After Life Read Free Page B

anything to discourage him, Tracy warned. He can be
    a terrible iconoclast when he gets started. Oh?
     
    What is that, Bob? Jessie asked from the doorway.
     
    Don't tell me teaching has made you cynical. She placed the glasses on
    the coffee table carefully. The Bakers were mesmerized by her every
    move. She sensed it in the silence. I'm fine, she said, smiling. Bob,
    you sound like a very nice and very interesting man. Are you cynical?
     
    Oh, I don't know. I suppose I get a little envious sometimes. I mean
    Lee here will get my students absolutely riled up into an hysteria with
    his basketball team, but I will struggle to get them to stay awake and
    try to understand why poetry has any purpose. But let's not get too
    philosophical here, he added quickly, and leaned over to open the
    bottle. Let's get right to a toast.
     
    He poured the champagne and Lee gave Jessie hers.
     
    They raised the glasses.
     
    To Lee and Jessie Overstreet. May their lives flourish and be
    productive and happy here in Gardner Town.
     
    Good luck and welcome from the faculty of Gardner Town High. Here,
    here, Bob said, and tilted his glass.
     
    They all drank.
     
    Did you teach anyplace else before Gardner Town, Bob? Jessie asked. She
    turned her head so that she faced him directly. Although the wires had
    been tragically shut down behind those silvery gray eyes, they still
    held a glint of exuberance, a sparkle of life. It was as if she had the
    aim of someone in meditation, focusing her entire being on whomever or
    whatever she attended to.
     
    Like Lee, I taught for a few years in a bigger system.
     
    I was in Yonkers. I wanted to be very close to New York City in those
    days, and the theater, Baker explained.
     
    Don't you miss the livelier urban area, the richer school system? Jessie
    pursued. Well.
     
    We did in the beginning, Tracy replied quickly.
     
    What changed for you? Jessie asked. Her hand searched for Lee's. He
    closed his fingers around hers and smiled at the Bakers.
     
    Jessie's a writer she likes to know what makes people tick, he
    explained, gazing at her with some pride.
     
    A writer! Baker leaned forward. Really? Have you published anything?
     
    Short stories in small magazines, some poetry. Nothing major yet. So,
    she said, the smile around her lips rippling through her cheeks and
    around her eyes, you do like living in a small town world?
     
    Yes. It sort of wears on you after a while. It's nice not to have to
    fight for a place to park when you go shopping. Certainly you don't
    have the same sort of problems big schools have, Jessie said. I'm sure
    kids here aren't as into drugs and alcohol, are they?
     
    I guess we have our share of delinquents, but you're right it's not as
    bad as the inner city. And as far as the school goes, Henry Young has a
    handle on things, Baker said.
     
    Yes, Lee said. I got that impression. I never heard so many
    superlatives when it came to an administrator.
     
    Is he really that good?
     
    Who told you all these good things about him' Tracy inquired.
     
    His secretary, naturally, but some of the teachers I met, too. Why? he
    asked when he saw her pensive look.
     
    Isn't it true?
     
    Of course it's true, Bob insisted. There's no one I'd rather work
    under. He lifted his glass. To Henry Young. He emptied his glass in a
    gulp.
     
    In my house it's practically as blasphemous to say anything that could
    in any way be construed as negative about Henry Young as it is to say
    anything negative about Jesus Himself, Tracy quipped.
     
    Tracy!
     
    Take it easy, Bob. These walls aren't bugged, and the Overstreets
    aren't going to run right out and say I criticized your precious leader.
    She looked up at Lee quickly. Are you?
     
    Lee started to laugh, but saw that Jessie's soft smile had evolved into
    a look of deep concern.
     
    Hey, he said in an attempt to lighten things up.
     
    Instinctively he put his arm around her. I thought I was coming to work
    in a nice little old country