the guy who said 'ersatz'

Confession time! I want to be my TA. Her name is Erica.

Seriously. I sat in section today and found myself jotting down copious notes -- not about our conversation on "Lolita," though; instead, I furiously wrote down the witty things she said.

Two of my favorite exchanges from today's section are listed below.

#1:
A small freshman walks out of class to go to the bathroom and closes the door cautiously behind her. Erica pauses for a second and then smiles.

Erica: I think that's the first time someone has gone to the bathroom during one of my sections.

Class laughs nervously.

Erica: I mean, you guys can definitely go to the bathroom if you want. . . (long, long pause) I used to think that maybe people thought they weren't allowed to go to the bathroom during section. . . I guess it's only an hour.

More chuckles, then silence.

Erica: We've talked about this too much now. It's going to be awkward when she comes back in.

#2:
Nabokov Admirer, a wide-eyed sophomore, raises his hand to speak after having made a comment earlier in the class in which he awkwardly incorporated the word "ersatz." Erica calls on NA, and he flips though his giant annotated version of "Lolita."

NA: So, I don't mean to be the guy who says [attempts the voice of a pompous fool] 'Well, in the annotated version. . .'

Erica: Well you already said 'ersatz' in section, so. . .

Class laughs. Ha. Ha. Ha.

NA: Well, now that I've officially established myself as the section jerk. . .

Erica: No, you're not the jerk. You're just the guy who said 'ersatz.'