Peyton poured the coffee into a mug. Piping hot, with no sugar or cream was the way she had always liked it. She took a sip and sank into the chair at the kitchen table, still in her old, fuzzy bathrobe and bunny slippers. She was sullen and angry as she put the finishing touches on the sketch she had just started.
"Lucy, I'm home!" Jake bellowed in his best Ricky Ricardo impression as he entered the front door fresh from another away game.
"Hey", she said, not bothering to look at him.
"What's up? Did you miss me?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Babe, can you not be so loud?" she snapped, rubbing her head.
"You having those headaches again?"
"Yeah", she sighed.
"You take something for it?"
"Yeah but it doesn't help. It never does. The pain just has to run its course."
"Well, I'm worried about you. You've been getting Migraines a lot lately. They mostly come when you're upset or stressed out. You okay?"
"I'm fine, Jake."
He placed a kiss on her forehead before checking his watch.
"Okay but Teach, you better get a move on. Don't want to be late on your second day."
"I'm not going", she said matter of factly.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"What did you do, quit?" he joked.
"Yeah", she said, not joking.
"Pey, are you kidding me?"
"Does it look like I'm kidding?" she gave him an icy death glare.
He rubbed her palm.
"What happened?" he asked softly.
"The kids are evil and they hate me. They aren't interested in art and I don't think I'm cut out for this teaching or saving the world shit."
"It was just one day, babe."
"So you're saying I should go back for a few more days of abuse so I can be really sure?" she asked in a sarcastic tone.
"No. I wasn't there and if you say it sucks then it must suck but you know how the first day is. You know how kids treat the new teacher. Not so long ago we used to be those kids. Pey, imagine what it was like teaching Nathan Scott."
"The bunch I had was ten times worse than Nathan could have ever been."
"Ouch."
"I can't do it, Jake. I know you think I should go back and so does Haley but I can't."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I just can't."
"Okay."
"Okay? Just okay?"
"Just okay."
"No lecture? No pleading with me? No telling me you're disappointed?"
"Peyton, this is your decision. I can't make it for you. I know the experience was tough and I'm sure the kids were tough but I thought the woman I married was a little tougher."
"Jake…"
"Where's the chick who used to beat up bitchy rival cheerleaders? The girl who has a heart of gold but still doesn't take anyone's shit. The woman that stands up for herself and what she believes in. Where's my Peyton?"
"Jake…"
"What?"
She couldn't help but smile.
"You deserve an Emmy, an Oscar and a Tony for that one. Did Haley put you up to this?"
"I am innocent", he put his hands up.
Peyton shook her head.
"Okay. Let's say if I go back and that is a very strong and unlikely if. Not only do I have to get their attention, I have to keep it."
"Right? That's in any classroom."
"How Jake?"
He thought for a minute until his eyes fell upon her latest drawing.
"A little personal experience?"
"Yeah", she shrugged.
"Impressive. It's really good actually. Why don't you share?"
She stared at it.
"Fine", she finally mumbled. "But this Cliff Huxtable reverse psychology, 'everything gets happily resolved at the end of the sitcom' bullshit is really grating my nerves. No more Nick at Nite for you."
"You, my dear, drive a hard bargain", he quipped.
"And you suck, Jagielski. I mean it. You owe me big time."
"I will make it up to you. How about tonight? Me, you and a private candle lit home cooked meal. How does that sound?"
"I'm warming up to the idea…"
He grinned as he kissed her.
"Here", he said handing her an apple. "No teacher is ready to start the day without it."
"Is this my lucky apple?"
"If you say so but we both know you don't need luck. It's all in here", he patted her chest indicating her heart.
"I love you, Jake", she said as she went to shower and dress. "I might not say it enough but I do. I really love you."
"Right back at you", he winked. "Now go knock them dead…Teach."
She smiled and showered quickly. Wearing minimal make up, she threw her hair into a messy bun and put on her favorite Ramones tee shirt with jeans and a beat up pair of Converse. Giving Jake a quick kiss good bye, she carefully placed her newest creation into her portfolio and slipped out the door.
On the drive to the school, her heart pounded a little quicker and heavier and she impatiently tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. She arrived shortly after the bell rang and her first class was already in high gear.
"Hey everybody", one of the girls laughed. "The hippie came back."
"Don't mind me", Peyton shrugged as she assembled the portable easel she had brought in from the trunk of her car.
The kids continued to interact amongst themselves but the conversation died down as their curiosity got the best of them. Especially when Peyton put up her new sketch and added a few more details.
"Hey. What are you doing?" Jamal asked.
"Just drawing", Peyton answered nonchalantly.
"Drawing what?"
"I don't know. Stuff."
"Stuff? But the people in that picture look like us."
"They do?" she asked, pretending to be surprised.
"Did you do that, Mrs. Jagoleski, Jack o lantern, Jolly Rancher…whatever your name is."
"Yep. And it's Jagielski but you can call me Peyton."
"That's good", another girl said.
"Yeah", came the echo.
One by one, mesmerized, the students came to check out their portrait. The physical likeness and detail was uncanny. Like always, she had labeled her work. The title of the masterpiece was Where The Wild Things.
"How'd you do that?"
"What's your name?" Peyton asked.
"Marisol", the girl answered.
"Marisol? That's a very pretty name. I'll tell you what. I did this all on my own with two markers and a blank sheet of paper."
"Was it hard?"
"No, it's pretty easy."
"Maybe for you", Jamal snorted. "It ain't like you can teach us to do that."
"Maybe, maybe not. But I can teach you the history and the fundamentals of art. I can show you the different ways to paint and draw. I can help you with technique."
A pretty blonde girl who had quietly been sitting at the back of the class raised her hand.
"Um, my name is Amanda. I like your drawing. It's really good. But what if we don't get as good as you?"
"Yeah", the class murmured in unison.
"Well, Amanda, all you have to do is try. I've never been big on rules but I do have four for this class. Number one, we all have to respect each other. That means no name calling, no talking out of turn. Number two, you guys have to promise me that you'll always try. Even if you feel like it sucks or you won't do a good job, just give it an honest effort. And the third thing is, you guys have to listen. I am the teacher so when I'm talking, I need your full attention. And you see that little beanbag on my desk? Whenever one of you guys has something to say, you get tossed the bag and whoever has that bag has the floor and we will hear what the person has to say without rebuttal. Okay?"
The class seemed to be buying it.
"That was only three", Marisol said. "What's the fourth rule?"
Peyton smiled.
"My favorite…have fun. Art is cool. It's work but it doesn't have to be so serious all the time. You guys should enjoy this."
"Okay", they seemed to nod in agreement.
"Good. Now if we have a deal, let's begin. I'll do roll call first and then I'll talk a little bit about the different kinds of art and all the stuff we're going to do this year."
There were no objections, no backtalk and nothing thrown at her. It was going pretty well and Peyton couldn't help but smile to herself. It was smooth sailing all the way to the bell when her next and only other class shortly filed in. It was a smaller group and they were between the ages of 9 and 11. With the exception of making fart noises with their armpit and singing aloud to the latest rap song, it wasn't so bad. They were actually kind of sweet. And when that bell rang, Peyton finally felt like she could breathe again.
"Hey", came a soft voice from the doorway.
"Hey", Peyton said back.
"Better day than yesterday?" Haley asked.
"It wasn't so bad."
"Then you're back for good?"
"I guess", the blonde shrugged.
Haley smiled.
"You know, a lot of the supplies we get for the kids end up coming out of pocket. It sucks but it's worth it. If you'd like, I have a book of art supplies and stuff. Maybe we could order them together."
"Okay. Thanks."
Haley nodded.
"So…are you gonna tell me what really brought you back?"
Peyton shrugged.
"A really awesome husband who loves me despite the fact I have my head up my ass on most days…and a pretty cool best friend who sweetly and politely told me like it was."
"I wonder who that could be."
"I wonder", Peyton teased back.
"Well, anyway, I'm glad you're here."
"Me too."
"Welcome back, Kotter."