Page 17 of Come Back for Me
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I love my classroom. It’s my happy place. I’ve decorated the room this month in all Shakespearean things. There are quotes, photos, a fake dagger, a vial of water, and other items that I tried to get that would interest the boys. Then there are the kids who are wonderful, mostly because the teacher I replaced was a horrible woman. I don’t think she liked her job, the kids, the school, herself . . . it was bad. And so, I get to reap the benefits.
I’m at my desk going over the play we’re about to study when I hear a knock.
“Hello, Ellie, you look lovely today,” Mrs. Symonds, the principal, says as she stands at the door.
“Thank you. I’m excited about the new material we’re starting today.”
I also wanted to feel good. The last week has been calm, and I’ve needed calm. Kevin has been working extra hard because there’s been some kind of spike in something and he’s pleased with it, so home has been quiet.
Hadley hasn’t had any more falls, and her arm is doing well, and every bruise on my body has faded without any new ones appearing.
Not to mention my bank account grew a little more with my direct deposit today, which means I’m that much closer to being free.
There’s a reason to smile and feel lovely.
“What is it that you’re teaching today?”
“Romeo and Juliet,” I say with a smile. It’s one of my favorite pieces of literature. In some way, I think that all love is star-crossed. There’s a barrier that each human has to overcome in order to share their heart or at least their life with another person. As much as I love a good happily ever after, in life, that’s not always possible.
“Ahh, the great Shakespeare. I’ve always been more of a Bronte or Austen girl myself.”
I grin. “Me too, but this one is definitely fun to teach.”
“I agree.”
Mrs. Symonds is a wonderful principal. She’s fair, laughs with the kids, and has a firm hand. I also think she’s part witch or magician since she seems to have eyes everywhere. Nothing gets by her, and though the kids seem tothinkthey’re getting away with something, it’s never the case.
All of us hear and watch, share information, and intervene whenever it’s necessary.
“So, how are you settling in here?”
“I love it. The kids are wonderful and seem to be excited about learning.”
She nods. “That’s great to hear. I know Mrs. Williams departing was a bit sudden, but she was an asset to us here. Sure, her attitude was a bit gruff, and she was a stickler when it came to grammar and demanded a lot of her students, but we are a close bunch.”
Mrs. Williams was a pain in the ass according to everyone.
“She definitely made an impression.”
“How have you been getting along with the other teachers?”
I’m not sure where she’s going with this. Paranoia starts to build and I give a hesitant smile. “They’re really nice.”
She eyes me curiously. “Really? I’ve noticed that you don’t seem to eat with them during your lunch, did anything happen?”
And apparently, her eyes are on her staff as well.
“No, no, nothing like that all. Everything is great.”
Other than I’ve been isolating myself to keep people from seeing things and gossiping. This town is small. It’s bad enough I have a hundred students I have to conceal my life from, I don’t need to add adults, who are far more perceptive, to the mix.
It helps that Kevin isn’t exactly a beloved member of the community. Hell, he isn’t even a part of it at all. He stays on our land, never attending a meeting or fair. He doesn’t go shopping, and only had one friend, Nate, but even they don’t talk anymore. He prefers it that way and likes to keep me as close to that life as possible. Over the years, people have assumed that I’m as standoffish as he is and have stopped really trying to get to know me.
She steps closer, her smile is warm, and she reminds me of my mother for a moment. It comes across that it’s how she feels toward her teachers and the students. A sort of second mother who wants to protect those she loves. “I know most of them get together and work on plans, I didn’t know if there was a reason that you’re not a part of it . . .”
“It’s just my schedule. Once I’m done here, I grab Hadley, and we get back to help on the farm.”
