"You need to see me about your grade," he told her in a stern, serious voice. "Come by the gym after school, today." She nodded, knowing that she couldn't afford to fail any more classes.
"What time?" She asked quietly, facing the floor, too embarrassed to look him in the face. "Right after school?"
"No," he answered, "I have boys basketball practice. Come by at around 5:00"
"I don't think I can do that. I have to catch the school bus and I don't have money to go on the regular bus."
"I can give you whatever money you need."
"My parents, they-"
"Miss Harper," he interrupted, "follow me please," making it seem as though she was in even more trouble.
She obediently followed him into his office. He motioned for her to sit down in the chair in front of his desk, as he sat down in his. She fidgeted with a pencil that she'd pulled out of her dark red hair. He shuffled through some cards, took one out, picked up the phone, and dialed the number on the card.
"Yes may I please speak to a Mr. Collin Harper?… Mr. Harper? Yes, this is Mr. Troy, Cassie's Physical Education teacher. I'm calling about her grade. I need to know if it would be at all possible for her to visit with me today after school, today at five." He looked coldly at her. "Uh-hu… that is correct… no, not at all… to discuss her faults, how to improve, and some extra credit opportunities…okay, thank you sir… my pleasure… goodbye Mr. Harper." He hung up the phone. "Today at five. If you're late, you fail," he told her, not seeming to care whether she passed of failed.
***
Basketball went by slowly, as usual. The boys showed no signs of knowing hot to play, the equipment was lousy, and the outside court was hot.
He dismissed the boys at 4:15, giving them instructions to practice sprinting and to be clear by 4:45, which was when he'd be locking the doors. He went back into his office and remembered that he had an appointment. He put extra deodorant on, and washed his face in the sink.
After a short while, he went to the boys' locker room, cleared out the last few boys, turned off the lights, and locked the door. He went to the gym door, locked the left one but kept the right one open for his expected visitor. He turned off the gym lights and waited patiently on a bleacher.
He drifted into thoughts or what he might say and what may happen. Best and worst case scenarios battled against each other. He was jerked from his thoughts when the gym door slammed closed.
"I'm here sir," she said somewhat weakly.
"I can see that," he responded, trying to strip whatever cloth of confidence she covered herself with. "Go into my office, I'll be there in a minute," he instructed and she went. He locked the right door to keep away unwanted visitors, leaving no way in or out. He then made his way into the office. She was sitting down, her white skirt barely covering her crossed legs. He sat down on the corner of his desk and peered at her.
"Now, why are you doing so poorly?"
"I… don't know. What am I doing wrong?" she asked with a slightly panicking voice.
"You always walk, instead of jogging when we do laps, you never touch the ball of help your team when we play sports, and you never keep up when we do warm up exercises. Right now, there's not way you can pass without extra credit and a LOT more effort. What are you going to do to improve?" he inquired.
"Well, I don't know. I would try harder in sports, but I'm kind of scared to catch the ball. Please don't fail me! I can't afford to fail!" she said on the verge of tears.
He walked behind her, placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "I know, I know. It's okay to be worried; it shows you care."
"But what am I going to do?" she asked grabbing his sleeve. He handed her a tissue and she began to dry her eyes.
"Well," he said beginning to grow nervous, wondering if he should change his mind, "… I don't know… I don't think you could handle it. You need to be VERY… determined… mentally and physically… you need to be desperate!" he said, raising his voice at each pause, trying to reel her in. "You need have… will power! You have to be… willing to… do WHATEVER it takes!"
"I am! I am all of those!" she screamed, standing up, tears rolling down her pink cheeks.
He returned to his calm voice, speaking slower, making her even more eager to hear the solution to her problem.
"You… have to… put your mind… into it, but more importantly…" he paused for a few seconds, giving the appearance of looking for the right word, "…you have to… be ready to… use…. Your body."