The Teacher

AVERY’s POV

(INAUDIBLE CHATTERING)

I stood in front of the classroom writing on the board but I was getting frustrated by the noise.

‘I am getting tired! Lord, give me some strength’

I whispered under my breath. 

I turned around and stared at them and shook my head.

“Okay, class here is the deal either y’all zip it or I deduct 20 marks from everyone's test”

They immediately kept quiet and I nodded with fulfilment. 

“That was what I thought”

I smirked, turned around, and continued writing notes on the blackboard. It was never my dream to be a high school English teacher but for a 27-year-old orphan and single mother, life did not provide me with many choices.

The bell rang and I was the happiest. Yes! I hate my job.

One of my students walked up to me, she held my hands and smiled faintly.

“Miss Avery, I can't wait to see you tomorrow, Bye!”

She ran off after saying that and I just stared in awe.

Well, if there was one thing I was proud of, it was the fact that I made a name for myself among the students, and of course, I enjoyed the attention too. Though I know that a lot of the other teachers hated me for that.

I sat on my chair and I had to grade some tests and prepare for Monday’s papers. 

“Mummy, mummy, mummy!”

I turned around with a fat smile on my face and looked at my bundle of joy, Logan. When I first gave birth to him I admit that I disliked him with passion and blamed him for everything wrong in my life but it was never his fault. His father who left me for another woman when I blindly trusted him was to be blamed. 

“Logan, who brought you here? And what are you holding?”

“Aunt Camila. And she bought me this red wristwatch”

I looked at the watch and it was green, not red.

I nodded and smiled at him. Logan had color blindness so it was pretty hard for him.

“Hey, Girlfriend are you ready to go?”

My best friend Camila popped out from the side of the door and grinned at me.

Logan ran outside the classroom and I knew he was going to the next class to show his watch. They were very fond of him.

“Camila, thank you for picking up Logan. I have been so busy!”

“You need to at least make some time for him, Avery. When was the last time you picked him up from school yourself?”

“You know how busy I have always been, right? And he is a big boy. He should be able to take care of himself sometimes, right? The world isn't rosy, Camila”

“Avery, stop blaming your son for your hardships, alright? The poor boy is just 5 years old but his mother thinks he is big enough to take care of himself! Come on, Avery”

“Fine, maybe that was wrong, and mind you I do not blame Logan for any of my hardships, okay? Are you ready to go? I am starving!”

Camila stood for about a minute staring into my face like she was searching for answers. 

“Yes, let us go”

She looked at me from head to toe and finally broke the silence.

“What was that look for? Come on Camila! You are his tutor, right? So you should be responsible for him at times too”

“I am his tutor, not his nanny, and mind you, I don't remember collecting any payment from you, so do not try to feel too big”

We both stared at each other for a few seconds before chuckling loudly.

We walked outside and Logan joined us.

“Bye, Logan”

Karen forcefully smiled at me and waved at Logan.

“Bye Karen, see you tomorrow”

I turned around then I glimpsed back at her.

“That fucking bitch!”

“What is a bitch, Mummy?”

I quickly covered Logan’s mouth and Camila stared at me. I clenched my jaw and hid my gaze from hers.

“Let us go, Logan”

She pulled him away from my arms and I followed behind them. 

When we got outside the school I saw my principal but before I could run away he saw me.

“Avery, can I have a minute?”

“I see your crush is still active”

Camila whispered to me and I had to control my laughter.

‘This old hag, what does he want!’

I whispered carefully while I walked towards him.

“Hello, Mr. Scofield.. How is it going”

“I am having a house opening party today. I invited all the teachers I want you to also attend!”

‘In your wildest dream, Dickhead!’

I said to myself in my head. I always have the wildest thoughts and imaginations in my head.

“Party? I would have loved to come, sir..”

“But? There is always a ‘but’ with you, Avery. Hey, I am only making it easy in this school for you because of what happened to your parents and the fact that I have a soft spot in my heart for you, but you are beginning to take it for granted, woman!”

‘I see.. So this is about the fact that I refused his marriage proposal? How am I supposed to get married to a man who is old enough to be my father and has 5 kids?!’

“With all due respect, sir. Never speak about my parents in such a manner and I never asked for your pity!”

I turned around, walked up to Camila, held my son’s hand and we got into Camila’s car. On our way back to my house I flashed back on how my parents were both shot right in front of me. It is a miracle that I am still alive. 

When we got to the house I stared at the neighborhood and how clean the street looked. That is what you get when you stay on one of the richest streets in Las Vegas, Enclave Highland. 

Oh, the house was given to me by an unknown person and I accepted it with open hands.

A convoy of 3 cars followed by a truck parked right opposite me and I squinted my eyes to see who it was. 

“Hey, you! What are you looking at?!”

A voice came from behind me.