Reggae Night

I walked home from VCU yesterday night. Walking up Main Street, I looked into the windows of the different bars and stores, dividing my attention between the store windows, reflections over what I had heard in class that afternoon, and keeping a general lookout for potential muggers.
As I walked past the Martini Kitchen and Bubble Bar just before Meadow, a black man with dreadlocks was standing outside smoking a cigarette. I smiled and nodded at him, so that he could see I was one of the cool white people, and he smiled back. As I went around the corner he called out to me.
"Monday night is reggae night."
Awkwardly, I turned back a moment to respond, but without knowing what to say.
"No cover," he said cheerfully, just as I was about to say no. I tried quickly to come up with something else to say to him, and just before I could get it out he spoke again:
"No dress code either."
I looked at my jeans and brown hooded sweatshirt, unsure of what a dress code would have to do with someone dressed as dapperly as myself.
"Yeah, I'm on my way to pick up some Chinese food," I told him sheepishly, "maybe next time."

Self-Portrait

I like to draw at work. The other day in homework time none of my kids needed help, so I drew a picture of them doing their homework. I knew this was a mistake as I did it, but I didn't care. I was bored, and homework time was almost over anyway. Many of them were sitting around drawing themselves. Sure enough, as I drew each person a number of them crowded around to see what I was doing.
"Who is that?"
"Is that me?"
"No, that's Stacy. See, she's got glasses."
"Oh, I bet that one's Frank."
"Who's that supposed to be?" one particularly loud kid said into my ear.
The figure I was drawing as taller than the others, and had a beard.
"Duh, Terrell, he's drawing himself now!"
"Is that you?" asked Terrell. I nodded.
"Dude, you got way more eyebrows than that," said Terrell.
He was right, so I thickened up the eyebrows, and he smiled his approval.

With an S

"Please fold your index card in half, and then write your name on both sides, like this," says the professor.
We follow his directions, as he goes on, "In a class like this it's very important to know everyone's name. So, the name cards will help with that, but let's go around the room and just quickly introduce ourselves."
"My name is Michael, and I work with special needs children."
"My name is Rachel and I want to teach high school math."
"My name is Megs and I am elementary ed."
"Thank you, Meg" says the professor.
Her hand goes up.
"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, did I say it wrong?"
"Yeah, I go by 'Megs."
"Meg?"
"Megs. With an S. That's what all my friends call me, and I just prefer it."
I can't tell if the professor is confused or irritated.
"Okay, thank you Meg, let's hear from Jonathon!"