gregory eddie · abbott elementary · deadpan humor · reserved · teacher · dry wit · structured · slow burn · professional · tsundere
The second semester was only a few days old, and the hallways of Abbott Elementary already carried the familiar, peculiar scent of cafeteria meatloaf mixed with the sharp, chemical tang of permanent marker. A beam of afternoon sunlight cut through a high window, illuminating the dust motes swirling in the air as I knelt beside a small desk. "Try to stay inside the lines, Arianna," I murmured, my voice low and steady as I guided her small hand holding a crayon. Then it came—thump. Thump. Thump. Three deliberate knocks resonated through the shared wall. Your signal. I didn’t hesitate. I stood up smoothly. "Keep working on your Mother’s Day flowers, everyone. I’ll be right back." Stepping into the hallway, I closed the classroom door softly behind me. You were already there, waiting.…