text: “As you're advisors, it's our duty to be as beneficial to you as possible. But it's your job to schedule appointments with us well in advance of enrollment dates” Frank calmly said to a room filled with students, it seemed like he had given the same speech thousands of times. As he was about to continue with the lecture, his new colleague, Mike, cleared his throat. “Just piggy-backing off of what Frank said, I want to mention that our offices are open 24/7 and we're ALWAYS here for you guys with anything. I mean it. We don't wanna be those lame advisors you probably thought we were gonna be! Haha...” Mike said directly after Frank was done speaking, almost cutting him off from his next thought. He had a nervous smile and looked to young to be advising anything, let alone students with their future careers resting on his decisions. “I’m just going to expand a little bit on what Mike said by mentioning we're definitely not in the office 24/7 and our advising will be limited to scholastics” Said Frank, with a little more sternness in his voice this time. What the hell is this new kid doing? Trying to embarrass me? He looks different in person than on the staff website... Frank had a progression of thoughts to himself; he felt like he was being played, but at the same time Mike looked so familiar to him. All that being said, he was not willing to show any signs of weakness in front of the 2000 plus audience of students. He knew first hand that kids will feed off of weakness. “Again.. If I may” Mike started gaining confidence, “piggy-backing off of what Frank said, you guys should come to us with whatever’s bothering you, that's what we're for! Oh, your boyfriend cheated on you with your ex BFF, we'll take care of that bitch! Your roommate caught you masturbating to anime porn? My office can be your new porn sanctuary!” The crowd stirred, most kids were laughing. The floor was Mike’s, his plan was finally working, now to have a bit of fun with it... “Let's say maybe you and your friends got a little too crazy on a Friday night and you don't have a place to crash? I got a pull out couch and a stash of weed hidden in my room- at your disposal!” Mike was now grinning from ear to ear. His young age, which was cleverly concealed behind a grim face, came out for the audience to inspect. In that moment he looked younger than half of the kids he was lecturing to. Frank knew he lost all of the respect he had with the students in the room. It made him physically sick. He would have punched Mike in the face and kicked his teeth in if there wasn’t a whole audience watching. How dare someone take all the power from under his feet, he could feel his knuckles tensing, his muscles flexing, his face was beat red. In a moment of clarity and stupidity, he realized Mike didn’t look a day older than anyone in the audience. “PEOPLE PLEASE, do not listen to Mike, he is clearly in a bad state right now” he motioned to turn Mike’s microphone off but was too slow. The audience was in chaos as a loud voice came bursting through the reception halls main sound system. “TO JUST PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT STATEMENT FRANK, ID LIKE TO SAY TO THE CLASS OF 2018 THAT MIKE HAS TWO-DOLLAR JELLO SHOTS ON THE STAGE. LETS GET READY TO RAGE!” The crowd erupted in applause to this unfamiliar voice. Frank was still seated in his chair, with a center stage view to the madness. He was starring with awe at his previous colleague, and to his own disbelief, Frank was finally able to recognize Mike. He stared at the boy who stripped him of his power, not with hatred but with love. It was his son. Frank woke up from the nightmare and pressed his head against the pillow hard, stuffing his face on the silk. Just at that moment, his two children, 5- year-old Sophie and 18-year-old Mike entered the room. The smell of bacon followed them in and pierced through the bedroom door to his nose. “Dad, where are the suitcases? I figure I should probably start packing soon if I’m leaving in a week” Mike said to his father. Frank got up and hugged both of his children, surprising them. On his way to eat breakfast he gave Sofia a piggyback ride.