Page 84 of Inside Out
“Where you can try and top me…um… I mean my proposal…um—” I pressed my lips to his for a second time to stop the nervous rambling. There was no doubt in my mind there would be some topping going on in my future, and I was also just as certain there would be a proposal for a deeper commitment between us down the road.
“Let’s go home.”
“Permutations and combinations. Who can tell me the difference?” I asked my seventh period class the Wednesday before the Thanksgiving break. They looked at me with annoyance in their eyes because they expected to goof off the last class of the day. It was a good thing Anastasia’s family got an early start to their vacation travel plans or else she’d really let me have it.
“Are you seriously giving us homework?” Ben asked.
“Did I list homework in your syllabus, Mr. Devers?”
“No, sir.”
“Then I hadn’t planned on giving you homework. I can change my mind if you like.”
“No, sir.”
“Permutations and combinations,” I repeated. “Anyone? This is the lesson we’re tackling on Monday, so I thought I would plant the seed and give it time to root.”
“Permutations and combinations are the same thing,” Jill said. “They’re groups of things that you put together to make something else.”
“You’re partially right, Ms. Skellson. The difference between permutations and combinations is the order. Permutations require a specific order where combinations do not. This theory doesn’t just apply to science. There are many recipes you can jack up if you don’t combine the ingredients in a specific order. Think about your lockercombination. You all have three numbers to unlock it, correct?” They all nodded. “Can you use those same three numbers randomly or must they be in order?”
“In order,” Randy said.
“That’s an example of a permutation. Our experiments next week are going to be fun,” I said waggling my brows. “We’ll see who is paying attention and who isn’t.”
“Are we finally going to utilize the face shields?” Travis asked excitedly.
“I worry about you sometimes, Travis,” I teased. The kid was way too excited about the possibility of needing a face shield for experiments. He just laughed and shook his head. “If this were a philosophy class, we’d talk about permutations and combinations in relation to fate. Are our lives guided by preordained permutations or do we just throw in a bunch of stuff to see how it turns out? Do we have destinies or opportunities?”
“Preordained permutations,” Derrick said confidently.
“I think we just close our eyes and toss in the ingredients,” Molly Sue countered.
I hadn’t expected the kids to start debating fate vs chance in my classroom, but I wasn’t mad about it. A teacher could learn a lot about their students by listening. Before any of us realized it, the forty-five minutes had passed, and they were free for a long weekend. My heart swelled with happiness when every single kid in my class wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. Some of them even included Rome in their well-wishes.
I was excited to kick off our first holiday season together, but sad my mom had to cancel her travel plans due to some crisis at the hospital. She was devastated she didn’t get to see her boys and meet Rome, Camilla, and Manny, but promised she would be there the first weekend in December even if it meant quitting her job.
“I don’t think that’s a bad idea,” I’d told her on the phone when she called me on Monday evening. She’d sounded so upset, and it made my heart ache. “You’re miserable in your new position. I think it’s time for a big change.”
“How big?” she asked suspiciously.
“You should quit your job and move here.”
“To Whoville?” she asked.
“Mom, you’re starting to sound like Marcus,” I teased. “Yes, you should move to Blissville or Cincinnati if you prefer to stay in a bigger city. My garage apartment is paid up until February, so you could always stay there. You and Dare would go together like peas and carrots.”
“I’m not sure I want to make such a big change, J.”
“Mom, how many weeks of vacation do you have left?” I asked.
“Three,” she admitted.
“And you lose that time if you don’t take it, right?”
“Yes, but—”
“Take them, Mom. Stay in the apartment for three weeks. Get to know the people Marc and I love. Take time to breathe and bake and celebrate the holiday with us. Please.”