He took the shovel, the ream of paper, and his new nailgun back to the college. This time, with what he carried, he couldn't wave to a colleague he saw on the quad.

He went down the hall and opened the door to the classroom. A few students looked up then got back to work. A woman was clicking on the buttons of her cell phone. One man had fallen asleep. He lay the shovel against the wall, put the ream of paper on the table with the computer, then went out into the hall and shut the door.