Autumns Past


A shotgun blast broke the silence that lay around him. Stephen Harper looked up from his reading. Harry Senate was outside, with some students. Harry, as temporary skeet coach. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but ultimately was it a good idea to willingly equip Harry with a gun? Since Harry was the only one in the school with experience and a license for a gun, Harry was the only choice to be the temp coach for the skeet shooting team that fall till someone more permanent could be found. Harry agreed but not without his usual stipulations. He had to take over any classes he missed. Skeet matches took place during school hours. Stephen reluctantly agreed. Harry was teaching contemporary history. He was on the 1971 - a year which the Vietnam war was still taking place. The textbook he read was so boring and analytical, he almost fell asleep reading the first few pages. It was the gun shot that woke him from his dazed stupor. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head.

"Lord don't make me regret that decision already." He muttered.

Stephen went to the window and looked out. Harry was out on the football field with some skeet discs and a gun. He had just shot one to demonstrate the power of the weapon. Harry looked up at the window. He was a good distance away, so he picked up a stray megaphone.
"Sorry, chief!" He said as the megaphone amplified his voice with some feedback."Did I wake you again?"
"I wasnt sleeping!" He shouted. "Just be careful with that thing!"
"You know me!" Harry said protesting with a playful shrug.
"Thats exactly why I'm warning you!" Stephen said.
Harry nodded and turned back to his classmates.
"He gets so grumpy when he doesnt get his afternoon nap." Harry said.

Stephen grabbed the pitcher of water he had asked Louisa for earlier and poured himself a cup of water. He was gonna need everything to keep him for falling asleep during the semingly interminable chapter on 1968. Lucky for Stephen, he didnt have to teach this part till next Friday. He started to wish he had asked for coffee instead but he knew that had he had enough water, he would run to the bathroom more than enough times to keep him awake.

But as he sipped the water he realized the beverage wasn't helping him at all. As he got more and more frustrated with the descriptions of battles that took place, overseas and on home turf, he gradually grew more tired and tired. He felt his eyes start to shut by themselves. They seemed to grow heavier by the minute. He looked longingly at a the couch he had in his office. A green soft leather piece he had found at a yard sale when his request for a new couch had been denied. It had a conspicous wet yard sale leather smell and there was a piece of duct tape covering a tear in the seam and one of the cusions. Even though the couch had its defects, it was starting to look cozier by the minute.
"I'll take a little nap." He said. "I'm the principal. I can do that if I want to." He said. He walked up to the door that lead into his office and locked it. He pulled the shade down so onlookers wouldnt gawk at him while he slept. He then turned the lights off and closed the window, lest any noise wake him up. He took a worn out pillow and fluffed it up the best he could and placed it at the head of the couch. He then laid down. As he settled he could see that his feet extended over the arm of the chair. He decided then he wouldnt be making school naps a habit, at least on this couch. He quietly lay for a few seconds until sleep began to completely and totally overcome him. He was in a deep sleep before he knew it.


November 1971

The bell rang loudly as class let out for first period social studies. Stephen Harper, first year teacher, let himself crash into his seat with a heavy moan. His first day as a teacher was hell but it didn't feel like it was going to get any easier. As one of only three black teachers in the school, it was harder to get through to the students than it would have it he had been one of the white teachers. Everything he was trying to teach them didnt seem to stick, going through one ear only to emerge out the other.

Stephen was tired. He felt like putting his head on his desk when a pile of books came crashing down, startling him. Scott Guber, the principal had just dropped a pile of books on his desk.
"Wake up." He said. "I don't need anyone sleeping on the job today." He said. "I need everyone alert, especially since that anti-war rally is taking place this afternoon." Scott growled. "Even though I can't stop it, I can still exert a little control over it. I want you there this afternoon."
"If you don't want the rally to happen, why are you allowing it?" He asked him.
"It'd be a lot easier to just let it happen then suffer the consequences later." Scott reasoned. "I already have one teacher participating in the rally, I'm not about to let another one join them." He said. He walked out the door. A group of students passed in front of him. "Damn hippies."
Stephen started to prepare for his next class when Marla snuck in the room.
"Guber seemed real mad." She said.
"He's always mad. I don't think a smile is programmed into that mans brain." Stephen said giving Marla a warm hug.
"He's still upset about me being involved inthe rally." She said reading his mind. He nodded. "I don't care what he thinks. I'm not about to change my beliefs for him or anyone." She said defiantely. "I promised those students I would sing. And sing I will." She looked at him. "What do you think about that?"
"I think anyone would be out of their mind to consider challenging you or your belief system." Stephen laughed. "I'll be there."
"Well good." She said. "I would have never ever forgiven you if you werent." She said squeezing his hand. "See you later." She smiled at him. "Four O'clock sharp. Don't be late."
"I wouldnt for the world." Stephen said.
Marla closed the door when she left. On the way down the hall she passed Harry Senate, high school senior talking to one Lauren Davis, also a senior.
"Will I see you later?" She asked.
"I don't know." Harry said. "I got this letter in the mail today." Harry handed an envelope to her. "I haven't opened it yet." He said she looked it over. "But check out the return address."
"This says its from the united states government." Lauren said. "You have to open this it might be serious."
"I know but you know what it could be." Harry said his face turning serious. Lauren thought about it.
"Yeah. I do." She said feeling her face sink. "But open anyway, I want to know for sure."
"Okay," Harry said. "But keep in mind I'm doing this for you." Harry started to carefully open the envelope. After a minute he changed his mind and ripped it open. He took out the contents, an official looking letter and some other documents and some type of card. He read over the letter and looked at the card. He turned it over in his hand.
"What is it?" Lauren asked.
"Its what I was afraid of." He said shoving the contents back in the envelope. "I've been drafted."
Lauren gasped. Harry shoved the letter in his pocket.
"What are you going to do?" Lauren asked.
"The only thing I can do." Harry said. The first bell for classes rung. He looked up at the clock. "Look, I have to go, but after classes are over, will you meet me after school?"
"Sure what for?" Lauren asked.
"I have something to ask you thats very important." Harry said. He started to run to his class. "Meet me later!"
"All right." Lauren said. She went off to class but she couldnt help wondering what it was that Harry wanted from her.

to be continued...