Off the Record

I looked like one of them. My converse shoes, gray pants and layered shirt look threw them off, I’m sure. I wore a blazer though, in an effort to maintain some sort of resemblance to a professor who had actually gotten their master’s degree and teaching certificate. A boy named C.D. stopped me short and asked, his large eyes, shaggy hair and ski cap making me smile, “Do you go to school here now?” “No.” “Oh,” he looked at his feet, “well, my name’s C.D.” “Hi.” “See ya.” On my next encounter with him he asked my name and what I was doing there. At the beginning of my last class I decided to take roll while sitting on the desk. In Saved by the Bell and Full House the cool teachers ALWAYS sat on the desks while lecturing. I let them saunter in and take their seats before diving right in, saying my name was Sarah and that their teacher had grown so tired of them that she took a day off. I gave them their assignment for the day and let them run with it, all of them holding themselves very well. One boy introduced himself to me with a strong handshake before class even begun. Another seemed intent on discussing my favorite Almadovar films during Spanish class. He was also curious about the way I drove to Alton from my apartment in South City. One girl asked me outright, “How old are you, anyway? Someone older could never dress the way you do and get away wtih it.” I was wearing a neck tie under a sweater. After my second day, I knew that this was definitely something I could get very used to.