Page 11 of For Your Own Good
“It isn’t, I swear. He just gave me the assignment a couple days ago. It’s... it’s an extra-credit thing. I have to do it for my grade.”
As much as she wants to say something about Teddy Crutcher—and his teaching methods—she bites her tongue.
Instead, she glances at her watch. Zach is dangerously close to being late for his next class, and so is she. “Come see me later. We’ll talk about it then.”
Zach nods and runs off. He waves to half the kids left in the hallway as he goes, and they all wave back. It’s impossible not to like Zach. He’s the kind of student you want to help.
She walks into her class, where everyone is already seated and waiting. The final bell rings as she shuts the door. With no phones to play with, they all stare at her like a litter of lost puppies, wondering what they’re supposed to do next.
It’s a good thing Sonia is here to guide them.
AS SOON ASshe has a chance, Sonia texts the student editor of theBugle, letting her know that Zach’s article may not be done in time, and that it’s possible they’ll need another article to fill the space.
Courtney freaks out, as she is prone to do.
But we don’t have time to get another article!
Don’t worry. We’ll pull it together, Sonia replies.We always do!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Courtney’s string of exclamation points fills the entire message. She’s a junior, which everyone calls their “last chance” year. Last chance to get your GPA up. Last chance to cram in all the extracurricular activities colleges love so much. Junior year is a pressure cooker when it comes to college, and it isn’t just the students. It’s also the parents.
They spend a lot of money sending their kids to Belmont, and for that, they expect something. Not a good college, a great one. Ivy League is always the goal, or at least one of the top-tier West Coast schools—Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA. An institution with a big name and an even bigger network of contacts. A school that will ensure a child’s future.
It’s exhausting. And ever since the college admissions scandal, it’s been even worse. Which is why Sonia is rather peeved with Teddy for assigning extra work at a time like this.
Normally, she has a hands-off rule when it comes to other teachers and their methods. To each their own, she always says. But in this case, she decides shehasto step in and say something, even if it’s Teddy. It’s her duty, given the stress these kids are under.
Every year, Sonia keeps one eye out for any students who are about to crack. They have, more than once. Sometimes, it’s the teachers.
And one time, it was even the headmaster.
7
SONIA HATES TEDDY’Sclassroom. All those blank walls drive her crazy. And the fact that he won’t use a smartboard is ridiculous. Just ridiculous. There’s nothing she despises more than a man who wishes he lived a hundred years ago.
But most think he’s good at teaching. Great, some even say.
During lunch, she finds him sitting at his desk, eating a sandwich wrapped in wax paper, along with an apple. It seems like he should be so much older than he is. Teddy is forty years old, and she knows this because the school threw him a big birthday party. Too big.
“Sonia,” he says, standing up to greet her. “Hello.”
“Hi, Teddy. How are you?”
“I’m well, and you?”
“Very well.”
For the first time, she sees the plaque. After years of teaching atBelmont, Teddy has finally put something on the wall. Like he’s been saving that spot just for his Teacher of the Year award.
Unbelievable that the board of directors chose him instead of her.
“What can I do for you?” he says.
“I understand you’ve given Zach Ward an extra assignment.”
Teddy stares at her, not saying a word. Not explaining anything.
