Lesson 4 Hidden secrets alex_penyfai

Hidden secrets
Brian was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Someone was following him but he had no idea who. Was it one or two? Were they kids from school trying to find out how he spent his spare time? He could neither see them nor hear them properly. When he stopped the sounds stopped, when he looked back there was just the wisp of a shadow – or was it two?
Brian was on a mission; at least that was how it felt to him. He was taking tennis lessons, a sport he’d never played in his life and the last thing he needed was to be watched by giggling teenagers as he made the inevitable mistakes of a beginner.
Things had been going well for Brian since he started teaching practice at Blackwell Comprehensive. He felt his difficulty in the previous school was well behind him. He would never again screech at a class; never respond inappropriately again. Brian would maintain his composure come what may. This became a kind of mantra which Brian needed less and less.
The form teacher for class 3C had gone into hospital for a small operation and Brian was temporarily in charge, taking registration each morning and afternoon as well as teaching them English. He had a good rapport with them, harmless jokes, a chat about a TV soap before the lesson got underway. Sometimes this led to the nub of his lesson for that day. Things were going well.
This morning as he went into class, Brian sensed something. Perhaps he was just sensitive over being followed the last few nights. Maybe someone had watched his embarrassing displays on the tennis court and told everyone else. Had the class been regaled with stories about his white legs and slightly knobbly knees?
‘Did you see that Graham Smart on TV last night, sir?’
‘No, missed that, what was he up to?’ Brian started to relax.
‘He was sniffing after that young girl on the farm.’
‘Bit young isn’t she?’
‘Same as us, fourteen,’ said Cheryl.
‘Old enough then,’ said Darren.
‘Oy, watch it you,’ said Cheryl.
‘Right, must get on. We are going to look at a relationship of a different kind today.’
‘What’s that sir? ‘ said several.
Brian turned to write on the white board.
‘My mate fancies you,’ came a voice within the class.
Brian stopped dead.
‘Her mate fancies you,’ came a boy’s voice this time.
‘Shit,’ thought Brian. He felt his colour rise and his collar felt tight. He needed to control this. He needed to respond appropriately.
Trouble was he fancied someone himself. Not among the pupils, but among the staff. If he handled this badly he’d be buggered with both the class and with Susan Watts the sports teacher.
At that moment he spotted Susan going past the door and went to open it quickly. ‘Could you spare us a moment please, Miss Watts?’
Susan Watts came into the classroom. She’d noticed Brian’s red face, the sweat on his brow.
‘How can I help?’ she addressed the class.
Silence
‘I think the class has something to tell us,’ said Brian.
‘Well?’ said Susan.
‘I think Sir fancies you,’ came a voice from the back of the class.
Brain’s eyebrows rose in alarm.
‘I’m honoured,’ said Susan and started to leave the classroom. She paused just out of sight and gave Brian a wink.
Crisis over and hopes rising.
‘Now where were we?’ said Brian.
‘Ah yes, I nearly forgot. This week’s essay. ‘How I dealt with an Embarrassing situation’; 500 words. You can start now and finish it for homework. Nothing rude mind, Cheryl. No inappropriate relationships, Darren. Are we all agreed , class?’
‘Yes Sir,’ they intoned.
Yes Sir, he thought. Now how can I date Susan Watts without the whole ruddy school getting to know about it?