first met Professor Jenkins.
"He's a dinosaur," I thought when I first saw him. Easily in his mid-70s, Professor Jenkins stood at the front of the classroom fiddling with some papers on his desk. When the students walked in he straightened up, almost as if he was surprised to see us entering the room. He was short, about 5'6" and trim, though his sloppily tucked-in shirt hid a slightly saggy belly that most men his age would have. His wrinkled face was clean-shaven, though I suspected any facial hair would be the same color white as the thinning hair atop his head.
"Hello Professor," I said as I approached him. "I missed the first class and was wondering if you had an extra copy of the syllabus."
"Certainly," he said with a wry smile as he handed me the paper.
At my desk, I looked over the syllabus as Professor Jenkins rambled on at the front of classroom. "Perfect," I thought. "Three exams and a final, no quizzes and all other assignments are submitted online." This would be an easy A and I wouldn't even have to attend class.
Or so I thought.
Now here I was staring at the online grade portal trying to figure out where I went wrong. An F? "35% - Attendance: 0"
There was an attendance requirement? It wasn't on the syllabus and I hadn't even been to class except to take the exams, all of which I had scored a 90% or above. This is totally unfair!
I angrily started typing an e-mail to Professor Jenkins, half-wondering if the old fuck even knew how to use a computer.
"Dear Professor Jenkins," I wrote. "It has come to my attention that there was an attendance portion of the grade in Calc 101 of which I was previously unaware. As you can see from my assignments and test scores I was an exemplary student in your class. Would I be able to see you in your office today to discuss my grade before they are submitted as final? My scholarship depends on it. Thank you. - Alex Cook"
After hitting send I nervously paced around my dorm room thinking about what might happen. Will I have to leave school? What will my parents do? Will this guy even read my e-mail in time? I decided if I didn't hear from him before 1:00pm then I would call the Math department and ask to speak to him directly.
That would be unnecessary, as no more than 20 minutes after I initially sent the e-mail I received a pop-up from Outlook: "Re: Calc 101."
"Mr. Cook, Now that final exams have concluded they have begun the planned summer renovation of the Math department offices. Would you like to meet me at my home on campus this afternoon at 4:00pm? I'd be happy to discuss the concerns you've outlined in your e-mail. My address is 376 Maple Lane. Please confirm as soon as you can. - Professor Jenkins"
Immediately I replied that would be fine and I would see him at 4:00pm.
As I walked to the professor's home I thought about what my strategy should be to convince this old guy to give me the A that I deserve. "I should be aggressive," I thought. "Not take 'No' for an answer. My test scores speak for themselves."
Professor Jenkins' home was a modest Colonial in the style of the rest of the neighborhood. He had a well-manicured lawn with a white stone walkway leading to the steps at the front door. I checked my phone which said "3:58" and rang the doorbell.
I didn't have to wait long for the door to open, where Professor Jenkins stood smiling. He wore a light blue button-down shirt tucked into baggy tan slacks, held up to his belly button by a pair of bright red suspenders. "Hello Mr. Cook!" he exclaimed as he extended his hand to shake mine. "Come in, come in."
We walked through the foyer and he led me into a room that was clearly his office. "Would you like something to drink?" he asked as he motioned for me to sit on the brown leather couch propped against the back wall. I looked at the large oak desk flanked by crowded bookshelves and suddenly felt intimidated by the situation. This is a man with an impressive career and I'm about to confront him.
"No, thank you," I replied. "You have a lovely home. This office is terrific. I wish my dorm room looked like this."
"Well thank you Mr. Cook," he said, sitting behind the antique desk. "I find it quite comfortable here. Now what can I do for you?"
"Um, well, sir," I stammered, suddenly losing my fragile faΓ§ade of confidence, "I wanted to talk to you about my final grade. You see, I need to maintain a 3.5 GPA to keep my scholarship and was really caught off guard by the attendance policy in your class. As you can see, my exam and assignment scores were more than high enough to earn an A, but because I lost 35% of my grade to attendance the grade portal shows me as failing. I know final grades haven't been submitted yet and I wanted to ask you to adjust my grade up to where it belongs. I think I've earned it."
He looked at me and frowned as I finished my speech. "The attendance policy was made very clear during the first week of classes, Mr. Cook. I remember you asking me for a syllabus at the beginning of our second class. The policy was discussed at the start of each lecture in the first three classes. You were there."
"Fuck," I thought. "When did he say anything about attendance? I was only in a lecture for that one day and I didn't really think I needed to pay attention."
I felt nauseous. Tears were starting to well in my eyes as I pleaded with the old man. "Professor, I beg you. I can't fail. It was a mistake, truly. There must be something that can be done."
On the verge of sobbing, I held my head in my hands as I thought about my future, my failure. He slowly rose from his desk and walked over to the couch where I was sitting. He reached out his left hand and grabbed my wrist gently.
"I'm going to give you one opportunity to make this right," Professor Jenkins said as he moved my hand carefully. I raised my head to see him use his other hand to lower his zipper as he directed my hand towards it. "I think you know what to do," he said as my fingertips reached the opening in his slacks.
It was as if time had stopped. This was so outside the realm of possibility that I went into a mild shock. What did this old man want? A hand job?
I regained my focus as I looked up at him in horror. Smiling down at me, he said "this is a one-time offer and it expires in 30 seconds. Take it or leave it."