Chapter 4 #2
“So why would they consider Lester?” Forrest asked.
“He’s been with the firm for ten years longer than me, and he’s one of those mover-and-shaker kind of people. He can be obnoxious, but he brings in business to the firm.” Conrad shrugged. “I’ve brought in clients as well, but….”
“Don’t underestimate yourself.”
“The thought of working for Lester makes me want to run and hide. He’s such a jack… jerk face.” Forrest smiled at the way Conrad kept himself from swearing.
“Then keep your best foot forward. The people who make the decisions have to know what you do for them, and they aren’t going to want to lose you.
And I’m sure they know what Lester is like as well, and I’m guessing the last thing they want is to spend more time with him.
” He snickered as Lester almost dropped his pizza when his phone rang.
Conrad shrugged. “I’ve always wondered if he had files on people.
No one likes to work with him, and the people on his team either quit or get themselves transferred somewhere else.
The office would be so much better off if he would just leave.
But of course he never will.” They watched Lester balance his pizza and cradle his phone under his neck to pull open the door.
Somehow he managed it without dropping anything.
“Lester will stay until they force him out,”
“Okay. Then you do your best and make sure you look good to the bosses. If you get the job, then will he work for you?”
“No. Thank God. He’s such a weasel that even being his supervisor is hell.
He always tries to get the upper hand, and you know that every time he doesn’t like something, he manages to get to one of the partners.
The guy is toxic.” He took another bite.
“Sorry, let’s talk about something more interesting.
What are the people like at the school?”
“The other teachers are nice. There’s this great mix of people.
Some have been there for years, and others, like me, are new.
But we all try to help each other. One of the sixth-grade teachers taught kindergarten for five years, and she’s always there if I need advice.
My principal is good to work for, so I don’t have to worry too much.
Though I know that parents look at me and wonder what they’re getting their kids in for.
I had a few people request to switch their kids to the other class, but I suppose once I get a reputation as a good teacher, that sort of thing will stop.
It’s funny how people don’t look any deeper than what they see.
” He shrugged slightly. “Though I do wonder what would happen if it became common knowledge that I bat for the other team. The principal knows, and he feels it’s no one’s business.
But I can just imagine the calls that would come in. ”
“You know, kids know who they like, and there’s no hiding from them.
They won’t willingly be around someone they don’t trust. Lizzie has better instincts than I do when it comes to people.
She hated my ex with a passion. She was just a baby, and we came to visit this one time.
James lifted her up, and Lizzie wailed as though she were on fire, kicking and making it known she was having none of him.
James handed her to me, and she calmed down right away. She knew James was a jerk.”
“He was stinky too. One year for Christmas he gave me socks.” She scrunched her face. “No kid wants socks. After that Daddy kicked him to the curb.”
“I may have said that once or twice. And he’s gone, so we never have to see his crazy butt again.” Once again he hugged Lizzie to him as she drank her Sprite. “And for a while it’s just been you and me.”
“With angel mommy watching over us.”
“Yes. Exactly.” He took another slice of pizza.
“I guess I have to ask, in this day and age, is your sexuality really going to be an issue? I brought James to firm functions for a number of years, and after we broke up, some of my coworkers tried to set me up with friends. It just doesn’t seem that big a deal. ”
“The thing is that I don’t know. I mean, if there are parents who requested the other class because of how I look….” He swallowed hard. “When you first saw me, you were terrified.”
“Because you looked like some biker gang refugee.”
“That’s because I rode my motorcycle to the store that evening and I was dressed in the leathers. I needed to pick up some things, and I didn’t want to run home and get the car just for a few groceries.”
“You actually ride?” Conrad’s eyes practically bugged out of his head.
“Of course I do. I love it. There’s something about the wind and the speed. In a car you’re insulated from the road, but not on a bike. Do you ride?”
“I used to. But not anymore. I have Lizzie, and she’s more important than that. I can’t take her with me… so my bike is in the garage, and we take the car.”
“I see,” Forrest said. “It’s a shame, though.”
“In a way it is. But Lizzie is worth it.” He lovingly kissed the top of her head. “Are you about done with your dinner?” Conrad asked her, and Lizzie picked up the last of her pizza, eating a few bites. The server brought their check, and Conrad paid the bill before Forrest could get it.
“Fine,” Forrest said softly. “I’ll get the next one.
” He held Conrad’s gaze and then slipped out of the booth.
He waited for Conrad and Lizzie, then they left the restaurant.
It had started to rain, but Lizzie hugged him and then Conrad said good-bye before they rushed off across the parking lot and into their car.
They waved before getting in the car, and Forrest waved back and then ran to his car and got going.
He drove home and went inside. The small apartment had been about all he could afford, and it seemed empty.
When he wasn’t in school, Forrest tended to spend a lot of time alone, though he usually didn’t feel lonely.
But tonight, after the opening and dinner with Conrad, the rooms seemed empty.
There was something about Conrad that made him smile and his heart do these little flips when he got a smile in return.
But he needed to remember that Conrad was the parent of one of his students, and that meant Forrest needed to be careful if he tried to navigate that particular minefield.