Chapter #22The Student Teacher by: rugal b.   Sinking into Ms. Simeon's personality is not very hard at all, especially not after your little adventure as Jeff Spencer. It's a much more comfortable personality too, Where Spencer's felt dark and suffocating, like slowly sinking into a tar pit, Ms. Simeon's is bright and light, like being surrounded by nice, pink cherry blossoms. She's smart as a whip as you're able to explain to students math problems and concepts that are on the verge of escaping you normally. But at the same time her demeanor, that you're affecting, is friendly and sincere.
It becomes obvious as you go through the morning that she's certainly well-liked by her students which is definitely good to know... even if her students are freshmen. Not that that's a bad thing however as there are two girls in her second period class that stand out immensely. One is Daniela Ramos, a girl who reminds you more than a bit of Kim Walsh: helpful to other students in class, hyper-organized, hyper-competent. The type of student who certainly has big things in her future.
Then there's Taylor Smith. A girl who plays not just in the orchestra but, as far as Ms. Simeon is aware, in the chamber orchestra. To play in it is considered highly desirable as only the best of the best get invited and for Taylor to earn that spot as a freshman speaks volumes of her talent and dedication.
There's other impressive students in other classes that you teach that morning as well. Students like Elijah Denton or Mason Hosey who you can't help but notice the girls stare longingly at and who look like they could probably clean up on any athletic team they wanted. Or girls like Addison Ricci and Shelly Nolan who, though different in personality, hold undeniable charisma.
You had no idea about who any of the freshmen even were before this morning and you wonder if your own impression is being colored by the persona you've adopted that can't help but think that every year the kids coming up from middle school get a little stronger and a little smarter... a bit of rationalizing her own worries about perceived inadequacies. But even still, a lot of these students seem like they'd make for pretty good lives to jump into.
But would you want to become a freshman and have to essentially start high school over again? That seems to be the only students that Elizabeth would interact with on a regular basis. Interactions that can be frustrating at times too as even a liked teacher like Ms. Simeon is going to have a hard time keeping the attention of a bunch of fourteen and fifteen-year-olds.
* * * * *
"You look like shit Liz," Jennifer says as she starts her car. It's lunch and the two of you are headed off school grounds for a food run.
"I'm just tired," you groan as you slump in the passenger seat. "I just had a hard time getting going this morning and then one of my kids in third decided today would be the best day to be an ass. Oh shut up, Jen," you grumble as she titters, "unlike me you get the students that want to be there."
Elizabeth can't help but feel a bit of small envy for Jennifer Willett. Her students always seem a little more enthusiastic. Then again she's young -- the same age as Elizabeth and in fact the two were in the same sorority and were even roommates their senior year -- and very pretty so it's no real mystery why she gets so many eager teenagers signing up for her classes.
"No it's just that... that's not really any different from any other morning," she replies and her tone of voice becomes much more teasing. "You so had a late night with a guy didn't you?"
"Oh god don't remind me," you groan more. "The dry spell's still going."
"Really? I thought went out with that cute guy from the bank last week," she states.
"We had dinner but it didn't work out," you tell her. "He was such a douchebag and just talked about himself a lot. Also I'm not just going to tell you every time I sleep with some guy. I'm not like Cathy."
"Oh god," Jennifer busts out laughing, "I don't think I could deal with you if you were like her."
"Well, I mean, she's not bad..."
"Oh I know but I mean this morning she couldn't stop telling me about how strong Thomas is and did you know that Thomas can just go and go?" she says as she continues to laugh. "I'm glad one of us has a healthy sex life."
"How long are you going to keep shooting down Rob?" you ask referring to Mr. Hagerman, your original choice for a teacher. "He's really obvious with his flirting."
Jennifer sighs at that though it's more a sigh of frustration. "I know but I dunno," she says. "Hannah was telling me that he was flirting really hard with her too and she seems a lot more into him. He's always struck me as a playboy, you know? Not really my type if I'm looking for something long term."
"I get it," you reply with weariness born from Elizabeth's own frustration at her current romantic situation.
"We should go out tonight Liz, just the two us," states Jennifer. "Go to a club or something and just find some nice guys you know? Get all that frustration out of our systems."
"Have fun with that," you reply in a tone that's both friendly but completely dismissive of the idea. "You know that's not my thing. Besides I've got plans after school."
"Another date?"
"Hardly," you laugh, "I'm just getting some coffee with Maggie. She finally got some free time and we haven't talked in a while."
"Oh jeez, Maggie? I don't think I've talked to her since the end of last year. Is she still..."
"Nah, I don't think she's the partying type anymore. She didn't seem like it last time we talked anyway."
"Color me shocked," Jennifer retorts. "Ah well, I'll enjoy a quiet night in myself then. So whaddaya wanna get? Personally you can call me Cathy because I'm totally craving Mexican."
"Oh my god, stop being so catty!" you exclaim but can't hide your own laughter. "But yeah, La Cocina sounds really good right now."
It's an enjoyable lunch and you find yourself really enjoying the time with Jennifer. By the end of the day you feel like you've settled in nicely. The freedom of being an adult is very liberating and you start to feel like plan or no you could get very used to being Elizabeth Simeon.
* * * * *
Dunn Brewin' is not the fanciest or most unique of the surprising amount of coffee shops that dot Saratoga Falls and it's for that reason that it's the one Elizabeth likes best... even if she some times feels a bit weird about having to go onto Keyserling's campus. She's a few years removed from college at this point so she can't help but feel a bit self-conscious. But so many of the other places are these weird ones like Flying Saucer or, like Milagro, attract that pretentious type of crowd that can be annoying.
Dunn Brewin' is no frills and affordable and since it's connected to Keyserling that means some of the money goes back to the school so Elizabeth can at least claim she's doing a little bit of community good in supporting it.
Thankfully today you don't need to feel awkward, both because you lack Elizabeth's hangups and because you're going to be here with someone very connected to the university herself.
"Maggie, it's good to see you!" you exclaim, getting up to greet a green-shirted woman.
"It's good to see you too Liz," she says, returning your greeting and embracing you in a friendly hug. "We haven't seen each other since, what, the summer?"
Maggie, that is Margaret Alba, is another of Elizabeth's former sorority sisters and one of the ones she had been closest too. Though where Elizabeth and Jennifer went into teaching Margaret, who was something of an infamous party girl, seems to have settled down post-graduation as a grad student doing work as a T.A. while going for her master's. It's that work which has kept her busy and prevented the two friends from meeting as regularly as they'd like.
"And it's not just the research which is killing me," she grumbles, "but Blackwell was being a problem too."
"What's been going on?" you ask with concern. "You're not getting, like, stalked by some creep are you?"
"Not stalked but he is totally creepy," Maggie shudders. "No, he's just a co-worker kind of. Professor of arc--wait, you didn't have any classes with him when you were attending." You shake your head so she continues. "Anyway, yeah he's in the archaeology department. He'd asked me for help a few months back on some book he found, I guess because my focus is Reformation era Central Europe and this book I guess fit the time and place."
"That sounds pretty neat," you admit. "So you helped him?"
"I didn't have the time to but he wouldn't stop pestering me about it," she explains. :Just to shut him up I put him in contact with a girl from one of the classes I T.A. and I guess she's been helping him organize his library, translate stuff, all that. Ugh, I feel bad for her though. The guy's really eccentric."
"How so?"
"He just has this weird obsession with magic and stuff," she states. "I've been over to his place and it's nice but really creepy. The whole thing just gives me the chills."
Though it might creep Maggie out, it's piqued your interest. A professor who's into magic? Maybe he'd know of the book or have resources you could use to help your own research, especially in getting past that ripped page. Though you had a plan and though you're already getting comfortable as Elizabeth, you wonder if switching with someone connected to university -- Maggie or this girl working for him or even just another student in general -- to get close to this professor might in fact be the best course to take.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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