"Which doesn't mean I won't miss you.", Mr. August Dimitri ("Experience is the Teacher" 4/1/02)
Author's note: I'm actually pretty sad that this story will stop here. Really any one of the chapters could have been the ending& maybe some would have been more right ...but well today actually seems incredibly fitting for this story to end. Happy "Experience is the Teacher" day!! And to top things off with that whole "full circle" thing (I'm stopping at chapter 29..brilliant accident! since 1/29 is a day I'm remember all my life. aww) I haven't written any fiction in awhile, so this is really awkward, but hope it's okay. Please review either this chapter or the completed story. I really enjoyed writing this and even more so reading any comments. There are so many people I want to thank for, you know, things. And I think the biggest thing I've realized --I know , I know.."what did you realize?". That ...it's only love. Here is my short and sweet farewell. Fair thee well.
DESTINY TURNED ON THE TELEVISION
"'I have heard of flirting.'" Grace said. "I can't believe you don't remember that."
"I didn't say I didn't say it, only that I really do believe my intentions were misconstrued. I'm an oblivious man."
"Oh my God."
"I kid you not," August pleaded only to lose his case. Inscrutableness evaporated for a moment in his eyes. August started looking for his sunglasses in the car.
"So are you sure you want to do this. I mean you know, you don't have to--", Grace looked around, "I'd understand."
"Hmm"
"Okay."
They were out of the car and August moved around to the passenger side. He put his arms around Grace. "But I do really really want to."
Grace, "Okay". She let him kiss her neck, until she spotted her dad pulling into the parking lot of Upton farther away. She twisted and found August's hand, holding it. "There's my dad."
August didn't say anything, but it seemed like he remembered Jake.
"Mr. Manning." August tentatively shook his hand. Good grip.
Jake thought about how odd it would be to sit next to this guy through the ceremony. At least he cleaned up okay with the haircut, Jake mused. Much less artsy that way. Actually Jake was coming to have emotions in the way of Dimitri.
The graduation ceremony went smoothly. Mostly people didn't even notice Dimitri in the crowd, anyone in any position to know who he was anyway. Those who did gossiped from a removed distance. Because life often imitates art is a little true, he met Alexa after the ceremony.
"Mr. Dimitri?"
"Alexa."
"Are you teaching, or--?", she wasn't sure what to say.
"I'm here as a guest."
"Oh. So you aren't staying long?", Alexa continued. She was thinking what could she say. "I mean it looks like people are starting to get ready to leave. Goodbyes and all that."
He nodded. "Yeah, it does."
There was a pause.
August looked at Alexa and then added, "What happened with your quiz on Grendel?"
Alexa's thrown. "Grendel. Oh, I guess--"
Dimitri, "So do you remember who you picked, Grendel or Beowulf--as being the more sympathetic character. I remember that was a question."
Alexa actually did remember, "I picked Beowulf, right?"
He nodded again (inscrutable), smiled and looked thoughtful. "'Grendel, Grendel! You make the world by whispers, second by second. Are you blind to that? Whether you make it a grave or a garden of roses is not the point. Feel the wall: is it not hard?'. Beowulf."
It was sad to leave these kids behind, even the ones that hadn't played larger parts in his experience at the school. He didn't even know some of their names, but somehow they were familiar faces. It was always curious what people thought about, talked about, etc.
Much too soon, Lily and Rick stood facing Grace and Dimitri, with paper cups of punch in their hands. Lily set down her drink. Grace had just finished telling them, on August's behalf, about his decision to send a few of the things he'd written out. A few poems, but also short stories. He wasn't sure what category his work would fit in at all. Grace whispered to Dimitri a moment, then left the group.
Lily smiled, "I'm very happy for you. And -wow--I can't believe I'm saying this but, now I can't imagine our lives without you as a part of it all. It's hard to pin point when that happened."
August looked at her. "Well I take some getting used to."
Rick, "Don't say that". He didn't want him to be offended. They'd become friends.
August "No no. What I mean is, thank you."
He spotted Grace across the room talking with another student, and looked at her. August put down his paper cup and left the auditorium. He started to walk down the hall when he heard clicking, half runs with heels behind him. Grace. He turned around.
"To close Act One. What do you think?", Mr. August Dimitri ("Destiny turns on the Radio.")
Author's note: I'm actually pretty sad that this story will stop here. Really any one of the chapters could have been the ending& maybe some would have been more right ...but well today actually seems incredibly fitting for this story to end. Happy "Experience is the Teacher" day!! And to top things off with that whole "full circle" thing (I'm stopping at chapter 29..brilliant accident! since 1/29 is a day I'm remember all my life. aww) I haven't written any fiction in awhile, so this is really awkward, but hope it's okay. Please review either this chapter or the completed story. I really enjoyed writing this and even more so reading any comments. There are so many people I want to thank for, you know, things. And I think the biggest thing I've realized --I know , I know.."what did you realize?". That ...it's only love. Here is my short and sweet farewell. Fair thee well.
DESTINY TURNED ON THE TELEVISION
"'I have heard of flirting.'" Grace said. "I can't believe you don't remember that."
"I didn't say I didn't say it, only that I really do believe my intentions were misconstrued. I'm an oblivious man."
"Oh my God."
"I kid you not," August pleaded only to lose his case. Inscrutableness evaporated for a moment in his eyes. August started looking for his sunglasses in the car.
"So are you sure you want to do this. I mean you know, you don't have to--", Grace looked around, "I'd understand."
"Hmm"
"Okay."
They were out of the car and August moved around to the passenger side. He put his arms around Grace. "But I do really really want to."
Grace, "Okay". She let him kiss her neck, until she spotted her dad pulling into the parking lot of Upton farther away. She twisted and found August's hand, holding it. "There's my dad."
August didn't say anything, but it seemed like he remembered Jake.
"Mr. Manning." August tentatively shook his hand. Good grip.
Jake thought about how odd it would be to sit next to this guy through the ceremony. At least he cleaned up okay with the haircut, Jake mused. Much less artsy that way. Actually Jake was coming to have emotions in the way of Dimitri.
The graduation ceremony went smoothly. Mostly people didn't even notice Dimitri in the crowd, anyone in any position to know who he was anyway. Those who did gossiped from a removed distance. Because life often imitates art is a little true, he met Alexa after the ceremony.
"Mr. Dimitri?"
"Alexa."
"Are you teaching, or--?", she wasn't sure what to say.
"I'm here as a guest."
"Oh. So you aren't staying long?", Alexa continued. She was thinking what could she say. "I mean it looks like people are starting to get ready to leave. Goodbyes and all that."
He nodded. "Yeah, it does."
There was a pause.
August looked at Alexa and then added, "What happened with your quiz on Grendel?"
Alexa's thrown. "Grendel. Oh, I guess--"
Dimitri, "So do you remember who you picked, Grendel or Beowulf--as being the more sympathetic character. I remember that was a question."
Alexa actually did remember, "I picked Beowulf, right?"
He nodded again (inscrutable), smiled and looked thoughtful. "'Grendel, Grendel! You make the world by whispers, second by second. Are you blind to that? Whether you make it a grave or a garden of roses is not the point. Feel the wall: is it not hard?'. Beowulf."
It was sad to leave these kids behind, even the ones that hadn't played larger parts in his experience at the school. He didn't even know some of their names, but somehow they were familiar faces. It was always curious what people thought about, talked about, etc.
Much too soon, Lily and Rick stood facing Grace and Dimitri, with paper cups of punch in their hands. Lily set down her drink. Grace had just finished telling them, on August's behalf, about his decision to send a few of the things he'd written out. A few poems, but also short stories. He wasn't sure what category his work would fit in at all. Grace whispered to Dimitri a moment, then left the group.
Lily smiled, "I'm very happy for you. And -wow--I can't believe I'm saying this but, now I can't imagine our lives without you as a part of it all. It's hard to pin point when that happened."
August looked at her. "Well I take some getting used to."
Rick, "Don't say that". He didn't want him to be offended. They'd become friends.
August "No no. What I mean is, thank you."
He spotted Grace across the room talking with another student, and looked at her. August put down his paper cup and left the auditorium. He started to walk down the hall when he heard clicking, half runs with heels behind him. Grace. He turned around.
"To close Act One. What do you think?", Mr. August Dimitri ("Destiny turns on the Radio.")