The New Teacher

Lily didn’t know she could feel this embarrassed.  All through home period, every time she looked near Axle, he had a knowing half smile on his face. It caused some complicated flips in her stomach.  ‘I introduced myself as Lily… to a student,’ her blush was burning so bright she thought it was warming the room.

When the bell rang, she ran to the teachers lounge.  Though she looked where she was going this time.  ‘Safe.’

“Ms. Doran, I presume?  Unless you’re a student that is sneaking into the teacher’s lounge?” a youngish man said.  He was tall enough, with neatly trimmed, wavy blonde hair.  He looked at her expectantly, with warm brown eyes.

Lily thought he might be a little older than her, but still in his twenties.  ‘How old is Axle? Why is he dressed like that?  He looks more like a teacher than this guy wearing a polo and khakis,’ the thoughts kept circling in her head.  She was still dealing with her escape from the laughing green eyes in the back of her classroom.

“Ms. Doran?” he said again, then his smile turned to alarm, “Sorry, was I wrong! I’m so sorry.  I was told Ms. Doran was the only other new teacher in the school. I’m Kyle, Kyle Lamar,” he held out his hand as he spoke.

Lily snapped out of it, ‘this is becoming a vicious circle of embarrassment,’ she thought.

“No, no, you were right, I’m Lily Doran.  Sorry, I was thinking about the next period and was a little out of it,” she said, returning a firm handshake.  “Vice Principal Kendrick told me to find you here,” and now Lily was smiling. “Want to take a quick tour before the next class?”

“Sounds great!”

“Welcome to Stars Hollow High, Vice Principal Kendrick said you were starting as a part-time teacher. You must be new in town as well? I feel like we would have crossed paths before now if you grew up here, Stars Hollow is very small.

“You're right. I'm not from here, exactly. I grew up in the next county over, an even smaller place if you can believe it. I applied to all the high schools within a 150 km radius of my hometown and ended up here. I'm pretty lucky, even if it's part time. I'm excited to start my career,” he said. He smiled widely, and had an energetic bounce in his steps.  

Lily’s impression of him was one of  earnestness and eagerness.  Like a puppy.

“I understand the feeling. I was lucky to land a role in my hometown, I guess.” Lily looked down at her shoes, not wanting to sound ungrateful.  ‘I’m not ungrateful, I’m just annoyed at my mom, probably,’ she thought.  He didn’t seem to notice.  He was the kind of guy that could run a conversation by himself.

“It must be good to have family and friends nearby. I'm close enough to drive home on the weekends to see my parents and old high school buddies, but I had to move here to make this job viable.”

“Well, that can be tough I bet.  Stars Hollow is a nice town with lots of good people though!  There isn't a ton to do here, mind you, but it sounds like you're from a small town too so you know the drill,” Lily said, a half laugh escaping as she spoke.

“We didn’t even have a bowling alley,” he said, smiling brightly.  

“It will feel like home before you know it, everyone is very welcoming here,”  lightly touching his arm as she said it.  She started over in a new city before, it isn’t easy.  “Like Mrs. Bacho here, “ she pointed to the math professor and walked over to make the introductions.

“Mrs. Bacho, this is the new part-time teacher, Mr Lamar.  He will be the...  oh jeepers I didn't even ask which courses you teach.” More embarrassment, ‘pull yourself together Lily’.

“I teach physics, chemistry and general science, but I'm part-time, so I may do some substitution work as well. It is nice to meet you Mrs. Bacho.”

“Likewise Mr. Lamar.  Always good to see fresh young faces here, helps keep us older teachers energized.” Then she smiled and said,   “The students like it too”.

Mrs. Bacho looked at them standing together and smiled saying, “You both look to be the same age. It's good to have a colleague you can relate with,” she said, her one eye almost winking.  “Not that we can't relate with you Ms. Doran, but it never hurts to have a handsome young colleague to chat with about the joys and trials of teaching over coffee sometimes, right?”

Lily tried to hide the awkward half frown that crossed her face, “Oh Mrs. Bacho, I wouldn't hesitate to come to you to talk about the joys and pains of teaching some of my students. I know you would only give good advice.”

“The offer stands for you as well Mr. Lamar. I've been teaching here at Stars Hollow High for 30 years and know a thing or two about the teenage mind, let me tell you.”

“I'll have to take you up on that, Mrs. Bacho.   Thank you for the warm welcome.”

The rest of the tour went quickly, Stars Hollow wasn't the biggest high school, they had fewer than 400 students total.

“Thank you Ms. Doran, I appreciate you taking time to show me around.”

“No worries, apparently us young teachers have to stick together,” she says with a smile.

“Now that I have a better handle on the school, I just have to get a better handle of the town. You know, figure out where the good fruits and vegetables are, the best pizza place, good coffee shops, that kind of thing.”

“You'll figure those things out in no time. This place is just not that big,” Lily said. 

He seemed nice enough, but she didn’t like people trying to manipulate her into something, even something innocent.  It is exactly the kind of beta move that she finds unattractive.  Maybe if she was in a better mood, and wasn't in the midst of wedding planning crisis mode, she might have offered to make some recommendations. As it was, she had to go.

“Yeah you're right, I'm sure I will. See you around Ms. Doran.”  He walked back towards the teacher's lounge and Lily thought 'he's dressed like a middle aged dad'.

She was heading to the administration offices to let vice principal Kendrick know she'd taken care of his chore, when she thought she caught sight of an understated wool jacket flapping as it went through the nearby door of the guidance counseling office.  ‘None of my concern,’ Lily thought to herself.

-------

“Thank you Ms Doran. I'm sure Mr Lamar appreciated your time,” Mr Kendrick said. He was standing behind his desk this time looking out the window at the sports field. He turned slightly so she was still in view. "I want all the teachers here to feel welcome, not just Mr. Lamar.  You as well.” He walked around and leaned back on the front of the desk.

“I remember you as a student. My memory isn't so bad yet that I could forget our art prodigy so easily. I think it's wonderful that you are back here with us, contributing as a teacher, but I want you to know that teaching doesn't have to take over your whole life.”

“Don't worry about me. There are things happening in my life other than teaching, I promise you,” she said.  Immediately her mind went back to all the things she still had to do for the wedding.

“I'm sure,” he said, with his authoritative drawl.  “That's not what I meant though. I was serious when I mentioned your art. We were all so proud when you left to study fine Arts. You have a true gift, and I know how hard you worked to develop it. Teaching is an amazing and rewarding profession, but don't forget about your other talents. That's all I meant to say.”

“Thank you,” she said, suddenly a little emotional.  Her mom bringing up her art really played havoc with her today.  “I still paint Mr. Kendrick, but yes, it has taken a backseat while I try to settle in here. My parents are so happy that I have a stable job, and I am too,” she added quickly.  “So grateful to work with the amazing staff here and the wonderful children.”

“Mr Kendrick smiled, “I'm sure you are. Just remember my door is always open.   You can talk to me about anything, whether it be students, staff, or future plans you have.”

“I appreciate that. I really do.”

“Well then, you better get to class. I don't want you to be late for an afternoon class as well as morning.”