Hard Decisions (#3 of California Dreaming)

3 HARD DECISIONS

James woke up in the bed of his apartment, and the black mood he had had for the duration of his dinner the night before Glenn's home, Stacy's husband, had not gone. Not just for the surprise of discovering that Allison, the girl who had taken to bed, the day he'd gone to Stacy's bookstore, was her daughter. After all, such a thing could have happened only to him, since being transported by his friend down there, he always managed to get himself into situations that were to say the least unseemly. The other reason, however, was that now he would have to do a stupid lesson in a high school full of fifth-year-old brats.

He put on his shirt and began to tie the small buttons one after the other. He put on his jacket and left the house. At least, he thought, as he walked on the sidewalk in the direction of the car, its owner of the house had not been made to find naked in his bed when he returned home. He got into the car and had the tires screeching on the pavement, then heading off to the Linchwood high school, while he thought to himself, here I am, returning to my old life in Los Angeles .

It took less than expected to arrive, and once he parked the car, he saw the school building . It was full of backpackers and the mood under his feet, in the immense joy of learning. His mood was very close to that of the young pupils, while, reluctantly, he was going towards the building with the desire to go and talk in front of a young high school student class on how to become a successful writer, as was the want the same students to hear.

It was his agent who organized it all, and that, unfortunately, was also the work of a writer, whether he liked it or not.

As soon as he entered, he heard a group of teachers in the main lobby, discuss .

«We don't know how to do with these young people today. We can no longer trust them.» Said one of the professors, short and bald, and glasses with thick lenses. «The student doesn't have any restraint, while boys have less and less control by their parents.» He said in a clearly annoyed tone.

A couple of the teachers nodded, as a sign of approval, but he did not resist and approached the group of teachers, slipping into the conversation.

«I don't think there would be more problems if the teachers paid more attention to the needs of the students.» He paused for a moment, and continued with arrogant and provocative air. «And then what do you want to do with it, after all, we have been young and rebels in our turn. I still remember the time I was at Johnny Fox's concert, and I got drunk until I got sick. The positive side, however, was to have met a young hippie girl that same evening. She never told me her name, but together we spent a truly unforgettable night.»

The teachers stood looking at him for a few moments, and some of them nodded, as if to agree with him, while many of the women present looked at him with interest. Instead, that little bass with glasses, who had criticized the way to do youth, said:«and you are... » in a pedantic tone.

«Nobody important.» He answered, quietly. «I came here to teach the students a lesson.»

At that point, a woman appeared from behind the group of teachers and exclaimed his name.

«James Alliston, what a pleasure to have you here. Please follow me, I'll show you to the class you will have to teach today.»

The group in front of him opened in a passage to allow him to pass, while the young teachers didn't take his eyes off him for the whole time that he spent in the middle of them, even feeling the glares on the part of the bespectacled little dwarf.