Temptation

Resisting Temptation

"Jimmy, can you tell me what six times eight is?" Jimmy, the class trouble-maker froze up in his seat with wide eyes. Cassie looked on in amusement and waited patiently as he stuttered his answer. "Um...four--fourteen?" Cassie shook her head and told him, "That would be six plus eight. I believe the answer you're looking for is forty-eight." The class giggled at him and Cassie clapped their hands to grab their attention. 

The kids stopped and she said, "It's not okay to laugh at someone when they get a wrong answer. I'm sure more than half of you didn't know the answer either. Now, for the remainder of the class, we will all work on our times tables." The entire class groaned in protest, making Cassie smile. As she was passing out blank times tables for them to fill out, there was a knock on the classroom door. 

"Okay, you guys have two minutes. Once the timer goes off, pencils are down." She started the timer on her phone, then opened her door. Her best friend Anna, who was also a fifth grade teacher, was standing there and beaming. 

Cassie stepped out of the classroom and shut the door halfway before asking, "What's up?" Anna continued to beam a smile as she said, "We're throwing a party at Shoreline Café for Principal Stevens tonight! Please tell me you come!" Cassie sighed and crossed her arms. "I...I don't know, Anna. I have a ton of papers to grade tonight and I promised my mom I would be home for dinner." 

Anna whined and stomped her foot. "Come on, you need a night out! I, as your best friend since birth, will make sure you don't do anything you'll regret. I promise. You just need some fun. Please?" Cassie sighed again and looked into her classroom through the glass window on the door. 

"Fine," she told her. "What time." Anna squealed and clapped. "Five o'clock, I'll pick you up!" Cassie heard her phone timer go off, so she quickly said, "Fine, fine, I'll see you then." She went back into the classroom and announced, "Pencils down! That includes you, Mr. Norris." She gave a pointed stare to Jimmy who slowly put down his pencil. 

She collected all the papers, then looked at the clock. "Okay, guys, the bell is about to ring. Remember your all your assignments are due tomorrow." As soon as she finished, the bell rang and the kids started packing up. Cassie sat down at her desk and started looking over the multiplication tables.  

The kids passed by her and said their goodbyes, which she responded with sweet smiles and wishes of a goodnight. Once the last kids left, she got back to grading. She finished in about thirty minutes, then went to grade their english quizzes from earlier. She started at three-thirty, but ended up finishing an hour later. 

She started packing up her things and left while saying goodbye to Al, the Janitor, who has always been incredibly kind to her over the years just like everyone else here. She got to her car and plugged in her iPod before making her way home. 

She got there about five minutes later and walked in to the smell of her mother's cooking and the sounds of Barry Manilow filling the house. She's obsessed with that man. Cassie hung up her coat and walked with her bag into the kitchen. 

"Hey, mom," she greeted. Her mom, Kate, turned around said, "Hey, Cass! Just in time!" Cassie put her stuff on a chair at the dining room table and said, "Um...you'll have to count me out for dinner. The teachers are throwing Principal Stevens a party tonight and Anna's going to pick me up in about an hour." 

Kate gave Cassie a pointed look to which Cassie sharply responded, "Don't. I'll be fine. It's been five years." Kate sighed. "I know it's been five years, but it would have been six if you didn't--." Cassie grunted and told her, "Stop! Jesus, you're never going to let me live it down, are you? I've got my job back, I'm getting my shit together, and all you can do is remind me of the--...you know what? I'm going to go get ready."