AnnaI extend my arm and punch. I do the same with the other. Punch, punch. Left, right. Again and again until I tire. The metal swings the punching bag away from me then back, away from me, then back again. I dance on my tip toes, left, right, left, right, punch, punch. Seconds, minutes, hours pass, I don't pay attention to the time. It's the only time I don't.Mickey, the owner of the training center I am profusely sweating in, comes up from behind me, I see him before he speaks, I feel his movement before he even makes it. I was trained to."Looking good Anna but keep your elbows up."I nod and do as ordered, then try again. Punch, punch, left, right. Sweat slides down one side of my face and onto my collarbone. I can feel pressure rising form the bottom of my back and that's my indication that I've been at this for over an hour. My max is usually no more than forty-five minutes, but if I really push myself, like today, I can normally make it to one hour and eighteen min
AlanI walk down the halls of Northridge Academy one last time. As excited as I am to be moving to New York and starting new somewhere, I am really going to miss this school. I have been here a total of three years and even after everything that went down with me one dark and drunken night, the school staff and principal still supported me and welcomed me back when I was deemed fit to teach again.Mr. Tissimo, the school principal, greets me right outside his office door. When I first requested to work here in this school, I expected I would not get in. It being an Academy and all, had diminished my hopes. It wasn't until I was hired and was asked several times if I would have my father come and tour the school or take a look around at what needed to be fixed in the school, did I understand the true meaning behind my hiring. I am my father's son.Dad is a real estate tycoon that has recently announced his running for Senator. It didn't come as a surprise to our family, dad was alw
AnnaEight seventeen pm."I just can't imagine those two colors together. What do you think Anna?"Eight seventeen pm."Anna, did you hear me?"Eight seventeen."Anna, why are you starring at your phone so hard?"Eight eighteen. Shit. Still nothing."Anna!"I look over to Laynie as she smirks at me. Shit, how long has she been asking me a question?"Sorry Lanes. Got a little sidetracked. What were you asking me?""Anna, we can do this another day. It really isn't a big deal." Laynie says to me as she looks around at her now empty restaurant. Yesterday Laynie asked me to come over to the restaurant and help her out with a few things. When I came in today after work she was at one of her tables with her head down, looking at paint samples. Laynie has been extremely overwhelmed with everything since Maggie's business skyrocketed. She is working nearly seven day a week being the chef and manager. Both Jared and I have told her to hire someone to help manage the place, but sh
Alan"We are very excited for you to start with us Mr. King. The previous fifth grade teacher, Mr. Wormon, has decided last minute that he no longer wanted to teach, so circumstances have you starting sooner rather than later." Mr. Moley the school principal tells me.It's Sunday morning and I was asked to come down this morning to start my paperwork and get them everything they would need for me to start by tomorrow. It's not normally how it's done but I know they are shorthanded at the moment. Plus, to be honest, I don't mind one bit. I'm eager to get started and to meet my new students.I've been here for two days now and although the first night was of me getting settled in and resting. I thought the next day would bring me a surprise I've been waiting on. Laynie and Jared came over to bring me dinner but when I asked Laynie about Anna, she just lowered her head and shook it.The girl has been avoiding me like the plague since I moved out here but when I told Laynie that, she s
AnnaI wake with a jolt. What time is it? Father hates it when I am late. I glance around for my clock on my small nightstand but don't see it. In fact, I can't see anything. I try to lean forward but quickly hit my head on something above me. I try and get my bearings right and realize I am in some kind of box. I feel around for something, anything to indicate what I am supposed to do, what my mission is, but get nothing.I want to cry out for my parents, I want to shout out for my brother, but I know that will only lead to a punishment. I cannot give in.Father wants to show me something, teach me something, I just need to survive long enough to know what that is.A rocking sound jolts me again and I realize that is what originally must have woken me up. A small light shines through the box I am trapped in and I try my best to look around. Suddenly something slams down on top of the box, startling me.A buzzing type noise starts to rattle the box and I'm helpless as a small
Alan "Good job today guys. See you tomorrow." I say to my new class as they nearly trip over each other trying to run out of the classroom. Today was my first day and it went so much better than expected. Back home in Minneapolis I had a class where I only taught social studies, but the school systems are so much different here. I have these amazing kids all day long and I am supposed to teach all subjects. Though I'm a bit rusty, and it's gotten a bit challenging, I was proud of my first day.Growing up with all little sisters I was able to tell right away how each student was going to be. Fifth grade is an interesting age group. It's where you can potentially meet your future friends and it's also where you truly start to find yourself. I remember being in fifth grade and deciding for myself that being a teacher is what I wanted to be. I had a workshop teacher, Mr. Dunlap, who taught me that I didn't have to be the stereotypical jock just because I played football and had parent
AnnaA light in the darkness. A small lit flame floats in the air.I should have known.I should have known ignoring the problem wouldn't make it go away. Alan was right. We can't run away from our problems. We have to be brave. I thought that's what I was doing when I went home last night and pulled out the letter I had originally ignored, the one that feels like a lifetime ago that I received.It was Jed's handwriting, I knew it would be, but somehow when I opened it, doubt dreaded my mind. The letter was the same as the others, facts about our past, secrets hidden all around the world. Everything I would need to put my father away. I put the letter into my safe hidden under the ground of my bedroom's closet, along with the pictures and all the other letters and I went to sleep.Now, as I stand here in my doorway, while the light, the burning orange and yellow light flickers, I wonder if I were meant to stare harder at the letters."Annabelle." The shadowy figure calls out.
Alan"Who can tell me the story of Romeo and Juliet?" I wait for the snickers to stop. I don't know what it is with kids and the story of Romeo and Juliet that have them snickering, laughing and blushing all at once. My previous class was the exact same way. I ask the question again once the class has settles down, and a girl raises her hand first."Yes, Merith."Merith lowers her hand and answers with a shy voice."Um, I think it's a love story. Romeo and Juliet love each other but their families don't like each other so they go behind their families backs and kiss." My lips turn up at her description.A few boys look at one another in the back corner with their mouths turned up in disgust. Ah, to be the age where you think all girls are absolutely discussing. Hard to believe in a few years those boys will be chasing these girls down instead."That's pretty accurate Merith. It's a tragic story derived from William Shakespeare." I begin telling the class the story of the doom