You had to do something to save your friend's dog, but hitting the moving rattler was probably beyond your ability, given your limited target practice. Fortunately, Brett dispatched the snake before it could hurt her dog.
While ascending the stairs, you remember your best friend's words of encouragement when you said you'd fight this injustice. She's the only person in your life who knows about your secret project to build a time machine. You and Brett have been inseparable since grade school when you played together with toy dinosaurs.
You finally reach the dean of students' office, which is guarded by a receptionist who purses her lips at you and pointedly glances at the wall clock. She tells you to take a seat as she heads into the dean's office. You wait. She comes out, closes the door, and leaves you cooling your heels. Through the closed door, you can hear the rumble of the dean's bass voice pronouncing your name, which is: