Page 7 of For Your Own Good

THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGEis up on the second floor, away from most of the classrooms, and it’s more comfortable than most. Plush seating, real dishes and cups, occasional free snacks, and lots of coffee. Teddy goes up there during the breaks, though it’s not for company. The lounge is the only place to get his favorite coffee blend: Prime Bold.

During the afternoon break, the room is busy. A small line forms in front of the single-cup coffee makers. The fact that they need more than two is an ongoing conversation topic.

Teddy nods and smiles at Frank, an ex–college football player who now teaches math. He’s very young and very enthusiastic about his work, his coffee, and his religion. He’s already been warned once not to discuss his faith at school.

“I’ve tried them all,” Frank says, pointing to the shelf of coffee pods. “And I keep coming back to the Ethiopian Roast. It’s not too strong but not weak, you know?”

“I do,” Teddy says.

“And it’s good to support the Ethiopians. We always have to help those less fortunate.”

A loud voice cuts through all the chatter.

“Are we seriously out of Gold Roast?”

The voice belongs to a science teacher, a middle-aged woman named Mindy. She’s high-strung—with or without coffee.

“We can’t be out,” she says, opening all the cabinets. Another teacher joins in to help her look.

Teddy moves to one of the machines and starts making his Prime Bold.

“I was up here earlier, and I swear there was half a box,” Mindy says as she slams through all the cabinets.

“Perhaps they’ve all been used,” someone else says.

“No way. Not possible.”

Teddy’s coffee is finished just as Mindy claims that the Gold Roast must have been stolen. “Everyone has access to this room,” she says. “It’s not unheard-of.”

She’s right. There have been a number of thefts over the years, some solved and some not. But no one has ever bothered to steal coffee pods.

Except Teddy. Although the wordstealmight be a little strong. He has, on occasion, slipped a few pods into his pocket to use at a later time. In the teacher’s lounge, of course. Mostly.

But that’s not what Mindy is saying. She thinks people are stealing coffee in bulk. She goes through each cabinet at least twice before huffing her way out of the room.

Teddy smiles as he sips his coffee. Nothing like a little excitement to perk up the day.

“Wonder what happened in her class today,” Frank says, making his Ethiopian Roast. “Some kid must’ve been acting up.”

Before Teddy can answer, Sonia Benjamin walks in. She grabs a pod of Slim Roast and smiles at everyone.

“How are you two doing today?” she says to Teddy and Frank.

“I’m well,” Frank says.

“Very well,” Teddy says.

“Good, good. It’s such a lovely day, isn’t it?” she says. Her smile looks as fake as the artificial sweetener she puts in her coffee. As she stirs it, her spoon makes a clinking sound against the cup. Repeatedly.

“Sure,” Frank says. “It’s nice out today.”

Sonia flashes them another smile. “It certainly is.”

She walks out of the room. Today, her dress is a sickening shade of yellow, but Teddy doesn’t think about that for long. He thinks abouthow self-satisfied she looks. Sonia always has the same expression on her face.

“Well,” Frank says, shaking his head. “Someone put something in her coffee today.”

“Perhaps,” Teddy says.