Adjunct Professor

New semester. Did my courses run? Oh yeah, but too many. Work on my syllabi. I promise I won’t cry. The night before class. I pace the kitchen. Sending prayers up. Are you listening; Please make my students be nice. Calling my friends for advice. First day of class. Please impress them. Some activity. Get to know them. At night memorize their names. Two students named the same. (Always) Long semesters. Trudge across campuses. In the rain and snow. Am I at the right school-do you know? My Google Assistant gave up long ago. End of semester. All my students cry. I break my promise. I let them see me cry. We will be friends for a long time. New semester. Did my courses run? …