Delivering a Professor
The town still slumbers on this fall day, a slight wind sending fallen colored leaves scattering across sidewalks and lawns. Even the sun is still hidden, getting ready to shine at any minute. It is silent in one particular house. Its current occupants blissfully unaware their sleep, and any happy dreams they are having are about to be disturbed.
It's 5 o'clock and the alarm goes off. A wraithlike groan emerges from underneath a pile of pillows and covers after a loud smack turns off the screaming clock.
Enjoying late mornings on beautiful weekend days is a thing of the past for Henry. Getting up so early on the weekend is for sure going to take a toll on him soon. But 'til then, the eighteen year old is going to bust his ass to help out his mom.
Rising up from his bed, with a horrible nest for hair, the first thing Henry does in the morning is rouse himself up enough to get ready for the day. Which includes, taking a shower, brushing his teeth, putting on some clothes and making his bed hair disappear.
Then, at 5:30 he would make some coffee for his mom, whom he always has to try and wake up again after the alarm clock has failed to do so. His mother would then get up and moan and shuffle towards the kitchen like a zombie and drink the coffee Henry has already brewed.
After her coffee, his mom would go into the bathroom and get herself ready for the day as well, both having pretty much the same routine.
Their mornings are almost the same during the week. On school days, Henry wakes up at six and his mother would already be up and done with her morning routine and have breakfast ready for him. She would also have slipped lunch inside his backpack since eating at the college cafeteria was too expensive. Soon after, they would take the bus together, 'til his mom reached her stop at the small diner where she worked at. And Henry would get off several stops later near his college.
It is pretty hectic, but they make it work. Two days, after school, Henry would help out in the kitchen at Granny's, the diner where his mom works at and then again on the weekends. And thankfully, because of their crazy schedule, it is pretty nice to spend some time together at work.
But right now, on Saturdays (and Sundays for that matter) Henry gets up early first to deliver special neighborhood newspapers that only have resident stories and coupons from local mom and pop stores. They always gave him the same route where he would have to deliver the newspapers to, so that made the job easier.
"Alright, Bug," his mom says, already dressed for the day too. "Be careful. And I'll see you at lunchtime." They never say much in the mornings, mostly because they are too tired and never get enough sleep.
"Yeah, see ya later, Mom," he smiles and walks out of their two bedroom apartment. The area is a bit pricey, but he knows his mom insists on giving him a safe place to live.
Putting his music on, Henry makes his way to the distribution center where he needs to pick up the bundled newspapers, and place them in his canvas messenger bag so he can transport them around with ease.
Music in his ears, he makes his rounds through the suburban area, delivering his supply of papers. Since there are no new additions, doing it twice a week, he knows his blocks; where there are dogs that bite, the mean old folks, the friendly people that say 'good morning', and those that just don't give a shit.
But Henry is always brainstorming. Most importantly, he maybe knows of a way of making his mom happy. There is this one professor at school, who teaches literature, English, and creative writing. Henry didn't mean to keep an eye on the woman, but he couldn't help it. Ever since he saw a blonde woman leaving the house in a rage, he knew the professor is into women. Maybe she's bi, maybe she's gay, but it didn't really matter.
The blonde he saw leaving the professor's house a couple of months before though, seemed angry and she had left in a hurry with a weekend bag in her hand. And then he watched as his professor threw a couple of items at the retreating blonde woman. He had quickly hidden behind a couple of the neighbor's bushes to continue watching, thinking maybe he could even help his teacher if things got ugly. He heard the professor yell at the woman, "and don't even think about coming back! You dumbass bitch, did you really think I wouldn't find out!"
To be honest, he had been a bit shocked to see his usually composed professor being so angry and in a bit of a mess. But he knows his mom likes a no-nonsense woman that can stand her ground. And that's when he knows he has to come up with something.
So he came up with a plan, to hopefully get the two together. Okay, fine, maybe some would call what he is doing as stalking, but after a couple of weeks of watching and memorizing his professor's schedule, he now knows that by 6 o'clock or so, she will go out for a run.
Making his turn to the street where his professor lives at, he takes his earplugs out. Hoping to catch the woman today, humming a tune, he walks up her porch. Just when he was about to put the newspaper in the mailbox, the door swings open. 'Right on time.'
"Henry," a female voice behind him says. Turning around, he sees the professor standing there, in yoga pants and a loose shirt. It is radically different from the suits she always wears to class.
"Professor, good morning," he grins, the newspaper still in his hand.
"Good morning. Here, you can give me that." She points at the paper, smiling.
"Oh, yeah," he steps forward and hands the paper to the brunette.
Taking the newspaper, she steps back inside the house and drops it on a table next to the door. But the woman doesn't move from the doorway. "Henry?"
"Yes?"
"You haven't come to my office for help so I have to ask. How come your grades are going down?" She asks deadly serious.
'Well good, she's noticed and like I'd hoped, she cares. Maybe this plan can work,' he thinks. Of course he hadn't let his grades go down to point that he would be in danger of not passing, but just one or two points in the classes Miss Mills taught, enough to maybe get her attention.
"Well, um..." he shifts from one foot to the other. "I've been very busy with my two jobs and the projects you give are kinda... um... hard… I guess?" He shrugs, looking down at his feet.
"Henry, you know this current project isn't more then I usually give." She says, placing a hand on her hip as she leans against the door.
"Yeah, I know." He clears his throat. "Maybe everything is finally catching up with me. Plus all the work I have to do in my other classes, too." He says with a frown on his face.
"Well, I know it's not my place, but I think you shouldn't be working two jobs and going to school full time. Like you said, all this work is just too much, and it's beginning to show in your grades." she sighs. "What does your mother say about all of this?"
Henry sighs as well. "Well, she's been working three jobs ever since I started college just to pay for all of it. I can't let her do everything and work herself to death. What if she realizes she can't afford it all like next semester and she starts to sell drugs or turns to prostitution just to pay for my tuition. I can't let her do that, she's all I have! I don't have another parent. It has always only been her." Henry says, his voice raising a little. "Financial aid just doesn't cover enough."
"Okay dear, relax...it was just a question," the woman says raising the hand that had been on her hip a second ago. "I wasn't blaming her."
Henry groans, "Yes, I know, Miss Mills, I'm sorry." He nervously shifts the bag on his shoulder.
"That's alright," she soothes. "Maybe you would like some help with your assignment?" She asks. "I know there's a study hour in the lounge of the student center every day in the afternoons, if you'd like?"
"That's very kind, Professor, but most days I have to work after school, however…," Henry tries hard to look like he is thinking of a plan to figure out how to save his grades. But he already has everything mapped out. He is just hoping that the brunette would agree to his plan too. "But maybe..." he pauses for the dramatic effect of it. "No, never mind." He smiles sadly and shakes his head.
Miss Mills looks very determined and Henry is sure she will try hard to help him. 'Just the type of woman for my mom!'
"No, Henry, what is it?" she asks taking a step forward to where Henry is standing and gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Well, I'm free from ten 'til noon every Saturday and Sunday. That's when I'm done delivering the newspapers. I have until noon which is when I have to start my shift at the diner." He starts, "but I'm sure you already have your weekends full. I mean, it is the weekend after all." He smiles, putting on his puppy dog eyes. "And you must have someone you spend time with, like a boyfriend or girlfriend, a husband, a wife? Friends too! I know it's important to spend time with them. And of course, there's family, it's important to spend time with them as well. So I totally understand that you wouldn't have time for me, so don't worry about it." His mother always tells him that he rambles too much, but in this case, he hopes he looks kind of pathetic and can get some sympathy out of the woman.
The brunette smiles, "no, actually, I usually don't have plans for my weekends. No romantic relationship for that matter, either. So I'm sure I can help you out for the hours you have some spare time."
"Really?" He asks, maybe a little over excitedly. "That would be amazing! Maybe at the diner would be a good place? It's public so it wouldn't look inappropriate and you wouldn't get in trouble for helping me after school hours." He smiles happily, hoping he could get some points for also being considerate about the professor's reputation. "I could bring my books and laptop if that's okay?"
"Yes, that would be fine," the woman smiles. "Though it would be better for me to start tutoring you next week. I dohave plans to visit my parents on the other side of town, this weekend."
Henry beams, "that's alright, like I said, family is important."
"That it is," Miss Mills smiles back. "So, what time next week shall we start with the tutoring?"
"Oh please," Henry whines. "Don't call it tutoring. That sounds awful. Um, how does 10:30 sound? Then I would have some time to go home to get my stuff."
"Alright, 10:30 next Saturday it is," she smiles. Closing the front door, they walk down the street together. "Now don't be late, Swan, I think I know you a little bit too well." She smirks.
Henry groans, "oh god, don't remind me."
They say their goodbyes and part ways. Smiling, Henry puts his earplugs back in. 'Part one, check.' He thinks. Now his mom and Professor Mills will finally meet.
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