by
Sommer Raine
_____I gathered my things from the passenger seat before jumping out of the car. I hurried into the building alongside tardy students as they scrambled to form the attendance line. Tardy students were required to obtain passes to class declaring an excused or unexcused tardy. Fortunately for me, teachers weren’t required to obtain theses passes or else I’d have an unexcused tardy every day. My first hour planning was obviously God sent.
_____When I arrived to my classroom which was located at the top of the third floor, my heart was pounding and I was gasping for air. Out of shape but still very attractive am I. I smoothed the wrinkles from my ankle length gray skirt and blue blouse after placing my books and personal belongings on the desk. I looked around the darkened classroom. The early morning light shone through the dingy windows. I walked to the windows and began opening them. The warm temperature of the morning air promised a hot afternoon.
_____I always left the lights off until my second hour class arrived. It was a part of my morning ritual. In the second drawer on the left I kept my toiletries and make-up. I also brought travel size items for my students whose hygiene can sometimes be less than perfect. I am the prepared teacher. It’s amazing how much you learn after student teaching and three years experience. I removed a tube of lipstick from the drawer and applied it to my lips using a small mirror. Perfect.
As I began to file through some papers on my desk, the door opened slowly. Without looking up I asked “Hey girl, did you bring my coffee this morning?” Like all teachers, I had found someone in the building to pair off with. She and I both only had three years experience under our belts. We often exchanged ideas for lesson plans and discussed the “going-ons” of the building. We began bringing coffee to school for one another that is always kicked up a notch with a liquor of our choice. I prefer coconut flavored rum because the coconut disguises the liquor smell in the coffee.
_____“Well I don’t have any coffee, but I did bring a Mountain Dew,” replied an unfamiliar voice.
My head shot up. Standing at the door was a tall, thin, light-skinned black woman with a head full of wild curls. “I’m sorry, Miss, but visitors must check in at the office first,” I said.
_____“I’m not a visitor, Ms. Gordon, I am your student teacher,” She explained. “The university sent me because your methods student dropped the program.”
_____Last semester, I had another college student who to put it kindly lacked confidence in herself. I was willing to help her along, but apparently she just wasn’t meant to be a teacher. She was a bit too timid for the urban environment and perhaps would have fared better in a suburban or rural setting. I was not made aware of the change in plans. The university had a reputation for not notifying it’s placements of such changes.
_____I rose to my feet and shook the young woman’s hand. “Well then, let me give you a polar bear welcome to the school,” I said trying not to sound too corny. “Have you been given a tour of the building or met any other faculty members yet?”
_____She laughed, “No, this is my first time visiting the school and I haven’t met anyone except the secretary in the main office. She didn’t exactly formally introduce herself to me she simply directed me to this room.”
_____“Never mind her,” I joked. “She obviously hasn’t displayed behavior typical of a polar bear.”
_____She smiled and took a few steps into the room. “It’s dark in here,” She said. “Where should I put my things?” Beside my desk sat another intended for student teacher use, but I had used it for extra storage. I began clearing a space for her. She sat down her bags.
_____“I’ll take more of my things from the desk later so that you will have full use of it,” I said. “Right now, let’s use our time wisely and discuss your expectations for student teaching and how much responsibility you’d like to take on and how soon.”
_____“I actually have some lessons planned,” She responded. “I knew the grade level and text book I’d be using so I checked out the teacher’s edition from the university library.” I was impressed. The girl was on top of things. She was also a natural beauty. I sat eagerly listening as she explained her lesson plans and expectations for the experience.
_____“I was thinking I’d take over all of the junior classes after you’ve had time to look over my plans,” She said. “After a couple of weeks I’ll be ready to tackle the senior classes.” I taught American literature to juniors and British literature to seniors. It would be difficult to relinquish my control of the classes because I enjoyed teaching them. However, I understood the importance of the experience for her.
_____“Okay, that’s fine,” I replied. “I know you’re eager to get down to business, but let’s first consider a week of observation. You need time to learn the students and see what has worked well for me.”
_____“I understand,” She said respectfully. “I just want you to know that I am prepared to get the most out of my student teaching experience.”
_____We sat talking during the minutes before the bell marked the end of first hour. From our conversation I learned where she had grown up and attended elementary, junior high, and high school. I also learned a little about her personal life. She told me that she didn’t currently have a boyfriend and what places she frequents with her friends. We shared a love for coffee (the non-alcoholic kind) and bookstores.
_____The second bell rang marking the beginning of second hour. I greeted my students as they entered the classroom. The student teacher, Mai, organized her desk. Among other things, she had brought with her a small plant and a picture. In the picture were her parents, Mai, and an older sister. I noticed that everyone in the family were as attractive as Mai. I quieted the students down so that I could introduce them to our guest teacher. She stood and walked to the front of the classroom. The boys in the class appeared to be in a dream state and the girls complimented Mai’s clothing and hair. When she finished introducing herself, I thought the students were going to give her a round of applause. She had captivated her audience.
_____The students seemed disappointed when I took over the class and asked them to take out their books. I gave Mai a few minutes to introduce herself at the beginning of each class, and each class seemed disappointed that she wasn’t going to begin teaching immediately. I was a popular teacher among students in the school so their response to her surprised me. Traitors! I thought to myself.
_____Lunch time had finally arrived. My friend who I had mistaken Mai for earlier entered the room with her sandwich and diet soda in hand. I could tell from the look on her face that she was on to me right away. Tianna knew that I am a lesbian. She identified as bisexual. She found herself equally attracted to men and women and was currently in a long-term relationship with a woman. Her eyes fell on Mai as she sat behind the desk still organizing the contents. Then Tianna’s eyes met my own. I knew what she was thinking before she spoke a word to me of her thoughts.
_____“Girl, you had better be good is all I’m gonna say,” She said directing the warning to me. “Honey, I’m Tianna Richardson and you are?”
_____“Nice to meet you, Tianna,” Mai replied as she rose from her seat. “My name is Mai Neal.”
_____“Very lovely name, Mai,” Tianna said. “I teach English, too, down the hall. Kate and I started teaching here the same year and have been friends ever since.”
_____“Yes, she had mistaken me for you earlier this morning,” Mai replied. “Did you remember to bring her coffee?”
_____“Kate, I know you didn’t make a bad first impression by telling her about the coffee?” Tianna asked.
_____“No, I haven’t told her yet but now is as a good time as any,” I answered. “Perhaps, she would like to choose a day to bring coffee, too.”
_____Tianna and I laughed. Mai not fully understanding smiled politely. We explained to her the story of our coffee and how it is a necessary part of teacher survival in the urban setting. She laughed, too. We finished our lunch, and Tianna and I made our way to the teacher’s lounge.
_____“I knew I should have requested a student teacher,” Tianna said. “But I probably wouldn’t have been so lucky as to have been assigned one as attractive as yours.”
_____“Girl, shut up because you’ve got somebody,” I said smiling. “I don’t have anyone. Besides, it’s not like you’d ever approach a woman anyway.”
_____“What do you know about what I will and will not do,” She snapped back playfully. “Don’t assume because I’m not an agg like you that I won’t talk to somebody.”
_____“I’m a professional,” I said sarcastically. “I would never try to get some ass at work. Mai isn’t even a real teacher yet.”
_____“Exactly,” Tianna said. “You are acting as a mentor so why not help her bring out all of her talents especially the ones involving her tongue.”
_____I ignored this last remark and finished my business in the teacher’s lounge before exiting. Tianna returned to her classroom, and I returned to my own. The rest of the day seemed to go quickly. Before long, I was waving “goodbye” to my new student teacher in the parking lot.
_____“I would like to assist you more with the class tomorrow if that’s possible,” Mai said. “I feel kind of silly just sitting in the back of the room not interacting with you or the students.”
_____I thought of my own student teaching experience and how I wouldn’t have minded sitting in the back with nothing to do. My mentoring teacher asked that I begin teaching on the first day. She didn’t realize how good she had it.
_____“You can help out with instruction tomorrow,” I replied. “Feel free to contribute to discussions and distribute and collect papers.”
_____ “Okay,” She said. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”
_____The next morning when I arrived she was standing outside the door. I opened the door and in she went and I followed closely behind her. She flipped the light switch to the on position. I quickly shut the lights off. She was disrupting my morning routine. She turned to look at me with a disapproving look. I moved about the classroom opening windows and tidying up the classroom.
_____“Why must we sit with the lights off,” She asked. “I can hardly read my book.”
_____I glanced over at the book on her desk. It was a copy of Wong’s The First Days of School. This chick was obviously serious about learning how to become an effective teacher. She wanted to get the most from the experience.
_____“I usually work in the dark during first hour,” I responded. “The lights are too bright, and I’ve often thought of bringing in lamps with 60 watt bulbs to replace them.”
_____I turned on only one set of lights. I observed her hi-liting sentences in the book. Her small glasses sat low on her thin, prominent nose and she held the hi-liter cap between her lips. She had a small, pouty mouth like that of a child. Her wildly curly hair was pinned high on the back of her head. I noticed the beautiful slender neck and soft hair at the nape of her neck. Her features were delicate and proportionate to her face. She was in anyone’s eyes incredibly beautiful. She appeared to be absorbed in the text. I inhaled and exhaled deeply. The cap fell from her lips.
_____The room was quiet and still. For whatever reason, the falling cap had caused some sort of uncomfortable silence. It was as though one of us were supposed to say something. She said nothing. My eyes searched for hers. She didn’t look up. For a time there was simply silence. Finally, she looked up at me over the small frames.
_____“What are you thinking about?” She asked. “I haven’t seen you so much as leaf through the sheets of paper on your desk since we sat down.”
_____I wondered if she had felt me staring at her. I felt embarrassed and blood rushed to my face and ears. If she had felt me watching her, then why didn’t she say something? I thought.
_____“I was just thinking how studious you look,” I replied. “You have the little glasses, pinned up hair, and everything.”
_____She laughed, “Are you sure that’s what you were thinking about?” She asked. “I have a feeling you were thinking about something else.”
_____Why was she digging? Maybe she wasn’t digging and it was just my wishful thinking. Damn it! There was the uncomfortable silence again. Was she waiting for me to say something? I thought. My mind went blank. I had to say something. She beat me to the challenge of who would speak first.
_____“How old is your son?” She asked. I was surprised at the question. It didn’t really have anything to do with anything.
_____“My son is eight,” I answered. “Why do you ask?”
_____“I’ve noticed the picture of him sitting on your desk,” She replied. “He looks a lot like you.”
_____“I guess he should,” I said. “After all, I am his mother.”
_____“Well, like his mother he is very beautiful,” She said softly almost in a whisper.
_____She went back to her work. I couldn’t allow it to stop there. I wondered what she had meant by the whispered compliment. Perhaps I was reading into it too much, but I felt there was more behind the comment than simply a compliment to mother and son. She must have been reading my mind because she answered the question before I could ask it.
_____“So how long have you been out?” She asked without so much as looking up from her book. “It’s okay I’m not afraid of lesbians or the so-called sexual advances they attempt to make on poor, defenseless heterosexual women.”
_____I laughed nervously. How had she known? I am feminine in appearance. It’s my aggressive nature that makes me suspect. She must have been reading my mind. The girl was damn good at reading my thoughts like the words on the page before her.
_____“When we walked to the parking lot yesterday, I saw the rainbow chain hanging from the rearview mirror,” She added. “So you're either gay or you really like the colors of the rainbow. I think it’s the first because the way you looked at me when I first came into the room yesterday morning wasn’t a look I get from straight women.”
_____“And exactly what look was that?” I asked.
_____“A curious look,” She said.
_____“A curious look?” I repeated.
_____“Yes, the kind of look that asks the question ‘what would it be like to sleep with you?’” She whispered seductively.
_____Damn! The girl had me figured out to the letter. I couldn’t say anything in response to this last comment. I sat nervously waiting for the bell to mark the ending of first hour. I was very careful about never revealing my sexual orientation at school. Students and fellow teachers alike could be cruel and intolerant of others. Teaching is a very conservative profession.
_____The bell rang, and I felt it had saved me. I went through the motions of teaching second, third, and fourth hours, but secretly I thought of Mai. She sat in the back of the room appearing to be absorbed in the lesson as I delivered it. My students had just finished reading Their Eyes Were Watching God. The bell rang marking the end of fourth period and the beginning of lunch. I decided Mai’s tight body and soothing voice were not worth me causing a scandal in the school.
_____“I’m going to the lounge in the library for coffee,” Mai said. “How do you take yours?”
_____She fucked me up with this last question. It was a reflex. The words fell from my lips forming sentences before I could take them back.
_____“I like mine extra light and sweet.” I said in manner too inappropriate for a discussion about coffee.
_____“Do you?” She asked. “That’s what I suspected.”
_____We were standing in the room completely alone facing one another. Her long, thin index finger outlined my hips. She possessively cupped my ass with the other hand. I moved closer towards her to kiss the lips that caused me to be envious of a pen cap. Before long, we were in a passionate embrace. Suddenly, it came back to me that we were still standing in the classroom with the door open. I pulled away.
_____“What’s wrong?” She asked impatiently.
_____“We can’t do this here,” I said. “Or anywhere else for the matter.”
_____She looked at the clock. “I believe we have twenty five minutes before lunch ends,” She replied. “We should both be able to get off in that time.”
_____Against my better judgment, I led her down the hall to Tianna’s classroom. Tianna had a small room within her classroom where she kept a small refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, chairs, a table, and magazines. We both had contributed to the room since we both agreed we should avoid teachers’ lounges like the plague. It was our living room away from home. Upon entering the room, I quickly explained to Tianna what was up and that she needed to leave the room immediately but not before locking the door behind her. As Tianna exited, Mai and I removed our clothing in a frenzy.
_____I took a moment to view and appreciate Mai’s nakedness. I lifted her up to the table and asked her to scoot her bottom back. I turned to look at the clock that hung on the wall. Damn! I thought to myself. Such little time to enjoy such a delicious piece of ass. As much as I wanted to take my time and savor this moment in the backroom with Mai, I hurried along bringing her quickly to orgasm. I licked and sucked the fattened flesh between her thighs and inhaled her feminine scent. I swallowed the sweet smelling liquid that flowed easy and free from a dark hidden place. Her thighs quivered. Her fingers pleaded with me to continue to be an unrelenting pressure against her clit. She began grinding my face to slowly bring about the most heightened point of our sexual play that would later cause her to believe she has experienced nirvana. Her body shook, and she forcefully pushed me away. With one sweep of her hand, she cleared the table and rested her back on its surface. I admired my work—the beads of sweat that caused her baby hairs to curl, the red, flushed face, the now fragrant pussy, and the hard, pink nipples staring blindly towards the ceiling. The bell rang. Five minutes before the start of my next class.
_____“Mai, take your time coming back to class from lunch today,” I said.
_____She exhaled and spoke not a word as I dressed myself before exiting through the door. As you can imagine, the school year proved to be very successful for her.

The End

Copyright © 2003. Used by permission of author. All Rights Reserved.