She lived on the top floor and we lived on the first floor. My husband's car was not in the driveway, where he usually parks, yet the lights were on in our apartment, too. I asked impatiently. We were at the beginning. Now was time for a class-wide conference.
Students take one step at a time.
Call the police. Students arrive, go immediately to their assigned writing groups, and start reading or talking about their manuscript or some problem they are having. The class has a continuity of its own without my having to manufacture interest. In fact, my presence is only intermittently necessary. I'm the consultant when everyone else is stumped.