“Well, Carter, Carter Quinn, you’ve already started talking,” Rosa noted with a bit of acerbity, which his foreign accent had a way of accentuating, “so I suppose whether or not I have a minute is now a moot point.”

“Actually,” said the young man with a sheepish smile, “it’s just Carter Quinn.You know, one ‘Carter,’ not two.”

“You should learn to speak more precisely.”

“Well, in a way, that’s why I’m here.”

“Really?” said Rosa. “And how might that be?”

“I want to learn how to speak Italian.”

“You’re in the wrong place,” Rosa told him. “This is the music department.The foreign language department is in the next building over.”

“Actually, I called them already this morning,” said Carter. “They’re not offering any introductory classes this summer. But the woman I spoke with—I think her name was Patricia—she said I should try getting in touch with you before you left for the summer. She told me that you come from Italy and that sometimes you give private Italian lessons, so I took a chance that I’d find you here. I would have called first, but she said not to bother because you almost never check your voice mail.”

“Hmm,” Rosa grunted. “That sounds just like Patricia.”

“Then it’s true, you do give lessons,” said Carter.

“Yes, sometimes I give lessons,” Rosa admitted, somewhat impatiently. “Sometimes, but not always—and not to just any stranger who walks through the door, I’m afraid.”

“I never really made it through the door,” Carter observed. “Does that help?”

“Not really,” Rosa replied. “Forgive me, my friend, but I don’t think I’ll be giving any lessons this summer. If you look around, perhaps in the yellow pages, I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone who can help you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m a little busy at the moment.”

With that the professor turned and continued on his way down the corridor to the stairwell and out to his car. Looking up into the sky as he crossed the parking lot, Rosa took in the warmth of the sun and the touch of the soft breeze. He had not realized just how lovely a day it had turned into.That morning, he had brought with him a bagged lunch, intending to eat it at his desk while he finished his work. Now, breathing in the warm, pleasant air, the idea of taking a few minutes to enjoy his meal outdoors seemed to him a much better option. He stowed the box in the backseat of his car and headed back to his office.

To his surprise, when Rosa climbed the stairs and stepped out into the corridor, he found Carter Quinn sitting on the floor outside his office. Seeing the professor approach, Carter jumped to his feet, an apologetic but hopeful expression coming to his face.