Henry James’ book, Portrait of a Lady, involves a young American woman in Europe and two European nobles who manipulate her. Through much of the novel, neither the Lady in question nor the reader knows about this manipulation. At some point, however, at a social gathering, the two manipulators exchange a glance across a crowded room — and all becomes clear for the reader, and ultimately, for the Lady. Who hasn’t experienced a moment when a new acquaintance or lifelong friend has not revealed something good or bad about their character in a single glance, gesture or action?

So I made it to class! Usually, I am the first to arrive, and the students drift in. Yesterday, I was a few minutes late and everyone was set up to go. When I opened the door and they looked at me, I could tell they were startled. I bet they assumed I wasn’t going to make it. They applauded, which pleased me. They provided two chairs for Judy and I at the back of the room — I need to be close to the exit just in case. I was also hydrating like crazy because I’ve been running a fever and taking antibiotics since Sunday.

During a break, one of the students who had been in amateur theatrical productions at the high school where Judy is the costumer, came over and gave Judy a hug. It made her feel welcome in a room full of people who certainly knew who she  was but had not expected to see her. During the next presentation, a student who was running the video camera noticed that I had run low on water. He quietly retrieved my water glass and filled it.

Both those students revealed a degree of compassion and simple awareness of others. In one sense it was like being in a room of mostly sleeping people (I choose not to dwell on the vast majority of the students who failed to come over to introduce themselves to Judy) and noticing that two were, indeed, awake.