Page 4 of Blind Date
“Hi, Callie.” I smiled.
“Hi, Sam.” She smiled.
“Hey, Miss H.” Steven walked in and waved.
“Hi, Steven. I smiled.
The second bell rang, and every seat in my room was now occupied with fifteen and sixteen-year-olds eager to learn. Okay. They weren’t excited. But by the end of class, they would be.
“Good morning.” I smiled, leaning against my desk. “I’m Miss Hollis, but you can call me Sam, and you know why? Because I’m going to become your new best friend. I have three rules and three rules only. Be kind. Be curious. Don’t steal my pens.” I picked up the holder from my desk and held it up. “I love my colored pens. They’re shiny, and they’re mine. If you want to borrow one, that’s fine. However, I kindly request that you return it when you’re finished using it. As you can see, I have two jars of candy on my desk. One is filled with chocolate. The other is filled with gummies. If I ask you a question, and you get the answer right, you can choose which candy you want.” I grabbed both jars and walked around to each student, letting them take a piece. “This is my way of building yourtrust. I already trust all of you and want you to trust me in return.”
“Seriously, though. Are we in a yoga studio or a classroom? What’s with the fairy lights?”
“Great question, Devon.” I smiled. “It is Devon, right?”
“Yeah.” He slumped in his chair.
“The lights make the room feel warm and welcoming, which incidentally is the opposite of your tone right now.”
A few of the students laughed.
“Just saying it’s weird. This is a high school, not a tea party.”
“I can make us all tea if you’d like,” I smiled. “Devon, I teach English Lit. That means I believe in setting the tone. I know how high school can feel like a prison, and I don’t want you to feel that way in my class. When you walk in, I want your brain to slow down. I want you to breathe and remember you’re in a place where your voice matters. Your question about the fairy lights was a good one. You were curious as to why I put them up. Also, the lights make everyone’s skin look amazing.” I grinned. “Which will be important when I post photos of our brilliant literary discussions on the school’s Instagram page. You’re welcome.”
The students laughed, and so did Devon, sitting up straight in his chair.
“Okay. Let’s get started. In the back of the room is a large bulletin board titledHot Takes & Literary Rant, featuring blank index cards and markers. Whenever we read or discuss a book, feel free to walk back there and post bold opinions on the book we just read or discussed. Don’t hold back.”
“Sam?” One of the students raised her hand.
“Yes—”
“Kristen. Can you give us an example for the board?”
“You bet.” I smiled as I walked to the back of the room and grabbed an index card and a marker. “Let’s say we just read and discussed Romeo and Juliet.” I wrote on the index card and pinned it to the board.
Romeo and Juliet weren’t in love. They were just bored and dramatic.
The class laughed, and I knew I had their full attention. “One more thing. Promise me you won’t throw your Stanley Cups at me. Do you promise?”
“Yes,” all the students said simultaneously.
I grabbed the basket on the file cabinet with a laminated note attached to it—Abandon all Wi-Fi, ye who enter here. Phones in the basket, brains in the classroom, and walked around to each student.
Whines and moans came from them as they tossed their phones into the basket.
“This is unconstitutional and illegal,” a boy named Keegan said.
“Let me know when you pass the bar, Counselor. Until then—basket.” I held it in front of him.
“What if there’s an emergency?” A girl named Lila asked.
“Well, I’m the hero of this classroom, and I’ll leap over desks and save you all,” I smirked. “Also, the office will call the room as they’ve done since…forever.”
“You lied,” Devon said. “This is a prison.”
“Here’s something about me I want you all to know. I’m very jealous and hate competing with TikTok for your attention. People, it’s only for an hour.”
