An
Eden's Explorations
story
Eden Baker first appeared in
At Whorey's Piers
, this series is set several years later.
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TEACHING EDEN
CHAPTER ONE -- THE SCHOOL
It was a long drive. Eden had time to think. This was what she had been working towards. Bachelors, tick. Masters, tick. Classroom experience, well that had been intense, but tick. Her certificate, tick. And then find a first proper job, well tick as well. And what a job!
Eden still couldn't really believe it. She knew there was a chronic shortage of High School math teachers, but she had not expected to be offered a position at a prestigious private school. Not with her lack of track record. She had only applied very speculatively, but the interview -- which she was surprised to even get -- seemed to have gone brilliantly. And now she was en route to her new home. That's right, accommodation was included as the school was remote; over two thirds of the students boarded. And this with no loss of salary. She had really fallen on her feet.
Sure it was a change to NYC, where she had got her post graduate qualification, and had her first experience of actual kids. And nothing was going to compare to her great aunt's co-op apartment, where she had spent two-and-a-half happy and illuminating years. Eden began to feel slightly tingly at the memory, but told herself to focus on the road. Quiet would be good after the bustle of the big city. She could do with life being a bit less full on; at least for a while. And she loved the outdoors, the location offered so many opportunities for hiking and climbing. It was going to be great.
The job was going to focus on eleventh and twelfth graders. Cool as the more advanced topics were of greater interest to her. But also probably a challenge, as she had mostly taught ninth and tenth while gaining experience. Still the school clearly believed that she could be successful. Eden didn't plan to let them down.
Another thirty minutes according to her 'phone, which was wobbling slightly on one of the dash vents. Eden hoped that she would create a good first impression.
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'Well so much for first impressions.' Eden thought. 'Could that have been any more embarrassing?'
It was early September and still warm. A floaty summer dress had seemed like a good idea when Eden had left the heat of Manhattan. It was still warm upstate, but a breeze flowed down the Hudson River Valley. As Eden struggled to get her suitcase out of the car, it gusted and her dress became a little too floaty.
"Ah, Miss Baker, welcome to Burnell."
Eden dropped her case, pulled her wayward dress down over her ass, and turned to see the Principal's extended hand and smiling face. The smile, which fell short of a leer, but not by that much, told Eden he'd seen rather more of her than at interview.
Blushing deep red, she shook his hand. "Pleased to be here Mr Pedretti."
"I knew you were the right girl for the job. I'll let you settle in. Can I get someone to help you with your luggage?"
Eden was less than delighted to be called a girl at twenty-five, and his manner was not exactly professional. But she was too flustered to remark on the rather paternalistic term or suggestive phraseology. And her dress was still flapping in the wind; she gripped the hem. "Some help would be most welcome. Thank you."
"I'll have Mr Reaser, he's the caretaker, do the heavy lifting. But your accommodation isn't here in the main building. It's the small house over there, the left hand one. It's only a thousand feet, but best to keep some distance between the live-in teachers and the pupils, don't you think? Especially ones who look like you. Here is the key."
Eden was too astonished about the accommodation to object to the objectifying. She had been told that she would be provided with living space, but her own house? She could see from here that it was indeed tiny. But still, a house! Her irritation with the Principal rapidly evaporated.
"Oh, thank you. That's... that's wonderful. I guess I'll drive over there."
"And I will send Mr Reaser to you shortly. By the way, Miss Huisman, our head coach, is in the other house. You may run into her. There is dinner for the staff at 7pm. It's not mandatory, but maybe as it is your first day... A chance to meet your colleagues, perhaps?"
"Yes, of course. I will see you then, Mr Pedretti."
"Excellent. And let's hope that the wind has dropped by then, shall we?"
Before Eden could answer, he turned and walked into the main building.
Well, thought Eden, 'I guess it could actually have been worse in one way, at least I'm wearing panties.'
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The house had a rustic look to it. Terracotta flower pots filled with mums clustered around its brick walls. As Eden closed the front door behind her, she had to suppress a squeal. It was perfect. Clean and cozy and -- most of all -- hers. Hers because of her own hard work, not a relative's home to look after temporarily. Hers. Eden felt quite grown-up.
The first floor had a small living room, with a comfortable leather couch, two other chairs, upholstered in a floral material, a glass coffee table, and -- in a concession to modernity -- a modest flat screen TV. There was also a well-appointed, if not capacious, kitchen diner. From here, steps descended to a finished basement with a washer and dryer. From the living room, stairs ascended to the second floor. Here was a large bedroom, a smaller one, used as an office, and a slightly old fashioned, but functional, shower and bathroom. Eden was in love.
The buzzer rang and she ran down to open the door.
"Hi, I'm Reaser. The boss said something about a case." He was a large man, late thirties, maybe early forties. He loomed in the doorway. Eden was initially taken aback, but Reaser's face seemed open, kind even.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Eden, Eden Baker."
The caretaker paused before taking Eden's offered hand. Perhaps he was unaccustomed to first names, or maybe just to social niceties. "Eli, my name is Eli. Good to meet you too. So this case?"