I winced when TPR ordered pudding wine. He was a last-minute guest at our business dinner, and it certainly wasn’t his place to make demands of the waiting staff to meet his expensive personal tastes. I hoped that BR and the newer members of the teaching team would not notice TPR’s indiscretion.

The next day I could not recall who had paid for the previous evening’s dinner. Had anyone picked up the bill? Did I owe anyone any money? If so, how much? I walked down to JK’s office to see if she knew the answers to my questions.

On my way I bumped into SM. She held in her hand the hand-written bill from the meal. As yet it was unpaid, but she was confident that this would be covered by our clients. There was no reason for me to fret.

I continued on my mission to see JK. She was not alone. At the other side of her desk was a very pale and puffy AJW, wrapped up in a blanket. She looked far too ill to be on a university campus. I learnt that AJW had a throat infection, but nowhere to stay, so JK had taken her in. I immediately arranged for AJW to be transported back to my flat. She would be placed under the care of TPR until she made a full recovery.