trust me the same. Like a dare. Like a challenge. We might just have a really good time learning a lot of really good things this year.”
The look in the eyes staring back at her did not look like they were convinced, but Daisy didn’t care. They would do just fine.
She uncurled herself from the desk, rummaged in her backpack for the things she had brought along, temporarily ignoring the pile of textbooks that had come from Ben’s office. Later, she’d take the time to figure out what curriculum to follow. Today, she would follow her instincts.
She handed out maps of the world, blank pieces of tracing paper, and a variety of pens and pencils. “Okay, here’s our first lesson, as I get to know you. This is the world. You have two jobs. One is to trace this map as we’re talking, so you have your own copy to mark up. The second job is to point to a place in the world when it’s your turn, and we’ll label it and talk about it, what it’s like there, and who lives there, and put it on our maps. The world is a giant, fascinating, wild place. Let’s learn about it. I’ll go first. Here’s the United States. Where’s Pennsylvania? Who can find it?”
And so the morning went. They discussed everything from New York City to villages in western Africa, to Tasmanian devils off the coast of New Zeeland. They learned about Iraq, Puerto Rico, the pyramids in Egypt, and the desolateness of the South Pole. And through it all, Daisy got to know her students, their social structure, their academic levels, and many of their personality quirks.
As the minutes ticked by, the sadness around her heart began to melt. Like she had said to her students, life is full of phases, and her new one had beg un. They would do just fine within the walls of this classroom. The memory of the doubtful look on Dr. Ben’s face flashed through her mind. If, that is, she was allowed to stay.
As the morning came to an end, and lunch time approached, she was facing the moment when she would have to interact with Dr . Benjamin Wilson again. The thought gave her stomach a little butterfly feeling. She was still aware she was not exactly what he had expected for the new staff member of his cherished school. And he was so handsome, which she didn’t want to think about. She would have to handle both issues. She was not going to be distracted by the man with the adorable eyes and the wonderfully tousled curly hair. And she was not going to be driven away because she didn’t fit his image of a “Colonel” type of teacher who would keep his students in line with a heavy hand.
At noon, the students were ready to line up to be escorted to the cafeteria /auditorium which was located on the basement floor of the school building, where they would have lunch and a break under the watchful eyes of a small cafeteria staff.
“Aren’t you going to threaten us?” asked Carlos, as he wiggled around in his too big pants when he stood up. “What happens if we’re not good at lunch?”
She opened her eyes, shooting a look of shocked amazement. “Do I have to? I thought we were going to try the trustworthy thing.”
Ty rone poked him hard in the back. “Settle down, dude. We’re trustworthy, remember? No tricks.”
The group grumbled in agreement, and got eagerly into line. One very quiet girl, who hadn’t said a word all morning, stood at the end.
“Can you tell me your name?” Daisy asked softly as the line went by.
“Oh, she don’t talk,” said Maria, putting a protective arm around the girl. “Never. But she’s ok. I watch over her. Her name’s Alexandra.”
“Well, that’s good, Maria. A trustworthy thing, I’d say.”
It was a topic to explore later, for sure.
They opened the heavy classroom door, and found Dr. Ben standing in the hallway, a slightly anxious look on his face.
“Did you need to know where to go?” he asked Daisy as she passed, braid