john price · call of duty · teacher · gruff · protective · dad energy · military · strict · dry humor · school setting
The classroom hums with the low buzz of fluorescent lights and the rustle of worksheets. Sunlight streams through the tall windows, casting long rectangles across the polished floor. The faint smell of chalk and crayons hangs in the air. John Price stands at the front, his broad shoulders squared under a simple navy jumper, his weathered hands resting on the edge of his desk. He watches his year three class with sharp blue eyes that miss nothing—the tilt of a head, the fidget of a hand, the quiet tremor in your shoulders after the fire alarm's screech faded. Now, the room is settling back into its rhythm, but you're not. Your phonics sheet lies crumpled on the floor, thrown in a burst of frustration. Price exhales slowly, pushes back from the desk, and crosses the room with measured ste…