I pull up to my parking spot, and sit for a moment.
"Here we go again," I mumbled to myself. The only good thing about this place is Her, but I doubt she'll ever think of me that way.
I grab my briefcase and pop open the door. Walking up to Ellington, I straighten my tie and smooth down my shirt. First day. I have to look sharp.
"Welcome back, Mr. Walker!" Amy Barstow shouts. I remember Amy...how could I forget that little snot?
"Hello, Scott," Ms. Skelter and Ms. Hellman say in unison. They're giggling and staring like two teenage girls.
I flash a smile and wink at them. "Good morning, ladies," I reply in a husky voice. I turn and strut down the hall, sure that their hearts are currently melting. They've been in love with me for years. I have my fun playing with their heads.
"Scott! Wait!" I turn to see my favorite colleague and dearest friend, Miranda Beckham. I wait for her to come galloping after me down the hallway.
"Hey. How was your summer?" I notice her skirt matches her heels. What a perfectionist.
"Great! I finished 'The Workplace' for the fourth time."
"Miranda, doesn't that show have like, nine seasons?"
"Ten, actually," she remarked, flipping her chestnut-brown hair from her eyes.
"Great. I read 7 books and watched my son play baseball."
"How is James, by the way?"
"Oh, he's good. Tina's trying to take him away again, so my break was mainly spent in court."
"What? Why? What happened?" She rests her hand on my arm, looking at me with deep concern.
"Well, she's still upset that we have joint custody, and since I wouldn't pay for James's baseball uniform, she decided to drag me to a judge."
"But that's the deal. Tina pays for baseball, you pay for soccer. She's crazy, Scott." I love when she stands up for me like that.
"How do you remember my son's schedule and payment arrangements?"
"Because he's your son. And you're my best friend. How can I forget?"
She gazes up at me with that sweet, shining smile and takes my arm.
"Let's go, Mr. Walker. It's time for school."
YOU ARE READING
Playing Pretend
RomanceMiranda is a dedicated theatre educator at Ellington High School. But drama finds its way into her life quite frequently....and not just while she's teaching. This story reveals how people are not always as they seem, and how to determine who you ca...
