TORTURED TEACHER Chapter 6 - groundwork for capture
It was getting on toward late Autumn when the blow fell. Susie had
noticed that the kids in general, and Angie in particular, were getting
more and more uncooperative every time that Susie was in charge of the
class. Probably restless about the approaching holidays, Susie thought,
hoping desperately that she was right -- that her irrational premonition
was unfounded.
Jim was on one of his frequent out-of-town trips when it happened. Susie
was just coming back to her room from a pre-school session with the
Principal (during which he made the usual proposition) when one of the
Senior boys approached her in the hall.
"You know, teacher," he said, "you ought to have that engine of yours
looked at. It's making a bit of noise, and it sounds as if it might quit
on you, one of these days. And you don't want it to fail while you're
out on the road, especially now that night is falling earlier every day.
"If you want, I could take a look at it during lunch hour. It sounds like
something simple, like maybe a loose connection. If it's anything more
complicated, I think I know enough about cars so I could tell you whether
it really is something serious enough to need work right away.
"I promise I won't take your car apart out there on the parking lot," he grinned.
Susie matched his smile with one of her own. This was practically the
first civil word that any of her students had said to her. Maybe that's
the right psychological approach, she thought. Find something they think
they're good at, and give them a chance to do it. She gave the boy her
keys, along with another smile.
He returned the keys promptly at the end of lunch hour, with the
reassurance that it had indeed been nothing but a loose wire, which he
had been able to fix on the spot. She thanked him, and put the keys back
in her purse.
"I wonder if you could do me a favor in return," he asked. "I'm a little
embarrassed about it, because you're going to think that's the only
reason I told you about the car. It isn't, I promise you."
Susie smiled at his awkward earnestness. "Don't worry," she reassured
him. "I believe you. What is it that you want?"
"I just wonder if you could give me about five minutes after school,
to explain again that quotation from Shakespeare that we had for today's
lesson. I can't understand, for the life of me -- if he was such a great
writer, why couldn't he speak English right?"
"Why, that's because -- " Susie began, then noticed the impish expression
on his face. "You're teasing me!" she accused.
"Yes, ma'am," he admitted. "But I really would like a chance to talk about
it for maybe five minutes."
Susie thought for a moment. She was a little uneasy about staying after
school with one of the more mature male students. But what could happen
to her? It wasn't as if she would be alone with him -- lots of the other
teachers and students, as well as the custodial staff, would be all
around. And she did owe him something for his help. Besides, she wanted
to keep up the momentum of their newly-formed friendship.
It turned out that his questions took more like half an hour, but they
were legitimate questions. And there was not the least suggestion of
improper behavior. When they had finished, the boy thanked her politely,
walked her out to her car, and even held the door open while she got in.
Her skirt hiked up when she got into the car, and she could feel his eyes
on her thighs, but she could hardly blame him for that. She just wished
that it hadn't happened.
She debated for a moment whether to offer him a ride, but he didn't give
her a chance. Closing the door behind her, he ambled off toward the
students' end of the parking lot; hands in pockets, whistling a carefree
tune. Susie blushed as she realized that she was watching the tautness
of the jeans across his hips, the slight sway of his lean figure as he
sauntered across the lot.
My God! she thought, I must be missing Jim more than I realize.
She was happy to see that her car started more easily than usual. That
kid knew what he was doing.
I hope that I know what I'm doing, Susie thought as she drove away.
