Page 14 of The Teacher

Wait.

Is she threatening me?

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Let’s just say your job is on the line,” Miss Tweed replies. Oh, she knows how to deliver a sentence to the maximum devastating impact. She’s clearly enjoying bringing me bad news like this, but I do know that if anyone in the school has the knowledge about anyone getting fired, it’s her. And she knows I know that. Fear rises in me as I stare back into her dark eyes. She still hasn’t broken eye contact with me since I’ve stepped into the school hallway, and it’s really starting to creep me out.

“How so?”

“Ever since you came into this school,” Miss Tweed says. “I have noticed a lack of discipline in the English department. I feel as if the students are lacking passion or guidance.” She’s the head Math teacher, but I never knew she despised the English department so much.

“And you’re putting that all down on me?” I ask.

“Yes,” Miss Tweed’s bluntness shocks me. I realize now that she really is out to get me. I cross my arms, and she continues her attack. “You’re young and you’re inexperienced. You can’t run a smooth classroom, your students fight and you can’t even stop them, and worst of all, I think you got this job because of your father.”

That came out quick.

I stammer. “What?”

I can’t believe what she’s just said, what she’s just accused me of.

She’s really brought my dad into this conversation?

Miss Tweed keeps talking, ignoring me. “I think the only reason you got this job is because of how wealthy your family is. Let’s be serious and frank here, your father’s connections are the reason you got here. We all know here that your hiring wasn’t based on your skill or talent as a teacher, but on the possibility that your rich father will donate to the school.”

I don’t even know what to say to this.

“Are you being serious?”

Miss Tweed smiles at me again in her trademark condescending manner. I can’t believe what she’s actually saying to me right now. She’s actually enjoying being such a cold-hearted bitch. “Yeah, and we need donations, as you know, the school is in dire financial straits. Your father can help with that, no?”

I really can’t believe what’s she’s saying. She’s insulting me right here in the school hallway and I’m at a complete loss for words. Yeah, my family is rich, but that’s not why I got hired. I worked my ass off to be here, to be qualified as a teacher, and I’ve strictly forbidden my Dad to be involved in any way with my career from day one. I am gobsmacked at Miss Tweed’s allegations. I can’t even reply to what she’s saying. I feel small, and Miss Tweed seems giant. She’s crushing me like an insect.

She’s got me under her little foot.

“Speaking of money and your connections,” Miss Tweed continues with her infuriatingly fake sing-song voice. “You better be there at the fundraiser tonight. We need you to schmooze with the rich beneficiaries of the school community, you know how to talk to them. We need you at the fundraiser to do the one job you can do and raise the right money for the school. And being as I am the school’s bookkeeper, and the teacher here with the best average results, I must warn you in an official capacity that you need to be on your best behavior tonight. Unlike the behavior of your students we’ve seen today.”

“What?”

“Just remember, I’ve got my eye on you, Miss Finn. I’m always watching you.”

I’m still completely at a loss for words. I can’t believe her. I can’t believe she’s insulting me like this. She really does hate me. She really does think I’m a pathetic teacher. Do all the other staff think the same? Have I been living under the delusion that I was a good teacher all this time? Does everyone at the school despise me the way Miss Tweed does? My head’s racing.

Do they all think I’ve got this job because of who my dad is?

“Thank you, Sandy,” she says with that high-pitched tone of hers before she spins around and disappears out the door.

I’m left in the hallway outside the nurse’s station, shaking.

It’s like Miss Tweed has torn me in shreds. I don’t know what to do with myself.

I run to the nearest bathroom, thank God there’s nobody in there, and I break down. I lean over the bathroom sink as tears gush out. I hate crying. I really do. I try to avoid it. But, right now, I can’t. The words that Miss Tweed said to me sting like bullets.

I didn’t get this teaching job because of my Dad’s money or connections. I fought like hell to get here. This was my achievement. But, outside in that hallway, Miss Tweed’s gone and thrown it back in my face.

I feel so alone.

So alone in this school. I’ve tried my hardest to blend in here. To really get integrated with the students and the other teachers, but Miss Tweed’s come along to kick me to the curb. I really thought I was a part of this school, but that teacher has thrown my dreams away. All I wanted to do was make friends here and be the best teacher I can be, but Miss Tweed has stamped all over that.