This story starts at a specifc sort of institution in the heartland of America. It's a building designed to help orphans who have turned 18 and were released out of young orphanages at the age of 18 and were struggling to transition into society as functioning adults on their own. It is nonprofit and designed to teach them necessary skills through classes and practical learning.
This building known as the Bridger Institute has a total of 80 residents and about 22 faculty positions ranging from teacher to cook and of course headmaster of the facility. Some of these faculty members were hired from their own growing progressional institute and are orphans themselves. Stacy is one such faculty member hired recently; a beautiful woman with glowing skin, silky hair, and a bright smile that makes it hard to believe she never had braces. Stacy is also the youngest of the faculty members as she is only 22 years old; she was recently hired to teach social skills to the residents after learning them herself from venturing into society just three years ago.
Stacy just finished her 9th lecture and was leaving class with her students as one of her favorite students James; a tall man with thick hair, toned arms, and just a little bit of stubble on his jaw stopped her in the hallway.
"I just wanted to say thank you to you personally, ever since coming here, I've been hesitant any of this stuff they're teaching us is getting through to me, but after being in your class, I feel like I'm finally starting to put everything together."
Stacy blushed after the compliment,
"I'm so glad to hear that" as she placed her hand on his arm, "Does my physical touch emphasize I mean that?"
They laughed together as the previous lecture was regarding the subject of positive touching for comforting those in need. James smiling replied, reaching out to clasp their arms together awkwardly,
"Yeah, I feel like I'm really connecting with you." He laughed with her.
Stacy paused,
"You know, when students finish my course, we have a final involving a one-on-one interaction that should give students the opportunity to use all the skills we've been teaching about."
"I generally wouldn't think to offer a practice round of it but since you mentioned this course is helping you find some belonging. Would you like to do an early round of it? This also is my first year here so maybe we could work on the kinks of it together!"
James face lit up,
"Stacy, that sounds like such a great idea! What time do you think we could set it up?"
"Well, its only Wednesday now and I don't want it to distract from your other educational opportunities, I also might need sometime to organize it, why don't we plan for Saturday morning, right at 8am. I know its early for a Saturday, but I don't want you to miss the weekly Saturday career day event at 11am."
"That's perfect I'll see you then."
***
The days went by fast, and Stacy could not be more thrilled with the practice practical she spent all late week planning so much so she found it hard to fall asleep Friday night which she found strange because she'd never really felt this sort of excitement before but couldn't explain it to herself despite, she herself being in a faculty position to teach socializing to others!
She woke up bright early at 7:30 am and rushed to her office to set up all the props she had to make the event feel like a real experience. She had it all set up by 7:50 am and sat patiently until 8am. Then the clock ticked by, 8:05, 8:10, 8:15. She was furious and upset that James had forgotten. About their plan, so upset she stood up and stormed beyond the faculty wing straight up the male residential hall to speak to James that instant. She found one of the other men standing around and quickly asked exactly which room James was staying in.
She pounded furiously on the door; thankful most other residents were not around to see her anger.
"James are you in there? Aren't you forgetting something?"
James sheepishly responded through the door.
"Uh yeah, I didn't forget but I can't go I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?"
Anger got a hold of her and she couldn't help herself she tried the doorknob to storm in and was surprised to find it unlocked as she burst in to see James laying awkwardly in his bed with his shirt off clearly panicking when seeing her.
