Parental Lessons

             Today is the first day of Micah’s senior year of high school, and a new teacher named Mrs. Ellie Leando has just joined the Arcanum High School staff teaching World Studies, Government, and Economics. Mrs. Leando is young and immediately takes a liking to Micah, who takes a liking back to her. Two weeks later, Micah attends an open house one evening at the school with his mother and stepfather, who meet all of Micah’s teachers, including Mrs. Leando, who tells Micah’s mother and stepfather that Micah is one of her star students, giving Micah butterflies in Micah’s stomach. Another two weeks later, Mrs. Leando and her husband find out that they’re expecting a child while going about their lives. Due to his high I.Q., Micah inadvertently shows boredom in Government while maintaining his high grades for the class. As her child develops more, Mrs. Leando begins to experience illness and moodiness while showing some signs to Micah whenever he asks questions. One day, Micah’s mother and stepfather receive mail containing reports by Micah’s teachers, talking about his performance. While it lies on the kitchen counter, Micah looks at it and finds Mrs. Leando’s report, who says Micah doesn’t show interest in the class and doesn’t ask questions.

“How could Mrs. Leando say these things about me? I ask questions when I have one.” asked Micah to himself. Micah takes the letter and approaches his mother while asking, “Hey, mom? Can I talk to you for a little bit?”

“Sure. What’s on your mind?” asked Micah’s mother.

“Well, it’s about this report. I really don’t like what Mrs. Leando is saying about me.” answers Micah while showing the letter. Micah’s mother looks over the report and responds, “Don’t take it personal. You do very well in school. I’m sure it’s all just a misunderstanding.”

“I hope you’re right.” replies Micah while entering his room. Micah proceeds with his life, dealing with Mrs. Leando on a daily basis as her baby develops more and more, which makes her even more moody. One day in class, Mrs. Leando leads Micah’s class to the library for a group project with Micah and his partner (Natalie) heading over to the computers, oblivious to Mrs. Leando wanting to tell them something. Angered, Mrs. Leando lashes out in anger at Micah and Natalie, instructing them to navigate their computers in a specific way.

“What did Natalie and I do wrong?” asked Micah.

“You guys didn’t listen to me!” answered Mrs. Leando angrily.

“What do you mean ‘we didn’t listen to you’?” asked Micah.

“I was trying to tell you guys something and you just took off to the computers!” answered Mrs. Leando.

“Why didn’t you stop us? We would have listened.” responded Micah. Mrs. Leando sighs angrily and replies with, “Forget it! Just do your project!” Micah and Natalie proceed with their assignment until the end of the class period with Micah, Natalie, and the rest of their class logging out of their computers and heading over to their tables with Micah sitting next to Mrs. Leando, who angrily says, “Micah.” Micah turns his attention to her while she angrily asks, “Why haven’t you been showing interest in this class?”

“I really don’t know how to answer that. You either like the class or you don’t. Whatever I did to upset you in any way, Mrs. Leando, I can assure you it wasn’t on purpose. To be honest though, I’m only taking this class because it’s required for graduation.”

“That is not an answer! I want to see you show interest in this class and ask questions!” responded Mrs. Leando.

“I’m afraid I can’t live up to that expectation. And the only reason I don’t ask questions is because I don’t have any. I’ll ask questions when I have them. I can’t just force them out.” replied Micah.

“You are not making any sense!” said Mrs. Leando. Mrs. Leando continues her rant towards Micah, who gets his feelings hurt and begins to grow angry at Mrs. Leando after it passes. One day in class, Micah and his class work on an assignment with Micah struggling to find out an answer, asking Mrs. Leando for help.

“I can’t figure this out. Can you help me?” asked Micah. Mrs. Leando starts to help Micah to no avail, angering Mrs. Leando and causing her to rant to Micah again.

“Are you going to help me with this or just keep whining about my ‘lack of interest’ in this class?!” asked Micah angrily.

“Don’t talk to me like that!” responded Mrs. Leando angrily.

“It’s a free country! I can say what I want!” replied Micah angrily.

“That’s it! Office, now!” says Mrs. Leando angrily while pointing to the door.

“Fine! You’re not helping me out anyway! Just wasting my time is all!” responds Micah while heading to the principal’s office. Micah sits in front of the secretary until Mrs. Leando enters and sits down next to him until the principal peaks out his office door and says, “I’m ready for you, Micah.” Micah and Mrs. Leando enter the principal’s office with the principal asking, “So, what seems to be the trouble here?”

“He’s not showing any interest in my class and not asking questions!” responded Mrs. Leando angrily.

“So, what do you want me to do about it?” asked the principal.

“Whatever’s appropriate! Give him a detention, suspend him…anything!” answered Mrs. Leando angrily.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Mrs. Leando. The situation has to be much more serious in order to issue a punishment like that.” responded the principal.

“There’s more! He backtalked me!” replied Mrs. Leando angrily.

“Is this true, Micah?” asks the principal while drawing his attention to Micah.

“I’m afraid so, Mr. Gray. She made me so mad. I couldn’t help myself.” answered Micah.

“How do you think I feel with you not showing interest and not asking questions in the class?!” asked Mrs. Leando angrily.

“Please! Not that again!” responded Micah angrily.

“Hey, guys. Let’s not cause a ruckus here, ok? Just get back to class and try to control yourselves.” said Principal Gray. Micah and Mrs. Leando head back to class while Mrs. Leando continues ranting to Micah to his annoyance with Micah angrily asking, “What do you want from me?!”

“You know exactly what I want from you, Micah! You’re not listening!” answers Mrs. Leando while entering the classroom with Micah. Micah carries on with the school year tolerating Mrs. Leando, who ends up in the hospital for a week at one point due to complications with her pregnancy. Some of Micah’s classmates tell Micah about it, who responds with “Good riddance!”

“Micah! How could you say that? She could lose her child!” asked one of the classmates.

“She’s nothing but a great big snot! All she does is rant, rant, rant! Over nothing!” answered Micah angrily.

“I don’t like her moody attitude either, Micah. But that’s no reason to wish her harm.” responded Jessica.

“I don’t need this. I hope she never comes back.” replies Micah angrily while parting ways from Jessica and his classmates. Mrs. Leando eventually checks out of the hospital and resumes teaching, continuing to mistreat Micah to his anger. One night, two silhouettes sneak into Mrs. Leando’s house while she and her husband sleep. The silhouettes pick up and carry Mrs. Leando to a Warp Machine while she sleeps soundly, disappearing afterwards. The following morning, Mrs. Leando wakes up while yawning and stretching, finding herself inches from a cliff to her horror. Mrs. Leando then hears menacing laughing and turns around to find Trekker and Trekker Jr. standing behind her.

“Good morning! How are we today?” asked Trekker menacingly.

“Who are you?!” asked Mrs. Leando in horror.

“Oh, where are my manners? I’m Trekker, and this is my son, Trekker Jr.” answers Trekker while placing his hand on Trekker Jr.’s shoulder.

“Pleased to meet you!” said Trekker Jr. menacingly.

“Now then…” said Trekker. Near the area, a Warp Machine appears with Micah and his father emerging from it with Micah talking about his issues with Mrs. Leando. Micah’s father gives Micah advice while hiking with Micah until Trekker and Trekker Jr. run into them.

“Trekker!? What are you doing here?!” exclaimed Micah.

“Oh, nothing.” answers Trekker menacingly while looking around.

“You guys are up to something, aren’t you?” asked Micah annoyingly.

“You could say that.” answers Trekker menacingly while smirking. Micah and his father suddenly hear cries for help from a distance behind Trekker and Trekker Jr.

“Dost mine ears deceive me, dad? I think there’s trouble afoot.” says Trekker Jr. menacingly while cupping his hand over his ear.

“I’ll deal with you two later!” says Micah angrily while shoving Trekker and Trekker Jr. out of the way. Micah’s father catches up to Micah, who draws closer to the cry for help while Trekker Jr. goes after them.

“Let them go, son. This is the only beginning.” says Trekker while stopping Trekker Jr. Micah and his father inch closer to the cry for help while Micah shouts, “Hang on! Help is on the way!” Micah and his father arrive at the edge of the cliff, hearing the cry for help right in front of them. Micah and his father draw their attention to the source and find Mrs. Leando hanging onto the edge for dear life.

“Oh! Mrs. Leando! What a nice surprise!” said Micah angrily.

“Please help me up, Micah! I’m about to lose my grip here!” said Mrs. Leando worriedly.

“No way! After what you’ve done to me!?” responded Micah angrily.

“How could you be mad at a time like this?! Can’t you see I’m in grave danger here?!” asked Mrs. Leando worriedly.

“Help yourself up, you cold-hearted rusty bolt!” responds Micah while walking away. Micah’s father stops Micah and angrily says, “Micah!”

“She’s been very hostile to me lately! Remember?” asked Micah angrily.

“I know, but we must live by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” responded Micah’s father.

“I’m still not helping her up!” replies Micah while folding his arms and turning his back on Mrs. Leando.

“Oh yes you are! What if that was you right now?” asked Micah’s father. Micah thinks for a moment while Mrs. Leando’s hands slowly slip off the edge.

“Oh all right!” says Micah annoyingly while approaching Mrs. Leando with his father.

“Give me your hand!” says Micah annoyingly while reaching out his hand. Mrs. Leando grabs Micah’s hand while subsequently grabbing the hand of Micah’s father. Micah and his father pull Mrs. Leando up onto the ground with Mrs. Leando hugging Micah afterwards while saying, “Thank you, Micah! One second later and I would have been a goner!” Micah shoves Mrs. Leando away while annoyingly saying, “Don’t get all mushy on me, ok? I did what I had to! This changes nothing!” Micah turns his back on Mrs. Leando, who looks at Micah remorsefully and asks, “Micah?”

“Now what?” asked Micah annoyingly.

“I’m sorry for how I treated you lately. My pregnancy has been driving me crazy, and I care so much about your future success. Do you even know what it’s like to be pregnant or be a teacher?” asked Mrs. Leando.

“No, but is being kind to others too much to ask for?!” asked Micah annoyingly.

“Don’t be rude, Micah. She just said she was sorry.” said Micah’s father.

“She’s not sorry at all! She just wants me to think she is!” responded Micah angrily.

“No. I want you to KNOW that I am.” replied Mrs. Leando.

“Well I’m not buying it! I saved your life, which means you and your unborn child live to see another day! Now go!” said Micah angrily.

“Micah, forgive her! She’s already forgiven you! Now it’s your turn!” said Micah’s father angrily.

“But…” responded Micah.

“This is not how your mother and I raised you! You know what you must do!” replied Micah’s father.

“Ok. I guess I can let bygones be bygones.” said Micah annoyingly.

“Thank you, Micah. I promise never to mistreat you again. Hanging over that edge has taught me a lot about being kind to others, no matter what I go through. So, is it ok to finish my hug?” asked Mrs. Leando.

“Bring it in.” answers Micah while extending his arms. Mrs. Leando hugs Micah, who hugs her back while Trekker and Trekker Jr. arrive in front of Micah, his father, and Mrs. Leando.

“How sweet.” said Trekker menacingly.

“Those are the guys that tried to kill me!” said Mrs. Leando worriedly.

“That’s right! And it’s high time we finish the job! Heh heh heh heh!” laughs Trekker Jr. menacingly while grabbing Mrs. Leando with Trekker’s help. Trekker and Trekker Jr. drag Mrs. Leando away while she cries out for help again with Micah and his father coming to her aid.

“Hold on, Mrs. Leando! We’re coming!” shouted Micah. Before Micah and his father could rescue Mrs. Leando, Trekker and Trekker Jr. ascend into the sky with Mrs. Leando still in their grip. Trekker and Trekker Jr. board their spaceship and take off for outer space with Micah turning himself into Power Micah and taking off after them, accessing the engine compartment and destroying it with his lasers. The spaceship gives Trekker a warning with the computer saying, “Warning! Engine failure!”

“Engine failure?! Jr., go take a look!” says Trekker while pointing out the way. Trekker Jr. accesses the engine compartment, finding it in ruins and returning to Trekker.

“Dad! Somebody destroyed the engine!” said Trekker Jr.

“Now who could have done such a thing?!” asked Trekker angrily. Trekker suddenly hears a knocks on one of his windows and draws his attention to it, finding Micah outside with Mrs. Leando in his grip. Micah tauntingly waves at Trekker and Trekker Jr. and makes a face at them while flying off with Trekker angrily shouting, “BLAST YOU MICAH!!!!!” The spaceship comes crashing down while Micah returns to his father with Mrs. Leando.

“Wow, Micah! There’s a lot I don’t know about you! I was so wrong to judge you.” said Mrs. Leando.

“Fret not, Mrs. Leando. It’s a judgmental world out there.” responded Micah. Micah’s father puts his hand on Micah shoulder and says, “I’m proud of you, son.”

“Thanks, dad.” responded Micah. Micah, his father, and Mrs. Leando look at each other with smiles on their faces for a moment with Mrs. Leando subsequently saying, “Sorry to break up the reunion, but I’d better be getting back home.”

“Oh! Right!” responds Micah while summoning his Warp Machine.

“What’s this?” asked Mrs. Leando.

“It’s my Warp Machine. Just type in your destination and it’ll take you there at warp speed.” answered Micah.

“Impressive!” responds Mrs. Leando while approaching the Warp Machine. Mrs. Leando enters in her destination and steps inside while saying, “See you in class, Micah!”

“See you then!” responded Micah. Micah, his father, and Mrs. Leando all wave to each other while Mrs. Leando disappears and reappears back at her house while Micah reverts himself back to normal.

“See, Micah? As Helen James once said, “Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference.” said Micah’s father.

“I hate to admit it, but it actually felt good helping Mrs. Leando out like that.” said Micah.

“That’s how you’re supposed to feel. So, shall we continue our hike?” asked Micah’s father.

“With pleasure!” answers Micah while walking off with his dad. Micah finishes out his senior year with Mrs. Leando being nothing but kind to him, graduating and planning out his adult life while Mrs. Leando gives birth to a healthy, happy, baby girl. Meanwhile, Trekker and Trekker Jr. emerge from their destroyed spaceship with Trekker saying, “I’ll get you, Micah! If it’s the last thing I do!”

 

The End