The English Teacher

Chapter 9. Mall-Time.

Chapter 9.

"Ah, that was delicious, I can't remember the last time I had a raspberry gelato that tasted so good, thanks." Jake said as George smiled once they had gotten inside of his car as well as buckling their seatbelts.

"So, what else do you and your friends do on weekends anyway?" The adult male asked the minute they pulled out of the parking lot. The teen soon replied about the Mall how they would usually just like to window shop or hang around the stores for a bit to see what was actually new; or in Mel's case, her favorite cosmetic shop. Raising an eyebrow to show a look of confusion which also mirrored the boy's expression too.

"Really? You've never been to a mall before?" George's face turned a light shade of pink while keeping his eyes firmly on the road ahead shaking his head slowly and clearing his throat.

"To tell you the truth, I've only been living here for three months now so I'm getting used to finding new places whenever I get the chance to go out." Jacob silently gasped as he felt like beating himself repeatedly. How could he have not known that his Teacher has been getting acquainted in living in the states in as little as a few months? Had he had a clear idea, he would've gotten him a Welcome present the minute he had first started his teaching job. He really wanted to make it up to him to show him how much he had appreciated him so far; which soon gave him an idea.

"Well, I can show you where the Mall is, I know these streets like the back of my own hands." He gave him a thumbs up and a big grin in return as the red head only nodded and smiled once more as the red light soon started to turn green.

By the time they had reached their destination, the lot was already packed full with different size vehicles of each color. Luckily, someone was just about to leave leaving them to get the available spot just in time. "You're going to love coming here the minute you step inside; you can find almost anything in there." Jake replied.

"Oh really huh? how can you be so sure about that?" Mr. Calloway gave a small smirk leaving Jake to do the same along with him.

"Trust me, I've been coming here since I was 12 so I know the place inside and out." Letting out a wink, as well as receiving a chuckle from the elder, the two soon went in through the double glass doors as George stood with his mouth agape and his green eyes filled with wonder as he stared left and right at all the stores that stood proudly right before him with many patrons coming and going as they pleased. Children were seen running and laughing pointing at many various things their fingers rested towards while their parents told them to behave; teenagers were walking in a group of friends or just by themselves with shopping bags in hand as they were heading towards the food court to get something to eat. Even senior citizens were sitting on the benches just enjoying each-other's company.

"Come on, the fun awaits." Jake said taking his English Teacher by the hand as he could feel a jolt of electricity run through. Taking his hand away quickly while blushing in the process which also gave the Man a confused look, he only responded with a follow me reply leaving the older male to nod as they went through some shops for him to get better used to. The Gap, Hot Topic, and of course GameStop (to show him how to play some video games that is), Jake was a great Tour guide to the Man who just couldn't get enough of the excitement; in the teen male's case, he looked like an overgrown child in an adult body that it was kinda cute...WAIT! Cute!? where did that come from? He thought as he shook that thought out of his head as they soon found their way towards the food court to get lunch.

"I suppose this is your favorite resting place isn't it?" Jake shrugged yet grinned slyly as they waited in line to get some pizza.

"Let's just say that this is our second hang out spot within this large hang out spot. After all, you're only a teenager once in a lifetime if you know what I mean."

"Believe me, I do." The two both chuckled as they finally got what they wanted as Jacob paid for their meal soon finding a place to sit. "This pizza is absolutely very good, I could never imagine having pineapples on a pepperoni savory pie like this."

"Of course, you get sweet and savory at the same time especially when the hot juice pops in your mouth." Jake explained while sipping his Mountain Dew soda.

"I suppose this is your favorite if I do stand correct it?" Jake soon shook his head.

"It wasn't at first, but Alex was the one who got me into eating it for the first time when I had met him when we were in Elementary school; I had just just moved up into the 3rd grade while he was in the 4th. One afternoon at lunch, it was pizza Thursday that day, he had told me about how pineapples can go on just about anything. I was a bit skeptical at first, but after taking that first bite, I instantly fell in love with it from that point on."

George nodded looking intrigued. "I see, he does sound like a great friend towards you." He smiled as Jake did the same.

"Yeah, he's cool alright, besides Mel, he's like a big brother towards me and gives me helpful advice on what I need to do Even though he tends to go a little overboard at times, but that's just his way of wanting to help I guess."

Pretty soon, it became silent between them while hearing noises of crying kids, the cash register, and other teens talking amongst themselves as well. Jake was starting to get a little nervous; he needed to come up with a different topic before something would get out of hand, and the Man across from him would question him about what the problem was. "So, uh...Mr. Calloway, you said that you've been living here for 3 months now; if you don't mind me asking, where did you move here from anyway?"

"Well, I was originally born in Winsconsin, but me and my family had moved to Arizona when I had gotten into my teenaged years. During our vacations in the Summertime, we would take tours of the many natural wonders that it had to offer especially the Grand Canyon."

"The Grand Canyon? wow, we've never been there. We usually take trips to Washington State, or now and again to Yosemite where we stay at the Cedar Lodge. It's amazing there where you can go hiking, fishing, even swimming down by the lakes. You should go there sometime whenever you get the chance while you're on vacation."

"I most definitely will, thank you for the suggestion. So, how is your little brother Harry?"

"He's doing okay, he's with Mel and her little sister Didi at the Park for today. She is also like a big sister towards him that loves taking him to fun places; she has always had my back from the first day we met; she's more outspoken than I am so she's not afraid to speak her mind at times especially when it comes onto her family or mine; she took the role very seriously when Harry was born to the point she would always come by after school just to see how we were doing and she is still like that to this day. How about you? do you have any siblings of your own?"

"I'm the third of five children, two older brothers and two younger sisters." Jake blinked twice to make sure that he heard right which gave George a chance to chuckle. "I know, big family huh? I guess you could say that my parents got a little busy if you know what I mean by that." He sent a wink causing the teen boy to blush as he shook his head vigorously trying hard not to think about it as well as letting him know that he heard enough.

And then, the next question came. "Well, since you said that you were born in Winsconsin, what's with the funny accent?" Realizing what just came out of his mouth, he soon bit his bottom lip and blushed so hard, it looked like he was coming down with a fever; but instead of having an offensive expression, he was met with a smile.

"It's alright, no need to be ashamed or embarrassed, I get asked that same question at times too. My parents were actually born in parts of Europe; my father was born in Dublin Ireland, while my mother originally came from Germany. When I was a lot younger, they would teach us their language in order for us to know that we were also part European. At times when they didn't want for us to know about their conversations, they would speak in either Gaelic or German."

"Wow, I had no idea, but why be an English Teacher when you could've taught anybody different languages? That would've been so cool."

"Since I was 7, I have always wanted to be an English Teacher since English has always been my favorite subject in school. One time when I was in the 1st grade, as well as having Career Day at school, our Teacher had told us to dress up of who we wanted to be when we would grow up and of course you guessed it, a Teacher with a tie to even look the part."

Jake chuckled. "You must have looked real cute." He blushed looking the other way. "Cute!? What the hell was I thinking!? brain shut up!"

"Oh I was indeed, my mother was the one that had dressed me up that day, but of course, she eventually wanted to take a picture at the end of it all." They both laughed as their conversations took on from their biographies to any type of miscellaneous topics that they could think of. Finally, they had now finished lunch as they dumped their garbage in a nearby waste basket and headed out.

"That was delicious, I have never had pizza tastes that edible before."

"Well, now you just had your first experience, trust me, there will be more surprises coming up for you real soon."

The next thing they knew was that a couple of teenaged girls ran passed them as Jake asked them what was going on only for one of them to reply to explain that there was a big Jamboree at the Park happening right now and they wanted to be the first ones there before anyone had a clue about it. "What do you say? are you in?"

"I would be insulted if I wasn't." He winked. And together, they were now on their way to the Park.