“Really?”
I debated nipping the conversation in the bud, but I knew it would be counterproductive.If they related to me, they responded to the lesson better.So I decided to answer their questions for another few minutes before moving on.
One hour later, we had Shakespeare coming out of our ears.“All right, class dismissed,” I said.
They all grumbled as they left.
“By the way, I’ve got a surprise for you.Next week, I have someone special coming to talk to you all.He’s really big in the tech business, and I think you’ll find his career interesting.”
They perked up at this.I knew they’d be excited.I could read my students well.
“Is he successful?”one asked.
I nodded.“Very much so.”
“What’s his name?”
“Knox Sterling.”
I saw recognition on several of their faces.
“Is he related to Sterling Investments?”
“Yes, one of the founders.”
“Holy crap, we’ve got a billionaire coming to talk to us?You’re awesome, Amy.”
“Thank you.But we don’t use the word ‘crap’ here,” I reprimanded.I wasn’t a prude, but I did have to stick to protocol.
Knox used to tease me because I tried not to swear, primarily so I didn’t do it at school.If it became second nature, I could be cussing up and down the halls on a bad day.Not a good thing for a high school teacher to do.
“Do we still have to read Shakespeare for next week?”one boy asked.
“Oh, yes.Your finals will be on Shakespeare, not Sterling.”
He laughed.“Fair enough.”
They left with smiles on their faces now that they had something to look forward to and immediately started chatting once they were out in the hallway.I caught the name Sterling multiple times.
I smiled as I gathered my things.This was going to be a slam dunk.I loved my job so much.
I drove straight home from school but didn’t call Knox.I didn’t even text him.I wanted to get home first, take a shower.I wouldn’t call my job physical, but I was slightly stinky and needed to wash.
Once inside, I went straight to my fridge, pouring some iced tea in a huge glass and downing it.Nothing better than sweet tea waiting for me after a long day.It was almost as if I had my grandma here with me every day, giving me a hug when I came home from school, the way she’d actually done all of my school years.
Mom, like Lisa’s parents, had been working two jobs, sometimes even three.My dad had sent very little money in the first two years after they divorced.After he remarried, he never sent anything.I once overheard Mom tell her best friend that she simply didn’t have the money nor energy to go after him in court.
I hadn’t seen my dad in years.I knew he lived in Minnesota, but that was it.As a kid, I’d sent him Christmas cards, and they all went unanswered.I stopped sending them at fourteen.
I took a shower, washing my hair as well.Then I slid on a robe and sat down on my couch, putting my feet up on the ottoman.This was perfection.I didn’t have any food for tonight, so I was going to order in.I had to get better at organizing my dinners.Ordering in was taking up a good chunk of my paycheck that could otherwise go to my savings.But while I loved baking, I wasn’t a great cook.
I bit the inside of my cheek and decided to finally call Knox.He’s your best friend, Amy, I reminded myself, although I wasn’t sure he still qualified as that.He was definitely my best friend in college, but over the years, things had cooled off a bit.
He answered after a few rings.“Hey.”
“Hi, Knox.”
“I take it you have a date in mind?”
