by JoAnn Carter
“My offer still stands. I’d be happy to help you.”
“Thanks, I’m going to take you up on that. I’m sure you’d have a fresh perspective and some valuable input.”
“Well, I’m not so sure about all that.” He added, “But I’d love to help. When would you like to meet?”
“Do you think we could work on it after our staff meeting for Joey tomorrow?”
“Sure. That will give me a little while to think.” Tracy paused and then added, “Thanks, Amanda.”
“For what?”
“For inviting me to work on this with you. I know you’re used to being some what of a lone-ranger.”
“It’s a little bit different.” Amanda conceded. “But after all, I was the one who asked for an assistant, right?”
Tracy laughed. “Yes, I guess you did. So, you better get your money’s worth and let me give you a hand.”
Not wanting to hang up quite yet, Amanda asked, “So, what did you think of our church?”
“I had a great time.” Tracy said enthusiastically. “The people were all very friendly and welcoming.”
“That they are,” Amanda admitted.
“I think I’d like to see what the worship service is like on Sunday.”
Amanda felt butterflies dance in her stomach at the thought. “Well then, perhaps I’ll see you on Sunday morning, too.”
“I wouldn’t mind that.” Tracy softly asked, “Would you?”
Amanda was thankful Tracy couldn’t see her because she felt herself blush. “You might get sick of seeing me and Carolyn, you know.”
“I don’t think that is possible.”
Amanda looked at the clock on her wall. “Tracy, I didn’t realize it’s after ten.” Amanda wished she had looked at the clock before she called. “Sorry for calling so late.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. I don’t usually hit the sack until ten-thirty or eleven. I’m glad you called, Amanda. Feel free, anytime.”
“Thanks again for being willing to help. Night, Tracy.”
“Good night, Amanda. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
How did he make work suddenly feel like a date?
****
Before she knew it, Sunday had arrived. Amanda perused through the bulletin when she felt Carolyn elbowing her in the side. “Hey, look who just walked in.”
She looked over her left shoulder and watched as Tracy came up the aisle and took a seat a few rows behind them. The sports coat and burgundy tie made him look better than ever.
“Don’t you think we should invite him to sit with us?” Carolyn whispered.
Amanda swallowed hard, “If you want to.”
That was all the encouragement Carolyn needed. She left her pew and walked over to Tracy. Amanda prayed as Carolyn left. Lord, I am here to worship You. Please help me stay focused on You.
“Hello, Amanda,” Tracy said as he slid into the pew next to her.
Amanda shuffled her things to make room for him. “Hi, Tracy. I’m glad you could make it.”
Giving her a warm smile, he said, “I am, too.”
As the prelude started, Amanda closed her eyes to absorb the music.
The Minister of Music’s voice could be heard above the chatter in the sanctuary. “Would you please stand and join me in singing number 234.”
There were only two books in the hymn rack in front of them. Tracy took a book, turned to the page and offered to share it with Amanda.
“Thanks,” she whispered. As she reached for the book, their hands brushed. Amanda felt a sense of excitement at his nearness. Focus…focus! She reprimanded herself.
Tracy’s smooth tenor voice filled the air as the congregation began to sing.
The whole service seemed to be a battle for Amanda’s attention. Tracy was sitting close enough that every once in awhile his shoulder would brush hers. As she stole a peek at him, she saw his attention was on the pastor and what he was saying. I wonder if Carolyn is having half as much trouble as I am.
****
“Did Tracy leave already?” Amanda asked Carolyn when she turned back from talking with Mrs. Jenkins and her daughter.
“He’s with Ben.”
“I got into a conversation with Sara and I didn’t see them go.” Amanda looked around to see if she could spot him.
“No problem. You’ll be seeing him soon because he’s coming over for lunch.”
“He is?” Amanda asked with wide eyes. “You mean, Tracy?”
“Yes, Tracy.” Carolyn put her hands on her hips as if waiting to see if Amanda would fuss or not.
Amanda wondered that herself. Should she change her former plans to eat at Carolyn’s? Running away is not going to solve anything. Finally, she shrugged and tried to say in a nonchalant manner, “At least Sam is coming. Tracy might feel awkward if he were the only guy.”
Carolyn picked up her Bible, the relief was evident in her brown eyed gaze. “I’m glad I asked him to come. He said he misses his family on Sundays.”
“He’s seems pretty close to his family,” Amanda admitted. “He mentions them quite a bit.”
“Another good quality.” Carolyn was quick to point out.
Amanda grinned, “I suppose that depends on what his family is like.”
“Guess you may have something there.” Carolyn pushed her purse further up her shoulder before it slipped down her purple silk sleeve. “You ready?”
“Yes. We better get going so we can have dinner ready on time. I’m starved.”
“You always are, Amanda.” With a scowl marring her face, Carolyn added, “What kills me though is that I’m the one whose physique wears it.”
“Carolyn, don’t even go there. You look fine.”
“Humph.” She grumbled as they went to shake the pastor’s hand before leaving church.
****
Vermont continued to amaze Tracy. It wasn’t like his home back in New Jersey where many similarly styled homes dominated an area. Here there was a variety. You could have a farmhouse with a gigantic barn while a neighbor has a contemporary house. Such was the case with Carolyn’s condo. It was gray and tidy with a black sloping roof. Dark green hedges boarded the front of the home.
Tracy rapped twice before he walked into the foyer and sniffed the air appreciatively. “Mmmmm. Is that ham I smell?”
“It is.” Carolyn grinned. “Come on in, make yourself at home.”
“Thanks.”
Carolyn brushed her hands on her beige corduroy pants. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Me, too.” As local custom dictated, Tracy took off his shoes before stepping further into the hall.
“I also have modern homemade bread straight from the bread machine.” Flippantly, she asked, “Would that happen to be the way to your heart?”
He laughed, “I guess it depends.”
“Depends on what?”
“On who fixed it.” He chuckled.
Whispering, Carolyn asked, “I don’t stand a chance, do I?”
Tracy looked at her for a full minute. He liked her, he really did but… “Carolyn, any man would be blessed to capture your heart.”
“Really?” she beamed.
“Definitely.” A little sheepishly, he added, “Too bad there’s a little lady who holds a piece of mine already.”
“Ah ha! I thought so.” She said triumphantly. “It’s Amanda isn’t it?”
Tracy shrugged his shoulders. “It could be, but I didn’t say so.”
“Why the secrecy?” she asked with a hand on her hip.
Just then Sam knocked and walked in the front door. “Oh, smells good in here. Is it ham today?”
“Yes, it is, and a lot of other good things,” Carolyn said before sending a look to Tracy that told him she would talk to him later.
Amanda joined them from the kitchen. “Hi, guys. Hungry?”
Sam turned to Tracy. “This is the place to be, man. Once a month Carolyn fills her oven with good things before she leaves for church, then
she invites us over.”
Putting a hand on his stomach, Tracy said, “It kind of makes me wish she had told me that a month or so ago. I’ve think I’ve tried every single TV dinner entrée this past month and it’s not real impressive.”
Amanda laughed, “Well, come on in. The rest of the gang is in the kitchen.”
Teacher's Plans
Teacher's Plans
Chapter Five
October
The fall sunset’s orange, pink, and purple hues caught Tracy’s eye as he looked out upon the school’s parking lot. He glanced back at Amanda. What a difference from the serene scene outside. Her usual calm, poised movements changed into quick, jerky actions. He grinned, “Nervous?”
“Not really.” Amanda rearranged the papers on her desk for the tenth time. “Well, perhaps a little,” she admitted. “I can’t help it. The open houses and parent-teacher conference appointments always make me feel a little jittery.”
“How many years did you say you have been doing this?” he chuckled.
“I don’t think it really matters how long. It’s just one of those things.”
“But why? You’re a great teacher and you know your students well.”
Amanda shrugged. “There’s always the chance you won’t be able to communicate well with the parents.” After a moments lapse of silence, she said, “Aren’t you even a little tense?”
“No reason for me to be.”
“Okay, Mr. Nerves of Steel, the Fenways made an appointment to talk to us before Open House officially starts.” She glanced at her watch. “They’re due to arrive in ten minutes. How about you take care of that?”
“Ah, but that’s one of the perks about being an assistant.” Tracy teased, “I’m not high up on the totem pole. So, I simply get to help.”
“Hum, some help!” Amanda bantered.
“Does it make you wish the tables were turned? Would you like me to be your boss?”
“Not on your life.” Tracy became distracted as Amanda pushed her hair behind her ear. That little habit of hers endeared her to him. He wondered if her hair felt like silk, for it certainly looked like it. What would she think if she knew the truth about him? Amanda’s voice broke through his thoughts, as she said with a chuckle, “I think we’re doing just fine this way.”
“Thought so.”
Amanda’s forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. “For some reason, I can’t envision you being a Teacher’s Assistant forever. What do you want to do in the future?”
“That’s a good question.” Tracy squirmed in his seat. If only he didn’t have to keep a lid on his plans. But, that was part of the understanding with his employer. He looked out the door, hoping the parents were arriving, but to no avail. He didn’t quite meet her eyes as he hedged, “I’m taking it one day at a time.”
“Well, one thing’s for sure, the children love you. Did you ever think of going back to school to get your teaching certificate?”
Tracy squirmed in his chair. “I haven’t considered that…”
“But, why?” Before he could answer Amanda’s question, the Fenways knocked on the door. Thank you. Lord! he sighed.
“We’ll talk about this later,” Amanda said over her shoulder as she walked to the door to greet Timmy’s parents.
****
The next day, Tracy stood by the classroom window watching Joey, who was outside for recess. His shoulders were slumped and his head drooped as he stared at the ground. A sense of urgency came upon Tracy and he knew he needed to find some way to help the little guy out. Suddenly, an idea began to take shape. He turned to Amanda. “Think you could spare me for a while?”
Amanda seemed to follow Tracy’s line of vision. “Sure. I’ll be fine here until the end of the period.”
“Great.” Tracy didn’t hesitate. Once outside, he grabbed a basketball and ran up to Joey standing alone on the court. “Hey there, buddy. Want to shoot some hoops with me?”
Joey’s head snapped up in sudden alertness. Just as quickly, he dropped his head back down again and shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care.
Tracy read between the lines and threw him the ball. “Think fast.”
Joey’s hands went out automatically to catch it.
“Do you know how to play ‘Around The World?’ That was my favorite as a kid.”
Once again, Joey merely shrugged his shoulders.
“Let’s just shoot a few hoops today and maybe we’ll try that another time,” Tracy prodded.
Joey continued to stand there holding onto the ball.
“What do you say you go for that basket? If you make it, I’ll try to challenge you.”
Softly, in a squeaky voice that sounded like it hadn’t been used in ages, Joey said, “Guess so.” He dribbled the ball for a second, paused and then shot a clean sweep into the basket.
Joey looked at the ground as if nothing had happened, while Tracy felt his chin drop before he clamped it shut again. Well, would you look at that…it looks like I’m going to get a run for my money!
“Joey,” Tracy ran up to him and patted his shoulder. “That was great. I had no idea you were such a star player.”
A hint of a smile touched the corner of Joey’s mouth; the only small sign given that he was pleased. Slowly, he said, “Nothin’ much.”
“We’ll just see about that.” Tracy found himself a little rusty. Joey, however, loosened up by moving around the court freely. He still wouldn’t show any kind of emotion on his face and his words were few. However, at the end of the twenty-minute recess, Tracy felt like something had changed between him and Joey. It was definitely a beginning.
Hearing the bell, they both looked toward the school building. “That was a lot of fun. I can tell you’re going to give me a workout when we play one-on-one. Want to try it tomorrow?”
Joey started walking toward the door. “I don’t care.”
Taking that to mean ‘yes’ Tracy said, “Great. Same time, same place tomorrow.” He roughed up Joey’s hair and walked with him to the building.
****
A week later, the sun was shining and Tracy and Joey were back at it on the courts.
“Hey, Joey, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but look over there on the bench.” Tracy glanced over his shoulder and waved a friendly greeting to the boy sitting there. “Larry’s been watching us. Do you think we should ask him if he’d like to join us?”
Joey seemed to consider it for a moment before he responded. “Guess so.”
Tracy couldn’t help but smile at the subtle changes he had witnessed in Joey over the course of the past few days. “Would you like to ask him?”
“Nope.”
“Well then, I guess that leaves me.” He hollered over to Larry. “Hey, want to join us?”
Larry peered over his shoulder, checking to see if Mr. Atkins was speaking to him. “Uh, no thanks. I’ll just watch,” he mumbled.
Tracy’s eyebrows rose, “Are you sure, Larry? We’d love to have you play.”
“Yep.”
“Suit yourself. If you change your mind, feel free to join us.”
“Okay.”
Tracy turned back to Joey. “Well, it’s just you and me and we have about…” He looked at his watch, “ten minutes left.”
Without wasting anytime, Joey started dribbling the ball.
Tracy and Joey came in from the court with bright smiles. Joey grabbed his lunch box from his cubby and joined the other students waiting by the door. After the class set off down the hall to the cafeteria, Amanda spoke softly to Tracy. “The time you’ve been taking with Joey has made a big difference. I think he’s starting to apply himself to his schoolwork.”
“He is still very quiet, but I’ve seen progress as well.” Tracy agreed. “Today, while we were out on the court I asked Joey if we should invite Larry to join us and he agreed.”
Amanda’s eyes sparkled. “Wow, that’s huge for Joey.”
“Don’t I know it!”
The first stu
dent in their class entered the cafeteria. Amanda and Tracy waited until they all made it into the room before turning to go to the break room.
Amanda bit on her lower lip for a moment. “I know that if you weren’t here, Tracy, I couldn’t have done what you did.” Giving him a bright smile, she said, “Thanks.”