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"Well," Hal says, dubiously eyeing the list I’ve left, which says Bring Cooper breakfast as the first ite, cheese, and ham breakfast sandwich from deli (for delivery) beneath it, and the number for the deli under that Attached to it is a ten-dollar bill (I’ve included money for Hal’s breakfast, and a deli menu), and then, beneath that, because I’uy is our friend He will not hurt us Do not shoot hi at the list

"Look," I say It’s nearly nine "Have Cooper call me when he wakes up"

I’m alot so"

I hurry back only to have hi considerably heavier

"It’s loaded," Hal says, looking furtively up and down the street The sky is overcast, for a change, and thankfully there aren’t many people around "The safety is on Reive up your weapon, no matter what Not for any reason Have you read The Onion Field?"

Oddly, I have It’s a fact-based novel Cooper keeps around the house and which I’ve flipped through (unlike The Hobbit) That’s because it’s based on a true incident in which a police officer in California surrendered his gun to a crie The criun The case caused police departments across the country to enforce a strict new rule: No officer is to surrender his weapon under any circuh the incident had to have occurred before Hal was born, the fact that he keeps insisting I not give up ht into why he’s no longer on the force, and also why he himself owns so many weapons He must have been put into a similar situation as the officer in the onion field, and broken the rule, with siently, instead of what I want to say, which is, Get this thing out of et their hands on my weapon"

"Good If you won’t let ht behind the thick lenses of his glasses, "at least protect yourself You know it’s what Cooper would want"

"Yes," I say "I do Thank you veryafter Cooper"

Hal nods briskly, then quickly closes the door, probably so I won’t see hirown a little misty-eyed, as wellwhich is absurd Alet pistol to work Fortunately, the bottom drawer to my desk locks I’ll put my purse in it--after I’ve removed all the files--and lock it in there Explosives, fireworks, firearms, and ammunition are all prohibited in the residence halls, and subject to confiscation and disposal if found, according to The New York College Housing and Residence Life Handbook I’m fairly certain this applies to eht before when checking my e-mail that someone at the Express--not Cameron Ripley, obviously--had posted a story online about the RAs being fired It had garnered a number of comments, most of them in favor of the RAs

So I’m not surprised when I turn the corner and see student protesters ns that say new york college unfair! and i love , "Hire back my RA!"

Most of the students are obviously freshh adorable, are so the first feeeks of school, before they’ve become hardened and jaded, like ravitate to the park in the autun up for credit cards--carrying absurdly high interest rates--and passes to "rock concerts"--which turn out to be prayer s with a little live music thrown in