Taste of Ms. Alexander

Chapter 6 - Stepping Into Ms. Alexander

Amanda Alexander
Monday | 7:25 am

I pulled onto the road leading to the college and the unmistakable boom of music from the vans filled the neighborhood. The heavy basslines thumped so intensely that I could've felt them reverberate through my car. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, vans are the lifeline of public transport. Whether you loved them or hated them, at some point, you'd find yourself inside one. They are loud, flashy, and controversial, but for students? They are a whole vibe.

The right van, with the right jiggy tunes, could turn a mundane commute into a party on wheels. I understood the appeal having been a student myself; I had seen it all. The rivalries between vans, each one trying to outdo the other with the wildest graphic designs. The fierce competition between girls for the coveted front seat or the conductor seat. The Jiggy Fridays, where the vibes were unmatched and the van ride felt more like a zess than a commute. Not forgetting, the need for speed races where drivers pushed limits. They weaved through traffic, flew around corners, and darted through shortcuts with a level of confidence that was both impressive and mildly concerning. It was if they had mastered an unspoken map of the island. Every sudden swerve, and every daring overtake sent a surge of adrenaline through the van, but instead of fear, there was excitement. Passengers cheered them on like it was some underground sport.

However, I was never the type to get caught up in the van scene. While others chased the thrill, I was content with being an observer. Though, I am still aware of the energy, the culture and the unspoken rules that make it all so intoxicating to those who lived for it.

What baffled me, though, was how oblivious these students seemed to be at the time. Assembly was set to start at 7:30 AM, yet here they were. Some gathered under a tarpaulin where a vendor sold snacks, sharing the early morning comess. While others were fully immersed in the van scene, laughing, vibing and caught up in the intoxicating mix of heavy bass and unfiltered lyrics, as if classes didn't exist. The music carried a level of lewdness that blasted for every keen ear in the vicinity. Not that I had anything against that kind of music, but at that hour? Not so early in the damn morning.

I shook my head in disbelief and pressed the gas, letting the chaos of the van scene fade into the background as I focused on the road ahead. Once I finally pulled onto the campus, I parked in the first available spot. A quick glance at the time had my stomach twisting, 7:30 on the dot. I needed to get to the main office fast to drop my stuff off before heading to the assembly.

Then, just as I was figuring out the quickest way to maneuver, the announcement boomed over the speakers. "Attention everyone, we will begin promptly in five minutes. At this time, I encourage all students and faculty members to make their way over to the Octagon."

"Shit!" I cursed under my breath.

I scrambled out of the car, slung my handbag over my shoulder and rushed towards the office. What a way to make a first impression.

As I quickened my pace, my phone vibrated in my hand. I barely had time for distractions, but curiosity got the best of me. I glanced at the screen, and it was a WhatsApp message.

SPRAGGA 7:31 AM | I war u cum chill wid mi lata. Ah go pick yuh up bur 9. Mi nah war hear no excuses neither. Mek sure wear sum casual an lef yuh draws ah yuh yard. Now hav ah gud day ah yuh class.

I stopped in my tracks. What the hell? I stared at my phone, rereading the message twice, convinced this had to be a mistake. Who the hell was he talking to? It sure as hell couldn't be me. I just tossed my phone into my bag and kept it moving. No time for foolishness.

The familiar halls of the college made navigating easy. I walked these very corridors before as a student. Now, I was back as a lecturer, and I needed to act like it. After stepping into the main office, I was greeted by an older male lecturer. He was the only other person in the room, and he had to be new, because I've never seen him before.

He strode toward me with his hand outstretched and a wide smile plastered across his face. I returned the handshake out of courtesy, but something about the way his eyes scanned my body made me feel uneasy. He then stepped in a bit too close for comfort.

"You must be Miss Alexander. I've been waiting to see what you looked like. I've heard so much about you. I'm Franklin. You're a very beautiful young woman. I must admit..." His words dragged on, but I had already checked out. Franklin was testing me. From the moment I walked in, his energy read very weird to me.

I barely shook his hand before turning away, my nose wrinkled at the pungent scent of cigarettes that clung to his breath.

"Which desk is mine?" I asked, keeping my tone polite but ensuring I kept it firm in my stance.

He pointed towards the desk in the corner, and without saying another word, I walked away. No time for this bullshit. I placed my stuff down and was getting ready to leave, when his voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Miss Alexander, you know if you want anything...and I mean anything...I got you."

Slowly, I turned back towards him with my arms folded under my breast. My expression was stone cold. "I would appreciate it if you don't speak to me unless it's work related. Thank you," I said. My tone carried just enough sass to make my point clear.

Then I waltzed out and headed straight for the Octagon. I didn't even care to see his reaction.

The moment I got closer to the Octagon, the hushed whispers of the students trailed behind me. Still, I kept my head high, adding an extra sway to my hips. If they were going to talk, I might as well give them something worth talking about.

"She look good, eh?"
"Ah wonder who she be."
"Bwoy, wah a size ah ass."

Their whispers faded behind me, but I paid them no mind. As I neared the podium, Mr. Aldridge caught my eye and gave me a subtle nod, signaling me over. I approached with confidence, offering a polite smile despite the lingering chatter. I gave him a brief apology for my lateness, but he merely waved it off with a gentle reminder to be on time.

The assembly proceeded, and the crowd settled into attentive silence. Twenty minutes in, the moment arrived. The official introduction.

"I'd like to introduce our new accounting lecturer, Miss Alexander," Mr. Aldridge announced with enthusiasm.

"As you all know, Miss Matthews is no longer with us, and Miss Alexander will be stepping into her role. She's no stranger to these halls. Amanda was once a student here herself. It's always inspiring to see our own achieve such heights. I hope you all welcome her with open arms and treat her like family. Now, I won't ramble on any longer. Without further ado, let's welcome Miss Alexander!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as I strutted toward the podium, the sharp clack of my heels echoed against the pavement. A mix of applause, whistles, and the occasional catcall filled the air. Just as I had expected.

"Good morning, students and faculty members. My name is Amanda Alexander. As Mr. Aldridge mentioned, I'll be your new accounting lecturer. I won't take up much of your time with a long speech about myself. I'll save that for when we meet in the classroom. For now, I just want to thank you for welcoming me into your school, and I look forward to working with you all. Have a great semester!" I concluded with a confident smile.

Another round of applause erupted in response. I returned to my seat as the assembly carried on for another twenty minutes before we were finally dismissed. Afterward, Mr. Aldridge gave me a quick tour of the campus and handed me my class schedule. Not much had changed over the years, so the tour felt almost unnecessary. Still, I appreciated the gesture.

My first class of the day was scheduled for 8:15 a.m., which left me with roughly ten minutes before the students would start arriving. Rather than wait idly elsewhere, I decided to head straight to the classroom. I stepped inside and took a moment to survey the empty seats before me. Just years ago, I was the one sitting in those very chairs, listening to a lecturer at the front of the room. Now, here I was on the other side. Ten years ago, I would have never imagined I'd be the one standing here, but life had a way of unfolding in ways I never expected.

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Author's Note:

-This is not the final draft of this book.

-Please excuse any grammatical errors as they'll be corrected later on.

-Feel free to express your thoughts by leaving a comment.