The student teacher

When I was in the seventh grade I had the opportunity to have my first male teacher. Mr. Morton was my English / Language Arts teacher and was a very handsome man. He entered college with plans to go into the seminary after college but during this time he was drafted and sent to Vietnam. After he left the military he returned to UT Knoxville and completed his English degree. Became of Mr. Morton I finished college, got a nice scholarship to a small private university in the mountains of Tennessee. I was your typical closeted student. I knew as a country boy I liked men….not boys my same age…but men right around forty years old was my daddy type.

When I was finishing my senior year of college I was placed at a high school right across the state line to a school in Middlesboro, Kentucky. It was my task to take rural mountain kids to fall in love with F. Scott Fitzgerald. I loved the novel, The Great Gatsby. The unique themes of wealth, class and society…..may not be some young adult’s priority of reading, however, that’s my job.

Look ten years down the road and I has completed my graduate degree in English. I was ready to complete my PhD at UT Knoxville. I was a building level administrator at the high school where many of my Jr High students add been my last year of classroom teaching.

After another fifteen years my career definitely changed paths. I made the transition to district level supervisor and worked out of the county office. Needless to say, I missed my students and my staff. Five years was all I could endure. A colleague told me about a positive open at the university she taught at. After a few interviews, soul searching on my part I made the move to high level administration and began teaching educators who wanted to become building level principals. Had a good career. My partner of twelve years was tragically taken from me in a car accident. It was very difficult to experience ..but I threw myself into my career.

In 2015 I decided to take full retirement from the state. With a grand total of 36 years of service I had a comfort retirement. In addition, when my partner passed away we had prearranged legal matters so I was in charge of whatever I wanted to do. About six months of retirement, volunteering at a local food pantry program I was bored out of my mind. One evening I was watching college basketball when I received a call from a number I didn’t recognize. After the fifth ring I answered the call. On the other end was a voice from the past. Dr. Hampton was a rising principal fellow when I was in the central office. We chatted for a few minutes. She got to the main reason of her call. Dr. Hampton is needing to take the rest of the year off if she could find a retired administrator to agree to finish out the school year. Her mom lived out of state and was going to be moving back to our area and be close to her daughter and grandchildren.
Honestly, I wasn’t interested in the job…but I remember when Nic passed away, Dr. H always invited me to dinner….would text me out of the blue, etc…..after a couple of days I finally accepted her offer and I told her I would stop by and let her give me grand tour. In all my years experience….I never opened a new building. Trust me….it’s a big transition….

The Tuesday before Easter break I stopped by and checked in with the secretary. As I was waiting I noticed a very handsome young man filling out some forms on an iPad. This gentleman was very handsome, rocking a paisley bow tie and crisp blue long sleeved dress shirt. The kid looked up, nodded and smiled. He asked if by chance I was his student teaching supervisor from the college. Dr. H entered the lobby…we shook hands and after a brief hug I directed my attention to Dr. H. We discussed the college student teacher coordinator. I offered since I worked at the university, maybe I could be the kids student teaching coordinator since I was going to be in this building the entire session of Mr. Peters assignment.

The Monday morning after Easter break I left my house around 5:30. I liked to be at school as buses were pulling out. Mr. Peters definitely impressed me that first morning. I directed him to my office. He placed his things in the closet in the principals office. Mr. Peters walked around campus with me. We discussed his experience and expectations. Even as a retired daddy bear this kid already has my attention. He shadowed me the first three days. We talked about the climate of the building. Total enrollment was right at a thousand students.  

The following week Mr. Peters started out one class that week…he added another class week 2. I arranged for Mr. Peters worked cafeteria duty each Tuesday and Thursday. We got to know each other well. Mr. Peters drives about an hour one way coming from the college town. I lived about 20 minutes from campus. One morning my phone rang and it was a call from Mr. Peters….he woke up to discover his Range Rover was missing two tires. I jotted down Steve’s information…address, etc….after Steve got off the phone I leaned more about my student teacher. Mr. Peters grandfather was a famous NASCAR driver, owner. Steve’s father was explaining its time to sell the condo in Boone and look for more comfortable homes.

After Mr. Peters was quiet and I broke the ice and said…..if you want to talk about it….I’m a very good listener. He sat up straight in my BMW SUV. He said….tell me what it was like to experience the loss of my lover. Steve said his parents are wonderful…but they don’t want him to move to Charlotte in the fall teaching at a private school. As I listened….I gathered his parents didn’t want him to move in with a lover who works in banking for a major banking institution.

After school that day I texted him and said whenever he needed to leave I was ready. As we left the east campus Steve’s father was in the parking lot with his son’s vehicle repaired with a new set of tires all around his Rover. Steve introduced me to his dad. I’ve seen him local television and he’s been guest speaker for various events over the years. His dad left in the opposite direction. I called Steve via my Bluetooth and we talked the entire drive back up the mountain. As I was getting ready to turn…..he said to me….pizza and wigs my treat. About 30 minutes later we were sitting on my patio porch with the gas logs burning. I offered Steve a beer or wine. We both enjoyed a cold beer and pizza.

We talked about school….his degree , his teaching goals, the likely outcome if he were to move to Charlotte. The Latin Day school would be an amazing opportunity. I’m sure family connections didn’t hurt, however…what times I’ve walked into Mr. Peters classes…he knows his content and has good relationships with his students.

After a good hour had passed and our empty beer bottles on the table. I heard Steve on the phone telling his roommate he was running late. I walked over to Mr. Peters and extended my hand. I took his keys and placed them on the island. Steve stood in front of me, I leaned over him and kissed his soft, delicate lips. We started undressing and our clothes were all over the room. We entered my bathroom….started the shower ….we washed each other. Enjoyed each others attention and after our phenomenal shower we went to bed. Steve tasted so good. I got him on all fours and rimmed his hole deep. We rolled around on the bed. I straddled his body and informed him I want him to fuck me. His compact body reminds me of a tennis player or a wrestler. Steve opened me using two then three fingers. We had a memorable moment. The next day at school we had cafeteria duty and he sat with me and thanked me for allowing him to problem solve his problems of his car….or the possible move to Charlotte.

At the end of the school day he will pop by the office and ask me what are my dinner plans, etc….at least twice a week he eat dinner together and end up fucking. The past three weekends he has slept over on Saturday nights.

As the semester is coming to a close ….I’ve given him the opportunity to end up the year. He set up a schedule to get all the English II Chromebook’s so the students could take their statewide exam.  

He attended prom and begged me to dance with him. I would have loved to take him in my arms but that wasn’t an option as an administrator. At the end of the year I told Steve if he wanted to apply for a position in this district I’m sure I could make some introductions. I finished my time as a temporary administrator. A week later I had a phone conversation with the headmaster at Davidson Academy seeking a reference for Mr. Peters. The following Saturday Steve came over. I grilled ears of corn, chicken breast that had marinated all afternoon in Italian salad dressing. We had a nice dinner. Got undressed and sat in the hot tub with a couple of long neck bottles. We left the hot tub and went to the large shower. I could easily say at this stage of the game….we had love…not just hot man sex.

In July I took a road trip with Steve to look at a new townhouse. His dad arranged the deal. Keys and folder waiting on the kitchen island. The Peters family definitely set their son and grandson up in style. Steve moved the weekend after the fourth celebrations. Every now and then I’ll meet Steve for dinner. Sometimes he will meet me in Winston Salem if he’s headed my direction. We have both grown accustomed to our relationship and the company we keep. I’m older than his father….but I’m ten years shy of his grandfathers age.

Now that I’m in my seventies and live part time at the outer banks and the mountains between Boone and North Wilksboro…..after the loss of Nic and given the chance to fund Steve….it’s always a good choice to love the life we are given.