Some of the stories I write come from dreams I have this one I had last night I thought I would write it down before the memory begins to fade.

The man sat in one of the chairs in the reception area of the high school a little uncomfortable in the long leather coat that reached almost all the way to the top of his boots. He knew the school well he had attended the same school until about eight years earlier when he had graduated. Now he was back he had come in response to an advertisement that the school was looking for a history teacher. The interview had gone well Mr. De Wit the principal had reason to remember Jim.

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Helen Miss Waters had all but assured him that he had got the job Jim had reason to remember Miss Waters she had been the English and detention teacher. In fact Jim had sat detention a number of times in order to spend time in her class she was a beautiful woman with a wonderful mind. She made life in detention classes interesting usually the teachers who did detention duty before she arrived pretty much allowed the kids to do there home work read or any thing else that took there fancy but when Miss Water arrived at the school she started debates on many different subjects which made the children think at first there had been some disagreement from the other teachers who claimed detention was supposed to be a punishment not some thing to be enjoyed. Mr. De Wet had called Helen in and was about to inform her that things would have to go back to the way they had been Helen had then asked did Mr. De Wet not think it would be better to spend the time educating the children instead of leaving them to there own devices. Mr. De Wet had to admit she had a point and as a result things continued pretty much in that way up until the day that Jim had left school.

Jim's mind was taken back to the day he left school he remembered it well. In the first class of the day English he had taken his place next to his life long friend Colin Lee Colin had always been in with the popular crowed but had always found time to spend with Jim whom he had known since first grade. Colin was a bit of a bully he would some times do silly and hurtful things to Jim who tended to the heavy nerd side. Colin would flick ink on to Jim's shirt and make fun of him laughing with the others of the popular crowd at Jim's expense. Later Colin would sit down with Jim and smile apologetically and Jim like a fool would forgive him they had graduated on the same day three months later Colin had been arrested and sent away to prison while in prison he had died. A young life wasted. Jim thought about this for a moment before he turned once more to what he remembered of the last day they had spent together. Although he was a bit of a nerd Jim was also no teachers pet and had been sent to detention a number of times through his high school career because of the pranks he would pull. On of the reasons for his frequent visits to the detention class was the fact that he had a serious crush on Miss Waters her taking over of the detention class had made him get caught more often. Getting caught doing pranks had almost broken his mothers heart she was also a teacher at the school. Time and again she had spoken to Jim about his detention record but it just did not seem to help He was in love with Miss Waters he would sit in the class and watch her every move like most teenage boys he had an active fantasy life in one of the fantasias he got out of school got a job and married Miss Waters. But some thing seemed to happen as the years passed he began to take an active part in the debates in detention class, so much so that he even managed to join the debate team and had a few moments of glory. As a young boy he had watched a number of Adventure movies in which the hero would always be dressed in a long black leather coat Jim adopted the long coat although not made of leather as his distinguishing mark. And was seen every where in the coat.

Mr. De Wet had many occasions to call the wayward young man into his office sit him down and give him a long lecture after his latest prank.
However on his last day Jim had come to the conclusion that he wanted to be a teacher he was not about to disclose this to Colin who was sitting next to him in class but he did want to say a few words of thanks to the teachers at the end of the day before he took the buss home. He went through all the motions common to students the world over o n the last day at school the shirt signing the scribbled notes in the last yearbook. During the last recess Jim sort out Miss Waters and asked if he might have a moment of her time to which she agreed she was always willing to give up time for a student Jim hesitantly launched into a speech about wanting to give back some thing to the school community and this is why he had decided to become a teacher it was also because he had learned so much from her that he wanted to become a teacher in fact she had been a deciding factor in his decision to become a teacher she listened as he finished speech then said James I am very pleased and flattered I am sure that you will make a wonderful teacher when you finish at teachers collage you come see us so we can see if we can fix you up with a job she then kissed him on the cheek affectionately after four years in her class she had kissed his cheek he blushed he was not going to wash his cheek for a week..

At the end of the school day as the bell rang and the crowds of students and teachers made there way out of the school Jim made his way to the staff room here he found most of the teachers who had taught him since he was 12. He entered the room with a slight fear in his heart Mr. De Wit asked him what he wanted. “I would like to say a few words to the teachers who have taken such good care of my education for the last five years he said. To this Mr. De Wit agreed.

Ladies and Gentleman I would just like to say thank you for taking the time to educate me over the last five years I know it could not always have easy I just want you to know that I value every thing you have done for me. The teachers some of which had been at the school for a very long time rose from there chairs and came forward Mrs. Jamneck who was about 90 years old and smelt strange came forward and shook his hand Young man you take care now she said. Mrs. Du Plesis another teacher in her middle age came forward and hugged the young man saying I know a bright future awaits you Jim wondered if Helen Miss Waters had told the teaching of his decision Mr. De Wet crossed the room to a cupboard and drew out a cardboard box which he handed to Jim Opening it Jim was confronted with the various items which he had used in his pranks. Softly Mr. De Wet said later when you are a teacher let these things remind you of all that can go wrong in a students life but think also of the benefits of a good education.

Rushing now to catch the buss he came across the school janitor and his assistant who were driving the grounds in a golf cart Jump a board son said Arthur or you will never catch the buss in time.

Reaching the buss Jim was among the last to board the buss the buss was full with many students leaving school and those going home for the holidays from two different schools Jim opened the box and found some balloons quietly he blew one up and let it go in the buss some of the students laughed uncontrollably as others ducked in fright I have still got it thought Jim as a young Dutch girl from the other school sat down besides him Hello I am Gertie she said with a smile they talked as the buss traveled the long road to the town in which they lived Colin came and said good bye before getting off the buss that would be the last time Jim would see him. Gertie was an open friendly girl who had also graduated. The following year she planed to find a job then go to collage to finish her education as they neared home she asked for his address they were surprised to find that they lived no more then two blocks apart Gertie invited Jim to a party that night at her parents home just before he got off the buss.

Walking the last part of the journey Jim arrived home to find his mother and father and younger brother Peter waiting for him a nice graduation dinner laid out Son I am proud of you said his father over dinner and a glass of red wine now what plans do you have for the future he asked? I plan to find a job and go teachers collage said Jim to there surprise his mother rose and came round the table with tears in her eyes to hug him the old man poured another glass of wine. He did go to the party and got to know Gertie a little better they were married in the following spring they now had a three month old baby boy who looked just like his father Jim had shed a few pounds since school and now wore contacts which made him look very handsome.

Now as he sat in the office Helen entered the office and smiled Mr. De Wet will be here shortly she said. Just then Mr. De Wet walked in well congratulations James you have the job you start as the history and detention teacher Monday here are some documents you need to go through and sign return them Monday and you can call me Dave said the man. ,shaking Jim's hand.

Out side in the passage as he was leaving Jim noticed a rather heavy boy in a long coat and glasses. "Things don't change much" thought Jim as he pushed open the door.