"Let me see your phone background!" Adam thumps his way over to my desk, and I decide to waive my no phone rule as this may help my case.
"Bagel the cat." I shimmy the phone. "Really, team, if I had news I'd tell you."
Talia turns back with her filled water bottle in hand. She takes intentionally sassy, loud sips as she passes by towards her seat.
"I think you have a girlfriend," she conspires from her desk.
“I think you still owe me two work assignments and a group project,” I fire back.
_____________________________
The day passed slowly and arduously. The nearer we get to winter break, the more unsettled the kids get. I partially blame the Halloween candy stashes for the November attitude crash, but I also can’t fault them for not wanting to be here. The students want to be home, playing video games or watching television or doing god-knows-what on Tik-Tok. The cold weather calls for it. Like something in our collective genetic makeup dictates we ought to hibernate.
And, after last night, I can’t say I wouldn’t rather be home right now, hibernating under blankets with Clara. Or using her legs as a scarf.
It's the last period of my school day when Clara sends me a photo of her at work. She’s got one hand on the phone in her hip’s holster and wearing an overly concentrated expression. The banner across the photo reads, “ready at any moment.”
She’s my favourite person in the world.
I pick up my whiteboard eraser, check that the kids are busy with their work, and hold it like a weapon for a quick photo. “Bring it on,” I write back.
Her response comes quickly, “you’re my favourite.”
Glad we’re on the same page, then.
EVAN: How’s opening prep?
CLARA: Loretta is nowhere to be found. There are rumours she’s joined a monastery in Tibet.
EVAN: Ah, naturally.
CLARA: But, it's going well. I may have gotten a little hyper fixated and finished all my tasks for the day (rest of the week) I’ll be off early.
“Oh.” I respond, thinking of a better way to say,come back to mine then please.
CLARA: Want to finally share that sushi?
EVAN: Nothing like day-old refrigerated sushi.
EVAN: Yes, please.
CLARA: Good. I took your spare key before I left today.
“You’ll be home before me?” I reply, before thinking about what the wordhomeimplicates.
CLARA: After I stop by my place and grab a bag. How many nights should I pack for?
EVAN: I mean, you may as well be close to work before the gallery opens. In case of emergency.
CLARA: Three nights. Got it.
EVAN: The gallery opens in two nights?
CLARA: You’re right, it’d be silly to leave before the end of the weekend. Better pack for five.
I smile so brightly at my phone it feels like my jaw might break. “Five is perfect,” I reply. Then, because I cannot resist, I add, “though with the staff party being only a few days after…”
CLARA: How could I forget? I couldn’t possibly leave before the work party.
