People ask parents what they would do for their kids. Most of them will answer that they would die for them. Sacrificing yourself is easy because life ends in the natural border of the human limit. I would kill for mine. More than once.

Soon after those fortunate events, the school hired Richard Steele and introduced him as Mr. Thompson’s substitute. He could be mistaken as the school’s new favorite PE teacher, but that wasn’t his field of expertise. 

His muscular physique and frequent rants about being a gym rat were just a reflection of his dedication to working out. He stood at his six feet like Apollo, the god of beauty, with his tousled, sandy blond hair and brown eyes.

When Mrs. Brooks brought him to the teacher’s room, the women started whispering and giggling. Mrs. Davis, who now insisted I called her by her first name, elbowed me and murmured. 

“Ain’t he handsome?”

“He sure is, Joanne.”

“Too bad for him I’m old and happily married, huh? But he’s been looking our way a lot, so give him a chance for both of us, ok, Tess?”

I nodded and faked a laugh. Although he looked good, I couldn’t be less interested in men or romance. What filled my mind was the tsunami of possibilities his arrival would bring me.

After the formalities, the director brought him to a desk next to mine and introduced us.

“Mr. Steele, this is Ms. Graham. She’ll be helping you with the kids, since she’s familiar with them, and they grew very attached to her after that terrible incident. Follow her instructions, and you’ll have a place in the little ones’ hearts in no time.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Brooks. I’m sure we’ll get along.” He reached out for my hand and shook it.

As the director walked away, he put his things on the table beside mine and took a seat.

“I will count on your guidance and wisdom, so everything goes smoothly, Ms. Graham.” Richard eyed me from head to toe. “And if you are as smart as you are beautiful, I’m sure I’ll have no trouble.”

And if you are as stupid as you are repulsive, I might consider stabbing you in the neck right now. “It’ll be a pleasure to help, Mr. Steele.”

“Please, you can call me Rick. So… where should I start?”

Bingo. “I advise you to check your students’ files so you get to know them better, Rick”.

“Mind accompanying me? I’m used to getting lost in places. I’ll compensate you for your trouble, I promise.” He winked.

“It’s a deal, then. Please, follow me.”

He smiled, and I did too. There, Rick. That’s exactly how being useful will help you live a while longer.

* * * * * 

Helping the substitute teacher doubled my work, since I was willing to do whatever it took to mold him according to what I thought was best for Josh. My son deserved it.

I understood and embraced the weight of being an exemplary mother with such a firm resolve, it blended with my flesh and bones. That was the sole reason I endured the double-meaning phrases, the unsolicited touching, his everlasting gibberish about how all his exes were horrible, and he was just a poor, misunderstood perfect man.

Although Rick was a disgusting leech, pretending instead of doing his job, working beside him enriched my days. To show he cared about being an excellent teacher, Rick used to involve me in many of his students’ activities, and that meant more time with my beloved child.

That was how I learned Josh liked dinosaurs. The Stegosaurus was the one he adored the most. His favorite color was red. He loved reading hero comics and eating pizza. My little man was blessed with charisma. His classmates were very fond of him, and the other teachers praised him for being a polite student.

But information about him was never enough. I needed more of it if I wanted to get everything ready for us to begin our life as a family. After helping the new teacher start, I now had a free pass to his students’ files. All I had to do was walk into the school office and use that useless blood sucker as my excuse. The secretary had no objections.

As soon as I had full access to Josh’s file, I also got the chance to copy it all — his birthday, his residential phone number and address, all the certificates available there. It was a surprise to realize he didn’t live far from school.

I felt my connection with my little man deepen by the day. Happiness filled me, as I kept daydreaming about the wonderful things we would experience soon enough.

One afternoon, I was sitting in the teacher’s room, marking my attendance and preparing for the next class, when Mrs. Davis came in and spoke to me.

“Oh boy, I’m beat! How much sugar was there on the muffins we fed these kids for lunch?”

“I’m not sure, Joanne, but I am positive it was enough for them to make me as tired as if I had run a marathon.”

She chuckled.

“Thank you, Lord. I can’t chalk this tiredness up to the account of age, then! How are you holding up, Tessa?”

“It’s a lot, but I’m managing. Thanks for asking. Rick is a kind substitute teacher, and the students appear to be coping better with Mr. Thompson’s loss.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Oh, by the way, did you prepare what you need for the parent-teacher conferences? It’s in three weeks.”

My stomach twisted.

“So soon? Time flies, huh?”

“You’re telling me! I’m sure Rick will need assistance with the parents. They are dying to hear from you too, since you’ve been so helpful and caring with their angels.”

“No worries. I’ll schedule a meeting with him to make all the arrangements. Thank you for the reminder, Joanne.”

“Let me know if you need help with that or anything. See you tomorrow, Tessa!”

She turned around and left, humming a Christian song my mother loved. While I was getting ready to leave school, that sensation spread through my body and I realized it was a feeling I had tasted once. It resembled the thrill and excitement I felt when I was about to take Kathy’s dog away.

* * * * *

Summer’s heat was upon us once more, but the day carried a breeze. The director decided Rick and I should share the same classroom so I could support him.

I divided the adults, and I advised Rick to do the same. We brought each group in according to the schedule and talked about their children’s progress. Most of them were interested, but some of them had no shame showing their true colors. It was like I could smell the kind of scum parents that made nothing of the chances given to them.

Although I desired to give those vermin a piece of my mind and the rest of the arsenic I had, they were none of my concern.

My excitement grew more intense by the second, and I observed the waves of moms and dads come and go. The meeting was almost over, but just like I did when we had roast at home for lunch, I saved the part I wanted the most for last. 

The final groups of adults, both mine and Rick’s, walked in. As I greeted everyone in the classroom, one particular person caught my eye. She wore a very modest floral dress and sandals, her wavy hair pulled into a messy bun on the top of her head. Her resemblance to Josh was remarkable. They had the same nose and emerald gaze.

A mix of emotions slowly took me over. I stumbled between being amazed by her stunning beauty and consumed by hatred, because she had something that was supposed to be mine. 

I proceeded with my schedule, unable to take my eyes off her. After I was done with my share, Rick was still going with his. I started putting my things away slowly enough that I could keep watching how these next moments unfolded.

To my surprise, I didn’t need to wait much. She stood up while my mentor’s substitute was tending to other parents and came toward me.

“Excuse me? Are you Ms. Graham?”

“Yes, that’s me. How can I help you, Mrs…”

“It’s such a pleasure to meet you. I’m Mia Jones, Josh’s mother.”

She smiled and shook my hand, while I grinned weirdly and my blood boiled by the sound of that outrageous lie. I’m his mother. You’re just a temporary caregiver.

“Josh was devastated when he got the news we were moving, and he had to change schools. Finding this school was like the gold pot at the end of the rainbow.”

The woman entangled a piece of her hair onto her index finger, and I noticed the wedding ring on her hand. I see… Another person I’ll have to dispose of.

“Mr. Thompson… Josh got attached to him. It was hard for him not to see his beloved teacher anymore. But then, at the darkest hour, you came in.”

For a moment, her words confused me, and I frowned.

“Josh was so sad, but he told me he knew you were sad, too. He said you were a trustworthy adult because you had the same emotions as the kids. The boy talks about you daily. He likes you a lot and is enjoying Mr. Steele’s class, and is also blooming with his classmates, thanks to your support.”

My heart skipped a beat. My eyes watered, and I had never smiled that way in my entire life. 

“Thank you for your feedback, Mrs. Jones. The blow was hard for us all. If I can help Josh and the others feel better, count on me.”

“You’re an amazing teacher; we couldn’t be happier to have you working with our son. We live in Maplewood Grove, that’s the neighborhood near here. If you ever walk by, visit us.”

As she turned her back to me, the entire world illuminated. I discovered how Josh felt about me, and that was an important victory. There was a lot to plan, but I had walked a long way toward the day I’d be able to reunite with my son.

I could save my hatred for later. It would be useful when the time came. As for that moment, I would savor it accordingly, with a glass of champagne, listening to something that wasn’t Richard’s yapping.