Homework in action

A conversation in Amherst Coffee on Sunday became a very cool professor moment. I was asked if any of my students were there, and, scanning the room but not recognizing anyone, I replied that no, they were probably off in their dorm rooms doing all the homework I'd assigned, haha. My coffee companion's follow-up question: did I really assign a lot of homework for this weekend? Reconsidering my first answer I responded that no, I didn't really assig-- oh wait, that's right, my Barcelona class is starting a novel this weekend; they have the first 12 chapters to read, at which point I look up and out the window, and spotted one of my students sitting at an outdoor table, deeply immersed in said novel, pencil in hand, dictionary within reach. Synchronicity!