Teaching Elementary, My Dear Watson

31 - Monica, Dunes, Hot Springs

31

Monica, Dunes, Hot Springs

Saturday, February 11

Kevin woke up early and went for a run. Birds sang to him as he jogged by. It was cool and the sky was dotted with thick clouds, but no storm was supposed to hit till tomorrow or Monday. He was due to meet Monica at three. A different weather front brewing there. Kevin hoped to avoid thunder and lightning, or at least be prepared for whatever she brought up, like having layers ready for a drop in temperature. That was in a few hours. He didn't want to dwell on seeing her yet.

The run was a good idea. He had on his warmup pants, a sweatshirt with its hood pulled out over his baseball cap, and dark glasses to protect his eyes. The early morning rays filtered down in between gaps in the cloud cover, like vagabonds seeking shelter. Kevin started slowly before he reached the local park, then he picked up his pace. His breathing was deep and slow, one breath for every five foot-strikes, then one for every four. He lengthened his strides and lifted his knees a bit, going as fast as he could sustain for the next two miles. It was harder to get enough air, but that was the point. He began to inhale once every three paces as he ran farther and faster. He was perspiring freely and felt strong. The brim of the cap absorbed some moisture, but he still needed an occasional swipe of a sleeve across his forehead.

When he had run enough laps around the park to complete what he knew measured out as a full two miles, he began a final sprint. The last quarter mile stretched his limits, then he finished, exhausted. He was gasping for air but wasn't hurting, just temporarily drained. He walked slowly back to his apartment, the gaps between inhaling and exhaling gradually returning to normal.

A wise way to begin today. Want to be good to myself before I see Monica.

He showered and dressed casually. Then he ate an enormous breakfast of French toast and bacon, then washed it all down with a blender full of frozen berries, ripe bananas, and apple juice. Sated, he made coffee and began grading papers. Occasionally his mind wandered, as he knew it would. The weight of meeting his wife felt almost oppressive. But he had his outline prepared, and when he got worried he looked again at what he wanted to cover, occasionally adding a minor change or improvement. Then he returned to his work. He finished correcting essays, then began planning. He got completely ready for Monday, then outlined what to do for the rest of the week. No point in prepping in detail for Tuesday and beyond, because he never knew exactly what he might cover each day, or what might change during a lesson. It always depended on how quickly the students mastered something. And Kevin knew he'd never be able to perfectly predict that, no matter how skilled an educator he became. Kids varied, so his teaching always had to adjust a little.

*****

He finished his work around two, took another quick shower, then shaved. He didn't need to wash off again. It was more of a final cleansing before seeing his wife. He put on blue jeans, a sky blue Mountain College polo shirt tucked in above a wide black belt, sneakers, and carried a navy windbreaker. His regular outdoor exercise gave him a healthy-looking tan.

I look better than I feel.

They met at Denny's, Kevin's choice. He knew Monica hated it, a low-level diner with predictable choices and modest prices. She would have preferred something more upscale. Kevin didn't even like going out unless it was with budgeted money.

With concerns about the costs of two apartments and increased transportation costs, I have enough expenses. She picks when, so I choose where. Deal with it.

He arrived ten minutes early, sat in an isolated booth, and ordered coffee. He placed his open notebook with the outline of the prepared topics next to the cup.