Page 19 of Symphony of Salvation

At forty-four, all the good men were taken.

“Have lunch with me?” I vacated the desk where I’d spent the last fifteen minutes bemoaning my situation.

Koa moved to the doorway to greet students and collect assignments from tired-looking teens before they collapsed into their seats. “I can’t today. Jersey’s meeting me at Pestle &Mortar. He has a game in Niagara tonight, so I won’t see him otherwise. Besides, you should spend your lunch hour making your guest feel welcome. Take him out to eat.”

“Except I don’t want to.”

“Then eat lunch alone and mope. It won’t change your circumstance.”

A group of boys entered, roughhousing and laughing, bringing with them a cloud of Axe body spray. The stockier of the bunch, a trumpet player named Dean, bumped into me before I could step out of the way.

“Oh, hey. Sorry, Mr. Edwidge.”

“No harm, no foul.”

“Homework.” Koa extended a hand as each boy deposited their reports in turn.

“I’ll see you later.”

The influx of students dwindled, and Koa stepped into the hall to see me off. Without a teacher surveying the class, the teens took Koa’s absence as permission to chatter and grow rambunctious.

Koa poked his head back into the room to hush them before closing the door partly to block the noise. “Did you talk to Dr. McCaine?”

“No. What am I going to say? Do I accuse her of lying? Ask if she’s planning to offer Mr. Maestro my job?”

“I believe it’sDr.Maestro if we’re giving him two titles.”

“You’re an ass.”

A rare smile appeared on my friend’s face. “She could assuage your fears.”

“True, or she could validate them.”

“Honestly, Niles. You’re overreacting.”

“Time will tell. I’ll be jobless by summer. Prepare your spare room. I’ll need to give up the house and move in.”

“He doesn’t want your job. Who would? Listen to these animals.” He motioned to the classroom and the steadily growing madness within.

The final bell rang, and Constance appeared at the end of the hall, moving in our direction. Koa noticed her as well.

I lowered my voice. “Is she in your class?”

“She is.”

“Has she spoken?”

“Not a word, but she’s an avid reader. I can tell.”

Constance closed the distance and held out her printed assignment.

“Good morning, Miss Castellanos.” Koa accepted the report and scanned the cover page. “You didn’t need the extra time?”

Constance shook her head. Before slipping into the classroom, she offered me a soft smile and a shy wave.

“Good morning. Should I assume your dad is waiting for me?”

She stopped short of rolling her eyes and nodded.

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