Stairwell Encounter

I was on my way down the stairs the other day, en route from my office to a meeting.  At the bottom of the stairwell was a student standing very still, back to the glass door leading outside.

"How's it going?" I asked cheerfully. In this part of the world that is equivalent to saying, "Hi."

No answer. He didn't look up at me, but kept staring straight ahead.

I finished my descent and as I reached him I asked, "Are you okay?"

"I have focused all my mental faculties on another matter," he said, a deliberate faraway look in his eyes, "and do not wish to shift my thoughts to form an answer to your question."

"Okey dokey," I replied. "Buh-bye." And I headed out the door.

We do get some very strange students.