Fake it til you Make it: An Ikeaverse Installment
Title: Fake it til you Make it
Rating: T+
Word Count: ~2700
Disclaimer: don't own them.
Summary: Bill and Laura coach their first practice...
A/N: Part three of three (for now) of the cross country (team) arc in honor of afrakaday's birthday.
A/N2: Thanks to wicked_sassy for the beta. *hugs*
A/N3: This is part of an open 'verse that begins with " Normaling"
“Wake up, Coach.”
“Hmm?”
“We gotta go to school.” He kissed her ear. “Don’t wanna be late.”
She opened her eyes. “Okay, I’m up.”
“I’ll put the coffee on, you get ready.”
She nodded sleepily.
A minute later she heard the coffee grinder. She got out of bed and gathered her outfit for the day. She also packed workout gear for practice. Her running shoes had seen better days. They were left over from when she started jogging when her mother had gotten sick. They were out of style and worn out. She’d need to go shopping soon.
She started the shower, disrobing after the water was warm enough. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the water falling on her. Then she picked up the soap and worked up a lather as she thought about her new responsibility. Maybe she’d have time for some quick internet research.
As she washed her hair, she heard footsteps in the bathroom.
“Laura, I’m comin’ in.”
That sounded good. “Okay.”
He stepped in behind her. Then she felt his fingers in her hair. “Hi. Figured this would save time.”
“Hmm, in theory.”
“Oh no, Coach. No time for that. We have a tight schedule to maintain.”
“Cockblock.”
“Don’t blame me.”
He had a point there. “Well then, wash my hair,” she laughed.
He did as told, working the shampoo into a cloud of suds and massaging her scalp. It felt so much better than when she did it. They finished their leisurely shower together, helping each other soap up and rinse off.
When they were both clean, dry and dressed, Bill fixed their coffees. They ate a quick breakfast together before heading to school in the Galactica.
---------------------------
Laura liked riding in the Galactica. She felt safe in a way she didn’t in her car. It had a smooth ride, like they were floating. It was perfect for Bill--and her.
They pulled into the school’s main parking lot entrance. He approached the back row. He pointed to the one she’d parked in--her spot. “That one, right?”
“Yes.”
It was the perfect parking spot because it was in the back row, and in the spot to the right was a streetlight surrounded by a concrete slab, which meant no one could park there. It was rare that anyone parked on the other side, but that didn’t matter so much. The buffer on the right side was good enough.
They walked across the parking lot. It was getting chilly in the mornings. Dark too. She’d need to get out her coat soon.
Once inside, Laura noticed Bill lacked his consternation from the previous morning.
“Good morning, Laura.”
Just like that, there was a new wrinkle. Laura turned to face her boss. “Good morning, Richard.”
“I heard you’ve taken on coaching responsibilities for the cross country team. Aren’t you worried about overextending yourself?”
Oh, she bet he was worried. He was always asking questions like that. “Don’t worry, Richard. I can handle it.”
“I’m sure. You always do.” He smiled his false smile; she was the only one who seemed to see it for what it was, though. “And who is this?” he asked, gesturing to Bill standing next to her.
Out of the corner of her eye, Laura saw Bill’s posture go from relaxed to stiffly upright. “I’m the assistant coach, Bill Adama.”
“Right, the retired Navy Commander. Nice to meet you. I’m Richard Adar.” He looked back at Laura. “I’ll talk to you later. Administrators’ meeting is coming up.”
“I look forward to it.”
Richard slinked back towards his office. Laura grabbed Bill’s hand, practically dragging him in the other direction.
“So your boss is a prick.”
He understood the thinly veiled threats, the lack of support--the wonderful leadership style of Richard Adar. “You sound like Starbuck.”
“She doesn’t like him either, huh?”
“Not him, the vice principal, none of the counselors. Nope.”
“But she adores you.”
Laura nodded.
When they got to her office, she sat at her desk and powered up her computer. The computer started quickly for once; that, plus Bill’s presence, helped dissipate her foul mood. She searched “cross country running” and “cross country coaching tips” and came up with some promising results. She might be able to pull this off.
------------------------------
After the 9th period ended, the PA announced Laura Roslin was the new Lexington High School coach for the Colonial Runners. Everyone in her class let out a little whoop, before exiting.
Laura headed to the gym with Bill and Billy. “Ready, Coach?” Billy asked.
She nodded. “I think so. I may need some help.”
“Whatever you need, Ms. Roslin.”
She smiled at her favorite student. “I know I can count on you.”
Laura stopped in the faculty women’s restroom and changed into her running shoes. She made a mental note to make sure Billy had proper footwear. Bill and Billy were outside the door waiting for her when she emerged and they walked out together to the track.
Kara, Sam, Karl, Zak, and Felix were already there, the teammates in a circle, Kara standing against a gate. Seeing the newcomers, Sam called out to them. “Hey, Billy. Come line up with us.”
As they approached, Laura said, “Thanks for getting them out here, Sam.”
He smiled. “No problem, Coach. That’s what the captain is for.”
Laura nodded. “You’ll warm them up?”
“Yeah. Two laps around the track, and then we’ll stretch.”
“Good. Do that.”
“And what about Billy?” he asked.
“You think one lap would be better?”
Sam nodded. “For now, yeah.”
“They’re all yours, Mr. Anders.” She smiled gratefully. He was a good choice for team captain.
Sam got everyone’s attention and started them on their laps. He gently took Billy aside. “You’re just getting started, so take it easy, okay? Don’t want you getting hurt. Just one lap today.”
Billy nodded. He was such an agreeable kid. Laura, Bill, and Kara stood and watched the team run. Laura was glad to see Billy keeping up with the others. After Billy took his lap, he stood to the side with the coaches and smiled. “Having fun?” Laura asked.
He nodded shyly.
Kara patted him on the back. “You may just be our secret weapon.”
He blushed and looked down, smiling. She told him to start stretching while they waited.
Across the track, Sam was leading a team chant. “He’s keeping cadence,” Bill said. He sounded impressed with their captain.
The team returned to the football field in the center of the track and followed Sam through their stretches. Laura paid careful attention to their technique and Sam’s instructions. Then Sam came over to chat with her. “What do you have in mind for us today?”
“I was thinking we have two new runners and two new coaches who need to learn the course. We shouldn’t overexert them, right?” Sam nodded in agreement. She continued, “What if we split the team into two workouts? We have several weeks before our first meet and should probably work on conditioning. Where do you go when you have a long run?”
Sam smiled and pointed. “See that bike trail?” Laura nodded, then faced him again. “It goes across town for three miles. We usually go up and back on long run days.”
Laura nodded again. “That’s perfect. Who should lead us through the course?”
Sam gestured to Karl. He called for his teammate. “Hey man, I need you to lead them through the course, alright?”
“Sure.” He smiled kindly. “I think you’ll like it, Coach. It’s a very nice run.”
Laura returned the smile. “I’m sure. Thank you, Karl.”
“Aren’t you guys forgetting something?” Kara interjected.
“What, Starbuck?” Laura asked.
“Someone needs to keep Sam and Zak in check.”
Laura smirked. She really didn’t think that would be a problem, but she knew Kara’s number. “I suppose.”
“I volunteer for the task.”
“Go for it, Kara.” Laura didn’t understand why Kara wouldn’t just join the team, but she supposed there must be some reason.
The three of them took off. Laura shook her head and Bill patted her arm. “They’ll be fine. They’re good kids.”
She nodded and turned to Karl. “We’re all yours, Mr. Agathon.”
------------------------
Karl led them to the official starting line. It was invisible at the moment--He said they had to paint it for their home meets, especially if they hosted any of the county, tri-county, or state meets. They had hosted a number of the larger meets in the past. She added that to the list of things to look into.
The starting line was against the fence that enclosed all of the athletic fields. It was near the field hockey practice area, Karl said. He mentioned they occasionally shared the course, track, and fence (fence laps) with the field hockey team.
He showed them where the top of the fence had a yellow cover on it. The starting line was where the cover began. Karl looked at everyone. “Ready?”
They all nodded, and Laura said, “Let’s go.”
He started them at an easy pace. Laura settled into the jog. Over his shoulder, Karl said they’d just follow the fence for about a quarter of a mile--the perimeter of the fence was a full mile. He talked about how fence laps were great for some workouts, particularly what he described as sprint-jogs, which Laura guessed meant alternating speeds.
Karl was right about the course: It made for a pleasant run. Laura wasn’t sure if Bill would agree, though. He hung back. Laura could hear his heavy breathing and footsteps from several yards away. Running really wasn’t for him.
Not that Laura wasn’t struggling. It had been a long time since she’d exercised at all. Although, that didn’t matter so much. According to every site she looked at, it takes 30 days of not running to lose 100% conditioning. That put her, Billy, Felix, and Bill on equal footing. Billy and Felix stayed right behind Karl. Laura was near them, and Bill brought up the rear.
She looked down at Billy’s and Felix’s feet. It looked like they were both wearing running shoes. She’d follow up with Sam about them after practice. She wanted her team to avoid blisters at all costs.
They were coming up on the opening at the gate, which led to another field, where the adjoining middle school held practices and games for their intramural sports. Karl led them through the gate, and had them turn right, up a small hill, where there was a path. It was shady under the trees, and the leaves were just starting to turn. There was an assortment of greens, yellows, and oranges, and even some reds.
When they got to the end of the path, which led to Clayton Road, Karl had them turn left, keeping to the grass path under the trees. When they came to the bike trail, they turned left onto it. Running on the black top was much harsher on her feet and knees than the grass had been. The soles of her shoes were pretty worn down. She definitely needed to buy new ones.
She looked at Billy and Felix. They seemed to be doing fine. She looked over her shoulder at Bill. He was struggling. His hand on his right knee. “You alright?”
He nodded. “I was better on the grass.”
She nodded. Then faced in front of her. “Karl, Coach Adama and I are gonna run in the grass on the side.”
He looked at them over his shoulder and smiled. “Sometimes I do that too.”
Karl instructed them to stay on the bike trail for half a mile, then turn left into a wooded trail. It was easy to miss, though. Laura slowed her pace slightly, so Bill could catch up. The trail was narrow, so it was difficult for runners to remain side-by-side. That would make passing difficult during a race. Her mind immediately started working out some strategies. She had a lot to talk about.
Bill caught up to her, remaining close behind. “We should mark up that entrance,” he said.
She nodded, still concentrating on her jogging. There were a lot of branches and tree roots on the ground to be careful of. But in the back of her mind, she was pleased with his assessment. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just not used to running. Boxing’s more my thing.”
“Really? I love boxing.”
“You’re full of surprises.” He paused to catch his breath. She realized she’d picked up her pace slightly, and he was trying to keep with her. She readjusted her pace. “It would be hard to pass someone in here.”
She turned to smile at him. “I might have some ideas about that.”
He grinned. She faced forward--just in time to see a stump. It would have tripped her for sure. She successfully avoided it. “Watch your step, Bill.”
“Got it, thanks.”
When they came out the other side of the path, Karl led them around the perimeter of the parking lot to another wooded trail with a few hills and some sand. Both were challenging for runners, Laura had learned. It was perfect for building the team’s strength. As they went down the last hill, Karl called out that they were at the home stretch.
He led them out of the wooded trail and back to the track where they’d started. The others weren’t finished yet since they were running twice as far, so Karl led them through warm-down stretches while they waited for Sam, Zak, and Kara.
Laura watched Felix and Billy interact. She knew the two intelligent students had become friends. Felix preferred maths and sciences, while Billy was more rounded, with a preference for liberal arts. They enjoyed similar video games, though. She was happy for Billy to have found a friend. Listening to him talk about something not school related was refreshing.
Billy turned to Laura. “When’s our next test?”
Laura shook her head in consternation. “Considering half the class thinks Mrs. Mallard loved her husband and that’s why she died, I don’t think we’re ready for a test for a while.”
Billy smirked in response. “Really? How are they getting that?”
She shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.” Laura was truly shocked by the essays on “Story of an Hour.” She’d never seen a class get that story wrong before--maybe a student or two but never so many. She’d need to reconsider her teaching of the story. It would likely appear on the AP exam.
They idly chatted a while longer, and then Laura heard what sounded like three wild animals charging. Rising above the sound was the cackle she knew was Kara’s laugh.
Sam led everyone through stretches, then Laura dismissed them for the day. Of course, she and Bill had to take Billy, Kara, and Zak home.
After they finished changing, the smaller group met at the front entrance of the school and walked to the Galactica. “This is a nice ride for an old car, Mr. A.”
“Thanks, Starbuck. She’s a good girl.”
Zak whispered loudly that his father was really devoted to his car.
Laura smiled, listening to the exchanges.
They dropped Kara off first, much as they knew she didn’t want to get out of the car. There wasn’t much they could do about it. Laura vowed she’d pay attention. If she could help Kara, she would. At least the porch light was on that night. Laura always hated walking home to a dark house. Watching Kara do it the night before had made her very uneasy.
Then they took Zak to his mother’s house. He didn’t seem too willing to go home, either. She’d ask Bill about that later.
Finally, it was Billy’s turn. Laura knew the Keikeyas were a wonderful family. Although his older sisters probably tortured him, it didn’t matter. Billy was happy to go home.
After Billy exited the car, she turned to Bill. “Last stop?”
Bill nodded. “Ready for a long shower and a good meal.”
She smiled at him. “You know, there are a lot of benefits to running.”
“I look forward to discovering them, Coach,” he said as he drove them home.
Next Installment
Rating: T+
Word Count: ~2700
Disclaimer: don't own them.
Summary: Bill and Laura coach their first practice...
A/N: Part three of three (for now) of the cross country (team) arc in honor of afrakaday's birthday.
A/N2: Thanks to wicked_sassy for the beta. *hugs*
A/N3: This is part of an open 'verse that begins with " Normaling"
“Wake up, Coach.”
“Hmm?”
“We gotta go to school.” He kissed her ear. “Don’t wanna be late.”
She opened her eyes. “Okay, I’m up.”
“I’ll put the coffee on, you get ready.”
She nodded sleepily.
A minute later she heard the coffee grinder. She got out of bed and gathered her outfit for the day. She also packed workout gear for practice. Her running shoes had seen better days. They were left over from when she started jogging when her mother had gotten sick. They were out of style and worn out. She’d need to go shopping soon.
She started the shower, disrobing after the water was warm enough. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the water falling on her. Then she picked up the soap and worked up a lather as she thought about her new responsibility. Maybe she’d have time for some quick internet research.
As she washed her hair, she heard footsteps in the bathroom.
“Laura, I’m comin’ in.”
That sounded good. “Okay.”
He stepped in behind her. Then she felt his fingers in her hair. “Hi. Figured this would save time.”
“Hmm, in theory.”
“Oh no, Coach. No time for that. We have a tight schedule to maintain.”
“Cockblock.”
“Don’t blame me.”
He had a point there. “Well then, wash my hair,” she laughed.
He did as told, working the shampoo into a cloud of suds and massaging her scalp. It felt so much better than when she did it. They finished their leisurely shower together, helping each other soap up and rinse off.
When they were both clean, dry and dressed, Bill fixed their coffees. They ate a quick breakfast together before heading to school in the Galactica.
---------------------------
Laura liked riding in the Galactica. She felt safe in a way she didn’t in her car. It had a smooth ride, like they were floating. It was perfect for Bill--and her.
They pulled into the school’s main parking lot entrance. He approached the back row. He pointed to the one she’d parked in--her spot. “That one, right?”
“Yes.”
It was the perfect parking spot because it was in the back row, and in the spot to the right was a streetlight surrounded by a concrete slab, which meant no one could park there. It was rare that anyone parked on the other side, but that didn’t matter so much. The buffer on the right side was good enough.
They walked across the parking lot. It was getting chilly in the mornings. Dark too. She’d need to get out her coat soon.
Once inside, Laura noticed Bill lacked his consternation from the previous morning.
“Good morning, Laura.”
Just like that, there was a new wrinkle. Laura turned to face her boss. “Good morning, Richard.”
“I heard you’ve taken on coaching responsibilities for the cross country team. Aren’t you worried about overextending yourself?”
Oh, she bet he was worried. He was always asking questions like that. “Don’t worry, Richard. I can handle it.”
“I’m sure. You always do.” He smiled his false smile; she was the only one who seemed to see it for what it was, though. “And who is this?” he asked, gesturing to Bill standing next to her.
Out of the corner of her eye, Laura saw Bill’s posture go from relaxed to stiffly upright. “I’m the assistant coach, Bill Adama.”
“Right, the retired Navy Commander. Nice to meet you. I’m Richard Adar.” He looked back at Laura. “I’ll talk to you later. Administrators’ meeting is coming up.”
“I look forward to it.”
Richard slinked back towards his office. Laura grabbed Bill’s hand, practically dragging him in the other direction.
“So your boss is a prick.”
He understood the thinly veiled threats, the lack of support--the wonderful leadership style of Richard Adar. “You sound like Starbuck.”
“She doesn’t like him either, huh?”
“Not him, the vice principal, none of the counselors. Nope.”
“But she adores you.”
Laura nodded.
When they got to her office, she sat at her desk and powered up her computer. The computer started quickly for once; that, plus Bill’s presence, helped dissipate her foul mood. She searched “cross country running” and “cross country coaching tips” and came up with some promising results. She might be able to pull this off.
------------------------------
After the 9th period ended, the PA announced Laura Roslin was the new Lexington High School coach for the Colonial Runners. Everyone in her class let out a little whoop, before exiting.
Laura headed to the gym with Bill and Billy. “Ready, Coach?” Billy asked.
She nodded. “I think so. I may need some help.”
“Whatever you need, Ms. Roslin.”
She smiled at her favorite student. “I know I can count on you.”
Laura stopped in the faculty women’s restroom and changed into her running shoes. She made a mental note to make sure Billy had proper footwear. Bill and Billy were outside the door waiting for her when she emerged and they walked out together to the track.
Kara, Sam, Karl, Zak, and Felix were already there, the teammates in a circle, Kara standing against a gate. Seeing the newcomers, Sam called out to them. “Hey, Billy. Come line up with us.”
As they approached, Laura said, “Thanks for getting them out here, Sam.”
He smiled. “No problem, Coach. That’s what the captain is for.”
Laura nodded. “You’ll warm them up?”
“Yeah. Two laps around the track, and then we’ll stretch.”
“Good. Do that.”
“And what about Billy?” he asked.
“You think one lap would be better?”
Sam nodded. “For now, yeah.”
“They’re all yours, Mr. Anders.” She smiled gratefully. He was a good choice for team captain.
Sam got everyone’s attention and started them on their laps. He gently took Billy aside. “You’re just getting started, so take it easy, okay? Don’t want you getting hurt. Just one lap today.”
Billy nodded. He was such an agreeable kid. Laura, Bill, and Kara stood and watched the team run. Laura was glad to see Billy keeping up with the others. After Billy took his lap, he stood to the side with the coaches and smiled. “Having fun?” Laura asked.
He nodded shyly.
Kara patted him on the back. “You may just be our secret weapon.”
He blushed and looked down, smiling. She told him to start stretching while they waited.
Across the track, Sam was leading a team chant. “He’s keeping cadence,” Bill said. He sounded impressed with their captain.
The team returned to the football field in the center of the track and followed Sam through their stretches. Laura paid careful attention to their technique and Sam’s instructions. Then Sam came over to chat with her. “What do you have in mind for us today?”
“I was thinking we have two new runners and two new coaches who need to learn the course. We shouldn’t overexert them, right?” Sam nodded in agreement. She continued, “What if we split the team into two workouts? We have several weeks before our first meet and should probably work on conditioning. Where do you go when you have a long run?”
Sam smiled and pointed. “See that bike trail?” Laura nodded, then faced him again. “It goes across town for three miles. We usually go up and back on long run days.”
Laura nodded again. “That’s perfect. Who should lead us through the course?”
Sam gestured to Karl. He called for his teammate. “Hey man, I need you to lead them through the course, alright?”
“Sure.” He smiled kindly. “I think you’ll like it, Coach. It’s a very nice run.”
Laura returned the smile. “I’m sure. Thank you, Karl.”
“Aren’t you guys forgetting something?” Kara interjected.
“What, Starbuck?” Laura asked.
“Someone needs to keep Sam and Zak in check.”
Laura smirked. She really didn’t think that would be a problem, but she knew Kara’s number. “I suppose.”
“I volunteer for the task.”
“Go for it, Kara.” Laura didn’t understand why Kara wouldn’t just join the team, but she supposed there must be some reason.
The three of them took off. Laura shook her head and Bill patted her arm. “They’ll be fine. They’re good kids.”
She nodded and turned to Karl. “We’re all yours, Mr. Agathon.”
------------------------
Karl led them to the official starting line. It was invisible at the moment--He said they had to paint it for their home meets, especially if they hosted any of the county, tri-county, or state meets. They had hosted a number of the larger meets in the past. She added that to the list of things to look into.
The starting line was against the fence that enclosed all of the athletic fields. It was near the field hockey practice area, Karl said. He mentioned they occasionally shared the course, track, and fence (fence laps) with the field hockey team.
He showed them where the top of the fence had a yellow cover on it. The starting line was where the cover began. Karl looked at everyone. “Ready?”
They all nodded, and Laura said, “Let’s go.”
He started them at an easy pace. Laura settled into the jog. Over his shoulder, Karl said they’d just follow the fence for about a quarter of a mile--the perimeter of the fence was a full mile. He talked about how fence laps were great for some workouts, particularly what he described as sprint-jogs, which Laura guessed meant alternating speeds.
Karl was right about the course: It made for a pleasant run. Laura wasn’t sure if Bill would agree, though. He hung back. Laura could hear his heavy breathing and footsteps from several yards away. Running really wasn’t for him.
Not that Laura wasn’t struggling. It had been a long time since she’d exercised at all. Although, that didn’t matter so much. According to every site she looked at, it takes 30 days of not running to lose 100% conditioning. That put her, Billy, Felix, and Bill on equal footing. Billy and Felix stayed right behind Karl. Laura was near them, and Bill brought up the rear.
She looked down at Billy’s and Felix’s feet. It looked like they were both wearing running shoes. She’d follow up with Sam about them after practice. She wanted her team to avoid blisters at all costs.
They were coming up on the opening at the gate, which led to another field, where the adjoining middle school held practices and games for their intramural sports. Karl led them through the gate, and had them turn right, up a small hill, where there was a path. It was shady under the trees, and the leaves were just starting to turn. There was an assortment of greens, yellows, and oranges, and even some reds.
When they got to the end of the path, which led to Clayton Road, Karl had them turn left, keeping to the grass path under the trees. When they came to the bike trail, they turned left onto it. Running on the black top was much harsher on her feet and knees than the grass had been. The soles of her shoes were pretty worn down. She definitely needed to buy new ones.
She looked at Billy and Felix. They seemed to be doing fine. She looked over her shoulder at Bill. He was struggling. His hand on his right knee. “You alright?”
He nodded. “I was better on the grass.”
She nodded. Then faced in front of her. “Karl, Coach Adama and I are gonna run in the grass on the side.”
He looked at them over his shoulder and smiled. “Sometimes I do that too.”
Karl instructed them to stay on the bike trail for half a mile, then turn left into a wooded trail. It was easy to miss, though. Laura slowed her pace slightly, so Bill could catch up. The trail was narrow, so it was difficult for runners to remain side-by-side. That would make passing difficult during a race. Her mind immediately started working out some strategies. She had a lot to talk about.
Bill caught up to her, remaining close behind. “We should mark up that entrance,” he said.
She nodded, still concentrating on her jogging. There were a lot of branches and tree roots on the ground to be careful of. But in the back of her mind, she was pleased with his assessment. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just not used to running. Boxing’s more my thing.”
“Really? I love boxing.”
“You’re full of surprises.” He paused to catch his breath. She realized she’d picked up her pace slightly, and he was trying to keep with her. She readjusted her pace. “It would be hard to pass someone in here.”
She turned to smile at him. “I might have some ideas about that.”
He grinned. She faced forward--just in time to see a stump. It would have tripped her for sure. She successfully avoided it. “Watch your step, Bill.”
“Got it, thanks.”
When they came out the other side of the path, Karl led them around the perimeter of the parking lot to another wooded trail with a few hills and some sand. Both were challenging for runners, Laura had learned. It was perfect for building the team’s strength. As they went down the last hill, Karl called out that they were at the home stretch.
He led them out of the wooded trail and back to the track where they’d started. The others weren’t finished yet since they were running twice as far, so Karl led them through warm-down stretches while they waited for Sam, Zak, and Kara.
Laura watched Felix and Billy interact. She knew the two intelligent students had become friends. Felix preferred maths and sciences, while Billy was more rounded, with a preference for liberal arts. They enjoyed similar video games, though. She was happy for Billy to have found a friend. Listening to him talk about something not school related was refreshing.
Billy turned to Laura. “When’s our next test?”
Laura shook her head in consternation. “Considering half the class thinks Mrs. Mallard loved her husband and that’s why she died, I don’t think we’re ready for a test for a while.”
Billy smirked in response. “Really? How are they getting that?”
She shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.” Laura was truly shocked by the essays on “Story of an Hour.” She’d never seen a class get that story wrong before--maybe a student or two but never so many. She’d need to reconsider her teaching of the story. It would likely appear on the AP exam.
They idly chatted a while longer, and then Laura heard what sounded like three wild animals charging. Rising above the sound was the cackle she knew was Kara’s laugh.
Sam led everyone through stretches, then Laura dismissed them for the day. Of course, she and Bill had to take Billy, Kara, and Zak home.
After they finished changing, the smaller group met at the front entrance of the school and walked to the Galactica. “This is a nice ride for an old car, Mr. A.”
“Thanks, Starbuck. She’s a good girl.”
Zak whispered loudly that his father was really devoted to his car.
Laura smiled, listening to the exchanges.
They dropped Kara off first, much as they knew she didn’t want to get out of the car. There wasn’t much they could do about it. Laura vowed she’d pay attention. If she could help Kara, she would. At least the porch light was on that night. Laura always hated walking home to a dark house. Watching Kara do it the night before had made her very uneasy.
Then they took Zak to his mother’s house. He didn’t seem too willing to go home, either. She’d ask Bill about that later.
Finally, it was Billy’s turn. Laura knew the Keikeyas were a wonderful family. Although his older sisters probably tortured him, it didn’t matter. Billy was happy to go home.
After Billy exited the car, she turned to Bill. “Last stop?”
Bill nodded. “Ready for a long shower and a good meal.”
She smiled at him. “You know, there are a lot of benefits to running.”
“I look forward to discovering them, Coach,” he said as he drove them home.
Next Installment