pt their eyes either on these papers or on the
witness. They steadfastly refused to look at Diana or at the chair.
They asked few questions of the witness, tonelessly, and did not ask
any follow up or clarifying questions.

Annette gives new dimension to the act of keeping a low profile,
thought Henry. Her demeanor resembles that of a puppy that has just
been whipped for pissing on the new carpet. Jane, on the other hand,
adopts a superior mien. Her greatly elevated nose brings her whole
being into an altitude seemingly far above the detestable situation she
finds herself in.

As for Esther, well, she's a wreck. Never terribly lucid in her
thought processes, she babbles incoherently and then apologizes when
asked to repeat them. Her piggy eyes dart from witness to her papers
in a flurry of indecisiveness.

Frank Anuse is up to form though and really enjoying it. Henry watched
Frank proudly as he flung Diana a shit eatin' grin at every opportunity
and at times actually taunted her in a way reminiscent of a town bully.

At this point in the proceedings, Anuse laughed aloud in a derisive,
taunting fashion, causing everyone on the panel to look at him in
shocked silence. The chair put up a warning hand.

Esther, all the way out in left field and looking bewildered asked, "I
don't remember. Did we receive something from the students?"

Diana stood up and walked over to where Anuse sat. Jowl to jowl with
him, she said succinctly, "It isn't funny, Mr. Frank Anuse. It is not
funny, it is serious." To Esther, she said, "You probably don't see
everything that comes in or goes out of this committee.

"Again, I want to state that I have been denied access to all these
student evaluations that are needed for my defense. In addition, this
committee has steadfastly refused to confirm the testimony of their
witnesses concerning these documents by demanding that they be
produced." Diana returned to her chair.

Her attorney, Al Garret, leaned over and whispered into her ear. He
congratulated her on heeding his advice to be assertive and demanding.

Diana continued, "I would like to call Dr. Stacy Denton who has
information on the writing of the suspect documents."

"Is this....", Henry floundered. "Is this new information referring to
the document examiner we just heard from? This hearing is restricted,
as I told you, to his testimony and--"

"This witness has very pertinent information for the committee
reg