The Student Teacher

Chapter 4: Monday Afternoon

The rest of the day flowed in a similar manner. The students always seemed to know what to do and where to go at transitions. They settled quietly and seemed actively engaged by Rey. The students volunteered questions and answers at each lesson. Social Studies was the longest lesson, about 15 minutes, before the activity that followed. Rey was not about being the center of attention. She wanted the students to own their learning. It was admirable.

After the last student left for the day, Rey sat down at the blue table. Ben sat next to her.

"So, what did you think?" She casually asked Ben.

"Wow," he replied, speechless, but realizing he sounded like a moron.

"That could have so many meanings," Rey laughed, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I mean, the kids are great! You are incredible," he said, more intimately than he meant to,

"This class really is awesome," Rey stated, avoiding yet another compliment.

"So, I'm ready to jump in whenever you need me," Ben said. "Why don't we share this correcting?" He offered.

"Yeah! Most of this is already corrected, since I check so much of it before I have them pass it in, I just check off that it's done for accountability. If something is missing, and it's usually missing because they didn't write their name, they have to complete it Friday," she pushed a class list over to him, "So just label the top, and then check off each name as you find their sheet," she stated.

He did as he was told, realizing he likes to be told what to do by Rey. He quietly started checking off the students assignments. Every now and then he came across one with no name.

"What do you with these?" he asked.

"You can hang them right there, on the no name clips," she offered.

Duh. He felt stupid for asking and could feel his cheeks redden. If he had just looked around he would have found that. He silently scolded himself for asking a dumb question.

"What's on the docket for tomorrow?" he asked, casually.

"Well in math, we'll continue multiplying fractions, we'll develop some ideas for fantasy writing and the students will continue in their book clubs with a focus on theme," she answered, with authority.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said genuinely. He kept stealing looks at her while he was entering the work from today. Once, he looked up to see her, and found her looking back at him. His face turned red, his heart skipped a beat, and he looked down like a middle schooler who had been caught checking out the popular girl.

"So," Rey asked, "Are you from around here? I moved here after college." She offered.

"Yeah, I grew up locally, but I went away for high school, college, and the start of my adult life," he responded.

"Mysterious," Rey said, smirking at him.

"It's not all that mysterious," he replied. "I didn't get along great with the family, needed some time away from it, but in the end, I found my way back," He said with a smile.

"So, you have family around here," she pressed.

"Yes, it's just my mother and my uncle still here," he said, with a vague distance in his voice. "How about you?" he asked.

"I don't have any biological family," she replied, but quickly added, "Rose, Poe, and Finn have become my family. And Leia," she added. "Finn and I live together, but I really live mostly by myself, Finn and Poe are dating and Finn spends most of his time at Poes. Eventually they'll move in together. I'll have to find a new roommate. Where are you living?" she asked.

"Staying with my mother as of now, trying to settle in and find a place to buy. I'm waiting until after my student teaching, I'll buy a place after I get hired full time somewhere," He answered.

Rey cringed a little. She'd only been working with Ben a day, and she already can't picture what it is going to be like to work without him. His presence fills a room and their conversation seemed easy. She wanted it to be like this everyday moving forward.

"Well, it's quitting time," Rey said. "Go home! Get some rest. You must be exhausted," she added, like she could read his mind. "I'll see you in the morning?" she half asked, half said.

"I'm looking forward to it!" Ben replied, and he truly meant it. They walked to the parking lot together and she watched him get into his sleek, black Lexus. A little above the paygrade for a student teacher, she thought, as she climbed into her used Kia Soul. He pulled out, waving bye to Rey. She returned the wave and exhaled in a big way.