Inabel

 

Inabel


One of the more interesting characters that I met during those hard years at Roanoke college was a girl named Inabel. She had a glaring physical defect. Her nose had a prominent hook, and on that hook there was a wart. In other words she was the living embodiment of a fairy tale witch. But her bright happy character was just the opposite of that of a witch. And she had a natural sense of humor that clearly overrode any anxiety she may have had about her appearance.

The students who lived in Roanoke and did nor participate in dorm life were assigned a study room for those who did not have 8 o'clock classes, and it even extended to the 9 o'clock hour for those returning from an 8 o'clock class.

These were hours of heavy study. We asked each other questions, some of which were anticipated test questions, and some real need-to-know questions as we struggled to keep our heads above water in the onerous passing grade schedule imposed by Roanoke College.

But Inabel was a born comedienne. One day she brought in a portable record player, and performed a hilarious oriental dance to Ketelby's, “In a Persian Market”. She performed it perfectly. Maybe she had rehearsed it, but I don't think she needed to.

It was in this way that Inabel lightened what would otherwise have been a deadly serious atmosphere. But by the end of the second semester, the struggle had been too unbearable. She threw in the towel, and transferred to a nearby college.

The relatively few of us still hanging in there at Roanoke continued to meet in our study room, but it was clear that the atmosphere had changed. We didn't just miss Inabel; we needed her. And so it was to our great delight that, after about three weeks, she showed up. This is what had happened: after some time at the easier school, she had to face the fact that she just wasn't learning anything. The dean of her college contacted the dean of Roanoke college, and they agreed to let her transfer back without a penalty.

I eventually lost track of Inabel, but I often think back to those bright moments and that happy face, and pray that she has not lost that sense of humor, and that someone finally had sense enough to remove that wart.

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