"Welcome Back"
                         by:  Kevin C. Bissessar
                      Release Date:  Sept 11, 1995
                      Revised Date:  July 19, 1997


September 12, 2039


      The first day of classes went along smoothly for the Professor of
English Literature.  Kevin was happy to meet the new students and the
returning ones in his courses.  The nine o'clock first years were nervous
at first; Kevin could see it in their eyes.  But by the time ten o'clock
had rolled along, most of the freshmen students felt comfortable being in
First Year English Literature.  Teaching 20th Century American Theatre was
a new experience, and it would take some time getting used to the would-be
actors and actresses who wanted to put on their favourite play.  Of
course, the Shakespeare students were all eager to discuss imagery,
tragedy, and blank verse on their first day.  And even the fourth year
students in Advanced Literary Writing wanted to begin their creative
fictions right away.
      The day had come to an end and Kevin was relaxing in his newly-
furnished classroom, locked away from the outside world.  The air
conditioner worked, and Kevin had turned it off for the day.  With the
season changing to fall, and colder weather was on its way, there was no
need to keep the classroom cool.  Kevin just hoped that the heating
generator will give not any problems once the snow arrives in winter.
      All of the Professor's favourite characters and people were in
place.  There was Shakespeare, Big Brother, Hazel, David Copperfield,
Dracula, and Othello, all aligned on the walls.  But of course, who
couldn't resist having a Kisasian portrait in the room, as Kevin took the
time to appreciate this spectacular lion character.  Brian Tiemann did do
a terrific job in painting the King.  Kisasian wasn't drawn out like the
other cartoon characters from _The Lion King_.  He was real-life lion,
painted with a black mane, a dark-orange body, a large royal head, and a
blood-red cut surfacing one eye.  A mean lion.  Absolutely terrifying. 
And Kevin loved it!
      What is new this year is the painting of Lisani, positioned on the
left side of Kisasian where _The Lion King_ poster used to stand.  Kevin
had shifted the movie poster next to Lisani in order for the Queen to be
with her mate.  It had been Kevin's long-time hope to bring about some
kind of change inside of Kisasian.  But so far, the professor had been
unsuccessful.  Purchasing Lisani was Kevin's attempt to bring about some
love into the dark lion's life.  Maybe a lioness can succeed where Kevin
had failed.
      Of course, the professor knew such a change was never going to
occur.  These characters were frozen in time, oblivious to the reader's
real world.  In order to make any kind of change, Kevin would have to
speak directly to Kisasian.  But he knew that was impossible.  Sure, there
were virtual reality interactive games based on _The Tales of Tanabi_, and
Kevin _could_ speak to Kisasian there.  But the professor always felt
there was an obvious "fakeness" to the game.  Kisasian wasn't really
there.  It was only a machine, trying to play Kisasian, but never giving
"life" to the character.  Kevin sighed, wanting to speak to Kisasian ...
      When suddenly, a strange noise was heard.  Kevin's thoughts about
Kisasian were broken and he looked around his classroom.  The source of
the noise could not be found, but it sounded like a grinding growl of some
sort.
      "What the hell?" said Kevin, angrily.  He suspected it might be the
air conditioner, knowing that his room (and the university) was plagued
with the occasional malfunction.  Kevin entered his password into the
desktop console screen and began checking the mechanics of the air
conditioner.
      Then, something totally unexpected occurred.  For at that moment,
when Kevin had his attention focused on the console screen, his eyes
staring at the schematics for the air conditioner, a massive form jumped
onto his desk so quickly that it surprised the professor, and threw him
back into his seat.  Kevin could not believe his eyes, yet standing before
him was one of the most powerful, terrifying, angriest creatures ever
written by man.  Standing before him, was Kisasian.


                              [To be continued]


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Copyright (C) 1995, 1997