When Erin strolled into the, it was full to the brim with chattering students but the one at the front of the class was not the usual professor. It was one of the TA's that followed the professor around. They stood before everyone, shifting nervously from one foot to the other. The professor was at his desk, a newspaper opened and with his feet up, looking like he couldn't care in the least. The TA kept glancing down at his wrist watch then back at the class as the seat filled in more and more. At about five past eight, he cleared his throat but that didn't seem to catch the kids attention. With a nervous glance at the professor, who peered at the TA from over his newpaper with a raised eyebrow, the TA tried once more to quiet the class and start the lecture. “Settle down everyone! Class has begun!” The classroom grew quiet as the students settled into their seats and gave the TA their full attention.
“Today's lecture is about the psychology of dreams.” A mummer began to sweep through the class and the TA cleared his throat, loudly this time. The students grew quiet again and the TA started his powerpoint presentation. “There are a lot of theories as to what dreams are. No one really knows.” The TA pressed a button on his clicker and his presentation went to the next slide. “A strong theory is that dreams are just a mumble jumble of things our brains have stored away, used in a way to process life and kind of sort things through. They don't mean anything and the more often someone is in your life, the more you will encounter them in your dream.” He clicked the button on his clicker to get to the next slide. This one showed an image of Captain America and the Avengers. “However, that leaves people wondering about those dreams that seem different than the typical ones. Those dreams that leave us waking up in the morning, wondering if this world is even real. What about those dreams? The dreams where you fall and hurt your back and you can feel it. Or those who have lived completely separate lives in those dreams just to wake up distraught. What about those dreams?” This seemed to catch the professor's attention and he lowered the newspaper, folding it, and resting it in his lap as he watched the TA's presentation. The TA flashed him an awkward smile before continuing.
“There's a theory,” The TA began, only for the professor to cut him off.
“A theory?” The older man said as he crossed his arms over his chest before letting his feet drop down from the desk.
“Okay, well it's not exactly a proven theory. More like, a guess.” The professor chuffed our a laugh and the TA nervously fidgeted before continuing with his lecture. “I'm sure you are all aware of the multiverse theory. You've all seen it in the recent super hero movies of different realities. Some researchers,” the professor cleared his throat and the TA sighed lightly before continuing, “some people, believe that when you sleep, you have a chance to break through the barrier that separates our dimension or reality from another. They even went as far as to try and test this theory out. There were a few successful attempts and getting to a regular place with months of trial and error. It really is a fascinating subject! Just think! You go to sleep and the next thing you know, you're in a completely different world. Perhaps one where magic is real and you can cast fireballs out of your hands!”
“Okay,” the professor said as he stood up from his chair. “I think this loony lecture has gone off the rails. Like he said in the beginning of the lecture. Dreams aren't really understood too well but I think we can pretty much all agree that they're NOT” the professor snatched the clicker away from the TA, “portals to different realms, hmm?” He started to flip through the slides, each one having a picture of some book or movie action scene where a hero or group of heroes were fighting a heroic battle. The last slide only had a short url in the center. Https:/ /dreamsrreal .org. The professor turned to the class, as he waved his hand to the link on display. “This, ladies and gentlemen, is why you should do your research and check and double check your information before you go through the trouble of making a presentation. It can make you look like a loon.” He threw the clicker down on the desk with a huff as he shook his head at the TA. “Well, I guess class is dismissed. You were supposed to be taught by him today but I think I rather you not learn anything at all than learn nonsense. Class dismissed.”