Lies

Chapter 9:

There was something about teaching that was inspiring. I didn't know the exact pinpoint of it but I did know that I loved to do it. I wanted to do it since I was a little girl and it almost became somewhat of a hobby of mine. I would spend hours upon hours pretending I was the teacher and Nia the student. My parents even set up a separate room in the house for me to act as a classroom. That room was my getaway.

I could get lost in teaching; almost spending too much time with something that I could put down but chose not to. In this sense, teaching was like what art was to artists or sports to athletes. They found joy in what they did; just like I did.

I loved interacting with my students and encouraging them to do their best. Each student I've taught has gone far and has excelled because of the push of each of them to be excellent. Each of them are; no matter what they believe. Everyone has an equal chance, they just have to learn to take it.

"I want your thesis' due to me by Monday. They must be completed. I don't expect anything less." I replied, shutting down the PowerPoint I had up. I watched as the college students packed up their supplies and walked out of the door. Most of them waved before they exited and some still remained. Four students were sitting in their chairs facing the projector screen with confused faces. I usually let kids who needed help to stay until they got the material. Today, I was on a timed schedule with shopping with Harper later on.

I walked out from behind my podium and to a student named Avery Long. Avery stayed after frequently but only to ask questions based on how I liked certain papers typed and so on. Avery was the smartest student I have ever taught. She just sometimes liked to clarify things so she could get the best grade possible. Just like I was when I was younger.

"Professor Carter, so do you want this thesis typed in MLA format? I know that the last one we typed was not so I just wanted to double check." Avery asked.

"Yes. I do. Last week's assignment wasn't really something that we needed to type in MLA format. Thesis's will always be." I replied.

"Ok, thank you." Avery answered, gathering her stuff to go. I nodded and looked to the next person. Dexter Blue was closest to me so I helped him next. He had a question on the material and it didn't take very long to explain. He was out almost as fast as Avery was.

I helped Trey Dankurt and Molly Game before I was able to finally sit down in my office which was located in the back of my classroom. I shut the door behind me and walked to the chair to sit down. Everything was neat and in order as always; not a thing out of place. My desk was free from clutter, my office furniture free from dust, and the little corners were free from any little insect that could make its way into my room. It was how I liked it. I was an orderly person and always have been. It was how I often dealt with my fear of the men coming back. I had no control over that but I did have control over things and their placement and the neatness of everything. It was the only thing keeping me sane.

I looked around my office. It was plain with tan colored walls and off-white colored carpet. The furniture was brown and my cabinets were brown. The walls of the office were covered with pictures of my various trips I went on to further my teaching skills and to acquire more knowledge in my biology field. I went to places like the Amazon, Africa, India and China to study the animals there and their environments. They were all informational trips and often lonely because Colton had to stay home. I was allowed one other ticket and I usually brought one of my colleagues with me which wasn't as fun. Family pictures were then placed on my desk in perfect order from oldest to youngest. Starting with Colton and I when we were started dating and then to a recent family photo of our family just last month. It was at a nearby state park with many trees in the background and the lake glistening also in the background. I picked out clothes so that we were all matching; something that Colton teased me about. It was a beautiful picture with our clothes contrasting with the shade of the trees and the blue of the lake in the background. It was one of my favorite pictures because we all looked so happy as a family. Something that most families lacked. We were a close family and I held that dear to my heart. It was what I worked for as a mother and I had accomplished it.