Trapezoid (The Base)

Chapter 4

Garrison High—a private school for highly privileged kids. One would think it was a college from its appearance. Its rules were to be strictly abided to. Its education standard was the highest.

Chris Hopper did her uttermost best to keep it that way—but for some strange reason, they employed her as one of their teachers yet they doubted her work as a teacher. It was true that she was hardly twenty-two but did she need a chaperon when she taught? On her way to class, she could already see Mrs. Blake at the back of the class waiting for her. Mrs. Blake was a teacher kids had hated, appointed by the board to oversee her lessons for her first year. Criticism flowed out of her like a rushing river. Chris would smile and continue her teaching telling herself her faith was being tested but inside she wished she could pick the woman up and chuck her out one of the classroom windows. The only complement she had ever paid her was, "I never knew a blonde, let alone a Bible-thumper, could be so smart. Of course Mrs. Fern was of even higher intelligence though, given she didn't believe in God and fairies." This had been said in front of her students.

Chris had gritted her teeth before painfully trying to give a gentle answer. "I don't believe in fairies, Mrs. Blake."

Mrs. Blake had smirked and chuckled. "But you do believe in God, don't you?"

"Yes," she had replied with all the confidence she wished she had—to somehow encourage the Christian kids in the class.

Mrs. Blake had clicked her tongue and in a sympathetic tone and said, "An even bigger threat to higher intelligence and proper reasoning, my dear."

Maybe she was struggling with proper reasoning already. What else would be an explanation of how she was feeling today? This morning on her way to the school, the strange yet familiar sense of foreboding settled over her. She just wished Mrs. Blake was her only problem today. The hair-raising chill in her and the churning feeling in her stomach and high alertness weren't new to her, but weren't welcome at all. She found herself looking over her shoulder as she went up the stairs to get to her class. How could she concentrate on teaching when she felt she was being watched? It was a good thing it was test day.

.........................................

This was nuts! Why would students be spying on her? Either way, she sighed in relief, entering her empty physics class and shutting the door behind her. She organized her desk. Then she doodled around the words "Test Today!" attempting to calm herself. Why hadn't the bell rung? She glanced up at the clock above the black board. Oh, she was fifteen minutes early. She'd gotten here to quicker than usual.

She went over to the window, looking for a distraction. Her chill was getting worse. Kids were slowly flowing out the bus. One waved up at her. She waved back. The door flung open behind her. She spun around. It was just Mrs. Blake. She frowned at Chris through her wire rimmed glasses. "Are you okay Miss Hopper? You look horribly pale."

Chris clasped her hands in front of her, fighting the jittering. "Oh, I'm okay, thank you," she said in a cheerful tone.

Mrs. Blake smiled sweetly as if in understanding, and added, "That's good. You'll have more reason to be. I'll be overseeing the test. You may be at the back today, my dear."

Chris gave her a tight-lipped smile. She picked up her bag from the shoulder of her desk and made her way to the back. Then something caught her eye outside. Those were not high school kids getting out of the bus. The bell rang. She felt dizzy when she made eye contact with one of the men pouring out of the vehicle. She sank onto her seat. She had no reason to be feeling this way. They were probably just maintenance people and nothing more. She pasted on a smile for the students in crisp navy and red uniform.