Variety Pack: Issue VII

10 She smiled, but it faded fast. “Poor Jay. Even after all these years on the job, I still have trouble helping the quiet ones...”

I knew she wasn’t just talking about the school. Her daughter, Sam, was a quiet kid, too. The kind of kid who had a whole galaxy in their head, one adults weren’t privy to, and all Frannie could do was hope no black holes appeared. I met Sam for the first time at the previous year’s Take-Your-Child-To-Work-Day, and I remembered seeing Frannie in the hallway with her during seventh period, her hands tight on her daughter’s forearms. I had only caught three words over the trinkle of the water fountain before Frannie lowered her voice. “...Trying to understand…”

“The other students are doing their best,” I said. “There are whispers, sure. Weird looks. But they’re mostly just… avoiding him, from what I’ve seen. Eggshells all over.”

“Like he’s cursed,” muttered Frannie.

“Orphans tend to be.”

“Hopefully things won’t be so tense after today.”

“Hopefully.”

The bell rang. Ninth period.

“Wish me luck,” said Frannie, ducking out. I packed away my sandwich and went to teach my final class which, thankfully, was the type of class that acted as if their hands would be lopped from their wrists if they dared raise them. I blew through the lesson and assigned the homework and when it was over I went to the library. In the back there was a long oval table ringed by plastic chairs. I claimed one and waited.