Page 3 of Love Lessons

Some certainly were. There were always a few kids who had cochlear implants or were hard of hearing, or just plain preferred to be in the hearing classrooms. The district offered them a choice and it was written into their IEPs.

But this was blatant Oralism. Landon ranted internally about Deaf rights and the validity of ASL as a language and of Deafness as a culture, but he didn’t let any of it out. He knew he was right, but he didn’t want to have the principal as his enemy. Maybe, though, if he could just make one point...

But she put up a hand. “I know what you’re going to say. I’ve already written back to the district asking them to meet with me about the logistics of whatever options they choose. There are a lot of valuable opportunities that the current model affords students, and I want to make sure that those are understood as well as the logistical challenges.”

Yeah, but that didn’t address the fact that it was ignorant Oralism and unfair to his students. His fists were actually shaking, and he hoped it didn’t show on his face.

The principal turned to face Mrs. Eaves, so he turned, too. He missed most of it, but he got the general sense of the question and turned back to the principal.

“Mrs. Eaves, I know that you’re retiring after next year. I can’t promise a position, but you have seniority, so if you’re willing to take anything that comes up, you shouldn’t have a problem getting it. There’s usually at least one English or Social Studies teacher leaving each year, especially if you’re willing to move to elementary or high school. At the worst, someone will probably go on maternity leave and you can take over two different programs in the fall and spring.”

She turned to Landon. “Mr. Dean, I’d offer you the same thing…”

She let it hang in the air, the but unspoken. But what? But he couldn’t teach hearing children because he was Deaf? But they assumed he’d only want to work with Deaf students?

“I would also appreciate the same opportunity as my colleague in the fall,” he said as calmly as possible. He didn’t know if he’d still feel the same way later, but it was the principle of the thing.

“Well,” Principal McGillans finished awkwardly. “I’ll update you when I have more information. Have a good weekend.”

That was it. His whole career, all of his awesome students just… kicked aside because some ignorant person at the district office has a ridiculous idea about mainstreaming.

He tried to be polite to Mrs. Eaves as he left, but since she didn’t seem angry about the situation now that her job was secure, he felt awkward with his own feelings. It was unjust, and the only thing he could do was wait until the principal checked in with the district. He felt betrayed and helpless.

He grabbed his laptop bag and walked as quickly as possible out of the dim, windowless hall where they’d stuck his classroom, and into the sun.

He tried to take soothing breaths and appreciate the crisp, late fall weather, but his impotent anger felt like sand under his skin.

He needed something to make him forget. Thank God he knew where to get it.

◆◆◆

A few hours and a frustratingly long drive into the city later, Landon opened the subtly marked door at Escape, and he could already feel the stress start to roll off his shoulders. He knew he could find another job, even if it meant moving. And he knew that there was still a chance that things would work out, especially with Principal McGillans advocating for him and his students.

But he couldn’t get his brain, or his tense shoulders and tight lower back, to let it go.

Escape was aptly named. Because somewhere inside was a Dom who was hopefully just waiting to give him what he needed. He wasn’t feeling picky tonight. He’d take impact play, Shibari, service or role play if it was more on the intense side... Pretty much anything really. He could take or leave the sex part, too. He just wanted to get out of his head.

Tomorrow he could go back to being happy and calm and outgoing and all of those things that he usually was. Tonight, he needed someone to set him straight.

He flashed his card at the door even though Devon knew him, grateful as always that they took security seriously. Knowing his preferences, she held out black, white, and green wristbands for him, but he declined the black one. He was definitely green to play, but he only wanted to submit tonight.

He quickly stowed his clothes in a locker and took a quick glance in the mirror. He was wearing a pair of tight black shorts and a simple chest harness that crossed over his sternum with an O ring. This was his standard club wear and he didn’t think much about it except to check that his hair, which grazed the tops of his shoulders, was reasonably smooth and glossy. Doms loved to pull it, so he always made sure to leave it down.

He’d long since stopped feeling self-conscious about the bit of padding at his middle or his otherwise stringy physique. He was a middle school science teacher who liked to run most mornings to stay in shape, and he felt great about that. Escape welcomed humans of every shape and size, and anyone who didn’t think he was hot could just fuck off.

He stepped into the large, comfortable bar area, which was still fairly empty since he’d arrived so early. He took a moment to just look around before choosing a direction. There were a few couples hanging out on wide armchairs or couches, some just talking and some making out or engaging in the lighter forms of play that were appropriate for the main room.

There was a group of subs chatting around a cluster of tables, and he waved hello. He knew some of them were partnered up and didn’t see their Doms, so they must have been having a meeting or gathering of some sort. Since he hadn’t been invited, and he hated trying to speech read with more than one or two people, he didn’t try to go over.

He noticed Master Ryan sitting at a table alone and cocked his head at him from across the room. They’d played together a few times in the past and Landon wouldn’t mind feeling the warmth of his floggers or the sting of his whips tonight. But Master Ryan just gave him a friendly wave and then made a sort of “what can you do” shrug. So, apparently, he was already taken. Dammit.

Mistress Candice strolled across the room and he almost approached her before he noticed her vest and the clearly marked satchel hung over her shoulder. If he hadn’t been so stressed, he would have noticed it right away. She was acting as a Dungeon Monitor tonight, and if she was able to play, it likely wouldn’t be for hours. They didn’t have the slightest bit of physical attraction for each other, but she was an evil villain with predicament bondage, and he could have really used that right about now.

That left pretty much no one, which was what he really should have expected getting here right after six when they opened.

He went up to the bar and ordered some sort of virgin concoction, mostly to give himself something to do while he waited. Bek, the bartender, talked with him a bit, but they were mostly busy rushing around to get things ready for the night, which didn’t make speech reading easy.

He took his glass over to a table and didn’t try to hide that he was watching the door. He could feel that itching sensation rising up his back, that tense neediness that would all fall away as soon as he could submit.