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Romance and the Classroom
Excerpted from "Field Guide to the American Teenager" By Joseph DiPrisco and Michael Riera
It was the last night of a week-long field trip for the high school seniors enrolled in a popular environmental history class. Gradually, one by one, the students and faculty chaperones drifted to their tents, sleeping bags, and well-earned rest. One student, Verna, and her teacher, Justin, stayed and tended to the fire. There were pieces of kindling and a few logs between them and the fire.
"I'm going to miss school, I hate to admit. It even sounds so cheesy to me because I never much liked school," Verna said. "A few classes, one or two teachers -- like you, Justin -- that's what I'll remember."
That last comment flared up suddenly like a distant meteoric disturbance and Justin watched it tail away. "You'd be weird if you didn't feel a little sad leaving school," he said. To him, that seemed like the right thing to say under the circumstances, whatever these circumstances were.
"The closer I get to leaving the more I miss the school, my friends, the teachers. Even though I want to get out of this place, I'm going to miss a few people a lot, like you."
"We can stay in touch." Immediately he flinched, and he wondered if he had been careless and sent an unintended signal.
"Really? You mean you wouldn't mind if I wrote you sometimes?"
There seemed to be no turning back now, though he didn't want her to misunderstand. "Of course not. Why, I'd be disappointed if I didn't hear from you. I stay in touch with my students all the time. E-mail's great for that."
"Do you want to be friends with me -- after high school?"
Wait a second, was that what they were, friends? When he used the term and when she used the term, did they mean the same thing? Why was he feeling so uncomfortable? He hoped she understood he was first and foremost her teacher. He also hoped this would be the last time they would talk in this way about their relationship.
