I Love My ASG Teacher

Ah. At long last. A break.

I threw myself back against the chair stretching my tired arms out. Taking a deep breath, I could feel life resurging through my chest. Slanting my head to the left I gazed at the clock reading 2:45.

I can’t remember the last time I’d finished school this early.

I turned my head back and gazed around the room. There were only four other students left with me. I could tell from their facial expressions they felt the exact same way as me. Though I already knew that. They were some of my closest friends. The fellow members of ASG.

Leisurely I began to put my notebook away, and watched as the classroom cleared out one by one. Soon, all that was left was me and-

“Todd”

The only other person left in the room called out to me.

“What’s up Mr. Evans?”

I slung my backpack over my shoulder and walked towards the front of the classroom. Mr. Evans, my homeroom teacher, also happened to be the teacher that oversaw ASG. Naturally, that lead to us having a close Student-Teacher relationship.

“I know you’re eager to get home but I have a favor to ask of you.”

“I... see…”

I immediately tensed up. In the 3 years that I’ve known Mr. Evans, this is the first time he’s ever asked a favor from me.

“There’s a girl, her name is Hayley. She’s in the art program here, but I don’t know if you know her or not. She doesn’t really have many friends.”

That name seemed familiar to me, but I couldn’t put a face to it.

I shook my head.

“Either way, she’s in danger of being expelled. Normally I wouldn’t meddle in student’s affairs but I was the one who recommended her into the art program to begin with. I have a bit of a soft spot for her.”

“I see, but what exactly do you want me to do?” I questioned.

Mr. Evans looked up at me with a stern eyes.

“I’d like you to personally oversee her tutoring.”

I was a bit hesitant at the idea of personally tutoring someone without really seeing anything in return. Especially if she’s as much of a trouble child as Mr. Evans makes her out to be. Let’s see if I can wiggle my way out of this one.

“Why me? There’s a ton of dedicated tutors during the afterschool tutoring. I’m not even sure that I would be a good tutor in the first place. Shouldn’t you ask someone more experienced?”

Mr. Evans sighed.

“Yes, you’re right. The dedicated afterschool tutors might be more experienced, but I can’t rely on them the same way I can with you.”

I became confused, “Rely? What-?”

Surely Mr. Evans didn’t think the afterschool tutors were so inept that they couldn’t perform their duties. So that meant he’s asking me for something much more than some simple tutoring. I began to put two and two togeather and-

“So you want me to be a babysitter is what you’re asking me”

Mr. Evans let out a wry grin.

“You’re a little too perceptive for your own good you know that?”

“Not enough in my opinion, otherwise I would have sidestepped this whole conversation.”

“C’mon now. Give me some slack here, it’s not like I wont give you anything in return.”

I raised my eyebrow in response.

“I’ll write off the time you spend tutoring as volunteering hours.” Mr. Evan’s paused for a moment before looking me dead in the eyes. “I’ll also pay you myself. $100 a week.”

There was a level of intensity and also despiration in Mr. Evan’s eyes that I have never seen before. It was almost frightening.

“Alright, alright I’ll do it. You’re scaring me with how desperate you look.” I caved, “give me the details for what I gotta do.”

The intense aura surrounding Mr. Evans vanished and was replaced with an energetic smile.

“Okay, so starting today-”