Caught in-between #Wattys2016

Bucharest

Bucharest is beautiful. The architecture is breath-taking. With it being my first time to Romania, I was in complete awe. I was visiting with some students as part of a foreign exchange trip, and I was glad to be having a break from the hum drum of home.

Recently I had had a feeling of unease. Something was off, not right, and I couldn’t quite grasp what it was. Cass was particularly occupied but she had been that way since her father’s untimely passing, a year ago. It had been sudden, a heart attack, and it destroyed Cass, I mean literally, she’d broken down. And I hadn’t known how to help, so I’d tried my best to be there but I wasn’t sure whether it was working.

So I’d agreed to host this trip, and I was glad that I had. The old crumbling romantic buildings against the setting of post-communist Romania were exactly what I’d needed.

 ‘Hey Sir,’ I heard Amelia, one of my more challenging students call after me. ‘Yes Amelia I responded turning around, bracing myself for some ludicrous request, ‘Sir, seeing as we are 18 now, well most of us are, can we check out some local clubs tonight, maybe get a drink?’ she asked, hand on hip, a mischievous smile danced around her lips. Amelia was 18 going on 25, the kind of student that could get a male teacher in trouble. Tall, blond all leg, extremely attractive, and extremely troublesome. Difficult home life, a wondrous talent. A rare find for a teacher such as myself. Amelia had the potential to become a serious artist, she had the potential to attain Cassandra success.

  ‘Well Amelia, those of you that are 18 can by all means go to some local clubs tonight unsupervised I might add.’ I advised. It actually wasn’t a bad idea; at least I could have some wind down time with my colleagues. ‘You won’t be joining us?’ Amelia asked with mock innocence. ‘No, no I won’t’ I said, a little too curtly. I didn’t miss the smirk on Amelia’s face. She enjoyed making the staff uncomfortable and she certainly unnerved me, and I knew it was because I found her attractive.

‘In fact, seeing as we’ve been here a couple of days, you guys can by all means go for a gander, and be back at the hotel for say 10pm to regroup. Call either the hotel desk or the staff mobile if you have any issues, otherwise we’ll see you all later.’ I suggested. The kids loved this idea and couldn’t move off quickly enough. I thought I read disappointment in Amelia as she followed the rest of group who near ran down the cobbled lane towards the busy town centre with its mix of modern malls and quaint narrow family owned shops.

‘Nice one Joe,’ Shawn, my colleague and friend approved. I smiled slowly, ‘Fancy a beer? I asked knowing what his response would be ‘You know this’ Shawn nodded. The games were about to begin and I couldn’t wait.