The Last Day
U p early the next morning, Grace looked forward to the day with optimism. It was the last day of school. She had an Uber scheduled to take her there. After today, she just had to clean up her classroom and pack for Michigan.
On her way into school, Grace ran into Melanie Russo.
The principal smiled cheerily. “Have you thought any more about the National Board certification?”
That was almost the only thing that hadn’t changed for Grace over the past few days. “Yes,” Grace said. “I’m planning to prepare for it this summer. Then I’ll get my things together over the school year to submit in the spring.”
“Excellent. I’m looking forward to giving you a nameplate with NBCT on it.” Melanie nodded at Grace and walked toward the principal’s office, her high heels clicking on the floor.
Maybe that could be Grace someday—a school principal, walking around confidently, advising other teachers, making a big difference in the world. She could see it now. Only, she probably wouldn’t be wearing high heels. How did Melanie make it through eight hours with those shoes? Grace whisked herself and her flat sandals into her classroom.
§
Grace was eating a tuna sandwich, an applesauce cup, and a granola bar for lunch when Lucas walked into the break room. Oh, no. She still hadn’t gotten back to him about that second date. Now she’d have to tell him about going to Michigan. This was awkward.
Lucas plunked himself down next to her. “I haven’t seen you all week! I started worrying you were avoiding me.” He winked. “How are you?”
Grace mustered up a smile. “I’m hanging in there. Only a few more hours, and we’re done.”
“Right? I’m ready for vacation,” Lucas said. “You’re going to work for Shipt and get ready for your National Board certification, aren’t you? Are you doing anything else?”
Grace fiddled with her sandwich. Time to try to explain. “Actually, I’m not working for Shipt anymore,” she said. “I had a change of plans.”
“Ah. So what are you doing now?” Lucas leaned forward.
“Well, it’s a long story,” Grace said. She filled him in on Dad’s broken foot and her stolen catalytic converter.
“Wow.” Lucas ran a hand through his hair. “That’s tough, not having a car for two months. But isn’t there something else you could do, besides flying all the way out to Michigan? I mean, it’s generous of you to help your parents. I respect that. But isn’t there somebody that lives closer who could help? Maybe one of your siblings?”
Did he think nobody in her family would have thought of that already? Grace shook her head. “My sister’s married with three kids—she’s swamped. And my brother has an internship in Florida.”
“Oh.” Lucas’s brow furrowed. “How long will you be gone?”
“Until the middle of July. My dad should have his cast off by then, and I can fly back and get ready for school. Maybe my car will be fixed by then, too.”
“The middle of July.” Lucas shook his head, sitting back against his chair. “You’re a very devoted daughter. I admire that kind of self-sacrifice in a woman.”
“Well, my parents are pretty great. And they didn’t ask me to come. I wanted to come and help.” It must be time for class. Grace took a large bite of sandwich and started gathering up her things.
“I can take that.” Lucas picked up her napkin. “Got any more trash?” He reached for Grace’s granola bar wrapper.
Grace let him take it. “Thanks.”
It was unusual, having lunch with a coworker. She usually spent her lunch break grading papers.
Lucas wadded up the trash and threw it halfway across the room, into the trash can. “I call that a perfect half-court shot.” He leaned toward Grace, his face serious. “Well, since you’re going to be gone for most of the summer, you and I should do something fun before you leave. How about Saturday night? We could do dinner and a movie.”
She had told herself she would probably say yes to that second date, but there was no way Saturday would work. Grace swallowed her last bite of sandwich, hard.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’ve got a million things to do before I go. There’s no way I could do dinner and a movie, or even just dinner.”
“What if we changed it to tonight or Sunday?”
Grace shook her head. “It wouldn’t work. I’m sorry.”
Lucas sighed. “In that case, I guess we’ll have to see each other when you get back.”
“I guess we will,” Grace said. “Well, have a great summer, Lucas.” She smiled at him, turning to go.
“What, no hug?” Lucas asked.
Awkward. “Oh—yeah, sure.” Grace gave him a one-armed hug. “Have a good summer, Lucas.”
“Good luck in Michigan,” he said. “Don’t wear yourself out.”
Grace laughed. “Thanks. I’ll be fine. It’ll be good.”
She went off to her classroom, conflicting emotions swirling in her brain. It was unfortunate that she had to leave, just as she had begun to get to know Lucas. He was clearly disappointed about it. He must really be interested in her. Now anything that might be going on between them would be left in limbo until Grace came back. At the same time, maybe a few weeks away would give Grace more clarity about her feelings.
§
In the hallway after lunch, some of the teachers stood talking about upcoming summer activities. It sounded like they were planning to hang out together. Nobody seemed to notice Grace as she went by. Well, she didn’t have time to talk in the hall anyway. After all, she wanted her last day’s classes to be good.
It took longer than Grace had expected to get out of school after the last class, because a number of her students hung around to say goodbye. Several, including Nathan Gorecki, proclaimed her their favorite teacher.
“Miss Murray, I loved being in your class,” Olivia Moreno, who had waited until last to leave, told Grace. She handed her a wrapped package. “I’m gonna miss you next year.”
“I’ll miss you too, Olivia. Thank you.”
These kids had been Grace’s students for two years now, and it was strange to think that in the fall they would all be in someone else’s class. But that was the life of a teacher. You had just a little time to help these kids, to share your love of learning with them, and then they would move on and you’d have new students to help. A good teacher could have an impact on so many people.
Grace was still holding the wrapped package. “Should I open it now?”
Olivia smiled, showing braces on her teeth. “Sure.”
Grace unwrapped the tissue paper from what turned out to be a coffee mug. All over the mug, in sixth grade handwriting, were book titles, diagrammed sentences, and parts of speech.
“Oh, I love it! Thank you so much.”
“The ink won’t wash off,” Olivia said. “I baked it in the oven after I wrote on it. I know you like coffee, so I thought you might like it. The books are all ones we did in class.”
“It’s perfect.” Grace came around her desk and gave the girl a hug. “Have a wonderful time with your family at Yosemite.”
It was rewarding, teaching students like Olivia. Grace couldn’t think of anything she’d rather do for a living.