Stonewall Academy

Chapter 3

Professor Carmon sat down on one of the seats and beckoned for me to sit next to her.

"Do you have any textbooks or school supplies?" Professor Carmon asked.

"No, I only got told I was coming here yesterday."

"Oh well, these are mine from school. There are even a few conversations between your mum and 2 aunts," Professor Carmon said, her voice suddenly soft and caring.

Her voice was completely different from when we were in class, I wonder if she talked like this all the time maybe people wouldn't hate her. Was she the mystery girl from the photo? I pulled it out of my pocket and looked from the girl in the photo to Professor Carmon. It was her. The girl who was not to be mentioned. The girl who made a big mistake. She looks a lot darker and more stressed now than in the photo where she looks so carefree. I stared at her with my mouth wide open in shock. She took the photo off me and her face mirrored mine.

"That's you, right?" I asked.

"Yes, I remember that day like it was yesterday. Incredibly happy day for your Mum. Jacklyn was so happy that she was going to be a mum. Then Rosalie died and I made a mistake, got drunk, didn't I?" Professor Carmon scoffed as tears started running down her face.

"Are you ok Professor? You're crying," I pointed out concerned.

She quickly turned away from me and tried to pull herself together. I could tell she was trying not to cry in front of me but it wasn't working, she just started crying more. Sobs came from her mouth and I tried hard not to cry myself. It was so heartbreaking to see someone break. Then I had an idea, she was friends with Aunt Sam in school maybe she could help.

"Do you want me to get Aunt Sam?" I asked.

"Just go, get out!" Professor Carmon sobbed.

"But...."

"OUT! GET OUT!" she screamed and I ran out of the classroom.

After the door closed, I heard a thump and looked in the door. Professor Carmon was collapsed on the floor sobbing. I ran as fast as I could to Grandma D's office. I yelled the password and ran in interrupting Grandma D and Aunt Sam laughing.

"Aunt Sam, come with me," I yelled urgently and they jumped before turning to face me.

"What is it, Rose? Why aren't you at lunch? My class starts soon and we are both in it. Can this wait?" Aunt Sam asked bombarding me with questions.

I walked up to Aunt Sam and whispered in her ear, "Professor Carmon is crying, we were talking about the photo and she was talking about the mistake."

"Rachel?" Aunt Sam questioned.

"She has a job here," Grandma D confirmed, nodding.

"Come Rose, show me where she is. We'll see you at dinner Mum," Aunt Sam said and I showed her to Professor Carmon's classroom.

"In there," I pointed to the room and we went in.

I stood in the corner of the room as Aunt Sam went over to the sobbing teacher. Aunt Sam lifted her up onto a chair and knelt in front of her. She raised Professor Carmon's face in her hands and wiped the tears away.

"Hey Rach, long time no see," Aunt Sam said softly.

"Sam?"

"Yeah, I'm here, why are you crying?" Aunt Sam asked, her voice laced with concern.

"I'm so sorry for what I did. I was... I'm just... so consumed with grief and guilt. I'm so sorry," Professor Carmon sobbed.

"It's ok, now pick yourself up. We both have a class now, come see me this afternoon for coffee," Aunt Sam suggested and dragged me out of the room.

We gave a quick glance to the students lining up outside the classroom and we rushed to class. Aunt Sam's class was starting and we were late. We reached the classroom and Lexi was waiting outside, I could hear loud noises coming from the classroom.

"They're inside, being idiots," Lexi told us and we walked in.

Lexi and I sat down quickly in the front row and waited for someone to notice Aunt Sam was there. After 5 minutes everyone was still talking loudly and not aware she was there. I slammed my book on my desk and everyone turned their attention to me.

"There is a teacher here waiting, show some respect," I yelled and the room went silent.

"Thank you, Rose, though it was unnecessary. I'm sure you smart children would have figured it out sooner or later. My name is Professor Adler, but you guys can call me Sam. Professor Adler is my mum's name and I am not like her," Aunt Sam said gracefully.

"Cool," a student exclaimed.

"Who can tell me when this school was founded?" Aunt Sam asked.

"1989," Lexi said immediately.

"Very good Miss Lovelace," Aunt Sam complimented.

"Thank you, Sam," Lexi blushed from the compliment.

"How long has Professor Adler been Principal?"

"15 years," I answered.

"Correct Rose," Aunt Sam smiled and continued to ask the next question. "Who was the Principal before Professor Adler?"

"Professor this is a joke, you're a joke of a teacher! Everyone knows the Adler's have run this school since it opened. Can we have another teacher? You're horrible at this whole teaching thing. I'll get you fired by this afternoon," Bianca sneered from the back of the class.

"Right, well since you know everything, why don't you teach this class," Aunt Sam said calmly and I clamped my hand over my mouth to stop from laughing.

"No thanks," she mumbled and shrank into her seat embarrassed.

"For homework, I want all of you to a family tree. Get started right away. Class Dismissed," Aunt Sam ordered and everyone but Lexi and I left the room.

"That was awesome Aunt Sam, you embarrassed one of the Twisted Twins," I complimented and high-fived her.

"That's not a nice name for someone but I agree. Now go do the homework, I dismissed class early so you had more time. Now go," Aunt Sam said and pushed us out of the classroom.