Paul looked over his classroom as the students took their mid-term exams. He had taught at Longfellow High School since graduating from college. Now in his mid-thirties, he could spot cheating a mile away. Age brings wisdom as his old teaching mentor used to tell him. Kids always thought you were dumb, but teachers know when you cheat. Students are nowhere near as clever as they thought they were, it just depended on how lazy a teacher could be.
Unlike most teachers, Paul didn't usually make a big deal about cheating. If they were a decent student or one struggling, he would pull them aside and speak to them after he graded the tests. When the teen did not fess up or made a stink about his accusation, then he would get school or parents involved. His usual treatment, if he didn't get the school or parents involved was for them needing to do an extra assignment. This was usually done for no extra credit but if done he would not adjust the test score. Most kids took his deal knowing that cheating could seriously affect their college applications.
On this day, Paul was paying particular attention to a girl by the name of Heather Thomas. Heather was considered to be one of the prettiest girls in school. Most of the other male teachers drooled over her in the teachers' lounge. That was not why Paul was paying attention to her though, she thought she was smart and was reading something off of a smartwatch. The watch had a case over it that tried to hide what it was, and she was playing it off like she kept checking the time. This was not the first time he had seen this trick and would likely not be the last.
He pulled out a sticky note and scribbled something on it. He walked over to Heather and lightly stuck it to her desk. Some of the kids in the class knew exactly what this meant. A few went "Ohhhh," or gasped as he continued down the row. Most kids knew of his policies and that he didn't like to single kids out in class. Some kids acted out more if they knew it got attention.
"Eyes on your papers, Class," he said as he patrolled the rest of the rows of desks. "Focus on your own work."
Heather stopped looking at her watch after that, but her eyes looked pissed when she read the post it. Paul didn't feel too bad for her. This was the third or fourth time he had caught her cheating or doing something like this.
When the bell rang, all the kids brought him their tests. All but Heather left anyways. Instead, she sat there with venom in her eyes.
"So what do you want Mr. Nelson?" she asked once the class had emptied out. "Your note just said to stay seated after class."
"I would think the reason was obvious Miss Thomas," he said putting all the tests in his desk drawer. He locked the drawer and got up. " You were cheating. Don't tell me you were not. I saw it clear as day."
"So," she said crossing her arms. Her long blonde hair hung over the right shoulder, and she was struggling to avoid eye contact.
"So," he began and crossed his own arms, then sat on the edge of his desk. "Miss Thomas, this is the third or fourth time you have been caught cheating or stealing someone else's work. I usually let it slide but now I feel like my generosity is being taken advantage of and that is not cool."
The girl didn't look scared at all. She turned her nose up at him like he was insignificant.
"Whatever," she said with no other reaction.
"We will see how you feel when I call your parents," he told her.
"Oh No," she said and covered her mouth mockingly. "Good luck, Dad is overseas, and Mom is a useless cow."
"That is the first step," he told her. "Then I get Principal McCollins involved. You can mock that young lady, but she is well aware of how I handle these things. When I bring stuff like this to her head roll."
"Yeah, yours might!" she snapped.
"Fine, give me attitude! Two-hour detention for the rest week," Paul retorted. "Now go to your next class."
Heather left as nonchalant as she had arrived. The girl didn't seem to care about anything he said. He had seen this sort of thing once or twice before with kids who usually had something going on at home.
This was his last class for the day, but there was one period left for the day. He usually graded papers and stuck around until an hour after school in case kids had questions. Not today though, instead he made his way to the office.
"Hey Paul," said Mrs. Farnsworth. She saw a plump gray-haired woman in her sixties who was the administrator for both the principal and vice principal. She was the school gossip and had also been there forever. "You don't come down here often, what's up?"
"Is Brenda in?" he asked.
"Sorry Hon," she replied while still typing something on her computer. "Principal McCollins left early today. Something I can help with today?"
"Maybe," Paul said thinking about it. "Yeah, can you get me Heather Thomas's contact info. I need to have a chat with her parents."
"Oh shit," Mrs. Farnsworth and stopped what she was doing. "I'll get it for you and leave a note for the Principal to talk to you tomorrow. I know if you're down here she must have really ticked you off." She clicked a few keys and wrote something on a piece of paper for him.
"I gave her a few chances like I do all of the kids, but she threw it in my face." He said taking the paper.
"Mrs. Thorn was in here yesterday with an issue about her too. Apparently, she was given detention and skipped."
"Well, I just gave her the rest of the week in detention," he told her shrugging. "Guessing I will have to call tonight if she doesn't show."
"You will probably be guessing right," she said to him as left back for his classroom.
The rest of the day was uneventful just the way he liked it. Paul got all the midterms graded, and scores punched into his computer. He double checked his pocket for Heather's parents' number before leaving.
He made a pit stop on the way to his car. The detention room was down in the back of the school near the teachers' lot. They had placed it there for this very reason. So teachers could check in on the way home and make sure kids assigned went there.
Paul rolled his eyes when he stuck his head in to see. Mrs. Williams who did detention every day just shrugged at him and waved her arm around the room to show no Heather.
"Fuck!" Paul thought himself. Well, there is a call I need to make tonight. He was not looking forward to that. You never truly knew how parents would react to being told their kid was misbehaving.
He snagged a few beers and pizza on the way home. By the time he ate, drank a beer, and caught up on the news, it was close to eight. That was usually a good time to call parents, they were often home by then.
He dialed the number, and it rang for what felt like a dozen time. Finally, a voicemail message picked up, it was a very light melodic voice.
"You have reached the line of Felicity Thomas. Please leave a message, and I will get back to you as soon as I can," said the voice.
After the tone and Paul left his message, "Hi, this Paul Nelson, Heather's history teacher. I was wondering if I could speak to you or your husband about your daughter. It seems myself and a few other teachers might be having issues with her. I am hoping to fix the issues before I need to get the Principal involved." and then he gave his number.
Paul went back to relaxing in front of his TV and soon passed out on his couch. He was only asleep for maybe a minute before his phone rang. It made him jump so hard he fell off the couch and hit the floor.
"Hello," he answered the phone while rubbing his now bruised ass.
"Hi, Mr. Nelson?" said the caller. "This is Felicity Thomas, returning your call."
"Oh Hi," he said trying to put on his best teachers voice. "I hate to be the bringer of bad news, but myself and a few others have been having issues with Heather. I prefer not to involve the principal if I can help it. Teenagers can be moody, and I hate to see it affect their college applications. They usually grow out of it by the time they get to college."
Felicity took a long sigh and then responded, "I can honestly say I am not surprised. Her father and I divorced over the summer, and she has been giving everyone issues since."
"She wouldn't be the first one to have that happen," Paul said. "I have seen this sort of thing happen to lots of kids in the same situation. Hell, My parent divorced four years ago, and I still had issues too."
She laughed at Paul's comment, "You are a sincere man aren't you?"
"I try to be with parents and kids. The kids will get enough BS when they join the rest of the world."
"You are not what I was expecting from a teacher," she said laughing again.
"I hear that a lot," he said. "Do you think you could find time this week so I can tell you what has been going on? I'd like to help if I can or at least give you some suggestions so we can get Heather back on track."
"I can do that," she said then paused. "Does tomorrow afternoon work?"
Paul agreed that tomorrow would work and Felicity said she would be there shortly after school let out. It was one of the more pleasant talks he had with a student's parents. They usually implied their children were angels and he had to argue to make them see reason.
Then the next day at school was uneventful compared to yesterday's events. Heather was still giving attitude, but it was passive instead of the outright aggressive.
Paul was alone in his classroom at the end of the day. No Felicity in sight, apparently something had come up. Or at least that is what he thought until he started packing up for the day.
