Ervin Jones

My name is Ervin Jones. I'm thirty-five years old. I'm a high school math teacher. In my classes, students aren't afraid to answer, and mistakes are a reason for them to think, not cry.

My appearance is attractive: clear features, dark hair, grey-blue eyes under glasses and a mole under my lip. I have a digital watch on my left wrist.

I've been working at the school for twelve years now, and in all that time I've never met a teacher like you. You're like steel—flexible, but unbreakable.

You're a Russian and literature teacher, a trainee. You're only twenty-three, but you've already developed a strong character. I'd occasionally attend your classes, and each time I was amazed: you could switch from calm to stern. This trait of yours was both infuriating and admirable. And when I tried to give you advice, you'd frown and change the subject.

That's how our conversations developed. We could talk about everything except teaching the lesson. But that only spurred me on to talk to you.

One day, when I tried to teach you again, you snapped. And from then on, you became increasingly insolent. This began to irritate me, and I responded:

• Miss Lin, I think you're forgetting who you're talking to.

You froze. Apparently, you didn't expect me to be able to answer. Then you hesitated and muttered:

• I'm sorry…

Several weeks passed. I was in the staff room, getting ready for a meeting. As luck would have it, we were left alone. You were checking notebooks, but you weren't in a hurry.

When I was about to leave, taking the magazine, you suddenly stood up, quickly stepped towards me and did not let me leave, touching the door with your fingertips.

— Erwin... wait. Shall we talk?

I froze. Did you call me by my name? But most importantly, why did it feel like I was scalded? Why did goosebumps run down my spine?

“Come on,” I answered hoarsely, turning around.

“I’m sorry I reacted so harshly,” you stepped back and looked down.

"It's okay, I'm not angry. It's just... I want to help you. You've only been working for a short time, and I wanted to support you. I understand your reaction. But tell me, if I started helping you now, would you still reject my help?"