By Dave Rees
“I meant paint something in the classroom, young lady, not my personal stuff.” Useless teenage idiot, he thought, dismissing Jessica from his art class.
“Everyone’s creative,” he lied every lesson, every term, stifling his own silent screams, ignoring the ticking clock and his changing reflection. Hell was a fifteen-year ‘stopgap’ after art college.
Jessica was proud. Last term, she’d secretly invented the ‘Cup Jacket Papers’ game: a trace of glittered lip gloss on the mug rim; one hair on the jacket (mid-shoulders); tiny dab of perfume on the papers. Two rules: 1. Don’t let him notice. 2. He must be married.
This is both sad and amusing. A clever combination.
Hello Dave,
Well done; a slice of life in a flash.
Both characters have made poor decisions; too difficult, probably, for the older teacher to extricate himself/herself from current situation, but maybe Jessica, even though young, might see error of her ways, or unfortunately, simply dig a hole from which she’ll be unable to climb out of.
Aha! Good one!
Excellent. A reminder that respect has to flow both ways. Terrifying to consider how the game might play out for some unsuspecting teacher.
Very clever – both Jessica AND you, Dave!
Intriguing and more complex than one would imagine in the word count! We’ll done.
Yikes! That guy should not be teaching, and Jessica, well…. Good story, had me going.
Clever girl. Sums up the title perfectly 🙂
Scarey!