“Good morning, everyone. My name is...” Even though she’d filled out all the paperwork with her married name, having the kids call her Mrs. Pendleton didn’t seem right, since she planned on changing her name after the divorce. But Ms. Sorenson didn’t feel right either. “My name is Ms. Jessie.”
She turned to the whiteboard. When had they gotten rid of the chalk boards? She picked up a dry erase marker and prayed this activity didn’t fall flat.
“We’re going to do a get-to-know-you activity today. Everyone needs to think of one thing that represents them to add to our class mosaic. There are only two rules: Each addition to the mosaic needs to attach to a previous piece of the picture, and you only get one minute to draw your part.” She pulled the cap off the marker. “I’ll go first. I need someone to time me.”
She watched over her shoulder until someone said ‘go’, then she quickly sketched a horse as best as she could with the dry erase marker.This is a first.She’d have to get used to this.
When the student called time, she hesitated before signing her horse. She wanted each student to sign their picture so she could learn their names, but she wasn’t sure how to sign hers. Finally she did her swoopingJ.S.on the horse’s flank, like a brand.
She turned around. “My favorite thing to do, besides painting and creating art, is riding horses.” She held the marker out. “Okay, who’s next?” When no one volunteered, she added, “It doesn’t matter your artistic ability. There’s no judgment here. And keep in mind, the longer you wait to take your turn, the more challenging it will be to figure out how to attach your drawing to the mosaic.”
Four hands popped up, and Jessie smiled.
Chapter 33
Jessie heaved a sigh when the bell rang. She’d done it.
She’d make it through her first week of teaching.
Jessie sank down in the chair behind her desk and took a long drink from her water bottle. She’d survived. Barely. She’d basically been treading water all week, but she’d made it. She’d even enjoyed it. But she wouldn’t admit that to anyone yet.
She grabbed a granola bar from her bag. The best way to fight her intermittent morning sickness was to eat small, frequent meals. She washed down the granola bar with more water as she contemplated the week. Overall, she supposed it had been a success.
Mr. White’s simple outline hadn’t been easy to follow, so she’d improvised a lot, but the students seemed to enjoy the activities she’d thrown at them. Next week, she’d start with the basics by teaching the elements of art and assign projects that illustrated each principle.
“You did it,” Emily said as she walked into Jessie’s classroom. “You made it through an entire week of teaching.”
Jessie grinned. “Technically, it wasn’t a full week, since I didn’t start until Tuesday, but I made it.”
Emily perched on the corner of a table. “Don’t hate me for pointing out that you’re smiling right now. I know the thought of teaching terrified you, but you’re practically glowing.” Dimples creased Emily’s cheeks as she smiled.
“I’m pretty sure I can chalk the glow up to pregnancy.” Jessie laughed, and Emily joined in. “Teaching still terrifies me.” She gave a sheepish grin. “But maybe it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I mean, I get to talk about art all day, what can be more fun than that?”
Emily rolled her eyes. “I enjoy talking about feelings. So tell me, how are you feeling right now?”
Jessie chuckled again as she grabbed a piece of scratch paper off her cluttered desk, balled it up, and threw it at Emily’s face.
Emily caught the makeshift ball and laughed again. “Seriously, Jessie, you look really happy. Teaching suits you.”
Jessie sobered as she thought about Savannah Reed, the talented junior in her seventh period class. It had only taken Jessie fifteen minutes to identify her as the student Mr. White had talked about.
Jessie had a lot of talented students, but Savannah was truly gifted, and she needed someone to help guide her to fully develop her talents.
Jessie smiled at Emily. “Thanks. I never—ever—dreamed of being a teacher, but I think I want to really give this a shot.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Emily stood. “I’ve got a little paperwork to do, then I’ll be ready to leave in about thirty minutes. Does that work for you?”
Instead of making Robert interrupt his workday to drive her home, Jessie rode home with Emily.
“Sure.”
Thirty minutes wasn’t near enough time for Jessie to prepare for next week, but neither would all weekend be. Ideas had flooded her mind throughout the week as she recalled lessons Mr. White and many of her college professors had taught her, and she was eager to develop them and make her own lesson plans.
Her thoughts turned to Robert. Would they do something together Saturday night?
Over the past several weeks, they’d fallen into a routine. They spent Wednesday evenings at the ceramics lab and hung out at the ranch on Saturdays. They’d taken walks, ridden four-wheelers, and done some target practice. Robert had even hinted once about taking her for a carriage ride.
She recalled how he watched her face after making the comment. They’d gone on many romantic carriage rides over the years, and the idea of taking another romantic ride in the Winters antique carriage with Robert appealed to her. But it would feel too much like a date.
