DR. KATE SCRIBBLED AWAY ON THE PAPERS IN FRONT OF her as I sat across from her in her office. I was surprised by how unremarkable the room was. I expected it to be a lot nicer considering her position. Then again, our school was a bit of a dump, so I guess her office fit right in.
“This is your first time coming to my office, if I’m not mistaken, Mr. Reaper.” Dr. Kate did not look up as she spoke.
“Yes, ma’am.” I replied as I cleared my throat. I was glad that Dr. Kate wasn’t looking at me because I was barely conscious at that point. I always felt drained and exhausted, but this was different. This was an exhaustion the likes of which I had never experienced.
“Do you want to tell me what happened in the cafeteria this morning?” Dr. Kate asked. The question was rhetorical of course, but she had a way of making you feel like you had a choice even when it was clear that you didn’t.
I cleared my throat and tried to respond, but no sound came out. When I didn’t answer, Dr. Kate finally looked up at me. Even though I felt terrible, I couldn’t help but notice how attractive she was as she peered at me over the rims of her glasses. The main reason I found her so attractive is because she had a lot in common with this girl whom I had an astronomical crush on at the time. They had the same long, dark hair that went perfectly with their mesmerizing amber colored eyes.
“Mr. Reaper, are you feeling okay? You don’t look so well,” Dr. Kate remarked as a wave of concern washed over her face.
“I’m fine,” I choked out as I attempted to sit up straighter.
Unconvinced, Dr. Kate stood and sat a large bottle of water in front of me on her desk. “Drink this,” she ordered as she searched through her purse.
I grabbed the water and gulped it down in less than the thirty seconds it took Dr. Kate to find the chocolate energy bar in her purse. I was always ashamed to take handouts but I was so hungry and thirsty in that moment that it didn't matter. It felt as though I may have died of starvation if she had not given me that water and energy bar.
Dr. Kate watched in silence as I devoured the energy bar in two bites. I knew she could tell that she was making me uncomfortable, but it seemed like she was unable or unwilling to look away. I stared at the floor, ashamed to look her in the eyes.
“You don’t have to be ashamed, Adam,” Dr. Kate coaxed.
I was surprised that she knew my first name. I looked up at her but said nothing. I didn’t know what to say.
“Adam, why have I never had a chance to meet your parents?”
What is she getting at? I wondered. “M-My mother works nights,” I stammered.
“And your father?” she questioned.
“He works nights too,” I lied. My father had been laid off for the past six months, but saying he works nights sounded a lot better than saying “he doesn’t give a crap.”
“How are things at home, Adam?” Dr. Kate asked.
Suddenly, I felt like I was a suspect on one of those detective shows from TV. Dr. Kate switched to her good cop approach as she tried to coax the information she wanted out of me.
“Okay, I guess,” I said, hoping that she would drop the issue. I wasn’t comfortable talking about my life at home to begin with, and I certainly wasn’t comfortable doing so with the principal.
“Adam, do you mind if I ask if you are getting enough to eat at home?” she asked softly.
What gave me away? I thought. Was it the gallon of water I drank with one gulp or perhaps the energy bar I inhaled? I stared down at the floor and said nothing.
“Adam?”
“I don’t’ want to talk about it,” I replied, irritated and ashamed.
I continued to stare at the floor as the room fell silent. The last thing I wanted to do was look Dr. Kate in her eyes. Between her velvet voice and those piercing eyes of hers, I knew she could get every secret I had ever withheld out of me if she really pushed hard enough. It also didn’t help that I found her to be so attractive. For some reason I felt that if I looked her in eyes long enough, she would be able to tell.
“Adam, I would like to have you stop by my home for dinner with my family this evening,” Dr. Kate said as she scribbled on a piece of paper in front of her.
Whoa! I thought. Is she serious?
“I-I will have to let you know. Later, I mean,” I stammered. I looked up at her, expecting a scowl, but she simply smiled back at me and placed the paper she had been writing on in front of me.
“Mr. Reaper, I was not asking. I will see you there at seven o'clock sharp, sir. That is, unless you would rather serve a stint in detention for your fight this morning. It’s up to you.” Dr. Kate smiled a beautiful yet menacing smile as she gave me time to weigh my “options.”
Back to bad cop again, I thought as I grabbed the paper and jammed it into my pockets. “I’ll see you at seven, Dr. Kate,” I said, before standing and staring down at the floor again.
“Good. We are having roast. I think you will enjoy it.”
“Dr. Kate, are you going to tell my mom about the fight?” I asked.
“I will leave that up to you, Adam,” Dr. Kate replied. “Now hurry off to class. You’ve already missed the first fifteen minutes.”
“Okay. Thank you, Dr. Kate,” I said as I turned and exited.
I walked out of Dr. Kate’s office with a newfound appreciation for her, but I wasn’t completely sold on the idea of eating dinner with her family. Sure, it was the ultimate tap on the wrist as far as it being my “punishment” for fighting on school property, but I hated the idea of being pitied or looked at as different. So what if my family doesn’t have enough money to feed me properly? I thought as I sulked down the hallway. I’ve made it this far without relying on handouts. Why should I start now?
7. SNOWBALL’S CHANCE