My classroom feels suddenly smaller, as if the walls have crept in an inch at a time without me noticing.
My eyes run over the drawings the kids proudly taped up. Suddenly all the crooked hearts, stick figures, and scribbles of bright color blur at the edges.
June.
I have until June.
It could be tough. But like Mr. Walker said, I'm confident I could find another teaching position. But the ability of my kids to thrive in a larger, more impersonal school?
They won't be as lucky.
"Hey, Snorts, I'm home,"I say to my puppy when I arrive at my Chelsea apartment. He greets me with a reprimanding yip the moment I open the door.
His tiny body wriggles with all the righteous indignation a French Bulldog can summon.
“Sorry for leaving you so long. Time for dinner.”
Snorty trots beside me as I fill his bowl with fresh water.
The routine steadies me. Feed the dog. Hang up my bag. Breathe.
My phone rings from inside my purse. I dig it out and answer.
“Hey big bro. I read about your New Orleans concert in theNew York Post. Is that a frontman you have in Rio, or a delusional snake charmer?”
“A little of both,” he says, with a laugh. “Hey Mads, how would you like a weekend vacation in Vegas? Long school holiday weekend, right?”
“What’s the catch?”
“Does there always need to be a catch?”
“Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. You were the one who taught me that in one of your endless big brother lectures, remember?”
Five years older than me, Steven always fashioned himself as more of a dad figurethan a big brother.
“Guilty as charged. Mads, I need a favor. It’s for the entire band.”
“A band favor, huh. Isn’t that a job for the groupies who flutter around you guys?” I shake some kibble out of the bag for Snorty.
“That snake dance you read about caused a lot of trouble with the sponsor. Prince Michael told him Rio was intoxicated because he was celebrating his betrothal. And I nominated you as the blushing would-be bride.”
“No.” My jaw tightens. "Absolutely not."
“You didn’t even hear the details!”
“I don’t need details, Steven. The answer is no. And whatever gave you the idea I’d agree to be Rio’s consort? You know how I despise him.”
“You hate him for no reason.”
“For a very good reason. Just not a reason you need to know.”
"You haven’t even heard the compensation package.”
As Snorty eagerly chows down his kibble, he coughs. And then the cough turns into a wheeze.
A tiny spike of panic flares in my chest. The same one that hits every time this happens.
"Is that Snorty I hear wheezing?" Steven says.
