The Coach

Arguing With The Teacher

Sebastian

    I made her upset, but why? Anyone would be happy to have a school like that. She doesn'tunderstand; I want a safe environment for the kids. Last night when we arrived at home, Martha told me she was being bullied by some boys and the teacher couldn't even tell me what happened.

    "Miss Torres" I called, following down the hallway. She was heading to the principal's office, and I caught up to her, grabbing her gently by the arm. She yanked it away, and I raised my hands.

    "We can come to an agreement. Come on, you have to admit this is a good thing for them"

    "Excluding them from a normal school life is not a good thing for them, Mr. Bradford" she said irritated.

    "Please, call me Sebastian, and I have to say that a place where my sister is not being bullied with a teacher who couldn't bother to notify me, it's better than any normal school."

    "I am sorry about that Mr. Bradford, it slipped my mind and I don't have an excuse for that. But do you even care about their feelings? I have students who aren't supposed to be in my class, but they are more than happy to be there, because it makes my students feel good, and feel like they belong. They don't need to be in a school where they can't be with students, other than the ones who have their same conditions" I'm sure she could have gone on, but Principal Gibson had heard the argument and came out of his office.

    "What is going on here? Zoey, he will start tomorrow, and you are already giving him grief? Good lord, woman"

    She walked in his office, and I followed. We were all standing in there waiting to speak.

    "Well? Is anyone going to tell me what is going on?" Gibson asked. I was waiting for her to start her side of the story.

    "Mr. Sexy architect here wants to build a school for disabled children. And I am against it" she said, looking at me with her murderous eyes, while folding her arms across her chest. Mr. Sexy, huh?

    "What is wrong about the new school?" Gibson asked. I was waiting to see what she would say, but she stayed quiet. She was acting like a little kid right now.

    "I am sure your boyfriend must have a lot of patience for you, if you are this stubborn and hot headed" I said, making her look at me and opened her mouth in disbelief.

    "How dare you? And not that is any of your business, but I don't have a boyfriend" she huffed. I suddenly felt some sort of relief and didn't know why.

    "Well, whoever ask you out, better be careful. They might run away" I mentioned, making Gibson laugh and Zoey give him a glare.

    "They will take my kids to that school, and they need a normal education, Alex" she tried to convince Gibson to make me change my mind.

    "Let me remind you, I am the architect here and even the major approved the construction, so it goes. And parents will have the choice, it is not a mandatory thing" I tried to be polite.

    She just walked out, and I followed her after I said my goodbyes to Gibson. "Is this your way to deal with conflicts? By walking away?"

    She stopped and turned around, furiously walking towards me and poking me with her finger. "I don't think you understand. This school is everything for these kids. They would be devastated to be away from their friends"

    "I want what is best for my sister"

    "And I want what is best for all of them. I am the teacher here and I see and work with them every day. You deal with old businessmen who only care about money. So, in my opinion, you are not living in reality"

        I walked to the parking lot and stopped by my car. I couldn't wait to start to work here. There will be a lot of arguments with this beautiful teacher, but I won't mind. I guess my first impression at the company fooled her. Now she thinks the worst of me for wanting to do something nice for the kids.

    I drove to the company, and I saw my father waiting for me at the lobby. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

    "I want to talk to you, son" he said. I knew already what he came here for.

    "I don't have anything to say to you. And if this is about Martha, you are wasting your time. Or if it is about money, I am not giving you or mom another cent" I said, as I walked towards Frances and asked her to call security.

    "Let me remind you, Sebastian. You paid us to give you her custody. We didn't give her willingly"

    I turned around, towering over him. "I did it because you didn't want her. I love her, and I was not going to let you give her up to strangers, just because she was different" I seethed. Frances called security, and they efficiently took him out of my building.

    I walked to my office and closed the door behind me. Not long after, Laura knocked on the door. "Mr. Bradford, you have a message," she said, handing me a note. It was from Miss Torres, and that brought a smile on my face.

Try to make it on time for school tomorrow. Kids start practice at 10:30 and they would not want a coach who is late.

    "Don't worry, I will be there on time" I whispered, throwing the note on the garbage can. I resumed my work, making sure everything was in order for the construction of the school.

    Night time arrived, and I needed to make it home to Martha. Our neighbor was taking care of her after school until I arrived. I made it home and as soon as I went through the doors, my neighbor quickly left, mumbling incoherence.

    Martha was on the floor, throwing a tantrum, making me drop everything I had in my hands and running to her.

    "What's wrong, baby girl?" I asked, taking her in my arms.

    "I hate our neighbor, I hate you and I hate myself" she yelled, shocking me with her anger. I tried to calm her down, taking her in my embrace and kissing her forehead.

    "It's okay, sweetie. I am here for you, you don't mean any of this" she relaxed in my arms and drifted off to sleep. I carried her to her room and tucked her in. I headed to the kitchen and served myself some Jack and Coke.

    I heard a knock on the door and I wondered who could it be at this hour? My feet were heavy, but I went to open it. The person I expected the least to be here, was here.

    "Hello, Mr. Bradford"