Chapter Text
All of the staff at Grover middle school gathered in the gymnasium for the Monday-morning debriefing. I held my mug of tea close to my chest as I sat stood in the awkward U-shape around the projector. I’ve been gone for a while, I find that the whole “Saving the world” and “Training the best of the best” really gets in the way of the whole teaching thing, but god I do not miss this part of working here. All of us, huddled in a dark gym, one of the only lights being the bright screen projecting the logo of the school, I wouldn’t be to shocked if anyone passing by thought this was a strange, weirdly educational cult.
”Hello Everyone!” The principal exclaimed standing tall and much to energetic for the morning. “It’s good to see everyone here, especially a familiar face, Ryland welcome back! We hope you enjoyed your holiday break!” Heck of a break. I spent 95% of it training, working and the other 5% travelling. “And on that note, it’s also good to see a new face, our new School Gardner, Simon E-“
”Just Simon will do.” He spoke with a slight rasp, like the voice of a very, very tired man
I watched as he awkwardly stood into the middle. He had black hair that sat on his shoulders satisfyingly, Slight stubble on his chin and jet-black eyes that pierced into my soul, but almost in a comforting way. Like big puppy eyes. He wore a Black pair of dungarees with a brown plaid shirt underneath, one of his sleeves slightly rolled up on account of the heat. And from here, And I’m probably too far away to distinguish it, what seemed like a clear pendant with a seed inside of it hanging around his neck. He had a scar that laid on his face, disrupting the perfect harmony of his face, from the corner of his mouth to his ear and beyond. He waved his hand silently to the crowd, before stepping back away from the crowd, dis-conjoined from the teachers. He stood sternly with shockingly good posture for a gardener.
“Now that’s all for today, now remember everyone, final term till schools out! Put a smile on those faces people, not too long till vacation!” And not too long till the Hail Mary launches and I basically get condemned to live on a boat for the next few years. With no notice.
Yay!…
I was sat in my classroom during lunch catching up on some marking from 1st periods pop quiz on Cell Structure. My measly gluten-free mac & cheese (which was stored in a secret-ish mini fridge underneath the counter in the staff room, on the account of the pain that is a gluten intolerance.) laid on the side, untouched and getting cold. I took a scoop from of my food, keeping my eyes on the disappointment of a sheet in-front of me. I love my kids but, sometimes they can be pretty dumb. To be fair, I have been surrounded by the smartest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, so I am probably a little biased.
I highlighted a section of a quiz only to be met with an a blank streak of nothingness. Gosh darn it. Now I have to go across the entire classroom to grab a new one. Why do I always put the stationary allll the way other thereeuhh
I lazily stood up a dragged myself through the high tables and chairs when I stop in my tracks and stared out of my slightly opened windows. It was the new guy, building and setting up some new wooden planters. He had rolled his sleeves up, revealing a prosthetic arm that was covered beforehand. It was sleek and black, with metal joints in the elbows, wrists, and in the fingers and so on. I leaned in a little closer, to be met with delicate flower engravings; The letters “S.E” and “M.E” lying just above the shiny joint in the wrist. His name maybe? What does “M.E” stand for then?
He sat crossed legged on the floor with square reading glasses sliding down the structure of his nose. Nails and nuts laid scattered all over the playground floor, and an instruction manual placed gently on his leg. He studied it with such intensity, I’m shocked his head didn’t explode from an information overload. His hair was tied up into a mini messy ponytail, just barely being held up by a hairband and his glasses. He looked… beyond this world. Like a shining star burning brightly in the night sky, waiting to be noticed by the astronomers and scientists on earths ground. He looked up from the manual, looking for the correct screwdriver, till he looked up at the window. Those big dark eyes met directly with mine, and a strange, unfamiliar feeling stirred in my stomach. We locked eyes for what felt like minutes, until I realised how weird it must’ve been for him, I mean I am still a stranger, he must think i’m some crazy weirdo!!! Probably thinks I’m a peeping to- Stop. Stop it Ryland just look away for sciences sake. I ran away from the window in the most hurried, suspicious way possible. Reeaal smooth.
I walked back to my desk and sat back down into my seat with my head in my hands. I had gotten so embarrassed that I completely forgot why I stood up in the first place. Not that it was important, because when I lifted my head back up the bell rang across the corridors, and the sound of laughter and happiness filled the room.
“Righty-oo, who can tell me what the sub-molecular structures of a plant cell?” A wave of hands flourished upwards across the classroom. “Hmmmm…” I tapped my chin dramatically, starring off into the roof. “Abby!”
“Cell wall, Vacuole, Mitochondria, Nucleus.. and…uh….” One of the kids next to her whispered into her ear “Chloroplasts and Cytoplasm!” A loud cheer erupted in the classroom
“Ding ding ding! Corrrrrreect!”
It was nice to teach a classroom of such smart, expressive kids. Nothing like my older classes I’ll tell you that.
Chatter started across the room as I walked over to box on the floor by my desk. It was for the required practical of the term, where we would peel a thin layer of onion, stain it with iodine and slap it under the microscope to analyse it. It was filled of slides, Iodine, scalpels and such. On the box laid a label that said,
”PRACTICAL, ONION CELLS MR GRACE’S CLASS.”
I sifted through carefully, (these things are delicate!) when I realised that the Technician had forgotten arguably the most important part of the entire experiment. The onion.
I stared blankly at the box. What am I meant to say to the kids? They’ve been waiting for this, they’ve literally been counting down the days, on my board there was a “Days Till Next Practical” section, counting down to this very moment! I thought of their sad little faces when I tell them, the betrayal, Oh the horror! I can’t do that to them! I almost tear up at the idea of the utter betrayal they will feel when I suddenly remember the planters outside.
I scurried over to the window, seeing that 2 of 5 planters were built. He works damn fast, considering he’s had about 1 and a half hours to build. It seemed that Simon was having a tiny break, he sat facing the empty playground with a small pot of mangos and a fork in his hands. Next to him were a few plants in non-permanent plastic pots, Perfect! I’ll just ask for a few petals, and me and the kids will be on our way! Right. Don’t be so nervous, why are you so nervous? You’ve got this Ryland.
”Quick road trip everyone!”
I was walking across the hallways, taking a swift left to the entrance of the playground. Behind me there was a small pack of kids, only the most trusted. I know how it looks. I’m definitely using them as bait to make him feel sad for them. And that doesn’t sound better saying out loud, but who can turn down a group of bug-eyed kids who justtt want a few plantsss?…
Before I walked out into the open I looked at my reflection in the glass doors, tucked in my shirt, and fixed my hair a little, I looked a mess, but I am a science teacher so…
One of the kids questioned from behind me, “Mr Grace, what are you doing?” followed by a few giggles.
“Oh just…” God what am I doing? “Nothing.” I cleared my throat and opened the door, creaking as it was pushed aside. A sudden anxiety creeped into the pits of my stomach, every step I took felt harder than the next. What is wrong with me today? I’m usually somewhat sociable. I swallowed down my anxiety, remembering that I am here on a mission, and god knows I am not leaving till I get a yes or a very stern no.
As we reached a halt an awkward length away from him, he looked up to us setting his food to the side. He raised his hands to his eyes shielding the scorching sun.
“Umm… hello?” He spoke with a wisp of confusion.
”Oh yeah uh!” I cleared my throat again, “Well I’m-“
“We’re doing an experiment but our teacher” I was rudely pointed at, “Stupidly forgot the plants.” A kid stated. He started laughing, a sound that made my stomach flutter and my face heat up to what felt like the temperature of the sun, and turn into a strange tomato red hue.
“Ahhh I see, well you’ve come to the correct place, I have loads of plants in willing to spare, especially with something as important as an experiment!” For that last part, he looked up into the sky like a noble knight, which made the kids and ,I will admit, me giggle a little.
He looked around his workstation, inspecting the plants that were placed on the ground. He lifted one into his arms, stood up and held a Yellow Primrose in my direction. “I think this will do perfectly.” He smiled kindly at me and the kids. He passed the flower to me, our fingers slightly touching as he did. I tried my best to keep composure.
He kneeled down to the kids, “What experiment are you guys doing?”
”We’re looking at plant cells!”
He chuckled a little and said, “I remember when I did that, I was probably what a little older then you guys? If you guys are anything like me you’ll love it.” He stood up to meet my gaze, “I was crazy about Biology when I was a kid, couldn't get enough of it”
My eyes lit up and I practically jumped on the spot in excitement, he liked biology? I like biology! Heck, It’s my favourite subject to teach! “No kidding? I majored in molecular-biology!” I could see the wonder creep into his eyes and we held straight eye contact for a good minute before one of the kids interrupted, very loudly stating that there was a practical waiting for us. “Well uh, I’ve gotta… I’ve gotta go…” I pointed behind me, staring at the ground in utter embarrassment.
“Oh yeah um ofcourse! I- I’ll see you out here sometime maybe!” Simon fidgeted his thumbs, and I started walking back, practically being dragged up the ramp before the glass door.
“Oh you know, I’ll be around! See you!” He waved and I waved back, and as I pushed that glass door to enter the building once again, he got back to his work, but now with a small smile creeping onto his face.
I smiled to myself, proud that I’ve started a conversation with him! I guess!
Darn it! did I even tell him my name?