Page 82 of Teacher of the Year

Marvin: I don’t think it could have gone better.

Olan: Amazing and not surprising. Also I wanted to kiss you so bad at pickup. You. In that bowtie. Please wear it for me sometime.

Marvin: Of course. ??

The next couple of weeks fly by. With the anticipation of the visit and interview over, I lean into life. Dr. Hayes informs me I won’t be notified about the selection until the ceremony at the end of May, so I do my best to put it out of my mind and focus on my students, friends, and Olan.

At school, we are busily getting ready for our reading celebration. We spend a little bit of time each day rereadingThe Very Hungry Caterpillar, creating costumes for each part with posterboard, paint, and yarn, and practicing our retelling on the carpet. The kids adore the story, and the chance to craft and use their imaginations only enhances the joy of reading. Having families join us for the afternoon to revel in their children’s growth takes work, but the payoff exceeds expectations.

Jill and I return to our Saturday morning gatherings. The scare with the baby is happily only a memory, and her bump slowly begins to grow. We talk about when she might tell her class with Kristi, and she lands on waiting until closer to the end of the school year. Now that she knows about Olan, I can chat with her about him, and honestly, that feels like a huge weight has been lifted. Olan isn’t thrilled I confessed to her, but he understands, and I assure him Jill’s lips are sealed.

“I get you need someone to talk to about… well, me.”

“What about you? Who can you talk to? About me,” I ask him.

“Well, there’s Illona,” he jokes. “No, my sponsor, Jack. We have no secrets.”

Even though we’re keeping things hush-hush, Olan and I progress in a way I never would’ve imagined. We spend at least one weekend night together, usually with me staying at his place.

For Mother’s Day, Illona flies to California to see her mother, which makes my heart happy. Olan worries about being away from her, but Cindy took her, and that helps calm his nerves. With nobody at his house, he stays at my place for the first time. Gonzo is extremely wary at first and not keen on moving from his spot next to me on the bed, but eventually, with enough treats and chin scratches, he succumbs to Olan’s charm. Welcome to the club, buddy.

Waking up on a Saturday morning with both Olan and Gonzo in bed creates a sense of calmness new to me. As I lie there, sandwiched between them, I stare up at the ceiling, and a sense of peace washes over me. Olan begins to stir and mumbles, “Morning.”

“Hey, sleepy head.”

He opens one eye. “What are you so smiley about?”

“Oh, just love lying here with both my boys.” Gonzo crawls over me, lying between us and nudging Olan’s hand with his nose.

“Tell me more about little Marvin.”

“My dick? Um, I’m pretty sure you could identify him in a police lineup.”

“No, silly. Little Marvin, your childhood. You don’t talk about it much.”

A small lump forms in the back of my dry mouth. “That’s because I mostly try to forget it.”

“There must be something pleasant you remember. Something that was a reprieve for you.”

“Hmmm. Well, there was this dog.”

“You had a dog?” Olan’s eyebrows hitch up with curiosity.

“No, not a real dog, a stuffed dog. When I was about five, my mother bought him for me after a particularly bad weekend. She was trying to make up for her mess. I loved that stupid stuffed animal. He had shaggy brown fur and a giant black nose. Cuddling and playing with him brought me more comfort than you can imagine. I used to make little forts in my bedroom with blankets and pillows and have these mini adventures with him. So foolish.”

“I think it’s sweet. What was his name?”

“Ivan. It was on his tag, and I just liked it. It felt like a strong name, and I imagined he would help take care of me.”

Olan gathers me in his arms, my head on his chest as he begins stroking my hair.

“Not that you need it now, but I’d like to help take care of you.”

“What do you think about that, Gonzo?” Olan’s hand pauses petting my head, and moves to Gonzo, who immediately begins purring loud enough to shake the bed.

Gonzo, always a glutton for attention, rolls slightly, exposing his belly.

“He’s being a whore for you,” I say.

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