Dawn. Not this time. Try me after payday.”
“Okay,” Dawn said and was about to leave when Jessica stopped her.
“Dawn?”
“Yes?” She looked so young when she turned and met Jessica’s gaze.
“I want you to know that my door is always open to you, if you have any questions about class or whatever. Sorry I couldn’t help out with the fund-raiser this week.”
“That’s okay. See you tomorrow.”
Jessica nodded and watched Dawn hurry out the door. The classroom had begun to fill with next period’s students. Jessica watched them slide into their seats and chat with each other. They were great students. She liked all of them. But she felt something stronger toward Dawn, in the same way she was more drawn to Teri than to any of the other teachers she had met.
Teri seemed to feel the same way about Jessica, because she continued to seek out Jessica during the week. On Friday afternoon Teri sat on the edge of Jessica’s desk and said, “So you think you’re ready to come back next Monday and do this all over again?”
“What a first week!” Jessica shook her head. “I can’t believe it went so fast.”
Teri slowly rotated her head in small circles, trying to relax. “And just think—that was only four days. Next week we get to do this for five! And the next week, and the next week…” Her voice faded as she continued the small circles.
She looked like a teacher in her navy blue, straight jumper and white shirt. Jessica noticed that Teri never wore jewelry, and yet somehow her outfits always looked complete and stylishly put together.
In contrast, Jessica had accessories to go with every outfit she owned. Today she wore a DKNY brown knit skirt and matching sweater. It turned out to be a warmer day than she had thought, and she had pushed up the sleeves so many times that now the sweater felt all itchy in the crook of her elbow.
“Do you have another chiropractor appointment today?” Teri asked.
“No, I went yesterday. Ida took me. I can’t imagine what kind of shape I’d be in if I hadn’t started going to Dr. Dane right after the accident. Have you ever had one of Becky’s massages?”
“No, but it sounds pretty wonderful right about now,” Teri said. “What are you going to do this weekend?”
“Nothing much. Work on lesson plans maybe,” Jessica said.
“Do you want to come over tonight for leftover spaghetti? I know you weren’t up for doing anything last Friday night, and if you aren’t this week either, I’ll understand.”
Jessica thought of how she was down to her last two eggs and four pieces of bread. She had managed to hoard that final eighty-four cents, though! Payday was still a week away. A free meal would be wonderful, and it would be nice to spend the evening with Teri.
“Sure. Spaghetti sounds great. Do you want me to bring anything?” Jessica wasn’t sure why she asked; she couldn’t bring anything even if Teri asked her to. Fortunately Teri said she had a full refrigerator.
They stopped by Jessica’s long enough for her to change into jeans, and then they drove the six or so blocks to Teri’s little house. It was an old house like Jessica’s, but not quite as charming.Perhaps the bungalow’s color took away from its appeal—mint green with ivory trim.
The one-story rental house had two bedrooms and a full basement. Inside, everything was cream and white and simple. The kitchen table had white chairs and was covered with an ivory tablecloth. A basket of linen napkins sat in the center of the table with tall white salt and pepper shakers on either side. Teri took Jessica on a quick tour of her comfortable, light and airy home, which concluded once again in the kitchen where Teri started to fix dinner.
While she worked, she told stories about where she had picked up most of the furniture. She bought her plants at moving sales, which she watched for in the paper, and her dishes were a collection of old china plates she had picked up at a variety of
“Okay,” Dawn said and was about to leave when Jessica stopped her.
“Dawn?”
“Yes?” She looked so young when she turned and met Jessica’s gaze.
“I want you to know that my door is always open to you, if you have any questions about class or whatever. Sorry I couldn’t help out with the fund-raiser this week.”
“That’s okay. See you tomorrow.”
Jessica nodded and watched Dawn hurry out the door. The classroom had begun to fill with next period’s students. Jessica watched them slide into their seats and chat with each other. They were great students. She liked all of them. But she felt something stronger toward Dawn, in the same way she was more drawn to Teri than to any of the other teachers she had met.
Teri seemed to feel the same way about Jessica, because she continued to seek out Jessica during the week. On Friday afternoon Teri sat on the edge of Jessica’s desk and said, “So you think you’re ready to come back next Monday and do this all over again?”
“What a first week!” Jessica shook her head. “I can’t believe it went so fast.”
Teri slowly rotated her head in small circles, trying to relax. “And just think—that was only four days. Next week we get to do this for five! And the next week, and the next week…” Her voice faded as she continued the small circles.
She looked like a teacher in her navy blue, straight jumper and white shirt. Jessica noticed that Teri never wore jewelry, and yet somehow her outfits always looked complete and stylishly put together.
In contrast, Jessica had accessories to go with every outfit she owned. Today she wore a DKNY brown knit skirt and matching sweater. It turned out to be a warmer day than she had thought, and she had pushed up the sleeves so many times that now the sweater felt all itchy in the crook of her elbow.
“Do you have another chiropractor appointment today?” Teri asked.
“No, I went yesterday. Ida took me. I can’t imagine what kind of shape I’d be in if I hadn’t started going to Dr. Dane right after the accident. Have you ever had one of Becky’s massages?”
“No, but it sounds pretty wonderful right about now,” Teri said. “What are you going to do this weekend?”
“Nothing much. Work on lesson plans maybe,” Jessica said.
“Do you want to come over tonight for leftover spaghetti? I know you weren’t up for doing anything last Friday night, and if you aren’t this week either, I’ll understand.”
Jessica thought of how she was down to her last two eggs and four pieces of bread. She had managed to hoard that final eighty-four cents, though! Payday was still a week away. A free meal would be wonderful, and it would be nice to spend the evening with Teri.
“Sure. Spaghetti sounds great. Do you want me to bring anything?” Jessica wasn’t sure why she asked; she couldn’t bring anything even if Teri asked her to. Fortunately Teri said she had a full refrigerator.
They stopped by Jessica’s long enough for her to change into jeans, and then they drove the six or so blocks to Teri’s little house. It was an old house like Jessica’s, but not quite as charming.Perhaps the bungalow’s color took away from its appeal—mint green with ivory trim.
The one-story rental house had two bedrooms and a full basement. Inside, everything was cream and white and simple. The kitchen table had white chairs and was covered with an ivory tablecloth. A basket of linen napkins sat in the center of the table with tall white salt and pepper shakers on either side. Teri took Jessica on a quick tour of her comfortable, light and airy home, which concluded once again in the kitchen where Teri started to fix dinner.
While she worked, she told stories about where she had picked up most of the furniture. She bought her plants at moving sales, which she watched for in the paper, and her dishes were a collection of old china plates she had picked up at a variety of
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