Chapter Seven: Miss Williams

Daniel and Steve sat in the old classroom lined with televisions and video players. The light from the TV bathed them in blue light as they enjoyed their favorite pastime aside from Daniels pranks. They had started watching old science fiction and horror movies when they first met. It was probably one of the only things that Daniel had introduced to Steve that he liked just as much as Daniel.

“Look you can see the strings,” Steve laughed. “It looks like a bad sock puppet with some Barbie dolls.”

“Yeah you’re right,” Daniel agreed.

Both were lying on the floor with their feet propped up on a pair of desks when the lights flipped on.

“What are you two doing in here?” asked a tall woman wearing a gray skirt and sweater.

“We were just watching some old movies Miss Williams,” answered Steve.

Miss Eleanor Williams was probably one of the younger teachers at the orphanage. Unlike other members of the faculty she was just a teacher and nothing more but she worked long hours at the school because she could never get her lesson plans done at her home. She also unlike other members of the faculty liked Daniel, and of course she like Steve all the teachers did because he was polite, courteous and studied hard but she never lectured him for being friends with Daniel.

“I figured as much,” said Miss Williams. “I was wondering if I could drag you away from ‘Space Pirates from Venus’ long enough to help me with something.”

Miss Williams was probably the only teacher that Daniel would listen to. Daniel liked her because she was different than the other teachers meaning she wasn’t an evil bitch. Miss Williams was also very cute and he had a little bit of a crush on her but he wasn’t silly enough to think that anything would actually happen. She probably would have been married already if it wasn’t for the plain clothes she wore and the way she shyly rushed around outside off the school. It’s hard to notice how good looking and nice a person is when all you see is a plain streak rushing by you.

“I just need you guys to sort some papers of mine,” said Miss Williams. “I’m making some work booklets for my third graders and it would go a lot faster if I had a little help.”

“Sure we’ll help,” said Daniel as Steve nodded his head.

Daniel slung his pack over his back and followed Steve and Miss Williams out of the room and down the hallway.

“So what is the pack for?” asked Miss Williams. “It looks like you are about to go on a camping trip or something, or maybe you are trying to run away.”

Steve suddenly had a shocked look on her face but Daniel chimed in before Steve could say anything stupid.

“No I’m just learning some boy scout stuff from Steve,” said Daniel. “I though I might like all that outdoor stuff.”

“Oh that sounds like fun. I bet you would really enjoy that,” said Miss Williams laughing a little bit to herself.

Steve breathed a sigh of relief. He knew just like Daniel that he was never a very good liar and if anyone was going to see through him it was going to be Miss Williams.

“Ok, we’re here,” Miss Williams said flinging her classroom door open.

“You have got to be kidding,” said Daniel and Steve in unison.

Miss Williams classroom was covered in papers. On the desks, carpet, shelves, lamps, chairs, television, computer, closet, cupboards, refrigerator, microwave, bookshelf, easels, and craft tables. There were even some papers hanging from little strings suspended from the ceiling.

“Well I just need them to be collated,” said Miss Williams. “It won’t take long if we work together.”

“And by not taking long you mean the rest of the week?” asked Daniel.

“Don’t be so negative it won’t take that long,” said Miss Williams.

For the rest of the day, they all rushed around the room sorting the papers and getting them all in order. They made a kind of assembly line by walking along the papers and one after the other grabbing a page for each booklet and then finally stapling them together.

It didn’t take all week though like Daniel had predicted. It didn’t even take all day, but it did take a few hours.

“See that wasn’t that bad. We’re all done,” said Miss Williams cheerfully.

“Yeah sure,” said Daniel and Steve in unison breathing hard and looking ragged.

“Well I think you guys did a good job and to reward you I’ll let you watch your movies in here while I finish up the rest of my lesson plans,” said Miss Williams. “I could use the company and you guys won’t get in trouble if I’m watching you.”

“What do you say Steve? We haven’t finished ‘The Killer Sea Monster from Jupiter,’” said Daniel.

“Sure,” answered Steve.

“We’ll be right back,” said Steve and with that Daniel and Steve left the room.

“I have to ditch this gear,” said Daniel. “ I can’t just keep carrying it around like this. I’ll go to my room and hide this stuff and I’ll meet you back in Miss Williams room.”

“I got it,” said Steve.

With that both the boys split ways. One heading toward the audio visual room and the other headed toward the dormitories.

“Hey Daniel!,” yelled Steve from down the hall.

“What?!” Daniel yelled back.

“You like Miss Williams, you like Miss Williams,” taunted Steve.

“Shut the hell up!” Daniel yelled back.

“Yeah who is going to make me?” asked Steve.

“Just go get the damn tape you little freak or I’ll tell everyone you like Jenny Samson,” threatened Daniel.

With that Steve shut up and turned to go down the hall and then suddenly turned and said “Asshole” and than continued on his way.