Page 12 of Chalk It Up

I take a deep breath while he waits for my response. Thankfully the class is gone at lunch recess. Or maybe not thankfully. I might prefer to hide behind the door of a full classroom.

“Good afternoon to you too, Mr. Von.” Okay, maybe that was a little more condescending than it needed to be but I’m just too extreme; I either cower or I claw. So I guess we fawned for a second and now we’re choosing fight.

I continue,“I suppose you got my email. Would you like to have a seat and we can discuss your daughter’s role in the program?”

He marches to my desk without a word, so I follow suit. And if it doesn’t make my chest clench that I’m following him. I need to learn to have the upper hand. Show authority. He takes one of the seats across from me and I flatten out the back of my black and white gingham dress before taking my seat.

Surprisingly enough he doesn’t pick his tirade back up so I decide I can further this conversation. “My goal as an educator is to always push my students out of their comfort zone and help them build more confidence. I know Addie struggles, but she has a narrator part that is to be memorized, so she won’t have to worry about reading something in front of the audience. She has ample time to practice and I’ll happily spend any extra time necessary working with her to get her part down. I’m confident she’ll succeed at this and believe even more in herself and her abilities.” Hm, he must be in a good mood today to let me speak for so long without an interruption. This is new. Maybe he’s remembering how I was treated yesterday and he’s making sure to not be like the dad in the parking lot.

He’s taking a long time to consider my words, not responding. Is this August? Does he have a twin? I feel unnerved by his silence, so I pick up my coffee and draw a short sip waiting for his response. He catalogs my every move and that makes me even more nervous, but I don’t let it show. I’m sure of my decision to make Addie a narrator and I know she’ll do a great job.

“You’re coming to my house to help her with her part, evenings or weekends. I don’t care which.”

Excuse me, what? It takes all of my self-control to not shake my head and chuckle in absolute disbelief. A million thoughts are running through my mind right now. How dare you demand my spare time. I don’t want to go to your house. You could at least ask. Maybe I do want to go to your house. Why am I going to your house? Did I just comply?

“I don’t want Addie’s classmates knowing she needs extra help with her part so I don’t want her practicing during lunch or recess. So come help her at my house. I will obviously pay you for your time.”

Now that doesn’t sound half bad. A teacher’s salary in a small town like this isn’t much to write home about. My rent is very low compared to other places in town, but we all like to have a modicum of comfort.

I pretend to mull over his demand disguised as an offer even though I know I’m going to accept. I want to help Addie. I have a very vested interest in her success, I don’t really do much outside of school, and the extra money couldn’t hurt. Plus, it'll only be for a few weeks, at most, until she has the part memorized.

“Fine, I can help, but you could’ve just said that to begin with.” I’m working on standing up for myself and it looks like August is going to be my test dummy.

He grits his teeth before responding, so I guess Mr. Billionaire isn’t used to being talked to like that. “I suppose you’re right. I apologize for my abrasive demand.” There, now was that so hard?

“I absolutely forgive you.” I make sure my tone is drowning in honey, just to irk him off more. But he seems to smirk just a little bit and that makes my pulse flutter. Stupid butterflies, calm down. “But I’ll have to come over after I go home, eat, and take Maple for a walk.”

“I live on plenty of property for what I’m assuming is your dog to run around on, four dogs for your dog to play with, and dinner will be ready when you arrive.” I suppose it’s nice that he’s trying to make this easier for me since he’s not giving me much of an option. Not that I really want much of an option. “If you're available tomorrow night, 5 o’clock is typically dinner time, and you and Addie can work after that.”

“That works for me.” I stand and hold out my hand to shake effectively trying to dismiss him, just as I’ve seen him do, before my class returns from lunch. “I’ll be there at five.” We shake hands and every atom in my body pulsates. I immediately feel too many things at once. I’m instantly aware of my heartbeat that is somehow in my ears and rapidly increasing. My stomach has bottomed out into the floor from which my feet are falling away. I pull away quickly. “Thank you for stopping by.” I gesture to the door and he takes the hint well, turning to leave with a slight dip of his chin.

August stops just outside my door. He turns to me and surprises me by saying, “Thank you for helping Addie. And I’m sorry again for demanding your time. I appreciate your help.”

“Don’t think twice about it. Hopefully your dinner is good enough to make up for it.” I see the slightest smirk pull up on the side of his mouth again before he shakes his head and leaves my doorway entirely.

I’d be lying if I said I weren’t giddy at the idea of going to August’s house for dinner. I’m eager to see what he’s like when he interacts with Addie. And he has dogs that my dog can play with? C'mon, a man who loves dogs can’t actually be all that bad. I sort of want to spin around in my chair in excitement like some kind of early 2000’s movie where the star just got asked out by her crush. But lunch is almost over and the kids will be back soon, so I control myself a little.

I sit in my chair trying to rationalize the hurricane that just tore through my classroom. I sympathize with August not wanting Addie’s classmates to know she’s getting extra help and I respect that. What I didn’t have time to take into account is not Addie’s classmates seeing her, but prying eyes seeing me. At dinner. In August’s house.

I pull my desk drawer open and grab my phone. I know Thea is going to want to hear about this.

Me

Guess where I’m going tomorrow tonight.

Thea

Daddy’s house?

Me

You’re incorrigible

Thea

Incorrigible and right?

Me