Chapter Title:
Taking Action

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A teacher stood at the front of a cramped class room, giving examples of math problems for her third grade class to write down and solve on their own. After giving the instructions to the kids before her, Mrs. Turpin, the seventy something teacher, sat behind her makeshift desk and watched her students like a hawk. A low murmur fell over the class as they worked together to finish their work before time was up.

Unlike most teachers, Mrs. Turpin actually made you do the work. Then again, she was one of the few that had actually gotten a degree to teach. The rest were just hired in because the school, if you could call it that, couldn't afford to pay the higher price and just stuck with drop outs or anyone who the people running the school deem fitting enough. I say 'people' because they were all sure there was no actual principal or superintendent or any of that. But in this district, they were lucky to even have a building to use so no one really said anything about the dealings of the 'school'.

About twenty minutes after Mrs. Turpin had given the assignment, she called the class to attention and passed out a sheet of homework they were to do for that night and hand back in the coming Monday. They were then dismissed.

"Harry, dear, will you please come over here for a second?" A little boy with black hair and green eyes, looked up at his teacher and nodded. He walked over with a dull orange folder in his hands that was holding his uncrincled homework.

"Yes, Mrs. Turpin?" he asked in a small voice, looking at the floor. Thee teacher gently pushed him to a desk at the front and kneeled in next to him.

"Harry, I wanted to talk to you about the drawings you do during art hour." He looked as if his hand were caught in a cookie jar. "It's nothing to worry about, son. I was just gong to tell you that I liked them. They're really good. You must have so much hidden talent." the elderly teacher gave him a soft smile. "Harry, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?" At his hesitant nod she continued. "Would you be willing to take these,-" She drew a small, palm sized sketch pad and box of crayons out of her apron pocket. "-off my hands? You see, they're always getting in the way but I don't want to give them to the class because I know they wouldn't take care of them, but I'm sure you will." She paused but he didn't answer. "I'll tell you what. You hold on to these for me and you can draw whatever you want to in them, okay? Doesn't matter what it is. Will you please do this for me Harry?" After a few seconds he finally nodded, a small smile playing on his own lips. "Thank you, Harry. You best be off now. Don't want to keep you from the day." She stood back up and watched the boy shuffle away, almost forgetting the pad and crayons.

Mrs. Turpin turned around and gather her few belonging, ready to leave for the day.

"Now, why would you do a thing like that?" came a smooth draw of a voice from the door way. The teacher spun on her heal, but only gave a huff of annoyance when she saw just who it was.

"I don't know what you're talking about. But if you'll excuse me, I have places to go." She walked to the back of the classroom, toward the door, but the man just stood there, not planning on letting her leave until he understood her motives.

"You do too know what I'm talking about Turpin. You're encouraging him, aren't you? He'll never get anywhere from a slum like this and you know it. The question is... why did you give him the notebook and colored crayons like you did? An interesting way to do so, I must say."

"If you must know, I asked him to do it as a favor because he seems to have trouble with accepting help from others, even you should have seen that." She glared at him before pushing him to the side and going through the door, "Now, I really must go. Good day." (Before you ask, this weird guy is just some teacher. Not anyone of importance... I think... might change.)

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To Be Continued...

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Chibi: There you go. Another story. Not that I need to add more stores that'll be murder to remember to update.
PlotBunnie: No kidding.
Chibi: ... You're not very helpful you know... -_-
PlotBunnie: ... Yup! ^.^

Ja!
-Chibi

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