Page 34 of Hot Four Teacher
Dane
“Mr. Miller?”
I look up to see two of my female students standing at my desk.
“Lindsay, Annie, what can I do for you?”
I know it may seem crazy that I already know most of my students’ names when I’ve only been teaching for a few days. But number one, my classes aren’t very big. And two, all of these kids have already warmed up to me like I’ve been their teacher for years. They have zero boundaries and are open about absolutelyeverything.
The principal was right. High schoolers are a breed all their own.
Lindsay says, “Ash and I were wondering if you would write us a note to get out of gym class.”
“Why? What’s wrong with you?”
Their confusion indicates that they weren’t prepared for any follow-up questions.
Lindsay says, “Uh…girl problems?”
“And why don’t you just tell Mrs. Magee that you are havinggirl problemsand you need to sit out of class?”
“Because…uhm…” She looks to Annie for help, but she’s not giving any.
“Is it because you know Mrs. Magee would call you on your crap, but you’re hoping that I will heargirl problemsand not want to ask any questions and will write you a note?”
Their faces fall as they respond with a deflated, “Yeah.”
I look back down at the paper I’m grading. “You’re going to have to do better than that. I have a sister. Girl problems don’t scare me.”
“Oh, come on, Mr. Miller. Today, we are running the mile, and it just sounds exhausting.”
“Yeah, I’ve done the mile before…in the military. Scratch that. It was five miles…in combat boots…and sand.”
Lindsay sighs. “I hate playing this game with you. The teacher before you was way easier to dupe. She didn’t care what we did.”
“I apologize for caring about your education.”
She sits on the edge of my desk but stands back up when she sees the look I’m giving her.
“Mr. M, don’t you think it would be fun if Ash and I were to come hang out with you?”
Faking some excitement, I ask, “Will you tell me all the hot gossip?”
“Uh, yes!” Her eyes light up.
“Then, absolutely not. That sounds like a horrible time.”
“You’re a cruel, cruel man, Miller.”
Annie chimes in with, “Totally.”
Oh, Annie. Definitely not the head of this operation.
When I don’t say anything, Lindsay goes on, “I just hate that I have to spend my senior year in gym class. It’s a total buzz kill.”
“You know, it’s your own fault. You could’ve taken it in your freshman, sophomore,orjunior year. You have only yourself to blame for this,” I say, continuing to grade papers.
Seeing she’s not going to get me to change my mind, she changes the subject. “So, Mr. M, do you have a girlfriend?”
