"Wrong...wrong...wrong...super wrong...Capital of USA...London...Capital of England...France...Fuck sake. I'm dealing with a class of morons," Nik thought to himself. "How much more basic can I make this class."
A giant stack of papers filled a box on his desk. It was the latest geography test he handed out during the day. Basic stuff. Capitals of states and provinces along the border. Capitals of major world powers. Basic fundamentals any knowledgeable person should know in daily life to understand their surroundings and world events. Suzy's absence, recuperating in the hospital, sunk the class average. She propped up the class like a life jacket.
"Capital of Massachusetts...Red Sox...Shoot me now, preferably with a twelve gauge."
Teaching took talent and dedication. One of the hardest professions in the world, the average person doesn't understand the immense pressure a teacher is legitimately and illegitimately put under. Imagine a job where you're the manager of the business, and each student is an employee. Now, imagine you can't fire any employee, short of murdering a classmate. Next, have them go through puberty. Mix together with a blend of rich, poor, fed and hungry, happy and suicidal, and welcome to the life of a high school teacher. Give them a ten-month salary, and the continuous grind of reapplying for jobs and moving every year, and is it any wonder why they want to squeeze every penny out of the government for a raise?
"New York...Yankees...At least he knows his sports teams. And he spelled Yankee correctly...Wonderful. Maybe I'll do the next test on sports teams."
Paperwork became a constant. Marking and filing. Every assignment he concocted, he had to grade times thirty, times four. A never ending tidal wave of papers. Yet, he enjoyed it. He wouldn't have gone back to the classroom unless he wanted to be in it. Too much stress and bullshit.
"Knock knock, busy there, stud?" Michelle called out, leaning against the open door.
"Buried in tests. Done yours already?"
"Ha, it never ends. I'm backlogged. Want to see if you've got a lunch date yet?"
"Nope, just dealing with this. Used my entire prep to get last week's assignments done."
Door closed behind her, Michelle leaned over the desk provocatively. Her tight dressed pushed up her pillowy tits on proud display.
"You know; I don't think the principal is going to fire you. You're fucking her, Massa."
"I'd like to think I have some honor. I don't want to impose our personal relationship on our work relationship."
"Have it your way. By the way, she tastes good today."
"You're such a tease, know that, Michelle?" he smirked, finishing one more quiz.
"Teases don't put out. See you in the staff room if you get bored."
"Wait," Nik stopped her. "I'll come along. I do need a break. Haven't been in there for a long time."
Michelle had an arm hidden behind her back the entire time. Nik, focusing on correcting papers, didn't notice.
"Here. My special lunch. Just for you."
The black teacher smiled brightly, presenting the bagged lunch. Unsuspicious and generic packaging would leave no one the wiser.
"Thanks, Michelle. That is very sweet of you."
Nik stood up, taking the lunch. He didn't look inside yet, choosing to lean in and whisper into her ear.
"Wanting to be my number one house nigger?" he spoke, licking her ear.
Michelle's legs melted instantly. Racialized words made her heart flutter. The more he said them, the more she clung closer and closer.
"Always, Massa. Can't wait until tomorrow night. I get you all to myself," she purred.
The staff room hustled and bustled. Staff sat, ate, and chatted away the hour under the grim reality of an underfunded, ghetto school slammed into their serene hideaway.
"I caught two more fighting in the hallways," one man commented.
"What about this time?" a female teacher asked.
"Drugs, I think. I don't know, or care. I called the security guard and let him handle it. Suit just got back from the cleaners. Not going to ruin it."
"Found two girls fighting over a man yesterday. Guess he was two-timing them," the female teacher replied.
Nik and Michelle sat down at an open table. Opening up the pack lunch, Nik couldn't help but smile seeing the array of food. It looked healthy and delicious. A sweet aroma filled hungry nostrils.
"Hey, Nik, girlfriend pack your lunch for you today? Different than the typical stuff you bring," Mr. Leger asked.
"Guess I did something right," Nik joked.
Michelle tried not to blush, biting into her own sandwich as cover.
"Must be nice. Looks good. Ball and chain makes me fend for myself."
"Why'd you marry her?" Nik asked.
"Catholic. Knocked her up. Her daddy gave me two choices. A shotgun or a wedding."
"Isn't it shotgun wedding?" Michelle asked.
"His spin on it," Mr. Leger answered.
"Should have asked bird or buckshot," Nik said, smiling.
Mr. Leger laughed, pointing at Nik in appreciation at the joke.
"You need to come to the staff room more often and liven things up," Mrs. Latrell commented.
"Trying to keep a low profile. With the pending court case, and the stabbing, figured it'd be easier to keep to my corner of the school."
"Real shame about all the violence," Mrs. Latrell continued. "Guess it'll only get worse."
"How so?" Michelle asked.
"Jimmy Jack in jail left a power vacuum," Nik interjected.
The other teachers silenced, surprised at his knowledge of school politics.
"What?" Nik asked.
"How do you know that?" Mrs. Latrell said.
"I watch a lot of cop shows. Gangster history is a hobby of mine," he replied, not skipping a beat.