Difficult Lessons (5 page)

“Yeah. I might was well go ahead and get it done so I can get on back here. It will give me a little time to get the house in order before I start working with the team.”

“Would you postpone leaving until tomorrow morning? You can spend the night here and start your drive well rested.”

“I can do that,” Cynthia did not hesitate at all in her answer.

***

“Breakfast was wonderful,” Sara said as she put her briefcase in the backseat of her car. “You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble knowing you have to drive back to Alabama today. You should have rested.”

“Believe me, it was no trouble. I enjoy cooking and it has been a long time since I’ve had someone to cook for.” Cynthia touched Sara’s arm. “I hate to leave, but I’ll be back as quickly as I can get things packed and loaded on a truck.”

“I don’t want you to leave either, but I know you have to do it. I can live with the fact that you will be back soon though.” Sara was trying to hold back the emotions that were boiling to the surface.

Chapter 7

“What could he possibly want?” Sara mumbled softly as she read the note in her mailbox at work. She knew in the back of her mind what Mr. Michaels wanted, but hoped for the best.

She decided to go to his office immediately. The rest of her day was packed full. They were testing all morning and classes in the afternoon. There was a meeting with the counselors during her planning period. She was always busy after school with students coming in for extra help.

Mr. Michaels looked up from his desk when she knocked.

“Come in Ms. Carson and close the door behind you.”

Mr. Michaels was a man of about 50. He was tall and thin. His hair started thinning about 3 years ago. He was so vain about it that he shaved his head. He never smiled, giving off an unapproachable air.

“Something has been brought to my attention that disturbs me and I want to discuss it with you.”

Sara tried not to show that she had an idea of what he was talking about as she settled into a chair in front of his desk. She mentally braced herself for what was coming.

“Someone has informed me that you were seen at Mel’s one night this weekend. Is that correct?” His tone was accusing and unnerving for Sara.

“Well, yes sir. I...”

Mr. Michaels cut her off before she could offer any kind of explanation. “I don’t think that is an appropriate place for our faculty members to be seen.”

“Mr. Michaels, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I was not doing anything wrong. Not that I feel I have to justify my actions, but the owner happens to be a good friend of mine. Besides, our students don’t go there. What would be so inappropriate about it?”

“Ms. Carson, I know what kind of place that is. I don’t think we should be associating ourselves with those people.” Mr. Michaels was speaking louder than before.

“Those people?” Sara was thrown completely off guard by his statement. Her blood pressure began to rise.

“Like I said, I know what type of place Mel’s is. I do not want our faculty patronizing such a business. Do you understand where I am coming from, Ms. Carson?”

“No sir. I actually don’t. I don’t understand why you think that you have the right to tell me what I can do and where I can go when I am not at work. I am offended that you would even consider basing your opinion on the sexual orientation of the owner and the clientele. What about the teachers who go to other bars in town? Are they being told not to go to them? Some of those places are known hangouts for prostitutes and drug dealers. People go to those places for quick hook-ups. They are a lot more unsavory than Mel’s.” 

“Those places, Ms. Carson, are not gay bars. Do you understand what I am telling you?” Mr. Michaels was visibly angry at this point. 

“I think I understand you perfectly. Will there be anything else, Mr. Michaels? I have classes to prepare for if you are finished.” Sara was standing before she even finished her sentences.

Sara walked out of the office shaking. Several people that she passed asked if she was okay. She lied and told them that she was fine. 

The rest of the day crept along slowly. Sara barely listened in the meeting with the counselors. She replayed the scene from his office over and over. She had to get out of there. Sara cancelled her tutoring sessions that were scheduled after school and left early. She knew she would be too distracted to do the students any good.

Cynthia called not long after Sara got home. She could tell something was wrong.  At first Sara would not tell her what had happened, but Cynthia persisted until she did.  Cynthia listened to the entire story without saying anything until Sara had finished.

“I am sure everything will settle down after a couple of days, hon. don’t worry about it.”

“I hope you’re right, Cynthia. I kind of suspected he would have something to say about it if he found out. I just really didn’t expect Griffin to really go to him. I really didn’t expect him to handle the conversation with such bigotry. I’m sure he detected how stunned and pissed I was when I left his office.”

***

The days were painfully long and Cynthia’s phone calls in the evenings were never long enough. Sara’s actions at work were almost robotic. Even the sounds of the students in the halls during the change of classes seemed dulled. She was on autopilot waiting for Cynthia to return. Thoughts of that meeting with Michaels still flooded her thoughts every time she let her guard down. People around her probably knew something was wrong because she was not working as late as she usually did.

Friday was no exception. She went home, made herself a sandwich, and sat down to watch television until time for Cynthia to call. Sara finished her sandwich and looked at the clock. It was time for the phone to ring. Cynthia was so predictable with her calls and Sara had come to depend on them coming at the same time every night.

She flipped through the channels and looked back at the clock. Cynthia was late today. Sara was beginning to get a little concerned.

Maybe she is busy packing and time has gotten away from her. If I call her, I might disturb her. I’ll wait a little while longer.
Sara tried to put her mind at ease

The phone finally rang. Sara picked it up quickly.

“Hey, Sara. How did your day go today?”

“Quite frankly, Cynthia, it sucked. These days go by so slowly. I really wish you were back here already, but I know you have a lot to do.

“Well, guess what I am doing right now?” Cynthia sounded almost devious.

“I don’t know. I wish you were sitting her with me. I was starting to get a little worried. You are a little late calling.” Sara realized how obsessive that sounded after it came out and grimaced to herself.

“I’m sorry I worried you, but I waited to call so that I could tell you some fantastic news. At least I think it is fantastic. I am sitting on the porch of my new house, sipping a beer, looking at the back of a full moving truck, and wishing you were right here with me.” Cynthia sounded excited.

“What? You’re back? When did you get here? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back today?” Sara could not contain herself.

“Whoa! Slow down, Speedy. I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well you damn sure did that. Do you want some help unloading that truck?” Sara hoped that Cynthia would say yes.

“Why do you think I am wishing you were here with me? Get your cute little ass over here. I don’t have any food, but I do have a cooler full of cold beer.”

“Do you want me to stop and pick up a couple of burgers on my way?” Sara asked.

“Sounds good. Just hurry up.”

***

“Ah! A beautiful woman brings me food.  I must be dreaming,” Cynthia laughed as she stood up.

“Like I would pass up a chance to feed a gorgeous woman!”

“Want a beer?” Cynthia asked as she was reaching into the cooler.

“Of course I do.” Sara accepted the beer while kissing Cynthia on the cheek. “Was your trip uneventful?”

“Pretty much. I got out of town before traffic got too bad. I made good time considering the size of this monster that I was driving.”

“I am so glad you are back. Let’s eat and get this thing unloaded.”

Chapter 8

“Wow. I thought I had enough furniture to fill this place up.” Cynthia looked around the room. “I guess I’m going to have to do some shopping once things settle down.”

“I have to say one thing. I sure am glad that you don’t have more than this. I am exhausted,” Sara chuckled.

“Me too, but we do make a pretty good team,” Cynthia said as she walked to the kitchen.

“Yes we do”, Sara said softly.

“How about a toast?” Cynthia handed Sara and open beer. “To teamwork.” 

“To teamwork.” Sara agreed and lightly tapped her bottle to Cynthia’s. 

“You want to go out tonight? My treat for all of the help you have been, yet again.” 

“Sure. What did you have in mind?” Sara asked. 

“I thought we could go to Mel’s. I really like that place. It is relaxing and besides, we could give Mel and Kathy something else to talk about.”

Sara laughed. “They don’t have to be encouraged to do that. That sounds like a good idea though. I just have to go home and get cleaned up.”

***

“You two girls are not getting in here unless you can show me a real driver’s license. You know as well as I do that these are fake.”

“They’re not fake, I swear. C’mon. Let us in.”

“Not happening, man. You and I both know you aren’t twenty-one. Go find you something else to do tonight. There are other people behind you waiting to get in here.”

“Can we have the licenses back?” The shorter of the two girls asked.

“Consider them confiscated, and consider yourselves lucky I don’t turn you in to the cops. Now scoot.”

“Problems, Mel?” Sara asked when the group of kids in front of them left.

“Nah. Just the usual. They try me once in a while to see if I am still on my game. If they saw the box of confiscated fakes that I have under the counter here, they would know they can’t get anything over on ol’ Mel. Glad to see you two back.”

“Cynthia just got back yesterday. We unpacked her moving truck and decided to come out here to unwind a bit.”

“Well, have fun. It is pretty packed tonight.”

It was crowded inside, but they found an empty table in the back near the pool tables. The music was loud and the dance floor was crowded. Cynthia went to the bar to get a couple of beers. Sara watched her as she expertly made her way back through the throng of people. 

“Do you ever worry about seeing any of your students in here?” Cynthia asked Sara as she took a sip of her beer.

“No. The only students that I have that are gay are more closeted than I am and would not dare set one foot in here, even if they could get past Mel. I have seen a few former students in here though.”

“None of them have ever tried to out you?”

“Nah. Like I said, most of them are closeted. I came to a quick agreement with them. They don’t tell and neither do I. It works out pretty well that way. The closest call I have had is the one with Officer Griffin that night.” Sara cringed when she mentioned that. 

“You smoothed that out though, didn’t you?”

“Not really,” Sara said taking a long sip. “I didn’t handle things well at all that day.”

“Let’s dance,” Cynthia changed the subject.

“It’s a little crowded up there. We might have to dance closely,” Sara said with a wink.

“Do you mind being close to me?”

“Not at all. I rather enjoy being close to you.”

As they were wading back through the crowd to their table Sara’s heart began to race and she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Between them and the table were Officer Griffin and his partner. Sara was certain he was checking to see if she was there again. 

“Evening, Officer Griffin.” Sara decided that she would speak first.

“Good evening, Ms. Carson. Who is your friend here?” He was scrutinizing Cynthia.

“This is Cynthia Wesley, a good friend of mine.” Sara was not about to tell him that she would be a teacher at Mills in the fall.

“That dance that you two were involved in looked like more than a friendly dance.” He was so smug with his comment.