"Miss March!" Mrs. Kirk yelled up the stairs. Jo had slept late, quite by accident, and was late to start the children's lessons.
"I'll be there in just a moment!" Jo called down, dressing as quickly as she could. She ran downstairs, two steps at a time, and into the kitchen where the children were likely eating breakfast. When she stumbled into the kitchen, however, the only one there was Mrs. Kirk.
"Don't worry, Miss March. Professor Bhaer took them to the park while you prepare their lessons for today." The older woman reassured her.
"Who is Professor Bhaer?" She asked, having only been there a week and terrible learning names.
"He's a nice man, I'm sure you'll meet him later."
And Jo did meet him later. That evening, Jo sat at the dinner table. There was only one other person there, a man who looked to be about thirty-five or so. The others who lived in the house were off doing whatever they did, whether it be working or not. Neither of the two at the table spoke for quite a while. Jo was lost in thought, wondering who the kind man could have been who had helped her that morning.
"You are Miss March, correct?" The man across from her said suddenly, jolting her from her thoughts.
"Hm? Oh, yes, that's me." She said, looking at him.
"Ah! Good! I am Professor Bhaer, I took the children to the park today while you were busy." He explained. Her face turned a little red. She hadn't been busy, she'd been asleep. But she didn't correct him.
"You are? Oh! I was wondering who I was to thank, since I'd never met you before!" She smiled. "Now that I know who you are, well, thank you."
"You are quite welcome. They are lovely children, are they not?" He said.
"They are. I've never been a teacher before, goodness knows how they deal with me." She said with a light laugh. The professor smiled warmly.
"I am sure you are a fine teacher, though Mrs. Kirk tells me that you prefer to be- what did she call it?- an authoress." He said, now trying to strike up a conversation. Jo looked at him with interest. He had a funny sort of accent. German, perhaps? His English was good, though he seemed to be talking slowly to be sure he was understood.
"She told you that? Well, I suppose that's alright, it wasn't a secret… but yes, I am hoping to be an authoress. I spend my free time writer. I've sent things to publishers and newspapers, but all I've gotten so far is rejections." she shrugged.
"Ah, but that will motivate you to write better, yes?" Professor Bhaer asked. It was funny, he seemed genuinely interested. Most didn't like it when she rambled on about her writing.
"Yes, I suppose so. I'll try my hand at poetry, maybe. My little sister always says I'm a wonderful poet, even though I prefer to write stories." She said.
"Well, I wish you the best of luck, Miss March." He smiled kindly at her.
"Thank you, Professor. And, please, just call me Jo. I don't see the need for formality." She smiled.
"If you'd prefer it, Miss- Jo." He nodded. "I'll see you around, yes?"
She nodded. Long after she'd gone back to her room, she sat pondering the conversation. What a peculiar man… kind, yes, but peculiar.