Iris (The Color of Water and Sky Book 1)

by Andrew Gates

  Iris slowly started to realize why she found Dan so fascinating. He was professional at times and immature at others, but never inappropriate. He handled everything with the perfect amount of both. Even now they followed a serious conversation with pointless laughter.

  As the laughter died down, Iris stared into his dark eyes. She always felt safe in the darkness.

  “You know… this is the most we’ve talked since the first day,” she said.

  “Is it?” Dan replied. He paused to think. “I guess so. But I feel like I’ve seen you around more than that.”

  “Yes,” Iris agreed, “but always in groups. Always in a big conversation with a bunch of people.”

  Dan smiled again.

  “I guess so. I didn’t really think about it. Do you dislike groups?”

  “It can be overwhelming, yes.”

  “Well it sounds like you’ve been overwhelmed a lot lately then,” Dan said jokingly.

  Iris chuckled. That was definitely true.

  “First time teaching and the angry mob of parents find you. Not the best start,” Dan continued. “But trust me, that’s not how it usually goes around here. You just came at a rough time, with this new curriculum and all.”

  Iris sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, half expecting to find the sweat she found there yesterday. As she brought her hands back down, she remembered what Dan said on their first day. Hell of a first day. But now it seemed more like hell of a first month.

  “I just hope this field trip will take some of the stress off,” Iris replied.

  The Harrison first year students took a trip to the mining sector each year. They would learn about the mining process, the transportation of rocks, the forging of metal, even the disposal of metal waste. It was a rare treat for anyone not working in that sector to see the mining process. Iris had heard good things about this trip from previous years and hoped the day away from school would allow her to take her mind off history and giver herself a chance to reset. Not to mention, it would get the students a little more interested in the outside world.

  “You’ll enjoy the trip,” Dan added. “That’s coming up in two weeks, right?”

  Iris shrugged. She could not keep up with any of these dates.

  “Maybe. That sounds right,” she replied, unsure.

  “I’ve gone a few times. It’s fascinating. I think the students just love seeing the bay doors open and close. Most of them have never even seen the outside,” he said. “But the metal working is interesting too. That’s probably my favorite part.”

  Iris could tell his words were genuine, not just mindless small talk. Dan struck her as a man who meant what he said. She liked that.

  “It does sound fascinating,” she added, not really knowing what to say.

  Dan chuckled yet again.

  “Who knows, maybe you can use this field trip to your advantage. You know, win the kids over to your side or something,” he suggested.

  Iris considered this for a second but did not really see how that was possible. Nobody disputed how the mining process worked. Even the skeptics accepted the fact that miners left the station for minerals and brought them back.

  “I don’t know,” Iris replied. “I don’t think that would work.”

  Dan shrugged with a smirk on his face.

  “Well,” he said, “it was worth a shot.”

  The image of the skeptic parents came back into her mind. This frustrating memory, she thought. Just thinking about it made her mad.

  “You know, one of the women the other day, one of the mothers, she said I should be ashamed.” Iris did not know why she brought this up just now, but it had been bothering her for some time.

  “People are stupid,” Dan replied.

  “I’m trying to help these kids, Dan. I’m trying,” Iris added. She suddenly wished she had not brought this up. She could tell this line of conversation was only going to make her upset.

  “I know, Iris. I believe you. Like I said, you came at a bad time.”

  Iris could feel herself getting emotional. She did not want to continue, but for some reason, she felt compelled to speak her mind.

  “Before the meeting yesterday, I met with Jorge and I made a goal. When I see the students leaving class, I want them to leave with a desire to learn more. I want them to want to come back. I told him I would win at least half of them over,” she said. “I’m really trying, but these parents, they tell me it’s all trogshit. They tell me I should be ashamed.” Suddenly she felt her eyes watering up. She felt embarrassed. What is Dan going to think?

  “Hey, it’s okay,” Dan said. He stood up out of the chair and put his arm on her shoulder. “It’s hard to be new with all this going on.”

  Iris did not say anything. She simply sat there.

  “I’m sorry,” she eventually said. She never wanted to show signs of weakness like this in front of him.

  “Sorry for what?” Dan wondered.

  Iris pushed his arm away and stood up. She did not know why, but she felt like she had just failed some sort of task. As much as she liked talking to Dan, she did not want to be seen right now.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” she said as she turned and walked away. She said nothing more as she exited the room and walked through the halls.

  Iris bumped past students as she wiped her eyes. Kids darted this way and that, blocking her path as she made her way towards the history classrooms. Suddenly she collided with a small girl so hard she knocked her down. Iris felt her jaw drop as the student fell back first onto the cold floor.

  “Oh I’m so sorry!” she said as she leaned down to help the student up. She pulled the young girl off the metal and noticed it was Margery.

  “Thanks,” she replied. Thankfully she seemed fine. Margery brushed some dirt off of her light green shirt and pulled her backpack up onto her shoulders.

  “Sorry about that, Margery.” Iris felt so embarrassed. First she had gotten emotional in front of Dan, now she had knocked a student down onto the floor. Today was not her day. She hoped her eyes were not still watery.

  “Don’t worry. It’s fine,” she replied. She looked up at her teacher and studied her face. “Are you okay?” she asked.

  So that answers that question. The emotional teacher wiped her eyes one more time with her hands.

  “Yes, don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

  “Iris!” a male voice called out behind her. The teacher turned around to see Dan quickly walking towards her. Only a few moments ago, Iris would have loved to see Dan eagerly walking her way, but after what just happened, she wanted to be far from him.

  “I’m sorry,” she said to Margery. “I have to go.”

  Iris pushed through the students again, heading down the halls. She was not sure where she was going, but she knew she wanted to leave. The grey walls taunted her with each step. If the walls had eyes, they’re all watching me, she thought. As she passed by Jorge’s room, she felt a strange urge to go in. Without a moment’s hesitation, Iris walked towards it and pressed onto the door, once again surprised by how easily it swung open.

  “Iris!” Jorge said as she entered without knocking.

  Jorge was not alone in his office. Tim sat across from him. Both wore full suits, a bit more professional than they normally dressed. Iris had seen them both earlier today but did not pay any attention to their attire until now.

  “Iris are you alright?” asked Tim, standing up.

  I must look visibly distressed, she thought.

  “I’m fine. I just… I don’t really know why I came here,” she answered.

  “Did you need something from me?” Jorge asked.

  Iris did not say anything. She simply shook her head.

  “Iris, you don’t look alright,” Tim added, always concerned for the well-being of others. He was a good natured man, Iris could tell. He may not have been the brightest, but he was certainly a man of good character. “Sit down, sit down. Here, take my seat and tell me what’s going on.”r />
  Iris did as he said. She sat down and paused for a moment.

  “It’s just the stress,” she finally answered after a few more seconds of silence. “It’s just a lot of stress. I don’t know. I thought I could handle it. Things were going fine this morning but then, I don’t know, I guess it just hit me all at once.” She felt herself getting emotional again. She hoped this time she would be able to hold back the tears.

  Tim patted her on the back.

  “This situation with the parents is difficult. We were just discussing it when you came in, actually,” he said.

  “I understand it’s a stressful time, but we’ll get through it. I never should have left you alone with Mr. Obsanjo like that. It was a mistake. That was my fault,” Jorge added. “It wasn’t fair for me to do that.”

  Iris did not say anything. She looked around the room and fiddled around with the bottom of her purple shirt. Why did I come here? Why didn’t I just go back to my classroom?

  The emotional teacher knew she needed to calm down. Her day was not finished and she had made it this far. All she needed to do was find the strength to pull herself together. She took a deep breath and then another. She tried to remember Dan’s smile, hoping it would make her smile too. But the image in her mind did little to calm her mood.

  “Do you think you’ll be okay today?” Tim asked.

  Iris nodded, although she did not know the answer.

  “Yes, I don’t have class for a few hours so I have time,” she replied, reassuring herself.

  “Look, Iris, I don’t want to put any more stress on you than you already have. If it makes you feel better, Jorge and I will be covering this situation with the parents from now on. You don’t have to do a thing. We’ll handle the entire problem. Just go about what you always did,” Tim explained. This news was reassuring but did little to bring down her nerves.

  “I’m sorry about what happened. I really am. I never expected him to do that,” Jorge said again.

  “It’s… it’s fine,” Iris repeated.

  “Is there anything we can do for you?” Tim asked.

  The teacher shook her head. Not unless you can convince everybody that the Descent was real.

  “These people you dealt with, these parents… they’re irrational. There was no way you could win your argument. Don’t feel bad,” Jorge added.

  Iris chuckled, although she did not quite know why. But it seemed to bring a smile to Tim’s face.

  “Thanks guys, I appreciate it,” she replied.

  “They say stupid things,” Tim said, reiterating Jorge’s point.

  That was definitely true. She remembered the mother questioning the existence of horses. What an ignorant fool, Iris thought. If only I could show her a horse. But there were no horses, not anymore. The closest thing to a horse these days was a cow and those were locked away in the agricultural sector for food production. Nobody was allowed near them. Just like the mining sector.

  “The mining sector,” Iris accidentally said aloud in a half whisper.

  “What was that?” Tim asked.

  Iris quickly caught herself, feeling embarrassed again.

  “Oh, nothing, sorry,” she replied facing down like a child found misbehaving.

  “Did you say ‘the mining sector’?” Jorge asked.

  Iris nodded.

  “Yes, the field trip coming up. Is there a problem with the field trip?” Tim wondered.

  Iris did not know much about the trip apart from what she was told. The students seemed to look forward to it, although Iris suspected that they did not know what to expect either. Iris guessed they simply looked forward to something new, something different to break the monotony of school life. She could certainly relate.

  Iris lowered her head and gazed at the bright purple color of her shirt. Purple: the color of lavenders, plums, grapes, jewels. The color was a treasure on the surface, something amazing to behold.

  A treasure from the surface.

  She had an idea, an idea that could solve this whole mess. She could win over the students and disprove the parents all in one swing.

  “Actually, Tim,” she said with confidence, “I have an idea. I got it just now.” She stood up tall and turned to face him, but realized she was now facing away from Jorge. She took a step towards the door and turned into the room so she could now see them both. “Is it possible we could move the field trip?”

  Both men seemed confused.

  “The field trip? Why? When would you want to move it?” Tim asked.

  “No, not when. I want to move the where,” Iris explained.

  “I don’t think you have the authority to do that,” Jorge cut in.

  Iris put her hands up and waited for a moment so she could collect her thoughts.

  “Look, I have an idea. If we do this, it might solve our whole problem with the parents. We’ll be able to win the students over to surface history and if we win the students over, that might shut the parents up,” Iris said.

  “Or make them angrier,” Jorge replied.

  “I’m with Jorge. That might just make them mad,” Tim added.

  “Just hear me out,” she said.

  “Of course, I’ll hear you out, Iris. Just tell me what it is you have in mind,” Tim replied.

  “Move the field trip to the agricultural sector,” she said with confidence. “Listen, I know it’s a short period of time, but if we move things around now, it could work and we could solve our problem with the parents.”

  Although she had barely made her argument, Tim already looked unconvinced. He put his hands into the air and took a step towards her.

  “Iris, even if we could move the trip, what good would that do?” he asked.

  “Cows,” she replied.

  Jorge smiled as she said that. Clearly he understood now. Glad to have him on my side.

  “Cows?” repeated Tim with confusion.

  Jorge remained silent, although the expression on his face showed that he no longer needed any convincing.

  “If we can show the students an animal from the surface, we have our proof. That’s enough to convince them that the surface is real. Right now everything is abstract to them. I can talk all I want about the past. I can talk about deserts, forests, mountains and a big sun, but these are just stories to them. They cannot see what I am talking about. They have not studied the field as much as you or I.”

  She doubted Tim had studied much of surface history, but added that last part in anyway. She studied his face, noticing that his confused expression was slowly transforming into an attentive one.

  “How can they continue to deny what we teach if they can see and hear and touch it?” she continued. “If you give me this chance, let me change the field trip, our problems can be solved. The students will see that proof of the surface is there.”

  “And what of the parents?” Tim asked.

  Jorge adjusted himself, leaned forward and took the liberty of answering his boss’s inquiry.

  “If we convince the students, then that’s half the battle,” Jorge explained. “We can get to the parents through the students.”

  That’s not what you said a few seconds ago, Iris thought. But she kept her mouth shut. She liked having him on her side.

  “Or just make the parents angrier. Remember, these parents don’t want their kids to believe this stuff,” Tim explained.

  “But they will take pictures with their pods,” Iris interjected. “They will take videos! They will talk about it and share stories with their friends. Their belief may be proof enough to sway the parents.”

  Tim turned and faced her, put his arm on her shoulder and took a deep breath.

  “Iris, you mean well but people believe what they want to believe. A man may be blind but if he refuses to believe it, he will tell everyone he can see. I’m sorry, but what you propose is too much,” he said, trying to comfort her.

  “Honestly sir,” she responded, though she was not quite sure why she had addressed him so fo
rmally, “I don’t give a damn about these parents. I took this job to be a teacher and that’s what I’m going to do. I know this is going to get the students learning about the surface. I don’t want a lawsuit, of course. That sucks and it’s a tough situation, but if I’m going to prioritize here, Tim, I’m going to put my students’ interests first.”

  Jorge turned to Tim.

  “I agree,” he said.

  Tim looked around as if there were some invisible fourth person there to back him up. But upon realizing that he was on his own, he lowered his head and nodded.

  “So you’re with her then?” he asked, turning to Jorge.

  “I am.”

  For a moment the only noise was the humming of the station’s power grid, low and brooding. Iris and Jorge froze in silence, waiting for Tim to say something. Eventually he lifted his head up again and a smile reformed on his face.

  “By the Lord Beyond Both Seas, you’re right,” he said. “What was I thinking? The students should always come first. You’re right, Iris.” He paused again. “I was right to hire you.”

  The comment put a smile on her face. He was an easy man to convince. It seemed things were starting to improve. Iris certainly felt much better now.

  “Thanks Tim.”

  He put his hands up in the air as if about to say something more.

  “Now don’t thank me just yet. You have my support and it looks like you have Jorge’s as well, but I can’t promise you anything. We’ll have to talk to the officials working at the agricultural sector and work things out. Not to mention the miners won’t be pleased to know we’re pulling out after they agreed to staff the visit. There will be a lot of difficulty moving this thing around, so I can’t guarantee it will work.”

  “Understood,” she replied. But deep down, she knew it would work. It had to work.

  THE CLANKING SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS echoed through the halls. The white shoes felt heavy on Tracey’s feet. It was funny how aware he was of his own noise when the world around him was nothing but silent. Once again, the boundary between the entertainment and residential district was nearly uninhabited. The noon rush, Tracey thought sarcastically.