Murdering Mr. Edwards by Shawn L. Bird

Author:Shawn L. Bird
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: short stories, humor, school, teacher, murder, crime, fiction
Publisher: Lintusen Press
Published: 2020-12-05T00:00:00+00:00

The Art Teacher’s Tale

One time Chris Toffler had been indiscreet. One time he’d stolen a kiss in the pottery annex, a private corner of the art room, shielded from view of everyone, except that damned busy-body Norton Edwards, who’d chosen that one moment to come looking for poster paper for his students. He should have known. There are no secrets at school. Not in school computers. Not in school hallways. Not in classrooms. Someone always knows. There are always eyes.

The kids had all gone for the day. His classroom door was shut, but did that matter to Edwards? No, he’d probably seen it as an invitation. And now Edwards had a secret to hold over Mr. Toffler’s head, and Edwards was gleeful about it.

In this day and age, it was no shame to be gay. He’d been frank with Dr. Scott, who said he would respect his privacy. Not all students and parents were so liberal minded, however, and a word in the wrong place could make life difficult.

This week, the price of silence was the good poster paper. Next week it might be access to the pencil crayons and scissors. Who knew where it would lead? English class projects in the art room itself? He shivered at the idea of so many non-art students in his creative haven, its cupboards and crannies filled with specialized equipment, and hundreds of works in progress illuminated by the natural light of the long wall of windows.

What was worse, Edwards hadn’t said a word about what he’d seen. “Toffler! Ah, there you are. I need some poster paper for my grade eleven classes. Sixty sheets. You’ve still got it under lock and key?”

Chris had backed away from Graham who’d turned to the wall. “Yes, of course, you can have some.” Chris had unlocked the storage room, heart pounding, and tugged on a stack of the cheap newsprint the school bought for regular classes.

“Oooh,” said Edwards, stroking the more expensive art class paper, “this is nice.”

“Yes. That’s art paper.”

“Can I have this instead of that cheap stuff?” Edwards lifted one eyebrow. Toffler felt the implied threat. “This would look so much better posted around the walls of my classroom.”

“Right.” Chris fought the urge to glance back to the pottery annex. “I suppose so.” Toffler counted sheets. Sixty was half his supply. These were forty cents each, compared to the half a cent sheets for regular classroom use. There wouldn’t be enough for his art students’ poster project. He glanced over Edwards’s head where Graham had disappeared out the back door. He wasn’t the only one at risk here. “Yeah. Fine. Here.” He dropped the paper into Edwards’s outstretched arms.

“Perfect. Thanks. I’ll be in touch if there’s anything else I need.” Edwards winked, and strolled casually out of the room.

He actually winked. Chris felt the shiver run up his spine. Damn. Damn. Damn.

Still fuming, Chris went into the pottery room and checked the kiln. There was a two-foot tall dragon sculpture loaded in there, created by Hannah, a grade twelve doing an independent ‘special projects in art’ course.

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