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Teamwork. It’s all about teamwork.
“Yes, Ms. Reece.” The displeasure for their homework is long forgotten as soon as the last bell of the day rings, releasing them to rush out the door and get ready to head home.
Each one of my students pushes their chair in. I’m honored to have taught them how to act in such a polite, respectful manner. I stare at my room as it empties of everyone except for myself. Tapping my knuckles on my desk, I smile at the tidiness and know I don’t have to go around and pick anything up.
I firmly believe that keeping everything nice on the inside will also reflect everything nice on the outside. I grew up never getting noticed by anyone until I got into college, and then all the rules I thought I knew in high school changed.
The mean girls who were ugly on the inside became the girls guys didn’t want to take seriously and have anything to do with, while the girls like me became the women college-age guys found alluring.
That’s when I discovered myself and the confidence I now exude. The love I’ve found for myself has translated into the love I have for my job. I always knew I wanted to work with kids. Math came naturally, so I knew I could handle being a junior high math teacher.
I’m in my second year now, and so glad this is my career choice. Every day, just like my students, I grow and learn.
Tapping on my desk again, I turn around and quickly wipe off the board before I hurry out for parking lot duty. This month is my turn to monitor the parking lot with two other teachers while a couple of others take bus duty.
I make sure my floral blouse is in place and still tucked into my dark-gray pencil skirt before leaving my room. I love dressing confident, but I make sure it isn’t seen as sexy by the parents. I don’t want to give the wrong message to them about their children being in my classroom.
My coral heels clack against the old wood floors of my classroom and continue into the hallway before it becomes carpet.
This building hasn’t changed since I was here as a student. The only thing that feels different is everything seems a little smaller than when I was a student. I feel like a giant in a land of little people.
Students bustle around, collecting their things from their lockers as I make my way to the steep stairs.
“Here, allow me to help you, Ms. Reece.” Looking down to my left, I find Ridge Thorne running up to me before I can take a step down.
“Why, thank you, Ridge.” He’s one of the sweetest boys I have ever met and is my student helper in the last period of sixth grade math I teach.
“You’re welcome.” He blushes.
I’m not oblivious to think that the young boys I teach don’t hold a crush or two on some of the female teachers around here. The girls don’t get away from it either. So I know Ridge has a small crush on me.
It’s completely ironic because when I was this age—well, a little older—I had a crush on his dumb uncle.
Chase Thorne.
That boy—man still leaves a rancid taste in my mouth whenever he just so happens to pop into my thoughts. He put me through hell when we were still kids, and try as I might, it sticks with me even today.
That’s the reason I’m still a miss and not a missus. Or that’s what my mom and grandma say is the reason. I just haven’t found anyone to capture my attention in a way that could make me fall in love with him yet. Lorelei has been doing her best to set me up with every man she knows.
“I saw you were working on your homework already. Did you know I used to do the same thing when I was still in school?”
“Really?” The joy edged with relief I see in his eyes has me concerned. “So I wouldn’t be a nerd if I did my homework ahead of the others?”
I frown with a shake of my head. “Don’t ever think that way about yourself, Ridge, and don’t let what others may or may not think about you deter you from being yourself. Be proud of who you are and how smart you are.”
I know I went too passionate with my words because of the confused look that glazes over his eyes. “Sorry,” I mutter. “Why are you coming out front? Don’t you usually ride the bus?” We clear the stairs at the bottom and try our best to get into the flow of students rushing around.
“I’m getting a ride home today.” His usual at ease smile comes across his face, growing brighter with each passing second.
“Oh? Why is that?”
Small towns have their benefits. I know most of Ridge’s family with the exception of his grandpa. The man rarely gets off his property, so very few people actually see him.
“My uncle Chase is picking me up.” This young man's love and excitement does nothing to stop the dread from stiffening every fiber within me. I nearly catch a heel in the crack of the sidewalk leading to the parking lot. Somehow, I manage to play it off as Ridge does his best to help me.
I hadn’t heardhewas back. That’s another thing about small towns—word gets around fast. Old nerves take me back to the past when I was an awkward teenager who desperately wanted yet was denied a certain boy's attention.
“Your u-uncle?” Clearing my throat, I force a smile down at him. Students rush around us to get to the cars waiting for them. I hopehedidn’t age well, that he has lost most of his hair, and has a massive beer gut from trying to keep his glory days alive.
