On Halloween, Merlin Evans, third-grade teacher at Brecon Hollow Elementary School, closed the hefty storybook perched on his lap, and smiled down at his students seated on the bright blue carpet before him.
“Thus, the valiant King Arthur and his noble knights saved the day. The End.”
“Awww!” the children chorused.
“We want more!” said little Leon with an eager grin. “I love hearing about the Knights of the Round Table!”
Gwaine leapt up, unable to contain his enthusiasm. “Please, Mr. Evans, can you please tell us another one? Please, please, please...” Gwaine hopped around in a circle on one foot, his unkempt, dark hair bouncing around his face. The other children laughed with delight at his antics.
While Gwaine had the tendency to be …show more content…
Evans?” asked Percy, now more confused than upset.
“You are going to be a teacher for Halloween!” said Merlin. He then shoved his briefcase into Percy’s hand, and stuck a red pen behind the boy’s ear. To finish the ensemble, Merlin popped the lenses out of his (cheap) sunglasses and situated the empty frames on Percy’s face.
“Now you look scholarly,” said Merlin with a grin.
Percy opened his mouth to speak, but a quiet knock came at the classroom door. Merlin had been so distracted with settling Percy’s last-minute costume, he hadn’t noticed the handsome, young blonde man standing at the door.
“You can return to your seat, Percy,” said Merlin, before turning his attention to the fit, square-jawed man in the doorway. “Can I help you, sir?”
“Yes, sorry to interrupt. I’m the replacement teacher for Ms. Isolde. Today’s my first day, and I thought this was my classroom.”
Ms. Isolde, the other third-grade teacher, just had her baby yesterday, and planned to take leave for the rest of the school year.
Merlin chuckled and approached the door. “This is one heck of a day for you to start, with the Halloween parade and all. I feel for you.” Merlin extended his hand in greeting. “Merlin …show more content…
“You have GOT to be joking! Merlin and Arthur, third-grade teachers, teaching in side-by-side classrooms? What are the odds of that?”
“Slim,” said Arthur with a hearty chuckle.
“Your room is right next door.” Merlin pointed to a classroom only feet away. “The principal’s been teaching since yesterday and she’ll help you settle in. But any time you have questions, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks, Merlin.” Arthur took a step back, but paused. “By the way, I saw what you did with that boy, setting him up with a costume. I can see you care about your students. Not all teachers do.”
Merlin studied Arthur’s eyes, which were a bright, sky blue flecked with green. Arthur radiated competence, but kindness as well. And Merlin hadn’t been out on a date in almost a year… Wait, what was Merlin thinking! This Arthur Prentiss was new to the school, a fellow teacher and colleague. Merlin was being silly. And besides, it wasn’t proper to stare at this new teacher all doe-eyed; the man was probably married. Even so, Merlin took a quick glance down at Arthur’s ring finger. It was bare.
“I should, ah, get back to the kids,” said Merlin, blushing, feeling tongue tied for the first time in
“Thus, the valiant King Arthur and his noble knights saved the day. The End.”
“Awww!” the children chorused.
“We want more!” said little Leon with an eager grin. “I love hearing about the Knights of the Round Table!”
Gwaine leapt up, unable to contain his enthusiasm. “Please, Mr. Evans, can you please tell us another one? Please, please, please...” Gwaine hopped around in a circle on one foot, his unkempt, dark hair bouncing around his face. The other children laughed with delight at his antics.
While Gwaine had the tendency to be …show more content…
Evans?” asked Percy, now more confused than upset.
“You are going to be a teacher for Halloween!” said Merlin. He then shoved his briefcase into Percy’s hand, and stuck a red pen behind the boy’s ear. To finish the ensemble, Merlin popped the lenses out of his (cheap) sunglasses and situated the empty frames on Percy’s face.
“Now you look scholarly,” said Merlin with a grin.
Percy opened his mouth to speak, but a quiet knock came at the classroom door. Merlin had been so distracted with settling Percy’s last-minute costume, he hadn’t noticed the handsome, young blonde man standing at the door.
“You can return to your seat, Percy,” said Merlin, before turning his attention to the fit, square-jawed man in the doorway. “Can I help you, sir?”
“Yes, sorry to interrupt. I’m the replacement teacher for Ms. Isolde. Today’s my first day, and I thought this was my classroom.”
Ms. Isolde, the other third-grade teacher, just had her baby yesterday, and planned to take leave for the rest of the school year.
Merlin chuckled and approached the door. “This is one heck of a day for you to start, with the Halloween parade and all. I feel for you.” Merlin extended his hand in greeting. “Merlin …show more content…
“You have GOT to be joking! Merlin and Arthur, third-grade teachers, teaching in side-by-side classrooms? What are the odds of that?”
“Slim,” said Arthur with a hearty chuckle.
“Your room is right next door.” Merlin pointed to a classroom only feet away. “The principal’s been teaching since yesterday and she’ll help you settle in. But any time you have questions, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks, Merlin.” Arthur took a step back, but paused. “By the way, I saw what you did with that boy, setting him up with a costume. I can see you care about your students. Not all teachers do.”
Merlin studied Arthur’s eyes, which were a bright, sky blue flecked with green. Arthur radiated competence, but kindness as well. And Merlin hadn’t been out on a date in almost a year… Wait, what was Merlin thinking! This Arthur Prentiss was new to the school, a fellow teacher and colleague. Merlin was being silly. And besides, it wasn’t proper to stare at this new teacher all doe-eyed; the man was probably married. Even so, Merlin took a quick glance down at Arthur’s ring finger. It was bare.
“I should, ah, get back to the kids,” said Merlin, blushing, feeling tongue tied for the first time in