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“Not as bad as I thought it might be. How about yours?”
“The same. The kids are really nice and a lot better behaved than I expected… with one exception.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I’ve got a boy in my class who I think could turn into a world-class bully, given the opportunity.”
“He sounds like fun.”
“I think he gets it from his mother.”
“You’ve met his mother?” Russ seems surprised, and I turn slightly in my chair so I’m facing him, and can lean in and lower my voice.
“I wasn’t given much choice.”
“Of course. You had to greet them all this morning, didn’t you?”
“Yes. And hand them back this afternoon.”
“And that was how you met this kid’s mother?” he says.
“She accosted me in the schoolyard just now, wanting to know why her precious son couldn’t already recite all one hundred and fifty-four of Shakespeare’s sonnets.”
Russ stifles a laugh, almost spilling his coffee. “Ahh… a pushy parent. Just what you need.”
“Not really,” I say, rolling my eyes and taking a sip from my cup. “Did you have any difficulties?”
“Not with parents, and to be fair, most of the kids were fine.”
“Most?”
“I’ve got a couple of girls who seem hell-bent on making trouble, but I don’t think it’s anything I can’t handle.”
I hope he’s right, for his sake, as much as anything.
We both swallow down our coffee and he checks his watch.
“Do you need to be somewhere?” I ask.
“Not especially, but Hattie was on an early shift today, so I’d kinda like to get out of here.”
“Then go.”
He glances around at the other members of staff, who are still sitting and standing in small groups, talking about their day, like we are.
“You don’t think we need to hang on for any reason?”
“No. I’m gonna leave.”
He stands, smiling down at me and he holds out his hand, which I take, letting him pull me to my feet.
“See you tomorrow,” he says.
“Have a nice evening.”
“You, too.” There’s a sparkle in his eyes, but I ignore it, and make my way to my locker, where I grab my purse. Margot isn’t here, so I have to assume she’s already left for the day, but I check the classroom, just to be sure. It’s empty and already feels a little weird without the children. Still, they’ll all return tomorrow, as will I, and I surprise myself by looking forward to it.
I close the door, heading down the corridor and out into the schoolyard, which is deserted now, thank goodness. I’m not in the mood for any more parents… except Tanner, of course.
