What Do We Expect?

At a Princeton University reunion, an old graduate recalled a campus episode that took place when he was still, in his words, “a cocky freshman.” He said, I was hurrying toward the campus library between classes when I saw a crew of maintenance men busily raking and hauling the autumn leaves. But there was one man, wearing a wrinkled pea jacket and a ski hat, who was just standing around soaking up the sunshine. He seemed quite content to let the others do all the work. I was outraged. “Look at that old loafer,” I said to myself. I wanted to call out to him, “You’d better shape up if you want to keep your job.” Then, suddenly, a bell…