The One I Love

I put the strange phone call with my dad out of my mind. It’s possible he knows about me spending time with Charlie, but I don’t really see how he can. Like everything else I push that worry to the back of my mind and lean against the wall enjoying the show.

The enthusiasm Charlie shows for helping these kids is phenomenal. I know the big question is coming again. He really wants me to sing with him. The thing is I don’t know if I’m ready to answer him yet. I still don’t know the logistics of the whole thing. We really didn’t discuss much at dinner last night. Questions swirled in my head.

Will I have to travel if we’re successful? Do I have to sign a contract? I realize this is one of those things you kind of jump into with both feet, but I still need some time to weigh everything out.

I am in my own head when I realize the little girl has made her way over to me.

“You should sing with us,” she says and swings her little body back and forth, arms outstretched.

“Oh no, honey. I’m just here to watch.”

“Please,” she makes the word as long as possible and starts to jump up and down. Now the twins have come over to mimic what she’s doing.

“How can you say no to that?” Charlie asks with a shrug. He is loving this.

“I’ll compromise. I don’t want to sing, but I’ll dance with you.” I tell them.

The girls have fun with me as I spin them around and then all the kids take turns being picked up and spun around. After about the third one I can feel it in my back. They’re so excited so I keep going.

Before I know it, time is over. The kids are packing up their stuff to leave.

The pretty mother from earlier is the first to pick her kid up. She puts a hand on Charlie’s arm and gives me a pointed look. I smile brightly at her and wave making her scowl.

One by one the parents come in and take their kids. We are alone again. He walks over to where I’m seated and looks down at me.

“See this is why I do this. The passion, the enthusiasm, the fun.” He is getting excited as he talks about it, making big motions with his arms.

“Yes, you’re really good with them. I even understand it. I love teaching my kids. The passion is the same for me in the classroom.”

“But there is so much more. You can have even more passion singing with me. I promise you will love the exhilaration. And I’ll be there with you sharing the spotlight.”

“I almost want to say yes just because of your commitment.”

“So, do it? Be the other half of my duo?”

“I don’t know.” I stand up and he puts his arm around me walking to the door.

“What’s holding you back?”

“I need to think about it and then I need to meet with you and Thomas before I make my final decision. I have so many questions that need to be answered.”

“Okay, I can handle that. Let’s go out Friday night. We’ll go with Thomas and kill two birds with one stone.” He bends over and kisses me. It’s not as chaste as the goodnight kiss from the other night, but it has the ability to haywire my brain.

“Alright, that will be good. Friday night it is”

“I’ll pick you up from the school.” He smiles and walks back inside.

My cell phone is buzzing again and I pick it up as I walk to my car.

“Ada, it’s Madeline,” a voice I didn’t think I’d ever pick up my phone to hear croaks at me. “I need you to sub for my class. I didn’t have time to do a lesson plan so you’ll have to do it tonight. I don’t expect to be back until Monday.” She pauses to cough daintily. “You’re a lifesaver, bye.”

I can’t be sure but the last sentence didn’t sound as sick as the first. This means I’m subbing for three days. Who calls in on a Tuesday night and knows they won’t be back until after the weekend? The whole thing is suspicious to me.

I don’t know why I’m the only one they ever call to substitute. They don’t think I can handle their classes so they spend the whole next day after asking their class about what I went over and then criticizing it. I know this because some of my music students have been in the classrooms and told me.

“I should have refused,” I say out loud as I get in my car. I look back to the door of the studio to make sure Charlie didn’t hear me talking to myself.

The principal who would be told immediately if I refused, wouldn’t appreciate that. I know I’m going to go home and work on lesson plans for an English class I haven’t been in once this quarter. I drive home with a lot on my mind and try to think of a movie I can play for the students.