Teachers

Chapter 2, Introductions

I was perched awkwardly in a corner of the teachers' lounge, silently drinking my coffee and picking at the sandwich I'd brought with me.  "Be social, make friends," Mrs. Mayfield had told me before she settled down for her lunch time nap.  However, when it's part of the way through a term and you're the only new teacher, making friends is awkward.  One would assume that friends get easier after high school, that the cliques stop, that you get braver, but it's really not true.  Well, for me at least.  People scare me.  I've got no reason to fear them, but I do.  Maybe I fear judgement or rejection.  I'm not really sure, and I'm shocked that I managed to get myself a husband, even if we've known each other since we were kids. 

As caught up in my own brain as I was, I failed to notice the perky young woman approach me.  Frankly, I'm surprised I didn't jump up and shriek when she tapped me on the shoulder.  With that bubbly smile glued to her face, showing off her straight white teeth, she said, "Hi there, you must be the new drama teacher!  I'm Cassidy Andrews!"

She stuck out her hand and continued talking as I shook it reluctantly, "I'm the voice teacher.  Since Mrs. Mayfield is a bit on the old side, I've been in charge of the school musical for the past two years. And I was wondering if you'd like to help me out?  You don't have to, but it really would be lovely to have someone helping me."

"Sure, I guess that's right up my alley.  And it's not like I have anything else to do."

"Oh that's absolutely wonderful!" She exclaimed, "But sorry, what's your name again?"

"Lester.  I'm Dan Lester."

"Lester, really?" She asked rhetorically before continuing, "Well we've another Lester here.  His name is Phil, have you met him yet? I'll have to introduce you two!"

"That would be nice..."

"Fabulous!  I'll get you talking to him tomorrow during your lunch period!" Cassidy decided before dashing out of the lounge, presumably to warn the other Mr. Lester of our meeting tomorrow.

***

I was lounging on the sofa lazily flipping through channels on the TV while I waited for my husband to return home.  I hated how nothing good was on until later.  What was I supposed to watch at four in the afternoon?  I was very close to switching to Netflix when I heard the front door open and a semi sarcastic, "Honey, I'm home!"

"Good!  I'm bored!" I shouted back at him.

"Hi bored, I'm Phil," he laughed as he walked into the room and flopped down on the sofa next to me. 

"Hi Phil, I'm not laughing."

"Hi not laughing, I'm funny and you should be laughing."

"You really aren't."

"Yes I am."

"Dad jokes are the extent of your humor."

"So what?  They're funny!"

"Are not."

"Are too."

"They really aren't."

"Let's change the topic, Danny," he suggested as he loosened his tie.

"Okay.  Did Cassidy approach you about introducing us tomorrow?"

"Yeah, so are we just going to pretend that we don't know each other?"

"Do we have any other options?  I just don't really want to tell everyone about our marriage... I want to keep it professional."

"Same.  But maybe we could pretend to just be friends once we're 'introduced' because I don't really want to completely ignore you."

"That's a good idea.  I honestly couldn't ignore you if I tried, Phil."

"Aww, you flatter me Danny!"

"Don't get big headed, Philly!"

"You'd still love me."

"Well yeah, it'd be hard not to love you."

"So you love me?"

"I'm your husband.  Of course I love you."

"Then will you please make me some food?"

"Only because I'm hungry too," I grumbled and slouched into the kitchen, only to be followed by, "Hi hungry, I'm Phil!"