I had forgotten all about Mr. Crenshaw when I got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize. It was from a number that bore the area code for my home town. I decided to grab the call, even though I was in the middle of one of my college classes. I tried my best to make it out the door before I said, "hello."
"Is this Christina Reina?" a male voice asked me. I couldn't place it, but I knew that voice from somewhere.
"Yes..." I answered tentatively.
"This is Shawn Crenshaw, your former biology teacher. Do you remember me?" he asked smoothly.
"Um...yeah. What can I do for you?" I was a bit weirded out. Why would my high school teacher be calling me now? It had been almost two years since I had been in his class as a junior. Now I was in college, and I wanted nothing to do with high school or my home town.
"I was hoping that maybe you could come back in to talk to my classes about your college experience. I don't know if you remember how I had people come in to talk to you when you were in my class. You got into a good school if I recall correctly, and I think you could really help the students looking to go to school, maybe get some of the ones on the fence to choose to go to college."
"Um...well, I think I will be home for a weekend in March," I said, silently cursing myself for playing into Mr. Crenshaw's hand. He hadn't been my favorite teacher, but he wasn't the worst one I'd had. I was sort of flattered that he had chosen me from the long list of former students he could have chosen.
"That would be great. Just let me know when you'll be in town, and I will make sure to set aside some class time for you to speak. I have five classes, so you'll have to give your speech 5 times."
"Speech?" I felt my throat tightening up as I realized that I was going to have to get up in front of a bunch of high school kids and talk.
"Yeah, maybe tell them about your high school experience and how it led you to the college you are going to. Just be honest. You don't need to prepare a speech. Just tell them as if you are telling a friend about your experience. "Don't worry, I can compensate you for your time."
"Oh?" I asked. I was about to do it for free, too.
"Yeah, I can take you out for dinner afterward to thank you. I'd buy you a drink too, but you're not twenty-one yet, are you?" Now, this was interesting. I was pretty sure I could hear flirtation in his voice. I perked up a bit. Was my old teacher really flirting with me? It didn't matter. He had me at "dinner." It had been ages since I'd been out to eat at a restaurant. Money was tight for me, and I was the quintessential starving college student.
"I'm not quite old enough to drink yet, but dinner sounds great," I told Mr. Crenshaw.
March came rather quickly, and I had almost forgotten about my promise to Mr. Crenshaw. He called and texted me until I answered and reminded me. The drive back to my home town was beautiful, actually. It gave me time to think and reflect on my time as a student at Hoffman High School. By the time I arrived, I was ready to give my speech, which I had been rehearsing for almost a week, despite Mr. Crenshaw telling me to just wing it.
"Christina!" Mr. Crenshaw greeted me with delight. He introduced me to his class, and I began my speech. I told the wide-eyed students about what it was really like in college and how it was different from when I had been in high school.
"Remember to enjoy what you have now. You've got it made. College is hard, and being an adult is hard," I warned them as the bell rang, and the students began to file out, and the new class began to make their way in.
"That was really good. You're an amazing public speaker," he praised me.
"Thanks," I blushed a bit. Mr. Crenshaw had lost some weight since I'd last seen him, and I could tell that he had put some effort into his appearance that he hadn't bothered with when I was his student. He actually looked handsome, something I would never have said about him when I was his student.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted, and the thought of getting a delicious dinner was the main thing on my mind. It had been so long since I'd eaten out at an actual restaurant that didn't have a drive-thru. I could almost taste mashed potatoes and steak in my mouth, which I'd been craving all day.
"So, where would you like to go to dinner, Christina?" Mr. Crenshaw asked me.
"Is Silver's still around?" I asked. Silver's was a small steakhouse that was family-owned and not too pricey for what it was.
"You craving some meat?" he asked, and something about the way he said the word "meat" made my arms break out into chills.
"Yes! I haven't had a steak since I started college!" I said dramatically as he locked the door to the classroom.
"Let's take my truck. I can bring you back to grab your car later," he assured me, and so I agreed.
Silver's was crowded, and so Mr. Crenshaw went to go get us some drinks at the bar. When he came back with two Mai Tais, I was shocked.
"You know I can't drink!" I giggled.
"I won't tell if you won't," he handed me the drink and raised his glass in a toast.