ILLICIT AFFAIRS | WLW

Tell Me Why

Catherine Kingsley sat at her desk, fingers lightly tracing the edge of the dark wood as she reread the notes from that morning's lecture. The rhythmic slow ticking of the clock filled the otherwise silent room, marking the hour before her first one-on-one tutoring session with Blair Anderson. She couldn't help but think about Blair's performance this morning. The usual stream of students mainly offered surface-level engagement with material, but Blair had been different. She had deemed the young student's answer to be an acceptable one, thoughtful even, but Catherine sensed Blair was capable of more. Something about it had fallen short; she knew Blair could go deeper. That girl had an untapped potential there that Catherine was determined to unlock, no matter how uncomfortable it made her student – even if it meant pushing Blair harder than she had anyone else. Especially if it meant just that.

Standing from her chair, Catherine moved to the window, looking down into the courtyard. Students mingled and laughed, heading to and from classes. A world so different from the intense academic environment Catherine insisted on creating in her lectures and now in her tutoring sessions. Was Blair truly preparing for their session as Catherine had instructed, or was she among those laughing and chatting? Catherine had given clear instructions: read deeply on Spain's transition to democracy, beyond just the major events. She would be quizzing her on the nuances. And Catherine was nothing if not thorough.

A sharp knock on the door snapped Catherine back to the present. She straightened her shoulders, shaking off the remnants of deep thought. "Come in," she called, her tone brisk.

The door creaked open, and a tentative Blair stepped inside. Catherine easily noticed the subtle changed in her student's demeanour from the straight but tense posture Blair upheld. The way she clung the textbook against her chest implied an air of determination, albeit uncertainly, had replaced her earlier relaxed composure. A telling sign, Catherine thought. Good. It meant Blair was quickly learning from their meeting yesterday about the seriousness of academia and the importance of these sessions.

"Ms. Kingsley," Blair greeted her, a slight stiffness to her formal voice, "I'm ready."

"Sit," Catherine replied, gesturing to the chair opposite her. She took her own seat, her eyes regarding Blair with a keen, assessing gaze. There was certainly a nervous energy about her – whether it was from anxiety or anticipation of the next hour they'd spend together; Catherine couldn't quite tell just yet. Nonetheless, it didn't matter. This session would soon enough reveal the truth.

"Let's see if your preperation reflects just that," The older woman spoke again, her next question deemed more of a test than a casual inquiry, "I trust that you've read the handout I gave you earlier."

Blair sat across from her, carefully placing her notebook and a copy of the handout on the desk. She nodded, "Yes, I read through the sections on the pact of Moncloa, the amnesty law and the role that political consensus played."

Bidding against the need for social pleasantries, Catherine delved right in, her eyes narrowing slightly in assessment, "So Tell me why the Pact of Moncloa was considered such a signifcant turning point in Spain's transition?"

Blair straightened, taking a deep breath before responding, "The economic situation in Spain at the time was chaotic; there was inflation, labour strikes and unemployment. The Pact of Moncloa was signed in 1977 and was a temporary agreement designed to stabilize the economy and create a unified political front to prevent further unrest."

With her elbows propped upon the wooden surface of her desk, her chin resting above clasped hands, Catherine listened closely – her face remaining unreadable. "More, Blair."

"You've given me a decent answer, but too general. Too simplistic." She said, her tone flat, "What made the pact particularly significant in terms of political concessions?"