September rolls around in a rural New York town just fifty miles north of Queens. The leaves begin to change color and look like a million butterflies clinging to the trees. In the early morning a wind blows with a slight chill, tumbling the leaves around the entrance to Fishkill Middle School. The lights shine through the glass windows evident to those approaching as the early morning sun approaches dawn.
((((((RING!)))))) Students file into home room.
On the second floor in room #221 stands a petit young woman at the tender age 24. She is excited and nervous as this is her first teaching assignment. Being the new hire she has taken a place teaching 8th grade math. The math is where she belongs, but as most young aspiring teachers she always dreamed of 2nd and 3rd grade students. She was pleased to acquire a position so close to home and the small town allowed a novice to train much easier as the new year progressed.
Well aware she would be watched as the school committee thought she may be too young to handle such responsibility. Only a few older members pushed the issue, claiming she was more qualified than most. Noting how she must have worked diligently to be as educated at such a young age.
((((((RING!))))))
Sweat gathers in the young teachers’ palms as she clings to the back of her chair.
“Good morning children. ‘as the remaining boys and girls seat them self’ My name is Miss. Jensen and I will be your home room teacher and for most of you your Math teacher as well. It is nice to meet you all today.” Stumbling nervously with her fingers looking for her bi folder.
“What are you going to have a seizure or you just nervous Mr. J!” came a loud crack from the back of the room.
Many children continue to talk undertone.
Finding her bi folder she looks at the names. Peering over her thin glasses she gives a glare like a vulture. Saying, “Larry is it? Well, Mr. Larry it might seem you are going to have quite a long year if you don’t know the difference between a mister and misses by now. My name is incase there was too much noise is Jill Jensen and you may only address me as Miss Jensen you got that! Mr. Larry”
Larry responds in a tone of humor, “Yeess Misses Jensen” making a comment to another boy just over whisper volume, “Jensen, Henson is that like the Muppet maker with the big boobies and the short height you think some one has their hand up her dress making her move and wiggle?”
Jill pretends to not hear as she finishes with roll call. “OK, students these will be your assigned seats unless I change them, every morning, understood. (no one is paying attention) I will be expect…..”
((((((RING!)))))) Students rushing out the door laughing.
“….ing Better Behavior Tomorrow!”
Jill holds her hands together and closes her eyes taking a deep breath. Exhaling slowly like in Lamaze class, Jill gathers her thoughts.
((((((RING!)))))) students enter slowly and are discussing summer events
Jill sits at her desk waiting patiently for the murmur to stop. Standing up at 5’3” Jill addresses the youth competing to speak louder then the children, “Excuse me! My name is Miss Jensen! I will be your eighth grade Math teacher!” With no avail the children ramble on. “If you could open your books to page 45 we will start with a review!” with no one listening Jill continues on with her lessen.
((((((RING!)))))) Students thrash toward the door.
Jill seating her self elbows on desk places her head into her hands. Knowing the next 45 minutes is her free period she sniffles as tears form behind her hands.
There is a knock on the side of the door frame in the rhythm “A shave and a haircut two bits.” Gordon walks in and hands a tissue to Jill sitting on the corner of her desk. Jill takes the tissue blowing her nose and snorting to regain composure. Jill looks up at Gordon and says, “I am sorry it is just a bit …well I may not …’As Jill fights the tears hard.’….I do not know, what I am doing here?”
Gordon looks down at Jill taking his hand to her cute face and wipes the tear with his big thumb and smiles at her and says, “Come on lets go down to the teachers lounge let me buy you my darling a cup of coffee the finest in all New York and then I will sell you some helpful wisdom that you can begin to use in you very next class.”
Smiling with a silent laugh Jill stands nodding her head in appreciation. “My name is Jill Jensen by the way.” Holding her hand out to greet Gordon properly.
Gordon accepts her greeting collecting her small hand into his larger hand saying, “I know Miss Jensen My room is across the hall, and it was hard to not hear you screaming for help. ‘as they walk’ My name is Gordon Spence and the pleasure is all mine. Since Mrs. Balder passed away last year I was happy to hear the new teacher was younger. Anyone under 75 would have made me happy. They never told me you were going to be so beautiful……..”
They continued to chatter along their decent to the lounge.
When Gordon turns and stoops down to retrieve sugar from below the cabinet. Jill looks at the gluteus maximus presented before her eyes. Her eyebrows tussle and she admires the man standing before her. Gordon may have been 45 ish with salt pepper hair and a slightly darker complexion. Latino, Jill thought as she gazed unaware at the tight physic displayed before her eyes.
From behind Jill, a light tap, hand on the shoulder and a whisper, “He does that to all the girls you know? Hell he even wiggles his ass for me, ‘Gordon shakes his butt like Elvis on stage never turning back.’ Some of us think this is what gave old Mrs. Balder her heart attack.”
Turning around with three cups of coffee in hand Gordon says, “Jill I would like you to meet Mathew Obyn. Mr. Obyn is the athletic coordinator. ‘Jill turns around flushed rosy pink cheeks to greet him.’ Matt and I have been the only morning coffee club participants for ten years now just the two of us.”
Matt says, “Not entirely old Mrs. Balder at one time joined us then well with the lightened displays of sexual behavior she seemed to not miss our antics as she remained in her room. I for one am glad we have some new blood around here and look forward to the year ahead. Here is to the three best teachers in the school.” Lifting his coffee and taking a sip.
Jill giggled as she followed suit. Still trying to hide the blushing with her fore arm.
Gordon says, “Relax you are among good friends here, nothing to be ashamed of if you think I have a cute tushie that is just what I need to hear. Right! Matt? All that exercise pays off Matt and I work out every day after school. You should join us some time? Oh just a bit of a warning ‘(acting and talking like queen Elizabeth, all proper) the other crabs that work at this establishment will find no such humor as appropriate.’ At lunch time you will be graced at meeting the living dead. They will annoy any sane person just think before you speak, or don’t speak.”
Jill now really flushed responds, “Thanks you two are funny, and that is what I needed. I think I might take you up on that offer some time.”
Matt excuses himself, as he was off early to set up for class being the first day. Jill and Gordon continue their flirting in a subtle manner…..
*****
