One of my classes is critical to all students graduating high school. They must get a passing grade or else they cannot move on to whatever awaits them beyond the hallowed halls of the only high school in this county. It is English after all, our native language. I moved here from the city because I wanted peace and quiet. I had thought that maybe my experiences would be different. But I see the same amount if not more students just squeak by or drop out. Then they go on to local farms thinking that perhaps they don't need the education since they already know the trade.
It's June and just six days before the last day of school and I have one that I just got out of a meeting with an hour ago. Betsie, she seemed to slack off way too much, and I had to tell her she will not be graduating with her class, and that she will have to take the extension course this summer instead of working.
With a blank expression she tried to reassure me that she could pull it off. She wanted to work all summer and reach her goal of getting out of this small town. This was the reason I gave her one last chance. But like so many, the pull of family needs to keep the local trade going is stronger than any free will they might have left. She came in to tell me she was giving up on it entirely. I tried to get her to reconsider so she could at least march with her class at graduation. She said she was not interested. I had cut her a lot of slack in the two years I have had her in my English class. She had been very ill her freshman year and had to be held back. Now age 19 and older than all of her classmates, I guess I expected her to lead the pack, so to speak. But it just wasn't happening.
I was sitting in my office during the last week of school, finishing up my grading. I was not in a particularly good mood because another one of my students is throwing her life away. Not to mention my wife of 20 years left over three months ago to go back to the city we came from. The trouble had been brewing for a long time. She had told me that if I wanted to fix things I need to join her. When I called her last month she told me she had moved on. It seemed to be no wonder that I was having a difficult time getting through the usual end of the school year disappointments. I gathered my papers, and turned off the lights in the classroom. I went over to the door, opened it and twisted the lock with my key.
I sighed as I rested my head against the door, "What am I doing here?"
Realizing that I forgot something, I unlocked my door and went back into my office. I let the door close behind me and I go back around the corner to my office and library to grab the stack of essays I forgot to pack. As I put the stack into my bag, I hear a knock on the classroom door. It is barely audible from my little corner office at the back of the classroom, and I go around to see who it is. It was Betsie, the girl I had the meeting with. She seems anxious or nervous about something. I go over to let her in.
"Betsie what can I do for you," I said as I inched the door open a bit.
"Can I talk to you?" she asked politely.
"I am getting ready to leave, can it wait until tomorrow?" I sighed.
"Well yes...but I would like to talk to you now if you have a minute," she said with desperate eyes.
"Ok", I sighed and motioned for her to come in.
I couldn't help noticing that she had changed her clothes and her hairstyle from our meeting earlier. She looked more provocative as if she was trying to be noticed. I had not realized that such tight clothing was allowed at the school.
"Let me set these down," I said as the door closed behind her.
"I have given some thought to my future and...well I need to work this summer for the cash, but, I don't want to be someone who didn't finish high school and ends up regretting it," she said softly.
"You never know if you might end up needing that high school diploma that you've worked four years for," I smiled as I sat at my table in the front of the class and folded my hands.
"I know," she sighed, "Is there any makeup stuff I can do to at least get a C and pass so that I can work this summer or is it a lost cause?"
"Well hmm," I said as I stood, "When I talked to you earlier I told you the best option was to take the two week extension which is very intense and do over what you had trouble with. It would be difficult to catch up in the week that's left".
"Oh," she said with a sigh.
"Wait a moment," I smiled as I walked over to my small out of the way office.
I heard her start to follow me as I walked. I thought that maybe I should have asked her to stay where she was because I do not usually allow students back there so that they have contact with testing materials that they have not seen yet. But since exams are done, I didn't see the harm. However, it caught me off guard when I turned around and she was right directly behind me. I looked down at her for just a second and she smiled at me. It was infectious and I looked away quickly, and went to my desk. I sat down and went in to the drawer to bring out her folder. I set it on my desk and busily went through it without looking up.
Looking out of the corner of my eye I could see that she seemed to want to sit down on the chair on the other side. Glancing over to acknowledge that she could have a seat I was frozen for a second by her attire which I had said is different than the jeans and t-shirt she was wearing earlier. My first thought was not so appropriate and I tried to cover it in my own mind. I made a mistake, and a big one. I swear it was an accident that I stared. She sat in the chair with a tank top and a mini skirt. I could tell right away that it was far against the dress code that the school allows. For the bottom half of her body, did not have much to hide it. I was about to speak to her about it, then realized that I had been staring. I glanced up and saw her smile, and quickly looked away and back to my work.
I think I even heard her snicker a bit as I fumbled with her papers in the folder. I had to recover, so I got down to business and began figuring exactly what she needed in order to actually graduate. I frowned from her lack of attention to my class as I made a list just to show her that it would be impossible. I don't enjoy giving bad news, so I just did so and got it over with. I looked at her as I finished and saw her expression of disappointment, mixed with a little desperation.
"I'm sorry," I sighed. "I don't see how you could get it all done this week. I don't have to remind you that you should have done this work to begin with."
We talked for a while and she eventually told me that she wanted to try anyway. I let out a sigh because I thought that I would be wasting my time and hers, but I did as she asked. She took the assignments and left. I stood as she started to walk away and again my eyes gazed upon her. I watched her feminine walk as she did not look back. Even after she exited my classroom I stood thinking about those long legs that I know she had brought out on purpose. I can't help thinking it worked because I really should not have given her that work knowing full well that she couldn't pull it off.
One week later...
It has always baffled me how students can have such an opposition to following instructions. But with amazement I had passed everyone in this year's senior class. All except for one, that is. One more appointment and the school year for me is officially over. This does not count graduation tomorrow of course. I never miss that. I just have one more duty to perform. I was not looking forward to it. That was of course if she even shows up.
She was late by over thirty minutes. I gave her that chance, but the work she passed in this morning is not complete. She has no choice now but to take the extension or forget it entirely. In my disappointment, I had already filled out her paperwork to turn into the office. I just couldn't help thinking of the hard road she has ahead of her not finishing her basic education. Who knows what she will have to take for a job. A rather bright student in this year's class had a sister that failed to graduate two years ago. When I asked him about her, he said she never smiles anymore. I remember that situation, and it was so similar to my only failing student this year.
"Marry a rich guy," I whispered to myself, instantly regretting the thought.
But I began to think how that might not be so difficult for her. She is striking, with her long red hair, and thin body. As I began to think about her, I quickly realized again that I really need to get out more and meet some people.
"Ok I've had enough," I said and finished the paperwork.
Quickly I picked a few things up, and headed for the door. Locking it, I closed it behind me. Suddenly I head heavy running footsteps behind me.
"Wait, please!" Betsie said as she approached.
"Your late," I said as I opened my door.
I walked back over to my desk and set my things down. I sat heavily in my chair. She handed me a fairly large essay. I looked it over a moment.
"This seems good, but Betsie it still leaves you the one assignment short," I sighed, "And a big one too."
"I know," she sighed, "I tried my best but it seemed like my dad gave me extra work this week."
"He should know school is first, but under all that you did have plenty of chance to get it done when it was originally due," I said, "You need to take charge of your future. Your 19 years old. Take charge regardless."
"I know. I don't know what else to do," she said with a whimper, "I mean I'll do anything."
