Improvisation Read Free Page A

Brooke’s wedding rehearsal, and then her attention had turned to Jan. She had been sitting in the back row of the church, wanting to support Brooke while keeping out of the way of her judgmental family. Unobtrusive. But Tina had found her. Jan recognized a player when she saw one, when she felt the almost physical force of one’s interest. And, two years ago, when Jan thought she’d finally had her life on the right track, she had been prepared to have a weekend fling. To let Tina seduce her.
    Jan didn’t want to let her thoughts go down that path again. She had lived the seduction in her imagination too many times. Two years ago, she had everything under control. She wanted to settle in Spokane, make it a permanent home after a childhood spent moving from one air force base to another. She had a job, and her newly retired military father seemed content to make the apartment they’d rented when he was stationed at Fairchild into his permanent home. Next on Jan’s list was a home of her own, and then she would start the search for a partner, someone to share her new life. But in the meantime, an out-of-town affair with Tina was too appealing to refuse. A little fun before Jan went back to building her life in Spokane. But Brooke’s decision to cancel the wedding had meant a change in plans for Jan, as well.
    Ancient history. Jan turned her attention back to geometry and to the student sketches she had pinned on the wall. She pointed out flaws in the proportions of her body parts. Usually, she had to keep her vanity in check when some of the students’ drawings seemed to caricature her least-desirable features, but today it seemed as if the students had managed to capture the disjointed way she felt inside. Out of whack. In Tom’s drawing, her head was much too big for her body, and it felt the same in reality, so swollen with thoughts and worries she thought it might explode. And she was certain she’d be lurching through the rest of her day, as if walking on the imbalanced and uneven limbs her students had drawn.
    She finally broke the class into small groups and set them to work measuring and averaging the ratios between hand and arm length, arm span and height. Breaking complex human beings into a series of numbers, while she returned to the uncomfortable issue of Tina’s visit. Would she be able to resist the temptation of a brief affair? A little fun in the midst of chaos? She had to. Having Tina flow in and out of her life had been an acceptable idea when Jan had been on track to accomplish her goals. But her plans were derailed, and now a fling would only be a reminder of the elusive stability she had to put off for an indefinite amount of time. Life on military bases had made it difficult to maintain friendships, and Brooke was one of the few constants in Jan’s life. She had been a best friend and confidante, always dependable and present even when they were in separate cities. Jan couldn’t be anything less for Brooke. Jan would play the polite host and show Tina her city, but she would do whatever it took to keep a safe distance between them.
    “For tonight’s homework, I want you to measure as many people as you can and find the average ratios. Just be sure to ask for their permission before you start measuring body parts,” Jan said with a smile as she wrapped up the lesson just before the bell. She let the students’ laughter die down before continuing. “Use those numbers when you draw another picture of me by my desk, and tomorrow we’ll compare the two.”
    The students filed out, their voices and laughter increasing in volume as soon as they were released from the confines of the classroom. Jan shut the door, blocking out the noise from the hallway. She paced behind her desk. She had been waiting for the chance to be alone, but now the room seemed too empty. Too quiet. As soon as the halls cleared, she went to the teachers’ break room and poured a cup of coffee. She picked one of the