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Just how chaotic is her life?
She is my student, and somehow, I can’t help but notice her. Have my mind constantly swirling with thoughts of her, of her life outside the walls of my classroom. It’s not just that she drives a junker car or even that she works a lot. Plenty of students are in similar situations.
A picture of her younger brother walking with a cane comes to mind.
Their dynamic seemeddifferentthan that of a sister and brother. Maybe it was the drastic age gap.
But why do I care so much? Why does she seem to captivate me?
“Don’t forget to study for the exam.” The second class finally comes to an end. Once again, grumbles roll through the students, but I ignore them.
Some of these young people see me as their enemy, some see me as just another annoying professor, and occasionally, a few will see that I’m truly trying to help them further their education.
Movement in the corner of the room calls my attention and I turn. Ms. Everett closes her computer.
Is she running away from me, trying to escape? “Did you finish?” I narrow my eyes.
She nods, looking up at me, her lips pursed. “I did, actually. I also went ahead and posted my discussion that’s due next week while I was at it.”
That’s quite the load she took on today.. “So, you’re a fast reader?”
She laughs softly, closing her notebook. “I can be. Today’s reading was also really interesting. Business ethics are so often overlooked, but they’re so important, because the environment you work in affects productivity. It can either motivate someone or hold them back.”
“You’re right, it can. It’s also a fine line to walk. There are some policies that might be considered too harsh in some instances, but necessary in others.”
“Like relationships between a customer or client and an employee.”
I nod. “That’s a good example. In some companies, it might not affect the business’s standing—like maybe in a grocery store or bakery. A customer having a relationship with an employee is perfectly acceptable. But in a law office, an attorney having a relationship with a client, well, that’s not good.”
“Definitely.” Ms. Everett glances down to her notebook, appearing to read through her notes.
“Do you have any questions today? I don’t have anywhere to be for another hour, so I’m more than happy to discuss any questions you have.”
She nods. “If I can just run through my notes? But I feel like I have a good grip on this topic.”
“Good.”
My phone begins to vibrate on the desk, echoing through the room.
I rarely get phone calls on my cell, and when I do, it’s usually Connor or the school, though not usually at this time. Has something happened?
I hurry over to it, swooping it up.
Madeline. Shit.
Reluctantly, I pick it up and answer it, bracing for my ex-wife. She never calls with good news.
“Aiden, have you gone to pick up Connor, yet?” She sounds irritated and impatient.
I take a deep breath. “Not yet, why?”
“I just called him, and he is not picking up. I have work to do and with trying to nail down wedding plans, this is the only time I have to talk to him.”
I close my eyes and clench my fist tight around the phone. “He is in the middle of the school day. Of course, he won’t answer. Hecan’t.”
She huffs. “Do you know how hard it is having to wait for him to be out of school? Why can’t he answer, anyway? We’re paying for the damn thing. It’s not like five minutes would hurt anything.”
“You have plenty of hours in the day that you don’t have to wait until he is at school to call him. Or me, for that matter, as I’m still at work too.”
