If I Should Fall: The Second Book of Geshichte Falls
“I came, my friend,” Chuck Shrader announced, “to congratulate you on getting your own classroom.”
Jeff Cordino bowed ostentatiously, and the departing boys in a motley array of ties and dress shirts eyed their history teacher.
“I have moved up in the world,” Jeff agreed.
“If they give me my own parking space I’ll never be able to leave the place.”
Chuck Shrader looked around the large fluorescent lit classroom with the big windows that stared out over the soccer field and into the trees of the cemetery before saying, “Please never say that again.”
Jeff grinned.
“What’s up, man? That can’t be the only reason you came.”
“I wanted to see if you were free for lunch.”
“Yeah. And why else?”
Chuck looked at his friend, then grinned and said, “You’re good. And I hate you for it.”
“Thanks?”
“You’re welcome. I took Faye to dinner last night.”
“Dinner. But isn’t she… She left.”
“She’s back.”
“Well!” Jeff said.
“Well, indeed. And I asked her what was going to happen to our relationship.”
Jeff stopped unpacking his briefcase and closed it up.
“And what did Dr. Mathisson tell you?”
“She didn’t tell me anything,” Chuck said as he preceded his friend to the door.
“I don’t know that it looks good.”
Jeff smiled sympathetically but said nothing, which he always thought best.
They headed down the stairs and toward the parking lot at the side of the school.
“Jeffy, my dating life isn’t good. In the last year alone I’ve dated another man’s wife and a professor who lives at least four hours away. Maybe there’s something in me that really doesn’t want a relationship. Maybe there’s something in me that—” Chuck stopped himself.
“What?” Jeff said. They were taking his car. He hopped in, leaned over, opened the door for Chuck. Chuck got in and stared at him.
“Something that clings to Jane,” Chuck muttered.
Jeff frowned, started up the car and they were on Lincoln Street, heading north before Jeff spoke again.
“You really believe that?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Where to for lunch?” Jeff asked.
“Le Burger King?”
“Good enough,” Jeff agreed.
Then he decided to give more advice than he ever had.
“The choice is simpler than it seems. Either Faye stays here—which I admit, isn’t likely. Or you go to Illinois, which isn’t likely either. And neither choice is very pleasant.”
“I know,” said Chuck.
They ordered and ate in the parking lot. Somewhere in the midst of biting into a tomato, Chuck’s face changed, and then, though neither of them spoke, something new seemed to have come over Chuck Shrader, and when they were nearing the old school building, Jeff spoke again.
“Chuck, you figured something out, didn’t you?”
Chuck turned to Jeff as Jeff parked his car.
He sighed.
“Jeff, I know what I have to do.”