He lowered his head and pretended to read along with everyone else. He was waiting with his pen poised on top of his notepad. He felt like a teenager cheating on a test. It was the responsibility of each senior teacher to know every new face that joined the faculty. He didn’t really know why, perhaps to set a good example for the senior teachers to be, he supposed.

Ms. Randall began with the gentleman in the green shirt. “First we have, David Welch.” Mr. Welch stood up and turned to face the rest of the auditorium. He waved and smiled. “Please tell us a little bit about yourself.” Ms. Randall urged.“Crying does not look good on you,” he stated matter-of-factly.

Kimberly giggled. “No, I suppose it doesn’t.”
         Deacon and Jareth exchanged another glance.

         "What voice?" Jareth asked slowly, as though suspecting that his fellow Ranger might have finally cracked.

         They cannot hear me. Only he who holds the sword can hear my voice.

         Myk stared at the sword, not wanting to speak aloud again in front of Jareth and Deacon.

         You needn't speak aloud. I can hear your thoughts, if you direct them at me.

“Come with me. I know something that will make you feel better.” Jayden turned his chair around and began heading out of the room.

“Where are we going?” asked Kimberly as she began to follow him.

“To my room. Mommy bought a bunch of stuffed animals for my birthday. I told her I wanted to give everyone at the hospital who was sad one instead of getting presents for myself.”

Mr. Welch cleared his throat and began to speak. “Hi. My name is David Welch. You may call me Dave, if you wish.” Tommy had to laugh. The teachers had a microcosmic version of high school all their own. You had fellow teachers you hung out with during your breaks, other teachers you avoided for whatever reason. You had the eccentric teachers that played by their own rules and the goody-good teachers that didn’t dare break any. Watching Mr. Welch introduce himself was like watching the new kid, forced to tell his life story in paragraph form in front a huge group of strangers. Tommy just continued to laugh to himself. He felt like the rebel loner kid, sitting in the back of the classroom, his feet propped up on the desk, not giving a damn.