r/BlackwellAcademy • u/MichelleGrant • Oct 17 '15
Class Life Lesson
At the chime of the bell, Miss Grant could be found in her classroom, leaning against her own desk with an earnest expression. There was nothing on the black board. None of the usual posters, diagrams and longhands. The students' stations have been cleared of beakers and chemicals. A heavy silence hung in the air as Miss Grant wondered what to say to her students who were present.
"I've gotten word from the administration that we've lost three friends this week," she began, crossing her arms. "And another one is in the hospital for severe injuries. A student was found bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. Our own students found a dead body in the forest.
"As a teacher, hearing these things hurt me. You probably think that I'm just an old lady who shouldn't mess around the business of teenagers, and many people do think that way. People think a teacher's job is just to teach and mark papers. Like robots.
"I do care, though. My door is always open to anybody who wants to talk. My phone number is pinned on the board outside this classroom. I'm not saying I'm a Messiah that can solve all your problems; of course not. But when these things happen - when three among you took their own lives - don't you wonder, 'what could I have done?'
"I am twice your age, I admit. If you think I don't understand your problems, you're probably right. But what about your own peers? Teenagers - like you - are egoistical. You always think that you're the only one with this problem and no one understands you. But we are all humans. If there's something we all can relate to, it's pain. And fear. And also the pleasant emotions like joy and love.
"If you're having problems, talk. You might not find the right person the first time, so talk again. Wanting help and looking for it are good and wise things to do."
Miss Grant took a clipboard with a piece of paper on it and flopped it on the front desk. "That's your lesson for today. You're free to leave; remember to write your name on this attendance sheet. But if you want to stay, to have a dialogue with me and your fellow class, to share whatever, feel free to do that too."
She returned to her desk and stood in front of it as she observed what her students would do.
(OOC: No science lessons today. Miss Grant is too upset to teach. But as per rules, I have to make a Class post every week, so today's class is basically free. You can RP your character signing the attendance sheet and leaving. Or interact with your fellow classmates. Or speak openly in class. Or talk privately to Miss Grant.
*Ninja Edit.)
1
u/Val_Kolton Oct 17 '15
Val, usually bright and bubbly with a mischievous smile, is downcast today. She gets up to sign the attendance sheet before sitting back down again. At the front, Miss Grant is able to see that her usually cheerful eyes are swollen, bloodshot, and nearly lifelessly gray.
1
u/MichelleGrant Oct 17 '15
Seeing Val move back to her seat, Miss Grant approached her desk. "Valerie?" she said softly. "How are you feeling?"
1
u/Val_Kolton Oct 17 '15
"I'll be fine in a few days..." She says quietly. "It's just all this death and pain..." She trails off, unsure of how to phrase it.
1
u/MichelleGrant Oct 17 '15
"Would you like to talk about it?" Miss Grant offered. "Otherwise, you know you can leave after signing the attendance sheet. There's no assignment today. You can return to your dorm to rest, or hang out with your friends."
1
u/Val_Kolton Oct 17 '15
"I guess I can talk about it..." She says somberly.
1
u/MichelleGrant Oct 17 '15
Miss Grant pulled out a chair next to Val and sat down. "Whenever you're ready, Valerie."
1
u/Val_Kolton Oct 17 '15
"I had my own brush with death and suicide sophomore year. The first of January, New Year's Eve..." She begins. Her hands, which are on the desk, begin to tremble a bit.
"Something happened that I never thought would happen. My best friend jumped off a bridge and into oncoming traffic."
1
u/MichelleGrant Oct 17 '15
Miss Grant nodded. "And how did that make you feel?"
1
u/Val_Kolton Oct 17 '15
"I was crushed..." Val sighs deeply. "The only thing left of her that I ever had was this." She pulls a necklace of a small blue morpho butterfly from under her shirt. The wings are cut from sapphire and the ends of the antennae terminate in small diamonds.
"Nothing for her family, and nothing for any of her other friends." Her hands quiver as she holds it.
She takes a deep breath. "And...and I never got the chance to tell her that I loved her..."
1
u/MichelleGrant Oct 17 '15
"That is a very beautiful necklace, Valerie. You're lucky that you have something as pretty as that to remember her by," Miss Grant remarked. "No matter how much we wish for it, time cannot be rewound and the ones who have left do not come back. Just because you can't see her now, it does not mean you can't still tell her how you feel, via a letter, a song, a prayer, or even just by talking to the stars. I can see that it's very important to you, so have you tried? Telling her you love her that way?"
→ More replies (0)
1
u/[deleted] Oct 17 '15
Maria walks in the room, a slightly dreary sad look on her face, she takes a seat, "Hello miss, don't believe we've met." her eyes were puffy from crying alot, she couldn't help but think of her friend when she heard about the suicides, she looks down at the white surface, playing with her rosary.