Chapter 6: The Goodbye

I spent months making second and third-round review plans for everyone in the class:

Forty-five copies, each one tailored to the student.

Even though I wasn’t going to be their homeroom teacher anymore, I wanted to do my last bit of duty, to leave on a good note.

During lunch break, I stepped into the classroom. Right away, the complaints started up:

"Ugh, these packets are brutal."

"Dude, every day is just study, study, study. I’m gonna have nightmares about math problems."

"Another lunch break stolen. Awesome."

These kids...

So what if it’s tough? What senior year student isn’t tired?

I was about to say something when Ethan suddenly called out, "Hey, Mr. Grant, if we all get into top colleges, do you get, like, a fat bonus?"

I was caught off guard: "What?"

"I mean, why else would you work us like crazy? Must be for your own bonus. But since you’re leaving, why even bother?"

My breath caught, and my hand tightened around the stack of review packets. For a split second, I flashed back to those nights I stayed late, helping Ethan through his algebra panic, even missing dinner to make sure he didn’t fall behind.

I looked down and saw faces that were either bored or just didn’t care.

So, they all knew their parents had reported me. They knew I was leaving, and not a single one looked sad about it.

What really hurt was realizing my students thought I pushed them just for my own gain.

I couldn’t even put my feelings into words.

I said coldly, "Alright, keep doing your self-study."

As soon as I left, the room erupted in cheers:

"Whoa, King Grant is gone!"

"We’re finally free!"

"No more packets every day. Seriously, I have nightmares about him."

Their voices echoed down the hall, bouncing off the trophy case and the faded banners that still had my handwriting on them. I stood there, listening to their laughter, each shout landing like a punch in the chest. Down the corridor, sunlight slanted through the dusty windows, and for the first time in years, I wished I could just disappear into it—just another face in the crowd.