Kit & Jem

It was her first day at school and she felt as nervous as she was when she had been a student.

She wasn’t a student anymore. She was a teacher.

It wasn’t the first time she taught either, but it was the first time she did it in the elementary of her hometown. She never thought life would bring her back here again. When she had left, she had been determined not to come back for as long as she lived. She was quite bitter when she had made up her mind, and her parents had respected her wish not to return. They were the ones visiting whenever they could.

But twenty years had passed, and she finally decided to let bygones be bygones. What had happened back then didn’t matter anymore. She was long over it. So, she applied for the position at the elementary and she was accepted.

Now that it was time to get to work she was hesitant.

She was standing outside the school and was looking at the building. She hadn’t seen it for so long.

They had painted it.

She scoffed.

Of course, they would have painted it. She had been missing for twenty years and the school was still functioning. Surely, they wouldn’t have left it fall in disrepair when so many kids attended there. More changes would wait for her inside, she was certain.

“If you don’t want your students to find you here, you should walk in now” a male voice called from beside her.

She turned to look at the person who spoke to her, only to find a man around her age, with shaved head and a beard standing next to her. He was taller than her by some, he looked strict, and he was a total stranger. She hadn’t even heard him walking up to her, lost as she was in her thoughts.

“Right” she said. “Hello by the way”

“Hello” he greeted back and started marching.

“How did you know I am the new teacher?” she asked, falling in step with him.

“We have been expecting you since Mrs. Simpsons retired last summer”

“She was still teaching?” she exclaimed.

Mrs. Simpsons was her teacher during first grade and she was already in her fifties when she taught her, or at least it seemed to her that way. If her assumption was correct she must be kind of ancient now.

“Yes, she was” the man nodded. “But she decided to leave room to new teachers who would be able to run behind first graders”

They were now close to the main entrance.

“I trust you don’t need the full tour” he said and then he walked away, leaving her with a frown on her face.

He wasn’t a very polite person.

No, scratch that.

He was downward rude and she didn’t even know his name.

***

She hadn’t recognized him.

He was a fool to be disappointed because he knew his appearance had changed greatly these last twenty years. Still, he had seen her standing there and he couldn’t help but talk to her. She seemed rather unsure of her presence there and he could bet that she was trying to remember what the school looked like in their days.

He should have introduced himself properly. Before that he should have greeted her, like any civil person would do. Yet, she didn’t bother with asking him his name.

She just watched him walk away.

She could have asked him for that tour. She hadn’t been to this place for over twenty years. A ton of things could have changed.

Nothing had changed.

There had been a renovation ten years ago, and the school had been freshly painted inside out. Five years ago, they changed some of the playground equipment and they have been maintaining it ever since.

Now that he was going to be announced as the new Headmaster, he had plans for more changes in the school always according to the funds they had. His predecessor had been wise with the expenses, and he planned to do the same.

He had already studied all the files when he was appointed to the position. Well, the day of the announcement would be today but Mr. Claythorne had been kind enough to facilitate his work as much as he could.

He was wondering now; when she heard his name, would she remember him at last?

***

She was wondering if the Headmaster was the same one she remembered from his days. The thought occurred when that man told her she would take Mrs. Simpsons place.

Well, she would have to wait and see.

The few minutes before the kids started flooding in, she spent them roaming around the school. She could have gone to the teachers’ office and get acquainted with her colleagues, but she found she couldn’t. The man from before didn’t seem to be particularly friendly and if she was to be in a hostile environment she’d rather delay it for a day or two if she could.

The laughter of the children put a smile on her face though.

She had experience with kids so young because she had taught in all the grades of elementary school. She wasn’t bored by her job, and she wasn’t easily irritated by small children, because she knew how to handle them. Come to think about it, the naughtiest and grumpiest of them was still more friendly than the man who ‘welcomed’ her to the school.

They all gathered in the schoolyard, and it was then when she saw the other teachers. As expected, there was a bunch of them. Some smiled at her, and they tried to make small talk when an elderly man started talking. Like she had imagined it was Mr. Claythorne, the headmaster from her days. Right next to him, was standing the uptight guy from this morning.

“Welcome to a new schoolyear!” his voice boomed with enthusiasm. “For most of you this is another year of boredom and knowledge. For our first graders this is a whole new world waiting for them to explore it.

Despite the years that have passed I still remember how I had felt the first day of school. All the first days of school. As a child, as a teacher and as a Headmaster.

I have spent many years in this school as the Headmaster and it is time for me to retire and let a younger person step in and do the best he can for all of you. My position will be covered by an excellent teacher whom most of you know and love; Mr. Thornton, step forward, please”

The man next to him obeyed and she stared at him frowning. The name sounded familiar but the face not really. Who did she know with that last name? She knew somebody. Who was he?

“You can tell a few words to the students” the old Headmaster prompted.

“Everybody knows I am not very good with speeches” the man stated calmly. “All I want is to welcome all our students as well and promise that I will try my best to continue Mr. Claythorne’s work as the new Headmaster”

There was a pause and then Mr. Claythorne spoke again.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Thornton or I should call you Headmaster Thornton beginning today”

The man turned to his audience again.

“I am not the only one who has to retire, however. Our dear Mrs. Simpsons said her farewells to her students last June and her place will be covered by Miss Katherine Malone”

She prayed that she wouldn’t be required to deliver a speech but the encouraging stare from Mr. Claythorne indicated that she should.

“Hello everyone!” she greeted but was unable to say more, thus letting the old Headmaster take over again.

“For those who don’t remember, Mrs. Simpsons was teaching the first grade. I am sure that both our new teacher and Headmaster will offer this school the breath of fresh air it needs”

With the poker face the new Headmaster was sporting she had serious doubts about that but she had to hold her tongue.