Page 12 of For Your Own Good

“The thing is,” she says, “Zach has an article for theBugledue on Friday. You must know he is one of our best reporters.”

A curt nod from Teddy. “I do read theBugle.”

Sure he does. If there’s an article about him. “Zach says he can’t possibly finish both your assignment and the article by the end of the week.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“I’m wondering if there’s some way we can work this out so he can do both.”

Teddy cocks his head to one side. “I’m not sure what you’re asking.”

Sonia takes a deep breath, sucking in all her frustration. Teddy knows exactly what she’s asking; he just wants her to spell it out. “Can Zach turn in your assignment later?”

“No.”

The abruptness of his answer takes her by surprise. “I don’t understand,” she says.

“Unless I missed something, we aren’t required to confer with one another about assignments to make sure they’re staggered on different days.”

“Of course we don’t have to do that. I’m asking for a favor so we can both get what we want.” She doesn’t understand how he can disagree with that.

HOW DARE SHE.

How dare this woman come into Teddy’s classroom and ask him to change a due date. The nerve. Theaudacityto request something like that from a fellow educator. Teddy is more than appalled; he is sickened.

Sonia stands in front of him, her body so rigid she looks like a statue. Acting like she’s done nothing wrong.

The first time he met her, a decade ago, she was a pipsqueak of a thing who looked too young to be teaching. Now she’s larger, her hair is red instead of brown, she wears more makeup, more jewelry, and her breath smells like coffee.

Still irritating, though. That hasn’t changed a bit.

“No,” he says. “I can’t do it.”

“What if he turns your assignment in on Monday? Wouldn’t that work?” she says.

“Look, the assignment I gave Zach was a gift. A chance to improve his grade with extra work. I’m not going to give him another gift by changing the deadline.”

“But why would Zach need a gift? He’s a straight-A student.”

“Students aren’t perfect all the time,” he says.

Sonia draws in a breath. “No. They aren’t.”

“Why don’t you moveyourdeadline to Monday?” he says.

Sonia, still as unwavering as ever, says, “Thank you for your time, Teddy.”

She turns and walks out of his classroom without another word.

Teddy feels a tiny bit bad that Courtney, the editor, will have to deal with this, but not bad enough to grant Sonia’s request. Kindness has limits.

He shuts the door and locks it. With a little bit of luck, maybe he can finish his lunch before someone else wants something.

8

SONIA GOES STRAIGHTback to her own classroom and takes out her stress ball. Her husband gave it to her for Christmas one year, saying it might help with her snits. That’s what he calls it when she gets upset.

You’re working yourself up into a snit.