Page 51 of Forever with the Farmer's Daughter
Craig groans but the smile on his face is wide and telling. “Dad lectured me all the way home. But I got to first base, so it was worth it.”
Kenny and I laugh and shake our heads. Craig hitches his thumb toward the bleacher. “Race ya to the top?”
Kenny grins. “Sure, you know I’m always willing to beat you in a race.”
Craig looks over at me. “You in Cam?”
Movement by the school catches my eye and I see Coach wave me over. “Nah, you guys go ahead. I’m going to see what Coach wants.” I start to jog toward the school but turn back to taunt them. “Besides neither of you stand a chance with me in the race.”
I laugh as they throw a few jabs my way until I get out of earshot. When I reach the school, Coach greets me with a smile. “Reliving your glory days?”
I laugh. “Something like that.”
Coach pulls open the door. “Come on, let’s talk in the office.”
We walk down the hall and past the locker room where Coach’s office resides. Confusion sets in as we approach the principal’s office. “If we weren’t supposed to be on the field, you could have just told us.”
Coach Markham chuckles as he pulls open the door. “Nothing like that.” He motions me to walk through the door. As I do, a woman, about my momma’s age, looks up and smiles. “Cameron Hutchinson, this is our principal, Evelyn King.”
She stands from her seat behind her desk and stretches her hand out to me. “Mr. Hutchinson. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I shake her hand. “Likewise, ma’am. Please call me Cameron.”
She smiles and releases my hand. “Very well. Please have a seat.” Once she’s seated in her chair, Coach and I each take a seat in front of her desk. “I’m sure you are wondering why you’re here, so I’ll get right to it. Our automotive teacher has decided to retire, leaving us with an open position. After our faculty meeting, Coach Markham mentioned along with your time in the military you are a master mechanic.”
“Yes ma’am, but I’m not sure that qualifies me to be a high school teacher.”
She smiles softly, her eyes jumping from Coach Markham to me. “Actually, it more than qualifies you. You see, as automotive instructor you wouldn’t need to teach another subject since it would be a four-period class.”
To make sure I’m hearing this right, I echo her words back to her. “Let me get this straight. Are you offering me a position, where I would teach auto mechanics four hours a day, and that’s it?”
Principal King’s eyes shift to Coach Markham, and he shifts in his chair. “Not exactly. I’m also looking to add an assistant coach to the football team since Levy County poached mine to become their head coach.”
“Principal King, Coach, I’m flattered, but I don’t have any experience coaching football.”
Coach doesn’t hesitate to speak up. “But you have years of experience as a player. As I told the team the day you stopped by, you were one of the best running backs I ever had the pleasure to coach. I think you’d make an exceptional coach.”
Before I can argue further, Principal King takes over the conversation again. “Cameron, I have already talked to the school board and the offers we’re making have already been cleared with them. I know we’ve given you a lot to think about, and I don’t expect you to give me an answer today. Think about it and get back to me by the end of the week. The job is yours if you decide to accept. If not, I have some other calls to make.” She stands and offers me her hand once again. “Thank you for coming in. I look forward to hearing from you.”
I stand and take her hand and then shake Coach’s as well. “Thank you, ma’am, Coach.”
I make my way back down the hallway to the exit we entered through and walk back to the truck where Craig and Kenny are waiting. They hop off the tailgate and open the truck doors. Craig reads my expression before climbing into the truck. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, they offered me a job, well two. Teaching auto mechanics and assistant football coach.”
Kenny pulls out on the highway and looks over at me and grins. “Seriously? That’s great man! What did you tell them?”
“Nothing yet. They asked me to think about it and get back with them by the end of the week.”
“Cam,” Craig says gaining my attention. “You know we love having you home and helping on the farm, but this is an opportunity you can’t pass up. You should accept.”
“Really? I don’t want to leave you guys in a lurch.”
Kenny glances over at me before returning his attention to the road. “He’s right. You should take the job. We have the farm under control, although we may need an extra hand with harvest here and there.”
“You guys know you can count on me to help whenever you need me. I appreciate the encouragement, but there’s someone else I need to run all this by before I accept.”
Samantha
