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- 05/30/2021
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Adam Blake - 39. Chapter 39
Walking back in with his coffee, “I have all of the students' files in your desk file. I took the liberty and marked them, green for top student, blue for average, and red for the bottom group.”
“Good, your furniture will arrive tomorrow and then you can get set up. I’d like for you to keep a calendar for me.”
“A calendar or appointment book?”
“An appointment book only I normally used a calendar for that.”
I started to go through the red files looking for the young man I met in the cafeteria. Finding it, he was right, he was failing almost all of his classes. While I was reading his file I heard Jane talking to James. Looking at my watch it was lunchtime.
“I’m going to lunch, anyone coming with me. James, Jane?”
“I was asked not to humor you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Not to go to lunch with you.” I just looked at her, “Ok I’ll go but you better save my job if I get in trouble.”
Laughing, we headed for the cafeteria. When I walked in, there was Bob Anderson in line talking to one of the students. Jane looked at me smiling, I started to laugh and thankfully not very loud.
We got our lunch, James and Jane went to a table with two other boys and I saw the boys pull together three tables saving me a middle seat. I looked over and Bob was sitting with Jane and James. It appeared that all five of them were deep in a conversation. I just smiled to myself.
“Well, gentlemen, what should we discuss today over this feast.”
They laughed and I saw the new boys begin to relax. “How are the sports games coming?”
That did it, now we talked about the sports teams at the school as well as the summer Olympics which were due to start this summer. There was a lot of laugher at our table and I noticed a few of the boys at other tables kept looking over. “Johnny, tomorrow for lunch, I’d like for you to set up the tables so everyone has a chance to join us. If you look around there are few men who feel left out. We should give everyone a chance to join in.”
He looked over the table with Jane, Bob Anderson, and James. “Yes, them also”
If I was a gambling man I’d bet there will be more teachers each day until only the Directors will be eating in the Staff Dining Room.
Leaving for the day, I took Richard Damon’s file with me. I wanted to look at it a little more.
Arriving back at the cabin, I saw Dad’s car in the driveway. Walking into the cabin, I was jumped on by Scotty. “Remember we’re going for a walk today.”
“Yes, let me change my clothes and we’ll be off. How are you doing Billy?”
“I’m doing fine.” He followed me to my room. “Ann called me today to say she was sorry. I told her it was ok and I wished her the best. Then I hung up.”
“How did you feel about that?”
“I felt good. I don’t wish her bad luck or anything but it's over. I’m not in a hurry, I still have my school to finish and your Olympic trials.”
I grabbed him in a hug, “I hope my children turn out like you.”
He looked at me and just smiled. “Let’s go and get the munchkin for our walk.”
We started on the same trail as yesterday only about halfway we took a different trail. Scotty was looking for animals, we did see a rabbit. “Look, Uncle Adam, there’s a rabbit. Let’s catch it.”
“Yea, Uncle Adam, let’s catch it for dinner.”
“Oh, we can’t kill it.”
“Why don’t we let it go, his mommy and daddy will be sad if we take him?”
That did it. Billy looked at me and mouthed, mommy and daddy. I went to hit him but he ran away laughing.
Dinner that night was great. Mom is a good cook and so is Jen, so between them, we had a fantastic dinner. Scotty wanted to take a carrot for the rabbit. Billy gave him a carrot and they went to find the rabbit.
While the ladies clean up after dinner, “Dad, I think I’m ready to buy a new car and the one I have, I’m going to give to Billy. What do you think?”
“What kind of car did you have in mind?”
“I want something good on gas, I plan on coming here on the weekends. So I’ll end up putting a lot of mileage on it and it would be best if I had a car that got high mileage to a gallon of gas.”
“I think Steve has a cousin who works at a car dealership. When I go home I’ll give him a call and see what he has. Might get a good deal.”
“Thanks, Dad. I brought some work home and I need to get to it.”
I was sitting in the living room looking through the file I brought home. Billy came in and set down beside me. “You have homework?”
“Yes, there’s this student who freezes whenever he takes a test. These are his actual tests and what I see so far, the reason he doesn’t get good grades is that he never finishes the test.”
“What are you going to do? If he freezes up it would be difficult for him to get good grades.”
“Suppose he doesn’t freeze up. Suppose he has time and no pressure, what then?”
“I would guess he’d pass.”
“Exactly, so my job is to see that he’s given the time.”
“What if his teacher says it isn’t fair, he gets more time but the other kids don’t.”
“He would be right except what if I change the way we give tests.”
“I don’t understand.”
“In your school, you take tests in the classroom where the subject matter is taught. That is true in every school in the US. But you know I’m a rebel, so I’m going to have a testing center, which will be monitored. The students will have plenty of time to take the test, with no pressure. I’ll bet those students like this lad will excel.”
“How are you going to do that? They will balk and then you’ll lose your job.”
“Nope won’t happen, I have a two-year iron-clad contract and the backing of a very important person. I think they are afraid of me, but they shouldn’t be, I have only the interest of the students in my work.”
“Are you still eating in the cafeteria?”
“Of yes and I got another teacher to join us today. I have asked Johnny, you remember Johnny, to reorganize the tables in the cafeteria so we can all sit together.”
“You’ll have to keep me informed.”
“Oh, so you are interested in my methods. Come with me I’ll give you a copy of my book.”
We walked out to the car, I had my hand on his shoulder, “Did you run today?”
“Yes, I ran almost to the diner before I turned around and ran back.”
“Yes, you’re Olympic material. Here’s my book.”
Walking back into the house, Billy showed his mom my book. “Billy, let me have your book a minute” I opened it and wrote in it, I showed Billy, he showed his mother. He had to show Mom and Dad. Scotty wanted to see it, so he showed him as well. Jen looked at me, she mouthed ‘I love you].
“I have two more days before the weekend so folks I’m off to bed. Billy if you want to run in the morning, I run at 5 am, and warm up at 4 thirty.”
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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