"Page 17, everyone," Professor Lessing instructed her students. She then began to read a loud, "She was not herself when she spoke, but driven to distraction by her illness and the crying of the hungry children, and it was said more to wound her than anything else. For that's Katerina Ivanovna's character, and when children cry, even from hunger, she falls to beating them at once." The professor read a few more lines out of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, and then began discussing the final essay that was due on Monday over the book.

"I'd like to write about Katerina from a feminist perspective in my paper. Is that topic alright?" A fellow student asked.

 

"Well, I'd prefer to see a more serious issue be covered, but if that's what you feel best equipped to write about go ahead, I suppose." The professor responded. I saw the girl who asked the question turn her face down towards her open notebook and blush deeply, embarrassed by the professor's response. What a bitch, I thought to myself, as I witnessed the exchange.

 

"I wonder if Dostoevsky also thought his character wasn't serious," I whispered to my friend, and roommate, Lilly.

 

"I don't care how much of a bitch she is, I'd get with her in a minute," was Lilly's response. There was no denying Professor Lessing was smoking hot. She was tall, with shoulder length black hair that perfectly framed her face and highlighted her piercing hazel colored eyes that had the uncanny ability to look deep into a person's soul. Although she usually wore stylish blouses with either a skirt or slacks most of the time, it was easy to see by the way her clothes fit her frame that she had a nice plump ass and equally plump breasts. Although I genuinely enjoy reading and studying classic literature, I admit that the main reason I enrolled in this class was because I had heard that the professor was the sexiest thing alive. Although the rumor about her good looks did turn out to be true, the gossip had failed to inform me that she was also a highly opinionated bitch who never seemed to be satisfied with any of her students, often demeaning them publicly. She dismissed the female characters of the stories we read in class as unimportant and trivial, and whenever a female would work up the courage to comment on something during class, Professor Lessing would respond by calling her ideas quaint, or cute, or charming, deliberately trying to make her feel inferior. It didn't make sense. Her behavior was akin to male chauvinism, and certainly unexpected from a modern day woman. When class first started, I didn't pay much attention to her offensive comments and instead concentrated on her seductive face and curvaceous figure. But after a couple weeks of hearing her ridiculous opinions, I had a hard time even showing up to class, and even just looking at her was becoming unbearable. I tuned back in to hear what the professor is saying.

 

" '. . . He was so immersed in himself and had isolated himself so much from everyone that he was afraid not only of meeting his landlady, but of meeting anyone at all. He was crushed by poverty, but even his strained circumstances had lately ceased to burden him.' " Here, Professor Lessing paused from quoting the book to say, " Is Dostoevsky trying to convey what happens to a guilty soul, or is he giving us an idea of what having a mental illness was like in Russia at the time? I hope this gives you some ideas. Your papers are due next class."

 

Students began filing out of the classroom. Other like-minded students, unsurprisingly mostly male, gave Professor Lessing a smile, or wave, or other greeting as they exited. At present, two girls were talking to the professor, asking her questions and overtly posturing in a flirtatious manner. It was obvious what they wanted and it looked like Professor Lessing was certainly enjoying the attention. Some of the more enlightened females shot the professor dirty looks as they walked out. I was one such female, but when I looked up to give the professor my customary sarcastic smile she motioned for me to join her. Surprised and curious, I told Lilly that I'd see her later and made my way towards the professor.