Deep in the heart of Texas:
My story begins during my Senior year in High School. My mom and I lived in a small town in Texas where football and guns are the two most important things to most men. I wanted to be a football star and was getting closer to my dream of playing in the NFL someday. That didn't work out, but that's really not what this story is about.
Mom and I lived in a little house on the edge of town. Just a town like most small towns. Nothing special about it at all. Mom worked in a beauty salon as a hairdresser and had raised me by herself. Her name is Nikki, and almost everybody who met her loved her! She had women coming from miles around because she was so good at making them look beautiful.
We barely got buy in the beginning, but she'd built up her clients over the years, and things were much better that year than they had been. I respected her for keeping me. I'd been born when mom was still in High School. Instead of putting me up for adoption, she'd kept me, and with the help of her parents, she finished school while Grandpa & Grandma babysat me.
Mom never would tell me anything about my real dad other than she'd had a one night fling at a party, and I was the result. In fact, she couldn't even remember his name or much about how he looked except he was tall and lived in some other town. He'd told her that I was her problem and had disappeared, leaving her pregnant at fifteen. Ever since then, Mom had raised me. And when I was almost out of school things changed. College coaches had been interviewing me, and Mom was always bragging about what a great son I was to anyone that would listen.
***
My senior year started out like I expected it would, but I sure didn't anticipate how it ended up! It all began the first day I went to English class. Instead of finding old cranky Ms. White, I found a new teacher fresh out of College named Patricia Smith. She'd moved to Texas from California for her first teaching job. She was drop-dead gorgeous, and I think every boy in class had a crush on her.
Patricia looked like she was a work out queen with blonde hair and blue eyes. Such a pretty face and a figure that made all us guys dream and drool. She must have been used to the attention because she ignored all our attempts at flirting with her. She acted like a professional even though she smiled a lot and shot down all us horny guys whenever we tried to flirt with her.
I was already 6' 1" and 190 pounds of muscle with brown hair and green eyes. I was the quarterback of the football team and team captain. I never had any trouble finding a girlfriend. All that made me pretty arrogant, and I told my buddy Carl that I'd show him how it was done.
"Jase," Carl whispered to me one day at the end of class, "I dare you to ask her out."
I thought about it and took the dare. I was full of myself, and it was a painful lesson to learn.
"Okay, you have your assignments," Patricia was saying just before the bell rang, "Work hard, are there any questions?"
Like a fool, I raised my hand.
"Yes, Jason?"
"I was wondering if you have any plans for Friday night after the game?" I told her boldly.
Half the class laughed, especially the girls.
Ms. Smith smiled at me for a moment as I stood there waiting for a reply.
"I'm very flattered, Mr. Sinclair," she started in, "Dating students is against the rules. Even if it was okay, I prefer men, not boys."
The entire class erupted in laughter as the bell rang. I grabbed my books and felt one foot tall as I left the room as quickly as I could. Carl was right behind me, laughing all the way!
"She cut you down to the ground!" Carl heckled.
"No, shit!" I told him.
After that day, all the other boys and I behaved ourselves. I was a model student, especially in her class, but that didn't stop me from checking her out whenever she was at the blackboard or not looking. Patricia had what seemed to me like perfect boobs. Not too big or too small. And no matter what she wore to class, her cute little ass made me wish that she wanted me as much as I wanted her. But I knew it was never going to happen. But that didn't stop me from dreaming about her!
***
Football season ended in November just before my 18th birthday. We'd won the state championship for our small division school, and I had two offers for football scholarships next year. I hadn't picked a school to sign with yet, but there was another problem.
The scholarships depended on me having at least a "C" average, and I hated English class the most. But I needed to bring that grade up from a "D," but I just didn't get it.
I sort of just typed whatever to get it over with, and my grades showed it. When it was time for the Christmas break, I had a solid "D." I turned in a 5-page paper, and after class, Patricia stopped me and said she wanted to speak with me. When all the students had left, I went to her desk.
"Yes, Ma'am," I said, "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, Jason," She smiled, "It's about this."
She slid my paper over for me to see, and it was covered in red ink marks. A big "F" circled at the top in red.
"Jason, I know you can do better than this," She told me, "I know you're smart enough to remember all those football plays and formations. I think you just aren't trying when it comes to homework."
I looked at the mess of red marks, "Yes, ma'am."
"I'm not trying to put you down. I want to help you, that's why I'm here. Is there something you don't understand and need help with?"
"I know I need to do better," I told her, "My football scholarship depends on it. I just hate English, no offense."
Patricia smiled, "None taken. Not everyone likes every subject, but they need to learn."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"I'd like to help you if you can do one thing in return for me?"
"Sure, I need help!"
I wasn't lying about that comment, and for once, I wasn't thinking about her body.
Patricia looked at me with her pretty blue eyes like she was trying to make a decision about me. I waited as she studied my face for a few seconds.
"Okay," she said, and the smile was back, "I'll help you, but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone if I private tutor you. If you can do that and behave yourself, I'll help."
"Why can't I tell anyone?"
"Because people start rumors, and I don't want to get fired from my first job."
I knew what she was talking about. Living in a smaller town meant everybody was nosing into other people's business. If she were going to really help me on the side, people would think we had something else going on.
"You're right," I told her, "People around here won't mind their own business. I won't talk, I promise."
"Okay, I'm going to trust you," She replied and slid a small note to me, "Here's my address, come over tomorrow night at seven."
I picked up the paper and slid it in my jeans pocket, "Thanks! I'll be there, and don't worry, nobody will know."
"I'm trusting you," She replied, "Don't let me down."
"No ma'am, I won't."
I was happy leaving school that day. I knew it wasn't a date, but I was still looking forward to seeing her. Even if it was to work on my English skills.
***
Our Christmas break was coming up soon, but Patricia wanted me to start right away. I went over to her apartment after dark and spent an hour working my butt off. It hadn't been what I'd expected, but I was motivated to bring my grade up. That didn't mean I didn't find time to run my eyes over her body and dream occasionally, but she wasn't having any of that. Giving me a frown whenever she caught me looking at her like a horn dog.
Hey, back then, I was 18 and horny as hell most of the time. Taking lessons from Patricia was seriously going to cut into my social life, but I was thinking about College. Mom had no way to pay for it, so I took the pain of learning about Nouns, Verbs, and all that other horse shit. I hated it for the most part, but getting special attention from Patricia was why I put up with it at first.
***
I rewrote one of my papers and gave it to her on Friday night. I cringed each time the red pin circled something wrong. Patricia was merciless when it came to that. In the end, I was waiting for her to tell me how fucked up it was, but she smiled instead.
"Jason, this is so much better!"
"It is?"
"Night and day better," she replied, "See what a little work can do."
"So, what's my grade on this?"
"I'd say a solid "C."
"I was hoping for more."
"You'll get there, just keep working hard."
I thought she could tell I was down on myself.