Page 63 of Hot to Go

‘Will it be hot? Will I need a coat?’ someone else pipes up.

‘It will be a balmy twenty degrees. Tell your folks to pack you a hoodie and a light waterproof.’ I look out the window. The weather here has turned to grey and overcast, the clocks will go back soon and the days will be dark and depressing. Another reason to get a dose of sun before that happens. I hear the classroom down the hall explode into noise and pop my head out to see what the commotion is. Suzie’s French lot are like this, they always seem to be having fun. If ever I glance in there, she’s got them playing games, writing stuff on the white board and engaging in a lot of partner work. Colleagues. That’s what we are at the moment after our conversation a few days ago, back when I caught her camping out in her classroom. Suzie senses me snooping and waves at me. I put a thumbs up to ask if she’s OK and she replies with the same gesture. We’re colleagues. This is what we do now. I think she thinks I’m one of those nosy neighbours complaining about the noise. I return to my classroom, frowning.

‘All OK, Sir? Don’t worry about them. It’s the French lot, Sir. They’re just idiots,’ Lola says.

‘Bad classroom management from the new teacher,’ Tyler says. Oh, he is awake.

‘She seems OK though?’ I tell them. ‘What’s the tea? What have you heard about her?’

I don’t know why I ask this question. I don’t care. I really don’t. A line has been drawn. The universe has brought us back together again but it was obviously so we could add some zest to this department. She could bless the kids with her organisational prowess and I could bestow upon them my conversational charm.

‘The tea?’ Lola asks, giggling.

‘Yes, Lola…¿Qué es el té?’ I say, trying to keep things Spanish based.

‘Do I have to answer in Spanish?’ she asks.

‘No.’

‘Well, then Josh said she’s sound. She knows Kendrick Lamar,’ she tells me.

‘Like actually knows him? That’s impressive?’ I say, a little shocked.

‘Of course not. But she rapped in class and they thought it was funny.’ I stand there pondering whether I need to do the same. I only know that bit from the song where I can shout out about A-Minor, but I don’t think that’s a good line to repeat to children.

‘And how would you know what Josh thinks?’ Viraj asks her, teasing.

‘Shut your hole, Viraj,’ she snaps back.

‘Hey, we don’t swear in my classroom. Only in Spanish,’ I say, trying to de-escalate the situation. They both smile. ‘So, Josh, eh?’

‘We’ve been snapping each other, Sir. It’s all it is,’ she saysinnocently. ‘What’s the deal with the French lady then, you interested in her?’

I hope my panic doesn’t show in my face when Lola asks me that. I was. I was very much interested in her. But it’s done.

‘She seems nice but I don’t think I want a relationship at present. I’m focused on my career, my wellbeing,’ I tell the class, hating myself as I say the words aloud and hear how shit they sound.

‘Boring,’ Viraj says.

I look over at him, peeved, though I agree with him.

‘Sorry, Sir…Aburrido…’ he replies, and I grin at the audacity. ‘Maybe we can find you a Spanish girl in Seville?’ he suggests.

‘Really? Like that fit Spanish girl inOuter Banks,’ another kid pipes in.

I stop and smile to myself, shaking my head. ‘Or maybe I can tempt you all with some authentic chorizo.’ I shouldn’t have said that out loud, eh? And with that the bell sounds and they all gather their belongings. ‘Señores y señoritas, I will see you tomorrow, bright and early, please do not lose these booklets! I spent a lot of time making them!’

They all exit the room to a chorus of adiós and hasta mañana as I stand there, taking a big deep breath. There’s much to do before tomorrow. Bit of lesson planning here, going back via the shops to buy some travel deodorant, packing and making sure Brooke and Sam are safely deposited at Max and Amy’s while I’m gone. It will all be good. I know it’s a school trip and a lot of the time will involve herding children and ensuring they’re not drinking, having sex or indulging in recreational drugs, but to me, it will also be a second homecoming of sorts. A return to a place where I was allowed to be young, carefree before the worst of life events interrupted all of that.

‘Sorry, were we noisy?’ a voice says, appearing at the door. Iturn to see Suzie standing there. She seems to wear a range of maxi dresses these days with colourful trainers. Not that I’ve been noticing, of course I haven’t. She tucks her hair behind her ear.

‘As long as they weren’t taking the piss, you know? We colleagues have to look out for each other,’ I tell her, offering her some strange salute. I shouldn’t have done that. I’m making this weird.

‘Half term, eh?’ she says, continuing the conversation from a distance.

‘Yeah, do you have plans?’ I ask her, hoping it doesn’t sound too intrusive.

‘Sleep and binge-watching all the TV I’ve missed in the last six weeks? I might even do something crazy like laundry.’

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