The Ballad of Mark and Max

Mark Jefferson

Mark sat alone with a glass of brandy in his hand, contemplating his decision to end his career in photography to become a teacher. Fuck... What was I thinking?! He complained. I wonder if it's too late to back out? No... he chastised himself, you can't do that. Classes start tomorrow, besides you've never quit anything before, not gonna start now. He inhaled deeply and downed the rest of his brandy. Mark stood up and glanced around his empty house. Something or someone seemed like it was missing. He reached down for the remote to turn of the TV, which he had barely been watching anyway, stretched and headed up the stairs to prepare for tomorrow.

After a nice hot shower, Mark stood in his walk in closet, debating on what to wear. He decided on his favorite jeans, one of his many white button down shirts, his favorite black blazer and black dress shoes He laid his clothes out neatly next to his briefcase and his Hasselblad H4D 200ms. That camera is his pride and joy it had been with him throughout his entire career, even tho he had changed cameras a few times, he always went back to it.

Lying down on his bed he took out his laptop to check his emails, there are a few from some magazines wanting to get an interview with him as to why he decided to retire from professional photography. He deleted them without hesitation, why he retired was his own business and he sure wasn't about to share that with nosy tabloids. There was also an email from the principal of Blackwell asking if Mark could come a little earlier in the morning so he could give him a tour of the facility and show him his classroom. He typed a quick reply agreeing to be there for the tour.

Mark pulled out his roster for his photography class to read over the names.

1. Alyssa Anderson
2. Maxine Caulfield
3. Victoria Chase
4. Taylor Christiansen
5. Daniel DaCosta
6. Stella Hill
7. Hayden Jones
8. Kate Marsh

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighed, what have I gotten myself into? I really hope these kids aren't completely hopeless. Putting down the paper Mark turned over in his bed to try to go to sleep. Praying that sleep would not escape him, tomorrow is going to be a LONG day. For what seemed like hours, Mark laid there staring at the wall, the ceiling even burying his face in his pillow just trying to fall asleep. Eventually he gave up, got out of bed found some sleeping pills to take, put his TV in his room on the weather channel and tried once more to get some sleep. He glanced at his digital clock which read 1:00am. He groaned, dammit, I have to get up in 5 hours, why can't I sleep? His bed was hauntingly empty. He didn't like it. He thought to himself, maybe I should get a dog, maybe it'll fill the void. Eventually around 2 after listening to the droning of the weather man he was able to fall asleep. A dreamless, harsh sleep.