won’t let it happen. Troy and I will make sure we go
to the same school. We’ve talked about going to a community
college or something once we graduate.”
Lindsay turned her attention to the plate of food resting
before her. Life’s lessons were important to share, but that’s
about all she could do, and she knew it. They conversed a
while longer about Jewel’s topic of interest. Lindsay heard all
kinds of good things about Troy, from the way he studied for
a test, to the way he wore his hair. Jewel nearly idolized him.
43 Yet in the back of her mind Lindsay recalled Jewel’s complaint
that Troy did not share her sentiments. How she
wanted to keep this young woman from feeling the pain of a
broken relationship. Yet sometimes the best course of action
was to let these young people discover for themselves whether
the decisions they had made were the right ones.
Lindsay returned home to an answering machine blinking
a cheerful pattern of lights. She listened to each call, to find
the last one from Jeff Wheeler. He left a lengthy message,
informing her she had left behind a prize in the auditorium
and would she mind retrieving it. He would have it in his
classroom. Lindsay picked up the prize bag and began rummaging
around, wondering what prize she could have left.
The only thing that came up missing was a key chain, which
may have accidentally fallen on the floor. “He can keep it,”
she declared. I’m not wasting time or emotional energy facing
Jeff Wheeler again, just to pick up a silly key chain.
All at once the phone rang. “Hello, Lindsay Thomas
speaking.”
“Miss Thomas, this is Jeff—I mean, Mr. Wheeler.”
“Yes, I received your message that I had left an item in the
auditorium.”
“It’s one of those class key chains.”
Lindsay could hear the chain jingling over the phone. “Mr.
Wheeler, keep it as a prize incentive. Tell the students that
whoever sells an additional two items, they can have their
names put in for a drawing.”
Laughter ricocheted in her ears. Lindsay felt her anger on
the rise.
“They don’t care about a key chain. Hardly any of them
have cars.”
44 “Oh. Well, then, you can keep it. Call it a gift.”
She heard his hesitation. “I need to ask you a few questions
about the sale. Would you mind stopping over early in the
morning before classes begin? I get there around seven. We
can go over a few things, and you can pick up your key chain
at the same time.”
Lindsay pulled out her personal data assistant and checked
the appointment schedule. She would have to make this a
quick visit. She had a start at eight o’clock sharp on the opposite
side of the county. Great. Jeff Wheeler again succeeds in
upsetting my schedule. I sure hope this fundraising campaign of
his
pays off, because I’m losing time and money.
“Can you come?”
“Okay, I’ll be there at seven.” She nearly told him of the
other start she had at eight but, remembering his instability in
the past, decided not to bring it up. Still, Lindsay had the
distinct impression that something was different about Jeff. She
couldn’t put her finger on it, but there seemed to be less
animosity.
Lindsay glanced down at the lady Silly Slammer with
the pursed red lips, staring up from the open prize bag. “No
way. It couldn’t be.”
45 Jeff didn’t know why he awoke anxious and jittery. The thought
of swallowing down a hunk of scratchy toast made him nauseous.
He made a cup of coffee and tried reading the newspaper
after retrieving it from the doorstep. The words made
little sense. He glanced around the duplex he owned and found
it in complete disarray. History texts stood stacked like small
towers on the floor. Class papers were strewn across the coffee
table. Dirty clothes lay in the hall. And two days’ worth of
dishes filled the sink. Not a pleasant atmosphere, especially if
he were ever to entertain some eligible young lady in the near
future.
Learning to Kill: Stories