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The Teaching Assistant and the Math Professor

Story by Shaindel Beers (Read author interview) September 29, 2009

art by Robinson Accola

He knew when he saw on her paperwork that her birthday was Pi Day that she would be his third wife, his fourteenth girlfriend. Twelve years his junior, this meant they were both born in the Year of the Snake. If things went well, they could be married on 09/10/11. If they decided on a lunch break courthouse ceremony, they could be pronounced man and wife at 12:13. She would teach Math 121 while he taught 242. Children, born two years apart, would both be prime numbers at 3 and 5, 5 and 7, 11 and 13, 17 and 19, 41 and 43, 71 and 73, God willing. They would keep their personal and romantic lives discrete. They would love each other for infinity.

About the Author

Shaindel Beers’ poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. She is currently an instructor of English at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Oregon, in eastern Oregon’s high desert and serves as poetry editor of Contrary (www.contrarymagazine.com). She hosts the talk radio poetry show Translated By, which can be found at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onword.

About the Artist

Robinson Accola creates artwork for SmokeLong Quarterly as needed.

This story appeared in Issue Twenty-Six of SmokeLong Quarterly.
SmokeLong Quarterly Issue Twenty-Six
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