Disclaimer: None of the characters of The Sentinel belong to me. I receive no money for my stories. Only highly coveted feedback and minor recognition. Thanks to Shallan for her beta and encouragement.
Java Head
Blair Sandburg stood at the desk, loading boxes. It was the worst day of his life. Well, actually, the day of his press conference two days ago had been the worst day, but today was the hardest. The Chancellor had pulled no punches letting him know that he was, without a doubt, finished at Rainier. Finished in Anthropology. Teaching. Everything. His entire life. He was packing it all away. Moving out. Moving on.
Onto what? He had no idea. There was nothing left. No teaching position. No office. No dissertation. No Sentinel. The Sentinel was a lie. Of that, nobody held any doubt. Blair had made sure of that. His academic suicide had been well planned and complete.
At least he hadn't been fired from Rainier. Imagine the Chancellor's surprise when she'd returned to her office after the press conference and found Blair's letter of resignation, dated and timed before the conference had taken place. Before she had declared him fired.
Blair was planning to resign his unpaid, official observer position in Major Crimes this afternoon. Resign before you get fired. It was the only option left to him. Leave quietly and with dignity. Dignity. It was all he had left.
"Mr. Sandburg?"
A tentative voice from the doorway pulled Blair's attention away from his despair. Quickly swiping at the tears he realized were on his face, he tried to regain his composure. He looked up and saw a young woman hovering in the door.
"Kelly." His voice wavered. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Can I help you?"
Unsure of what to say, the slender girl hesitated a moment. Then, making up her mind, she walked into the office and stood in front of Blair.
Shyly, she spoke. "I saw your conference the other day. I heard you were leaving."
Looking up into her hazel eyes, Blair expected to see accusation staring back at him. He only saw sorrow.
"You said it was a lie. And so does everybody else."
Blair opened his mouth, trying to speak, but nothing came out.
Kelly pressed on, needing to say something and determined to say it. "I don't believe it, Mr. Sandburg. I don't believe you lied. I don't know why you said you did. I don't care, either. But, I know you had a good reason. I guess the press didn't leave you much choice. But you're the best and most honest teacher I've ever had and I know you're not a fraud."
She blinked back tears and took a deep breath, lifting her chin.
"Anthropology is my minor. I'm majoring in Journalism. My Grandpa was a journalist. He says that journalism isn't journalism anymore, just gossip. I want to be like him, Mr. Sandburg. I hate what the press made you do, and I'm not going to be like that."
Suddenly, she stepped forward and putting her books down on the desk, Kelly wrapped Blair in a hug, her face buried in his sweat shirt. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sandburg. I'm going to miss you. I just wanted you to know." She released him and, wiping the tears from her cheeks, grabbed her books and ran from the room.
Blair stood there, stunned for a moment. Then, dropping into the chair, laid his head in his arms on the desk top and cried.
The End
Hope I didn't depress anyone. But a good teacher is worth his/her weight in gold. I know
Blair had many students who loved him and would miss him a lot.
Java