Pushing the door open, I found a student sitting behind a small wooden desk near the entrance. He glanced up from the book he had been reading and greeted me with an easy smile.
"Ace."
I paused for a moment. I didn't remember ever meeting him.
"Shower or just washing your face?"
"Face."
He nodded toward the room beyond.
"Go right ahead."
"Thanks."
I walked past the desk and stopped in front of one of the wooden wash basins lined against the wall.
Above it hung a simple wooden water reservoir with a lever attached beneath it.
I bent forward slightly, grabbed the handle, and pulled it down.
The wooden flap inside shifted open, and a steady stream of cool water poured into the basin below. Once enough had collected, I splashed the water across my face several times, letting the cold wash away the last traces of sleep.
Much better.
I dried my face with the cloth hanging beside the basin before looking at my reflection in the polished mirror mounted above it.
