I Had No Choice 4.5

IHNC 4.5


(These events are from the viewpoint of Christine Johnson, High School biology teacher.)


I’m not that kind of person. I’ve always done things the right way. I’m a good person. So why did I do it. I could have just walked away and forgotten all about it. I should report it to the police, or at least to the principal. It was wrong. WRONG. Right?

I flopped down into my only cozy chair in my small apartment. I took of my jacket and laid it on the table, and flipped on the TV. I could just forget about it….

I’m not a prune, and don’t think the worst of me, but I’m still a virgin at twenty-five. I was an only child to some very reputable parents. They were members of the country club, and rotary, and did everything the ‘proper’ way. I went to dances and politely kissed boys the way Mother had shown me at the end of the night, but always felt that they wanted something more.

For the fact, I wanted more, but with my parents always just on the other side of the door, I never did anything more. When finally I got ready to leave for college, Mother pulled some strings and I got in the prestigious Ivy League college that allowed me to room at our summer home. I was dying to get away and live life, but couldn’t argue with my parents. Mother moved with me and every day was the same, just like high school all over again.

After that Mother wanted me to go to begin teaching university with Father, but I finally weaseled out that I’d need experience teaching at a more basic level first, like Father had, and he had to agree with her there. She almost got me a job at the local high school too, but fate had given me an out when this little town a few hours away had somehow gotten my transcripts and was searching for a biology teacher, and that I’d be perfect.

I don’t know how it happened, but I’d finally escaped. Escaped to a lonely small apartment, endless days of working, preparing tests, grading tests, then more reading and working; escaped. The first summer was just returning home and meeting friends of my parents, mostly older divorcees that I felt my Mother was trying to pimp me out to.

I’d hid in my room most of the time, just reading my romance novels I’d bought. It was the only escape I truly had. I imagined my Romeo holding me close, kissing me tenderly, then in the moonlight we’d make love…

DAMN IT! I shut of the TV as forcefully as I could press the button and unbuttoned the top few buttons of my blouse to cool off.