The Teacher and Me

We Meet Again

“I’m Sorry Beth! This will be the last time, I promise” Alister said while rummaging in his bag for a stethoscope that we both know isn’t there.

“Its fine we will just go back and get it again!” I replied irritated that it was the 3rd time this week that he has left something on scene after we have left! “Hurry up” I added in a displeased tone to express just how annoyed I am at him. Not only do we have to go back to a scene for a third time this week, I have to go back to THAT scene, the one where my former hot teacher is currently teaching a class to a group of students that undoubtfully are hanging onto every last word, just like I did back then.

It was only 230pm in the afternoon but we had not stopped all day, after the drug overdose we attended a old lady that fell and couldn’t get up, a younger fella tripping out on drugs and thought he was superman and a sick middle aged woman with a pretty bad chest infection that she left untreated because of a lack of money to pay for medication. So driving back to the school was bittersweet as we could be free from getting any more jobs until we got Al’s stethoscope back, and we had to do it now before everyone left after school.

By the time we arrived it was nearly 3pm and kids were already leaving the school ground heading home or to hang out and do drugs on the street. Ugh! As we were driving in I saw drugs being exchanged in an alley, pre-empting that they will become our next job after this. We walked back up to the classroom we went to earlier in the day just as Blake was saying goodbye to his last class for the day. Great! I thought we were too late to slip in and out like I originally planned now I would have to confront Blake again.

“Hey Beth, how can I be of assistance” Blake said with a slight grin on his face, not surprised at all that we had returned out of the blue.

“My stupid partner left a stethoscope here and we have just come to get it back!” I grunted. Im not sure why he was making me on edge and when I get nervous I get snappy. f**k! He probably would remember this fact about me and I don’t want him to have the satisfaction of knowing that still after 10 years he has an effect on me.

“Wow, I see you still have you attitude like you did back then” Winking subtly that only I could see.

“Wait you guys know each other!” Al stated

“Uhhh… yes I guess, Mr Henson was my teacher 10 years ago”. Great just what I wanted Alister to find out that we knew each other, I dreaded the impending million and one questions from Al when we left.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you went to school here when we came earlier, wow what a small world!, its great to meet you, I’m Alister”. He said as he put his hand out to shake Blakes hand. “Blake” He replied returning his hand and exchanging a handshake and the normal pleasantries.

“I saw it after you left, so I put it in my office for safe keeping, hoping you would return” He walked up the hallway to his office and we followed. Walking into his office was like going back in time and I felt myself walking into his office for the first time 10 years ago when it all started.

“Thanks” Al said, as Blake handed him the stethoscope.

“We better get back to it” I said In the hopes for a quick escape. The hope faded quite quickly as I was walking out the door Blake stopped me by putting his hand on my shoulder “Beth wait, do you have a minute!” I stopped and turned around hoping Alister would stop with us but he just kept walking. Knowing him it will be a while before he realises im not behind him because we often walk in silence, we have very few things in common and sometimes its easier to just not talk.

“Not really I should really get back, but it was nice seeing you” I reply

“Just give me a minute please, I can’t believe its been ten years!” I didn’t turn back around and walk away, I wanted to but I was also interested in what he wanted to say!

“So partner as in…. boyfriend?” He asked as if it was any of his business talking about my comment about alister when we first arrived back!.

“No, partner as in work partner, we work in pairs!” I explained.

“Oh ok then” saying with a smile on his face. “So how did you become to be a paramedic, I thought you were going to become a lawyer!”

“As much as I would love to stay and fill you in about the last ten years, its a long story and I really don’t have the time” Pointing at my watch “We are still on the clock!” It not a complete lie, we are on the clock but it really isn’t a long story. Yes I wanted to be a lawyer, but the reason for the jump was simple, when I went to university I got bored with it and didn’t want to do it anymore. When I contemplated what else I could do I was heavily invested in a TV show “Emergency 101”. It’s a show about paramedics and it looked like a cool job so I just went for it. 3 years later I attained my degree and got a job in my home town so I came back, and have loved it ever since. Although the work is definitely nothing like they portray it in TV shows, I still love coming to work everyday and Im glad I made the change.

“Oh ok then, I wouldn’t want to hold you up from savings lives” I smile slightly because yes we save lives, but the great majority of our job is anything but, its not exciting or thrilling.. like I said nothing like the TV shows make them out too be.

“Before you go… a bunch of the science and math teachers do drinks on Friday afternoon to wind down, you should come…. I would love to catch up and I know some of the other teachers would love to see you!” I didn’t say anything for a moment, I had to process what he was asking as if it wasn’t real. Blake Henson not only remembers me but wants to ‘catch up’. I contemplated it for a moment as I really didn’t know what to say. I mean do I want to dredge up the past all over again? Does he? s**t! I’m a totally different person now; not shy, timid or nerdy! Well maybe a bit nerdy still. What if he figures that out and doesn’t like me anymore. Wait he is just inviting me out for drinks with other teachers, he probably doesn’t even want me in that way anymore. For all I know he could be married with kids by now, maybe he is just inviting me to be nice?

“So what do you say?” s**t! I must look like an i***t standing here contemplating all this in my head while he stands there awkwardly staring… waiting for an answer.

“errrggh” I say just as my pager goes off! Great an escape. I look at my pager an unconscious patient in a street near the school! Probably the bloody teenagers doing drugs we saw earlier as we came in. “I have to go sorry… but ill think about it”

“OK great its just here in the staff room on Friday at 430pm, I hope you make it!” He replied. We both look at each other locking a gaze for a short moment before I head out the door to catch up with Al.

The job was around the corner so luckily Al had no time to question me about being a student here. The job was yet another overdose, god this town is turning to s**t!. After the job it was like Ali forgot about the whole high school/Blake situation and we continued on working well past our finish time. The whole time I couldn’t stop thinking about my encounter earlier with Blake and his invitation. Whether or not I would go!.