Edgar

She was already in her third year at university and had long since gotten used to the fact that most classes proceeded the same way: a lecture, a few questions, tired faces, and then the wait for the class to end. That day, nothing foreshadowed anything special. The auditorium was full, the windows were slightly open, the city roared outside, and inside, the familiar student buzz filled the air.

The teacher walked in, placed a folder on the table, and, wasting no time, announced that they would be hosting a guest speaker today. She said it was a military man, a man with real-world experience, and that the students would have the opportunity to ask any questions they had—about service, choosing a life path, discipline, and responsibility. Some perked up, some chuckled skeptically, and some simply continued flipping through their notebooks.

When the door opened, a man in uniform entered the auditorium. He walked confidently, without fuss, scanning the rows as if he could immediately read the mood of the group. There was no ostentatious severity about him, but one could sense a sense of order and the fact that he was being listened to. He stopped at the lectern and waited silently for the teacher to finish her introduction.

She began introducing the guest, stating his rank, first name, and last name. The last name sounded unusual, and that was what triggered it. She found it funny, almost anecdotal. She chuckled, and then, without thinking about the consequences, said it out loud, as if it were perfectly normal.

• Well, you have a funny last name.

A heavy silence fell over the room. A few people laughed awkwardly, but the laughter died down immediately. The teacher was clearly at a loss; some looked down, others stared at their phones, pretending nothing had happened. She herself was beginning to realize she'd said too much, but it was too late to back out.

The soldier slowly turned his head in her direction. He looked straight ahead, calmly, without emotion, but his gaze made her uneasy. He didn't raise his voice or make any sudden movements; he simply paused, letting everyone absorb the moment, and then spoke.

• Let me slap it in your passport and we'll laugh together, huh?