Lessons

“Hey, where are you going?” The girl tugged the man’s coat.

Rick sighed as he knelt on his knee and faced the girl.

“I told you already, didn’t I?” Rick smiled softly and began to gently stroke her hair.

Maru bit her lip as not to cry.

“Hey, why are you crying?” Rick looked alarmed.

Maru puffed her cheeks.

“I’m not crying!” She pouted.

Rick chuckled.

“I promise I’ll be back soon!” He stood up and gave the girl a quick head pat.

“Promise, promise?” The girl turned to him as he began descending the stairs.

“Promise, promise!” He shouted with a wave goodbye.

As she heard the door close, the girl let out a whimper.

This was the first time the two of them would be separated since they met.

*

“Morning, shrimp!”

A tall man opened the door to the apartment. Maru turned her head to look at the man.

“Chris...?” Maru questioned, looking up.

“What’s with the concern in your voice, kiddo? He chuckled.

“Of course, it’s me!” The man replied teasingly.

Maru let out a sigh as the man sat down at the kitchenette.

*

“Ah, here’s your ID, Mr. Summers.” The woman smiled, handing Rick his new school ID.

“Thanks a lot.” He smiled as he began walking down the halls of Wildwood Elementary.

Classes were not in session yet; only a few teachers were at the school so far due to early morning meetings.

“Oh, you must be our new science teacher?” Rick turned his head around quickly.

“Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” A woman walked out towards the entryway of her classroom.

Rick turned to the woman.

“U-uh yeah, that’s me!” He laughed nervously.

This woman was gorgeous! Rick couldn’t help but stammer like a mess.

The woman extended her hand.

“Ms. Hoffman.” She smiled.

Rick extended his shaky hand.

“Summers, uh, sorry, I mean Rick Summers!” He smiled.

The woman examined him for a moment.

“You look awfully familiar...” She frowned.

Rick was too busy looking down.

“Uh, you can let go now, by the way.” She smiled.

“O-oh, right!” Rick quickly put his hand to his side.

“What do you teach?” He questioned.

“English.” Ms. Hoffman smiled.

“Ah, cool!” He looked around the hallway.

“You-” Before he could finish, a bell began to ring.

“That’s the bell for the kid’s busses; I’m afraid I have to go get prepared for today.” Ms. Hoffman laughed.

“See you later, Rick.” She smiled as she closed the door.

“A-Ah, see you!” Rick blushed as he turned away.

Damnit, Summers, pull yourself together! He thought as he was walking down the hallway to his classroom.

He then paused. Is somebody there...? Rick turned to a beam where a girl poked her head out but quickly hid again.

Rick walked around the beam to see who it was. The girl was too old to be an elementary student but too young to be a teacher.

“Yo.” Rick placed his hand on the beam, cornering the girl.

“E-eh!?” The girl blushed a deep red.

“I-it’s not what you think!” She stammered wildly.

“You know, kids will be coming in soon; what will they think if they see you hiding and gawking at a teacher?” He asked, letting out a sigh.

The girl looked down quickly.

“It’s just,” the girl began.

“I-I’m not good at introducing myself, especially not to cu- g-guys!” She stammered wildly.

Rick took his hand off the beam and sighed.

“P-plus, weren’t you just blushing...?” The girl quickly went pale, realizing what she had just said.

Rick turned red.

“H-huh!?” He turned to her quickly.

"H-how’d you-”

The girl bowed her head.

“I am so sorry!” She kept her head bowed in what seemed like a shame.

“My name is Tammy, and I’ll be your assistant for this week!” She slowly raised her head and gave a nervous smile.

Rick scratched his head and sighed.

“Alright, Tammy.” He smiled.

“Let’s not pull this crap in the classroom, ok?”

Tammy nodded her head hard.

“Oi, you’ll get a headache!” He put his hand on her shoulder.

Tammy suddenly stopped.

“T-this way!” Tammy pointed to the classroom door.

“That’s where w- y-you’ll be teaching!” She smiled.

Rick let out a sigh and smiled.

“Let’s get going then.” He said as they began walking towards the room.