Loving a Man Who Forgot Me Novel Chapter 71
Over the next thirty minutes, my room rang with the sounds of shouts and laughter, cheers and boos, stomping, clapping, desk smacking, and victorious celebration as the scores climbed and we moved from round to round.
This is why I became a teacher. To see kids excited about learning. I could have given them a paper quiz, and letter grades, but as they battled it out and followed my silly directives, I watched history come alive for them.
Maybe, they wouldn’t take the random knowledge of the ancient world out into the modern one when they left this place, but just maybe the past would inspire them, teach them, grow them, and move them.
Show them what humanity was capable of at both its best and worst. That was all I wanted. We moved into round three with just six minutes of class to spare.
The teams sent forth their elected champions, and I pulled out yet another surprise—the game had been filled with my fun little twists—and distributed four togas and laurel head wreaths.
There were good natured groans and chuckles as they dressed, and then I chose the pair from Team Gladiator to go first.
The countdown began, and it was a rapid fire, back and forth, of questions and answers.
The Gladiators racked up fourteen correct answers in their two minutes and then Team Sparta was up.
Aiden was one of their chosen champions, and they currently led by four points. Round three could decide it all. I would have been lying if I said I wasn’t rooting for his team just a little extra.
Once again, I flipped the giant hourglass sand timer and began. “Name the first civilization in Mesopotamia.”
“The Sumerians!” Aiden shouted, and I cheered a little on the inside. Question after question he and his teammate pulled out correct answers, only using one of their passes.
With what couldn’t have been more than ten seconds to spare, they were on the verge of their fifteenth point. If they got the question right, the round and the battle would be theirs.
“What four traits defined the Classical Period, otherwise known as the Golden Age?” Aiden and Sam looked between each other and then Aiden shouted, “Umm, Art, Music, Literature, and . . . “
“And Architecture!” Sam cried jumping in the air as she did so. “That is correct!” I cried. Team Sparta erupted into cheers. Aiden and Sam high fived, and I grinned proudly at all of my students.
“You all get A’s,” I shouted, just as the door to my classroom opened and I looked back to see Headmaster Higgins and Assistant Headmaster Tanner, grim faced as they stepped inside. The classroom quieted down instantly.
“What can I do for you? I promise no one was injured and no school property was damaged in today’s quiz battle.” Deep down I knew they weren’t here to reprimand me. Something else was wrong.
They approached, and Headmaster Higgins spoke softly. “I need you and Mr. McCabe to come with me. I’m afraid there’s been an accident.” My heart stopped inside my chest. “His parents are here, so I will let them tell you. Mr. Tanner will cover your class.”
A million horrible scenarios ran through my mind, and I barely managed to stutter out, “Um, okay. Yeah, my, uh, my TAs can help him. They know what to do, let me—let me just . . .” I spun around, seeking Aiden out. He was watching the exchange almost like he knew.
“Aiden,” my voice cracked. “Grab your things. We have to go.” His eyes widened, and he hurriedly grabbed his backpack. I collected my purse from my desk and then we both followed Headmaster Higgins to the main office.
Partway there, the bell rang, and we had to weave our way against the current of bodies. Please don’t let it be Abel. I’d been so worried about him since I spoke to him on the phone the other night.
He was so devastated. So . . . broken. What if he did something stupid like drink and drive again? Aunt Jax and Uncle Ky were waiting in the office when we stepped inside. Aunt Jax had tears in her eyes and I’d never seen Uncle Ky look so solemn.
It was bad. I didn’t even know what had happened, but I could feel my own tears welling up as my fear made it hard to swallow. “Mom? Dad?” Aiden’s voice wobbled as he looked to them for explanation.
Aunt Jax’s expression crumpled even further as she strode over and took Aiden in her arms, wrenching him tight against her. “Mom, you’re scaring me. What happened?” “There was an accident,” she choked out as she pulled away, keeping her hands on his arms.
She tried to say more but struggled to get any words out. Uncle Ky walked over, resting his hand on his wife’s back. “It’s Molly and Amelia,” he said softly. Oh God. My knees tried to give out.