Adjunct

Okay.

Write what you know.

I know that sounds like a cliche, and maybe it is, but if you want to write

a horror short story or a comedy or sci fi,

if you put it, if you wrap. Hmm.

Let me start that over again.

Write what you know. Right?

That is a cliche. For sure.

But if you want to write a horror short story, a comedy or a sci-fi,

if you wrap it around something personal, it's actually going to

mean more to you and you're going to be able to write that story.

I don't know if that makes sense or not.

I think that makes sense.

I’m sorry did that make sesne?

Uh, we’ll edit the ending.

Thanks, Mr. Yousif.

Wow. That's amazing that you could do both of those things, actually.

Okay, well, thank you. Thanks.

How many of you here have seen the movie Karate Kid?

The original O.G. Karate Kid?

Raise your hands. Few of you? Most of you.

So basically what we're doing here is kind of like,

I am Miyagi, and you are Daniel.

And we're doing wax on, wax off.

And so I know a lot of you might not realize what we're doing here,

but eventually this will all make sense.

Yeah.

I just... I don't know if my writing's any good.

How do you honestly assess if it's good or not?

You know what?

So for me, when I first started writing back in college,

I was sitting right where you were.

And I had this teacher that no matter what I wrote, would just tear me apart.

And it really stopped me from writing for a long time.

And I finally got back to it when I found something I cared about.

Don't try to write something that you think matters to me

or matters to your friends.

If you care about it, then it’s worth saying.

Can you get off your phone for a minute? Be in the present?

Yeah. Sorry.

So you have the syllabus, right? Yeah.

So all you do is you check the syllabus every day against your work.

You do that, you golden.

Okay. Yeah, I'll. I'll do that.

All right.

Thank you professor. Don’t turn it in like that again.

We too loud for you, Amer?

I told facilities to get walls up around here, but looks like they didn’t get the memo,

They tell you when they’re getting back to you about the job?

They've actually been radio silent, to be honest.

So I got some news.

Do tell.

I got a lecture position at UCLA next year.

That’s what I’m talking about!

Donald, you're burying the lead there.

I mean, that's that's amazing.

It's going so good on your resume.

Eh, there’s a catch.

It doesn't pay.

I'm sorry.

I didn't hear you.

Can they even do that?

Apparently, yeah, they can.

You're going to be driving all the way up to L.A.

You're basically paying to work there. This is wrong.

They're taking advantage of you.

Well, not all of us are up for a tenure track position, Amer.

Hi, ummm.

You’re in my seat.

Uh, this is kind of open seating, you can kind of sit wherever you want.

So there's probably an open seat over there.

Well, I clearly staked my claim here, so I prefer consistency.

You built like a little collage of yourself up there, huh?

Yeah. Okay, um...

Yeah. No this is.

This is clearly your seat.

Thank you kindly. Yeah.

I'm Kristin. Hey.

Alright, well... I just wanna thank everybody,

and we’ll see you next time.

And at the end of the semester,

I've got a bill against my budget.

$5,000! How did you possibly!?

Hi everybody. Sorry for interrupting.

Tom, I brought that file for you. Yeah, let me walk you out front with that.

We're having a little secret meeting right now.

Hey everybody, it's nice to see you.

Take care.

It's a nice car.

Thank you.

So, how's that online lit class shaping up?

Hey, should I be worried about anything?

Like what?

Well, you know, I'm up for that tenure track job, and I just.

I haven't heard anything back, and I wasn't sure

if there's anything else I should be doing.

Amr, you are bringing tremendous value to the department right now.

You're putting in more time and effort than some of those full timers.

No, we're going to hear back soon.

By the way, I do need a couple of judges to help

pick the best short stories this semester.

I'm kind of in a pinch, otherwise I wouldn't even ask.

Yeah, I can totally do that. Great.

I need to head back.

I'll talk to you soon. Okay. Take care.

What do you do?

I'm a teacher.

And I'm a teacher too.

What do you teach?

I teach English. What do you teach?

Teach film.

They’re similar.

You teach writing or?

I do...

I do short stories and a little bit of novel stuff,

but mostly short stories.

Hey, what's up, Laith?

Bring some Four Rose to the house later. We’re playing Wishliana tonight.

I will get there eventually.

I just got something planned. All right.

All right. Sounds good, bro.

All right, late.

What do you got planned?

You look cute.

You want to ring on the register?

Oh, yeah.

I’ll do the bagging. Let’s get some lottery tickets.

Oh. What?

Let's go for these.

Ready?

Cheers! Cheers.

That's good.

You look cute.

Oh, thank you.

Oh, I. I have this bump behind my ear.

It's been hurting.

I'm sorry. It’s okay. It’s all right.

Can I see? No! It hurts?

It does hurt.

You should see the doctor for that.

I have an appointment.

That's a that's a nice purse.

That new?

Yes, it is a Dior.

Wow. How much does something like that set you back?

Are you allergic to expensive things?

I was just going to call the security over here to make sure he stands

and watches our table.

I want to protect you.

You're making a joke.

That's cute.

Okay, Hear me out.

I'm going to hear you out.

There is another opening for a sales position at my office.

You could come do real estate with me.

I'm teaching and I love teaching.

You just don't seem very happy.

And I am up for this full time tenure job.

So once I get that.

I know, but I just felt like you were kind of, you know, miserable right now.

How ‘bout...

How about we just change the subject...

That okay?

Easy peasy. Really?

What are you doing?

You know, that's my brother.

My uncles and cousins are playing Wishliana.

They want me to head over there tonight.

I'm sorry.

So that's it?

We hook up in my car, and then you leave.

For the record, this is a really comfortable car.

You chose wisely.

You know, for a college professor,

you can be pretty

immature.

Okay, that hurt.

But look, you, my dear, live with your parents.

And I had to move back in with my brother after I lost my apartment.

So it's not like we have a lot of options.

How about a nice suite somewhere next time?

Mmm, let me ask you this.

Is that nice suite gonna have heated seats?

I don't think so.

Is that bad?

You are so cheap.

Okay, so for the record, again, I am broke.

Not cheap.

Oh, uncle, I'm sorry. I forgot it. What?

Okay, well, I'm still working on my book, but absolutely, me and Oprah are tight,

so she will definitely be putting it up on her book club.

Good for you.

No, no, no.

It's it's coming any any day now.

You guys are very special.

Hi, Amer.

I'm doing good, I’m just grading some papers for my class.

Listen, uncle...

I don't want to ask you this, but do you think I could

maybe work at Sahara and, you know, at the front in the register?