Learnt

Prologue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Copyright © 2008 Edward M. Baldwin

MR. GUMBLE’S FIRST DAY at Lincoln High School, and he’s showing courage. He knows he’s already the students’ third teacher this year. That’s fine, but he’s here now. Of course, there’s only one reason why a man of his stature, a former community college professor of twelve years, would lower himself so far as to teach in a school like Lincoln. Some may say it’s the money, but lack of money is far more accurate. Besides, Mr. Gumble has bills and a savings account that won’t allow him the privilege of being particular about his place of employment right now. Mr. Gumble needs a job—yesterday.

As he sits at his desk with a nervous twitch in his left knee, waiting for his first class to appear, he reminisces about the college life, when students waited for him to walk into the classroom—no, waited for him to present himself. For their sage to finally come forth. But now, thanks to two vindictive students, one video camera, and one too many on-duty whiskey sours, his scholastic sovereignty has been stripped away. Now, it is he who’s doing the waiting. And while he waits for his students to arrive, he also waits for his left knee to stop twitching.

Why the twitch? Because he’s utterly terrified. Nothing a touch of brandy couldn’t handle, but not a good idea for the first day on the job.

Yes, he’s scared. Besides his two years spent at the Saint Joseph Christian Academy, a horrid experience that was more than a few slices shy of heaven, he hasn’t had much practice with adolescents. After all, they’re nothing but kids, really. He’s accustomed to dealing with adults, people who take their future seriously.

Throughout the entire first period—his planning period—he waits at his desk, wondering what to do with himself—and his knee. He glances at the clock for the hundredth time, not knowing what else to do because he has already done everything. He has already arranged their desks to his liking, counted the textbooks, mounted his motivational signs throughout the classroom. Their first assignment has been on the board for forty-five minutes, right underneath his immaculately written “Professor Oliver Gumble.”