A Reluctant Encounter

I couldn’t believe he was singling me out like this. I wished he could understand the intensity of my resentment through the phone. I tried to project my glare through the telephone wires, the same glare my mother was currently displaying to me. I couldn’t believe he’d called my mother and asked to speak to me.

“Miss Daniels?” Mr. Perkins addressed me over the phone. I hated his overly formal mannerisms. “I’m calling because I’ve been concerned about you. You’ve barely been participating in our online classes.”

Right, and so he had to call me at home, in front of my mother.  “So what,” I said. 

“Well, I just wanted to make sure you’re doing alright. I know you’ve had some... trouble at school, and I thought quarantine might be getting to you.”

I scoffed at his fake concern. “You check up like this on all of your students?” I said.

“Well no—”

“Ah, just me, the bad apple.”

“No Miss Daniels, I just thought maybe you could use some help. You aren’t in the best of moods during business as usual, and this is hardly usual. Such drastic changes can take a toll on ones' mental health."

“I am fine, Mr. Perkins, even better than usual, because I don’t have to get up every morning and go to your bloody class!” I almost hung up, but I wanted to see what he had to say to that.

He sighed. “Well, just know I’m here if you ever need help.”

After that I did hang up. He had some nerve. I was fine. Right? I was fine.