Magnanimous

Ch. 2 - "I'm thankful that you're here."

August shook his head. He had been watching two of his students get into an argument that started intellectually but devolved into a near-shouting match that prompted his class president to interfere. The class was discussing courses of action on what to do for an upcoming class gathering that would take place near the end of July. It was nearing four thirty in the afternoon and the argument made the rest of the class uncomfortable for nearly twenty minutes. August stepped in and made the decision to come to a consensus during the next Homeroom period and dismissed the class. When the classroom was empty, save for himself as he was gathering papers, August looked out the classroom window. This was not the class he hoped for when he was assigned his first advisory class.

Outside the faculty room after a moment of contemplating in the classroom, August was stopped by one of his students. It was his class president.

"Sir Gus?"

"What can I do for you, Enzo?" August asked politely.

"I would like to apologize on behalf of my two classmates for their actions earlier," said Enzo with a bow. "However, I would like to submit my own proposal."

August knew his class president was a modest and respectful student, probably one of the few shining stars of his otherwise mismanaged class. The day, however, was draining for him as he had to recite five class sessions and do a substitute for one other to fill for an absent colleague.

"Enzo, I'd love the listen to the proposal, but it's been a draining day," responded August apologetically. "I'll leave the floor open for you first thing Homerood period. Right now, you should focus on the upcoming long test for Filipino."

He could see some sort of disappointment coming from his class president.

"I understand, Sir Gus," replied Enzo.

This prompted August to ask his president on one matter. "Are the two of them always that way?"

"Scarlet and Fred are always at each other's throats so to speak," answered Enzo. "Scarlet was the student council president in grade school. I'm not sure about Fred but I always noticed him trying to get other people's attention."

August had observed this behavior coming from his student. His class president confirmed the observation.

"The last thing I want to see is for them to go at their throats literally," said August. "As the class president, you should maintain order in the classroom when I'm not around."

Enzo sighed. "I'm doing my best, Sir. But my classmates are so, so rowdy."

August looked away for a moment and thought about his president's comment. "Tell you what, call the officers together tomorrow afternoon after class. I'll bring up a game plan to try and keep the class together."

Without hesitation, Enzo nodded.

"See you in class tomorrow." August bade his student farewell for the day and settled down in his cubicle in the faculty room.

August closed his eyes; he wanted to rest and just take a nap in his cubicle before he was reminded to be home as early as possible to take care of his sister. August's cellphone buzzed with a text message and read it saying that his sister was already home. He said to himself to stay behind for thirty minutes since he needed some energy back to drive home safely.

"Hey, did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Ma'am Castro was taken to the hospital today."

"How come?"

August's eyes shot open. He sat up on his chair to eavesdrop on the conversation happening on the other side of his cubicle where the Mathematics Department was stationed.