The Separation

by Thomas Duffy

  “Not to you but I'd love to learn from you.”

  “I'll give you the advice after the class. Let me just sit in and watch. I'll be a training teacher if the class asks. I'll just be sitting in to learn from you.”

  “Sounds good. I'll meet you in front of the school before my third period and bring you up with me. That way no asks questions.”

  “Perfect. Does Wednesday work?”

  “Great. My students are usually in full learning mode that day.”

  “See you then.”

  When Wednesday arrived, Mr. Mathis brought Finn up to his classroom upon his arrival. As Finn watched the lesson Mathis was presenting to the class, he was quite impressed by the very unique way Mathis managed his classroom activities. He could see how a student could become engaged in the lesson being taught but could also understand why one of the students in the class was falling asleep. The lesson was being taught accurately but without vigor. Then, when Mr. Mathis called on Leonardo who was raising his hand to answer a question, Finn knew, without a doubt, that it was his son. Leonardo looked like early pictures that Finn had seen of him and had Angela's eyes.

  Leonardo walked up to the blackboard and showed all the work regarding the equation he solved and impressed Finn who was feeling uneasy. Seeing his son felt nerve wracking to him and he knew he had no right being there in the school on a day he had used as a sick one to take off from work. After watching Leonardo's presentation of solving the mathematical problem at hand, Finn excused himself from the classroom.

  “It has been a pleasure, Mr. Mathis. I'll call you soon,” Finn said as he exited the classroom.

  Robert, one of Leonardo's classmates, asked Mathis, “Who was that man?”

  “He is a student teacher. He was just watching me teach today for advice.”

  Mr. Mathis called Finn up later that evening. He wanted to know what he thought of the lesson that was presented that day in class. Finn responded by saying he wasn't feeling well and would call him back tomorrow evening. Finn had gotten to see his son and wondered how it was possible. Could the school have had no idea that Finn was Leonardo's dad? There must have been some knowledge to the school that Leonardo was being taught in a school a mere half hour away from where Finn taught. It was all seemingly too good to be true. Finn had gotten to see his son. Finn was very proud of Leonardo's abilities that were presented in class that day through his problem solving skills.

  Finn went on to ignore Mr. Mathis' phone calls the next few days. Instead, Finn used his free time to think about ways he could see Leonardo. He knew that there was no possibility of it happening on a regular basis. It may have been a one-time situation but Finn was determined to learn more about his son even if it meant communicating with Mathis regularly.

  Finn began speaking to a science teacher named Elliott Ross in the cafeteria one Monday afternoon at lunch. In the teacher's lounge, it was just the two of them seated at one table while the other three teachers present were seated at a second table in the room.

  “Mr. Ross, what do you think of the fact that what you teach is so open to interpretation?”

  “What do you mean, Mr. Parker?”

  “I just mean what I teach is fact while what you teach about life is open to debate.”

  “How so? I teach chemistry.”

  “I thought you taught Earth Science.”

  “That was last year. They nixed Earth Science from the curriculum this semester.”

  “Why?”

  “It will be back. It was just last year the kids were asking a lot of questions.”

  “Why do you think that is?

  “I don't know. I based my final exam on rocks. That way there were no disgruntled kids.”

  “Kids can get disgruntled I suppose when it comes to the facts about the planet they live on, don't you think?”

  “I suppose. Where are you going with this, Mr. Parker?”

  “Nowhere. I was just making conversation. I have to go now.” Finn excused himself and went back to his classroom to grade papers before his next lesson. He had become consumed by the fact that he had seen his son. As he went through the process of grading his students' work, he became increasingly more concerned with what he had given up to become a teacher.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  As the days passed, Finn stopped thinking his purpose was to shape young minds of the future. Instead, he started to think of what it would be like to see his son again. While working, he began ignoring his colleagues. It felt as if the whole world was against him. Each day when he got home from his job, he would sit on his sofa while thinking to himself. He thought of ways to see his son again. He didn't want to get Mr. Mathis involved again this time. He wanted to try to talk to Leonardo after his class with Mathis was over. Finn had to come up with a topic of conversation. In a matter of days, Finn had a plan to see Leonardo again. He wasn't sure it would work but was ready to attempt acting it out.

  Finn took another sick day a few weeks later. He perfectly timed the ending of Leonardo's class with Mr. Mathis. A few minutes before the class ended, Finn went in to Leonardo's school. He told the security guard he was meeting Mr. Mathis for lunch. When he reached the classroom, the students were about to leave. As Leonardo came out, Finn greeted him.

  “Hello. Leonardo Parker?”

  “Yes.”

  “My name is Finn. I am a teacher of mathematics. I have heard about your progress from Mr. Mathis who has nothing but the best words to say about your accomplishments.”

  “Thank you. I saw you sitting in on our class the other day. I'm heading to lunch. What do you need?”

  “Well, I wanted to wish you the best of luck and see a tremendous future ahead of you.”

  “I appreciate it, sir. I'll tell Mr. Mathis I spoke to you.”

  “You don't have to tell him anything. I was just impressed and wanted to take the time to personally congratulate you on your accomplishments.”

  “Thanks, sir,” Leonardo said as he met up with one of his friends and headed away from Finn and over to the cafeteria.

  Finn was happy for the moment and was about to leave the school. He figured it was worth a day off to see his son another time. However, he walked back towards Leonardo who was on line in the cafeteria to get lunch.

  “Leonardo, I wanted to let you know something. I think you should be aware of.”

  “What's that, sir?”

  All of a sudden, they heard commotion as the security guard pointed to Finn. Leonardo's school principal started to walk over to Finn quite quickly.

  “Come with me, sir, please. You don't belong here.”

  “I am here to talk to this young gentleman.”

  “And, who the hell are you? You don't even teach here.”

  Finn looked at Leonardo and then told the principal he needed to speak to him in private as to why he was communicating with Leonardo. Then, the principal told Leonardo to get his lunch and “move on.” Finn looked at Leonardo who glanced back at him before the security guard grabbed Finn's arm and pulled him away from the scene.

  In the principal's office, there were two policemen. Finn was brought into the office and sat down in a chair. One of the cops began to question Finn.

  “Why are you here?”

  “It's a long story.”

  “We have all day.”

  “I can't speak about it. I just wanted to congratulate the boy on his accomplishments. That's all. I heard from Mr. Mathis he was an exceptional student and as a master of my field, I wanted to see who the next great student is going to be.”

  All of a sudden, a man walked into the office wearing a dark black suit and similarly colored tie. He introduced himself to Finn.

  “My name is Mr. Franklin. I'm here to address your concerns, Finn.”

  “Who are you, exactly, Mr. Franklin?”

  “That's a question for which you will learn the answer soon enough.”

  “Why did they call you?”

  “I'm taking you in.”r />
  “Taking me where?”

  “Somewhere far away from here.”

  “Why?”

  “You're irrational, Finn Parker.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It's not normal to take interest in other teacher's students.”

  “I took interest in one student.”

  “One student whose last name happens to be the same as yours?”

  “Oh, shit.”

  “What did you think, Finn? That your communication with Leonardo would go unnoticed?”

  “OK. I'll admit it. I was wrong. I have done nothing illegal, have I?”

  “Illegal? You better come with us, sir.”

  Franklin had two officers escort Finn outside to a black, shiny car which Franklin and his partner, Mr. Douglas, had driven there. Finn was nervous beyond a reasonable doubt. As he was seated in the backseat of the car, Finn started to feel sorry for what he did.

  “I'm sorry, Mr. Franklin. I didn't mean any harm by what I had done.”

  “Apologies can't erase the attempt you made to contact your boy.”

  “Drive,” Mr. Douglas told Franklin as the car containing Finn, Douglas and Franklin left the school premises.

  “We've heard you've been nothing but trouble. Uncooperative is your middle name it seems,” Franklin told Finn.

  “I wouldn't say that. I've been struggling with myself to find some level of happiness in my life.”

  “What was the struggle? You knew the rules, did you not? I am sorry for your misunderstanding that the rules didn't apply to you,” Mr. Franklin said.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “We're taking you away from a career you clearly can't handle.”

  “I think I can handle it more than a lot of other so-called teachers whose students don't perform half as well as mine.”

  “Shut up for now. You'll see what's in store for you soon enough,” Mr. Douglas said.

  “What do you mean? What's in store for me?”

  “Poor choice of words, Douglas,” Franklin stated.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “We're taking you somewhere where you can be at peace.”

  “That doesn't sound good.”

  “It's your destiny to be away from the children.”

  “Excuse me, Mr. Douglas. My test scores were some of the highest in the country.”

  “You're right. They were probably among the highest,” Mr. Franklin stated.

  “Let's start over again. I won't make contact with Leonardo. I promise.”

  “You've already opened up a can of worms by contacting him.”

  “What do you mean, Mr. Franklin?”

  “Well, if you ever wanted to see him again, you just destroyed that possibility by making contact with him.”

  “Come on. He's my son. Give me a break.”

  “Society isn't equipped to give you a break, sir,” said Mr. Douglas.

  “Why don't you relax? Close your eyes, take a deep breath. You have time,” stated Mr. Franklin.

  “What do you mean? I have time? Of course, I have time. Why wouldn't I have time?”

  Mr. Franklin continued, “You're being irrational. I think you should be aware of all that you have done. Right now, you are in denial. But, don't worry, when we get where we're going, everything will be put into perspective. Don't you worry about that.”

  Finn stopped talking and asking questions. He hoped that what was occurring was a dream. A very confusing one. He closed his eyes as the two men in the car turned on the vehicle's advanced stereo surround system which was playing classical music by Bach, one of Finn's favorite composers. As Finn listened to the music, his emotions were heightened and he believed no matter what was occurring, he would undoubtedly overcome it.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  After what felt like an hour drive, Mr. Franklin opened the back of the vehicle so Finn could get out of it. Finn stepped out and asked the two gentleman a question.

  “If I've done something so horrible, why aren't you handcuffing me or something?”

  “This is reality, sir. We know you wouldn't dare run away from us or attempt to hurt one of us. It's not in your nature.”

  “Wow. I'm really not looked at in a positive light at all by you two.”

  “Excuse me, sir. We make no judgments. We just do our jobs and what we've been told to do,” Mr. Douglas explained.

  As the two gentleman brought Finn through the hallway of the first floor of what seemed to be an abandoned building, they looked at Finn with intensity and what Finn felt was a sense of hatred. Finn didn't feel he did anything wrong although he had some idea he was playing with the rules inappropriately when he went to go visit his son. When Mr. Franklin stopped them from walking any further, he turned to the left and opened a door. He escorted Finn inside a darkened room. He closed the door and locked Finn inside of the room. Mr. Franklin and Mr. Douglas walked away.

  Finn could barely see in the dark. He felt around the room and touched what seemed to be a chair. He sat in it by feeling his way into the seat when the lights came on and loud music started playing. It was Enya music although he had never known of that particular artist. It was music he had never heard before. What sounded to him like spiritual music eventually soothed him and helped him believe something was going on that was not as dire as he had originally anticipated.

  Finn quickly grew hungry. It took about two hours before the music stopped playing. When the door finally opened, a middle aged woman came in with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for him to eat and a bottled water for him to drink. Finn thanked her as she walked away and locked the door behind her. In a matter of moments, the same woman came back and had a pill in a cup for him.

  “Don't forget to take your sexual suppression medication, Finn,” she said.

  “How do you know my name?”

  “Just take it,” she informed him as she walked back out of the room.

  Finn did what she told him to do and took the pill with the water she had given him. About two hours later, Finn found himself sitting down and rocking back and forth while seated on the chair. Then, the door opened again. That same woman came back and asked him to go with her to “group.” Finn didn't know what that meant but followed her down the hall to another room where he saw six people of varying ages seated inside around a large table.

  Finn noticed one of the two women present was African-American with gray hair and she was most likely over fifty years of age. She reminded him of Michael Jackson through her mannerisms as she welcomed him to the group.

  “What kind of group is this?”

  “Your name is Finn, we've been told,” stated the aforementioned woman who introduced herself to him as “Alexis.”

  “Hi, Alexis. Who are you people?”

  “We're just like you.”

  “What do you mean, just like me?”

  “We've been bad.”

  “How long have you been here?”

  We've all been here less than six months. Our time is almost up and we're enjoying the groups discussing our fates.”

  “What are you guys' fates, if you don't mind me asking?”

  “I'm not a guy. I'm a woman. Each one of our fates is the same. We've all overstepped our boundaries and asked questions we dare not ask.”

  “I didn't ask anyone any questions.”

  “Finn, but you did intrude on the separation laws as everyone in this room has done as well.”

  “I didn't intrude on the laws.”

  “You're in denial,” Alexis informed him.

  “I'm innocent.”

  Everyone in the group started laughing at him when he had said he was innocent and an older, bald man started laughing uncontrollably. He was snorting as he said, “We're all innocent, Finn.”

  “Phase one is group,” Alexis told Finn.

  “Phase one?”

  “The doctor will be here in a few minutes and she'll probably want you to introduce yourself to everyone here
.”

  “I don't want to be here.”

  That same man who snorted moments ago began snorting again as he laughed hysterically aloud. Shortly thereafter, a tall, blonde woman who Finn found to be quite beautiful walked in. She welcomed Finn to the group and asked him to take a seat at the table.

  “My name is Dr. Pratt, Finn. Welcome to the group. Everyone please welcome Finn to the group.”

  “Hello, Finn,” everybody in the room said.

  “Finn, you're in the right place. We want to help you so you can cope with what's going to happen to you.”

  Finn started to become very nervous. He had frightened beyond belief. Alexis, who was seated beside him, put her hand on his shoulder and said to him, “You're among friends.”

  Dr. Pratt asked, “Finn, do you know why you're here?”

  “Because I went to see my son before I was supposed to.”

  “Very good. You're here because of family. How many other people here are here because of family?”

  As three other people in the room raised their hand, Finn felt great trepidation and started to find himself trembling. He was noticeably very frightened.

  When the group started to listen to Alexis speak, Finn put his hands over his ears. He didn't want to hear what she was saying but Dr. Pratt informed Finn that he needed to listen to her story. Finn began to try to understand Alexis' story by hearing what she was telling the group.

  “I had to see my fourteen-year-old daughter. I discovered I was sick and found out that I have a short time to live. I used some connections I had to send her a message at her school. The message, of course, was intercepted and, now, I find myself here waiting to confront my fate sooner than was originally anticipated.”

  Dr. Pratt responded, “What feelings go through your mind, Alexis, as you are now aware that your daughter will never see you even in pictures or even know that you are her mother?”

  “Regret. Heartbreak. Sadness. These are what I feel the most. My daughter was inside of me for nine months. I carried her but now she'll never know me. I hate myself for trying to try to outwit fate.”

  “I don't know if it's outwitting fate as much as not realizing your limitations in today's society.”

  “Dr. Pratt, if I may interrupt?” Finn asked politely while she was speaking to the group.