Chapter 1: Meh. The Day Ms. Sandy Quit

Ms. Sandy was done. Just like that.

She just quit her job and for the first time in her life, she truly felt free. As she pushed open the same glass doors that she'd pushed open to leave work each day for the last 23 years, she felt an exhilarating feeling. She was done. Just like that. Ms. Elnora Sandy quit.

Twenty eight years teaching. The last twenty three years right here in this building. She raised both her daughters in this school. She got the job the day she became pregnant with her first daughter. Her oldest daughter, marked a special day in her world. She cherished her children, she cherished her students, and she cherished her teaching job. But, none of that mattered today.

Ms. Sandy quit. Just. Like. That.

Chapter 1 Meh

It was a rough morning. Elnora Sandy woke up early, as always, but between the dog refusing to poop and her car needing a jump, she ended up fifteen minutes late to work. Normally, she wouldn't worry as her students didn't arrive at her door for a few more minutes, but today was test day. State testing. Serious stuff. Today was certainly not the day to be late. She heard the announcement blaring from the speakers in the building the moment she opened the car door.

Ms. Sandy, if you are in the building, please report to guidance.

She cringed at the sound of her name over the PA system, especially echoing through the parking lot. The parents in the parent drop off line looked out their windows at her as she crossed between cars and headed up the walk to the side door. She had a key. Entering through the side would allow her to dip in, unnoticed. Morning teacher banter was her least favorite thing about teaching. Elnora ducked her head down and headed to guidance to collect her test materials.

Sign here, Ms. Sandy.

The guidance counselor placed a legal document in front of her.

What am I signing?

The guidance counselor looked at her and chuckled,

Your life away. No biggie.

She signed the document without a chuckle. Elnora wasn't in the mood today. She knew what she was signing. The state required each teacher to sign a document about the rules. It also required teachers to sign an agreement to not discuss the test, by threat of their job, teaching certificate, and even criminal prosecution. She tried not to think of it. Duck, collect and run was her strategy today. She had no intention of stating her opinion about testing. Just get the tests, duck and run, Sandy. She just kept telling herself.

Ms. Sandy had given these state tests for at least twenty years of her twenty eight year teaching career. Each year, it was a new test, a new company, a new gimmick, and the same headache. She didn't put much stock in the tests, even refusing to allow her own daughters to participate in testing, Elnora Sandy was one of the first teachers in her state to exercise her parental rights to refuse the tests for her own child. She made a lot of noise once, a little too much noise, if you ask some. But, those days of her standing up and fighting were over and for good reason. Her objective of duck and run that morning had become her current motto for life. She turned and slipped out the back door of guidance.

With the tests finally in her hands, she headed to her room and lined up the student desks, just in time for her class to enter the room. Her students sauntered in, slow with the usual 7:30 am drag of a teenager. Most of her students were night owls. At fifteen years old, social media, Netflix, and Facetime composed most of their waking hours. Ms. Sandy had to keep her class pretty lively to compete. But, today was test day and everyone knew it. The students plopped down in their desks like they were ready to go back to sleep. That's how teenagers deal with anxiety: disassociation. She could see it in their eyes. They, too, had a duck and run motto that day. Ms. Sandy tried to smile and welcome each warmly but inside, her heart broke.

Once the morning announcements ended, she hung the printed testing sign on her door, locked it from the inside, and picked up the huge testing manual sent to her by the state.

Today you will take the State Standards Exam. This is a secured test environment. Please remove all electronic devices including cell phones, ipads, laptops, electronic watches...

She was only two sentences into the script when her favorite student raised her hand.

Yes, Thalia?

If you ask me, Ms. Sandy, I think you teach better when you don't use that script.

Her heart dropped. She looked Thalia in her eyes, thankful but dreading her timing. The test signs were hung and the contracts were signed. She knew she couldn't allow a disruption, even one as sweet as Thalia's. Ms. Sandy leaned in close and said,

Why, thank you, Thalia, but please, shhh. Remember, this is a secured test environment.

Elnora heard her own words and instantly regretted them. She wanted to agree with Thalia. She wanted to stop the test. She wanted to scream. She held back the tears and quickly turned back to her test script.

All of a sudden, Thalia's hand shot back up, and she called out, unapologetically,

You know what else, Ms. Sandy. I like this place alot better when it's just your classroom!"

Elnora Sandy stood stunned. Thalia was one of her brightest students. She knew she was right. She knew her student was frustrated with the state tests. The scores never reflected her true skills or talents. Thalia was just one of the many students frustrated with the scores.

Ms. Sandy was frustrated, too. She felt like a sell out. She had for years. She suffocated under the pressure of pretending. Holding that test book of scripts was too much for her today. So, she walked over to her podium and put the test book down. Her students looked at her with surprise. She walked over to Thalia, and with every ounce she had holding back the tears, she whispered to her favorite and final student,

I'm sorry, Thalia. I really am.

And, just like that. Elnora Sandy picked up her purse and walked out the door of her classroom forever.

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Follow @gatorlynne for Chapter 2 as I publish my next novel exclusively on Steemit!

This novel, BRUH is a sequel to my first book, entitled MEH: When a Teacher Shrugs available on Amazon. For this novel, I decided to switch platforms and publish exclusively on Steemit!

Meh: When A Teacher Shrugs is the story of a teacher who quits during the state exam, told from the perspective of the students she leaves behind. This sequel, Bruh, is the same story but I decided to turn the camera around and delve deep into the teacher's story. BRUH is the story of one voice.

I hope you enjoy!!
Blessings, Gator

Follow @gatorlynne for upcoming chapters, exclusively on Steemit!