“Any spare change, lady?"
The sound of the cheap bell hitting the tin can jolted her back to reality.  The poorly decorated sign read "God blesses those who give to the less fortunate."  She reached into her pocket and pulled out a ten dollar bill and thirty-seven cents in change.  The sound of coins hitting the bottom of the can was soon followed by a bitter thank you from the bum in charge of operations.  She stood watching him, unaware of time and that it had started to rain.  She lighted a cigarette, placed a cold hand into the pocket of her coat, and continued on her way.  
She passed by a small bakery and the smell of apple cider rushed out with the small children running to catch up with a man half way down the block.  She adjusted the hat that covered her dark brown hair and looked over her collar at a building covered in Christmas lights.  "Watch it, will ya?" The crowded streets of New York City wouldn't let her forget where she needed to be.  She looked at her watch; it was twelve twenty.  It would be miles before she reached the train station.  She felt the dollar bill in her pocket and flagged down one of the many cabs flooding the streets.
"Where to, lady?" the cab driver asked indifferently.
“The University, please." Kate Valdez answered back with the same indifference.

Kate Valdez stood looking at the New York University for a moment; the building was a historical site now.  The stones were worn and the style was outdated, but the prestige that came out of those double gated doors couldn't be denied.  Great men had risen from this building and she was on her way up to erase the last traces of one of them.  The door on the 3rd floor read: "Antonio Valdez, Vice President." It took her a moment to grab the door handle - then she went inside.  The room didn't seem very different than she remembered: his certificates of --- (blank) were framed on the wall, their picture was still on his desk; the coat hanger was still occuiped by his favorite suit jacket.  Kate Valdez walked around to the side of the desk and looked out the window.  The rain had started to pick up.  She pulled his chair around and sat down, noticing one last cardboard box waiting on the floor.  Kate Valdez started to clean out her father's desk, filling the box with old papers and some supplies.  She grabbed the framed picture, clearing the dust from their faces.  Kate Valdez hadn't cried at his funeral and she couldn't bring herself to do it now.  She held the picture in her steady hands.  The glass broke with little resistance as the picture hit the floor.  A short time later, there was a knock at the door. (Awkward sentence)
"Miss, is everything ok?" Mr. Valdez's secretary, Vivian Roberts, asked through a cracked door.
"I'm almost done.  Just a few more supplies and I'll be on my way."
"Take your time, Miss Valdez.  You know you are always welcome here." Vivian Roberts turned and shut the door regretfully. 
Kate Valdez walked toward the door and glanced near the coat hanger.  She placed the box on the floor and extended her hand toward the jacket.  It smelled of tobacco and  peppermint - he had worn that jacket only two weeks earlier.   She appeared out of the vacant office a short time later.
"Vivian, can I leave his stuff here while I go to class?" Kate Valdez asked, walking toward the door.  "Certainly, dear.  You know you didn't have to come in so soon after... you know, it all happened.  I could have done it for you." Kate Valdez was already on her way out of The Dean's Headquarters when Vivian looked up from her desk.
                                                                     *
"... remember, class, history has nothing to do with the present moment.  History is in the past, and we are merely studying it.  Mr. Bryan, this comment is directed to you.  I don't want to hear about history repeating itself - we aren't in debate class, and it would suit you to keep your opinions out of this classroom.  Miss Valdez, it is so nice to see you joining us today.  Not on time, I see.  Please find a seat.  We were just discussing the Civil War..." 
                                                                     *

Not too bad for the into scene - I'm not to set on having the story take place in New York.  I want it to be a busy place and that is the reason I picked the location I did.  I didn't want to use NYU as the school, but it is such a well-known university.  I'll play with more ideas and work on this later.