Why Are You in my Class?

Christopher

Professor Bell smiled. “I think it’s a good thing that you don’t look forty-four.”

“I’m guessing by that Texas twang, you’re from the area?” I asked.

She winked. “And I’m guessing by the flat A’s I hear and those long O’s you’re from up north somewhere. Dakotas? Minnesota?”

I laughed. “I do not have flat A’s.”

“And I don’t have a twang.”

“I like the twang. It feels very inviting and friendly.”

“Thank you,” she said, emphasizing the drawl. “I find the northern accent tends to have some Canadian influences.”

I nodded. “Makes sense since we’re right up there next to them.”

“I visited Wisconsin a few years ago and I was just amazed at the difference in dialect. Half the time I felt like we were speaking different languages.”

I laughed. “We do have some colloquialisms that can confuse people. Just as Texas does. The ‘fixin to’ is something that is going to take me a while to get used to.”

She laughed. “Oh, so many new words you will learn. Depending on who you’re talking to and