"Harrison!"
There was the sound of a ringing slap as Miss St. John slapped her father across the face.
I winced, my eyes flicking to Principal Joseph Clayton where he sat at his desk next to me. Somehow, instead of watching the father-daughter fiasco, his eyes were on me. So, somehow, I managed to keep the calm expression on my face.
I remembered the principal's orders:
For now, you are here to observe, nothing more. You will speak only if spoken to.
I wondered why my student was calling her father by his first name. I wondered why he didn't react to her slap except to grin foolishly and shift in his seat, even as a red blush stained his cheek. I wondered how a man so dumpy and plain-looking could have such a stunningly gorgeous daughter.
The hand he had placed on her thigh, which had prompted the slap, remained in place.
Principal Clayton watched me.
I wondered whether this was normal.
I felt so calm. It must be normal.
I didn't say anything.
* * *
If my first few days at the Brighton Barnsworth Academy had been slow, torturous and intimidating, my second week had flown by with unbelievable speed.
I wasn't sure what it was, but I'd hit a groove in the classroom. Every day I came in with my lesson plans, and every evening at home I had to adapt them. We were covering so much material in class that I worried we'd finish the textbook halfway through the term. The days were like a blur, things moving so fast that I felt like I arrived at the Academy, blinked, and the day was already past. The kinks of the first few days seemed to have worked themselves out. In fact, I'd almost forgotten that there had been any kinks whatsoever.
I felt no hesitation now when my students filed into the room in all their stunning beauty. I just waited for them to sit down and then fell into the math, letting my experience and curiosity carry me through the lesson like I was just a man on a river, exploring the conceptual currents for the first time.
There were no interruptions. No questions. Just the sounds of my voice, and the marker on the white board, and my students' pencils on their papers. It wasn't just Natalie now. It seemed as if all of my students were embracing the subject.
It filled me with a glow of satisfaction.
And, of course, there was the low
hummm
, more of a sensation than a sound, that seemed to fill the air in the classroom. I never quite heard it, and when the soft
gong
sounded to end each lesson the sensation vanished.
Whatever it was, though, I'm sure it wasn't too important. Anyway, I was probably just imagining it.
I didn't feel the urge to explore the Academy again. I stayed in my office and my classroom, like Principal Clayton had suggested.
You never know when a student might need help,
I reminded myself.
And then it was Friday again. The week had gone by and I was walking into the Academy on autopilot, walking across the quad and up the stairs and I was halfway into my office when I realized that the principal was sitting behind my desk.
I stopped.
My hand was still on the knob.
"Good morning, sir..." My voice was deferential and a little hesitant. I hadn't seen the man all week. I hadn't even thought of him. Was that odd?
"Professor Sands," he said, his voice as deep and pleasant as I remembered. "Mitchell. How are you?" He rose, with a smile and an outstretched hand.
I shook it, relaxing. "Well. And you, sir?"
"A good week?" He ignored my question, but his smile was so easy that I couldn't take offense.
"Very good, sir. We're continuing on, ahead of schedule, and I may need to extend the subject matter of the course in order to keep up with us. If you approve?"
"That's very good, Mitchell. Of course I approve. I'm pleased you're forging ahead with so much enthusiasm." His eyes seemed, suddenly, almost too innocent and discerning. "No problems with your students, then?" It was almost as if he'd been waiting in my office before the start of my lessons just so he could ask
that
particular question.
I shook my head, ignoring the prickling sensation down the back of my neck.
There's nothing wrong.
"No, sir."
And I was, in fact, telling the truth. Since last week I had had no trouble from Miss St. John, and I'd been so focused on teaching that I hadn't had the energy or headspace to worry about Natalie. In fact, neither student had said more than a few words to me. Like all the others, they filed into the classroom, bent over their notes, and filed out.
It was almost uncanny.
But no, it was all quite standard. I was sure of that.
Everything is normal here.
"Was there anything else you needed?" I felt like I was breaking a long silence, but I knew that the principal had been speaking only a moment ago. Hadn't he?
The man raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Yes, yes indeed." He rubbed his chin and looked me up and down. "I like you, Mitchell. I don't mind saying it. You were a good hire. In spite of... you know."
I tried not to grimace at his reference to Denton. The injustice of it suddenly rose, hot and thick, in my throat. I wanted to scream. Forever judged by something I didn't even do. Well, something I didn't
really
do. And certainly not how they had portrayed it.
My expression of polite attentiveness stayed on my face.
But Joseph Clayton was already continuing on. His mouth was smiling but his eyes seemed almost hesitant. "We've recently been approached by several media outlets. They've heard about our little university and are intrigued by our high levels of discretion. So, naturally, they've asked if we'd be willing to give interviews..."
As he trailed off I raised my eyebrows. I supposed it made sense. Even an institute as private as the Academy had to be well-known in certain circles. Otherwise how would they get clients? But if it was free advertising, why did the idea seem to make the principal ill at ease? "And is there something I can do to help?"
The man pursed his lips and gave me another once over. "I think that hearing from the principal of the school would be one thing," he said after a short pause. "But to hear from the teacher, the man who is interacting with our students on a day to day basis, would be far more interesting and valuable."
I nodded. I supposed that made sense.
"Excellent!" Principal Clayton clapped his hands and rubbed them together. He suddenly seemed much more dynamic, and pleased β like I'd passed a test of some sort, or agreed to a task that would take a heavy weight off his mind. "I'm so glad that you'd be willing to do that for me."
Did I say that?
I wondered.
Well... I did ask if I could help.
Again, as I was thinking, the other man rolled onward. "How about we do a practice run today?" he suggested. "We have a visit from one of our clients... The... father, of course, of one of our girls."
I nodded.
I guess if I've already agreed to do some interviews, it makes sense to get practice.