Birch Plays: 1 by Birch Brad;

Author:Birch, Brad;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Published: 2018-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Six

Later that afternoon.

Mr Boyd’s office.

Nick But I know nothing of physics.

Mr Boyd You know what it means to sit down. You know light and dark. These are fundamental physical things.

Nick There’s more to it than that.

Mr Boyd But you can’t say you know nothing. You’re resourceful.

Nick I’m completely lost with the sciences.

Mr Boyd That’s ok. No one’s an expert.

Nick But we’re teachers. I think we’re meant to be experts.

Mr Boyd We have books and computers /

Nick / If I’m covering for Mrs Patel then /

Mr Boyd / and videos.

Nick Then the students are going to know more than I do.

Mr Boyd They’ll be able to help you.

Nick Help me teach them? How would that work? I don’t know if I can teach a lesson I know nothing about.

Mr Boyd You cover for maths. You cover for English.

Nick And that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I feel like I’m drowning in other people’s classes. I haven’t had a day of just my own classes in months.

Mr Boyd History will still be there. Don’t you worry about that. We’re going through a very awkward period right now, Nick. A tragic and awkward . . . a tragically awkward period. Mrs Nightingale /

Nick / No, I know. I’m not trying to say /

Mr Boyd / Mrs Nightingale has cancer.

Nick I know she does. No, I know. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be . . . I suppose I’m just a little anxious at the moment, Mr Boyd. Does that make sense? I’m stressed.

Mr Boyd Oh you’re not stressed.

Nick I’m not? Do you think I’m depressed?

Mr Boyd No, you’re not depressed either.

Nick Then what’s wrong with me?

Mr Boyd You’re modern. You’re a very modern man, Nick.

Nick Thank you . . .?

Mr Boyd And it’s no good for you. You never have a break from it. Constant noise. Look at your phone there. Buzzing away.

Nick My phone’s off.

Mr Boyd And so suspicious. You never trust a thing anyone says.

Nick I don’t think that’s true.

Mr Boyd Now don’t get me wrong, you’ve got to be worried. Don’t be ignorant – there’s so much to worry about. Violence. Catastrophe. I’m talking about the world. Not just your own life.

Nick No, well, that’s what I thought.

Mr Boyd A little anxiety is good for you. It shows you’re paying attention. Keeps you on your toes.

Nick But too much of it can kill you.

Mr Boyd I don’t think that’s right. I’ve never heard of anyone dying of worry. Now you’ve only been here a few months. You’ll settle in.

Nick I think there’s more to it than just settling in, Mr Boyd.

Mr Boyd Teaching brings with it a unique set of challenges.

Nick I know.

Mr Boyd It can be a lot to deal with. Not everybody can teach. You’ve got here and that’s a lot more than most.

Nick I think my, my anxiety is manifesting itself in my thoughts. Pictures. And it makes me worry about my job. I know that how I feel about myself must be having some effect on the pupils.

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