Fire, The (31 page)

Kevin laughed to himself as he heard the words. Sam Garrison had his DNA all over those comments. The chemistry and botany teacher was just jealous that he had thought of the volcano experiment first.

"That's fair," Kevin said.

"The second letter is more complimentary. This person wrote: 'Mr. Johnson is the most creative and inspiring educator I have seen at this school. I enjoyed working with him this spring and hope to have the opportunity to work with him again in the fall."

Kevin smiled. He knew that Thomas Wainwright had offered those thoughts. He considered the Latin and rhetoric teacher to be the most progressive thinker in the school. He had enjoyed their time together on various committees and collaborative projects.

"Several other instructors made similar comments," Morrison said. "Regardless of what they thought of your teaching methods, they found you a pleasure to work with."

"I see."

Morrison put the first two letters in the folder and picked up the third. He paused for a few seconds and looked away before returning to the science teacher with a friendly smile.

"I saved this letter for last because it represents my own views on your performance. I will read it in its entirety. The teacher wrote: "Though I'm new to the field of education, I know enough to know that Kevin Johnson possesses uncommon ability as an instructor. I teach many of his students and cannot count the times I've seen them wander into my classroom with wide smiles and even wider eyes. This man does more than educate the students of this school. He transforms them. He inspires them. He has accomplished more in twelve weeks than I have accomplished in nine months. I can only hope that we see more of him in the years to come.'"

Kevin didn't even have to break a sweat on that one. He wanted to rush out of the Morrison's office, run to the Marshall house, and carry Sarah off to some distant land. He didn't think it was possible to love anyone more than he loved her at that moment.

"That's very nice."

"It is," Morrison said, "and it's not all. I also have a stack of letters I've received from students, parents, and members of the community. It seems that your peers are not the only ones who appreciate what you've done."

Morrison retrieved and opened a second folder from the vertical organizer. He pulled what looked like a letter written by a girl and placed the folder to the side.

"Because these letters were sent to me unsolicited, I am not bound to keep the names of the writers confidential. You can review them here or take them home. It doesn't matter to me. Most say essentially the same thing. There is one letter, however, I would like to share with you."

"OK."

"It comes from a young lady who will be a sophomore next year. She writes: "Dear Principal Morrison, I know it's unusual for a student to write in support of a teacher, but I can't leave for the summer without letting you know what I think of Mr. Johnson. He is the best teacher I have and one of the nicest people I've ever known. He has challenged me and inspired me and made me believe that I can achieve as much as any boy. Because of him, I am now saving for college. I don't know if I'll get there, but I'm going to try. Please do what you can to keep him. I would like nothing more than to have him as a teacher for three more years."

Kevin smiled.

"I take it you know the author," the principal said.

"I'd bet a month's pay the letter's from Josie White."

"You'd win that bet, too, Mr. Johnson. Josie gave this letter to me on Friday. She's not the only student who supports you either. There are at least a dozen more letters in that folder."

"I'm grateful for their support. I really am," Kevin said. "I've enjoyed teaching every one of my classes. The kids have been great."

"I'm glad to hear that," Morrison said.

The principal took a sip of water, leaned back in his chair, and stared at Kevin. He looked like a man who had something to say but didn't know how to say it.

"This brings me to my own assessment of your performance."

Morrison sat upright and rubbed his hands on top of his desk.

"I admit that I initially shared some of your critic's concerns. I worried that students would think of your classes as recess and not as opportunities to learn the basics. I worried that they would finish this year unprepared for the next," he said. "I can see now, however, that my fears were unfounded. Your students appear ready not only to matriculate to the next grade but also the next level. I know of at least three boys who plan to attend college in the fall in part because you've convinced them that it's in their interest to do so. You've done a splendid job here."

"Thank you, sir."

"There is one final matter I'd like to discuss."

"What's that?"

"I'd like to discuss your future."

Kevin sighed. He had expected it to come to this. He knew he had done a good job and knew he would probably get an offer to stay on, but he still didn't know what to do about it. He was a time traveler, for God's sake, not a legitimate teaching candidate.

He had no more business entertaining a serious job offer than Bill and Ted on their
Excellent Adventure
. He loved teaching and inspiring others, but he was starting to worry that he had gone too far. It was one thing to haul a bride back to the future. It was another to alter the lives of many. Just because he felt good about what he was doing didn't make it right.

"OK."

"I have been authorized by the school board to offer you a full-time position for next year. You would teach the same classes in the same rooms and be eligible for a ten percent increase in pay. If you accept the offer, you would need to report to school no later than August 22."

"That's very generous of you."

"I realize that you may have other offers on the table. My colleagues in Kellogg and Coeur d'Alene have inquired about you several times in the past month. That's why I'm prepared to give you a week to think it over and consider your options. If you wish, we can meet here at the same time next Wednesday."

Kevin turned away from Morrison and gazed at two fixtures on a nearby wall. The first was a long shelf that supported several textbooks. The second was a framed photograph of the Class of 1909. The items separately meant nothing. Together they meant everything. Kevin returned to the administrator and looked him in the eyes.

"I don't need a week to think it over, Principal Morrison. I don't need another day. I accept your offer and your terms. I'll be back to teach in August."

CHAPTER 54: KEVIN

Friday, June 10, 1910

"I had a great time today," Kevin said.

Andy smiled from across a small table at the Shooting Star.

"I knew you would. You've been cooped up in Wallace too long. It was about time you got out and saw something else."

"Spokane's changed since the last time I saw it."

"In what way has it changed?"

There are more horses and fewer Hummers, for one thing.

"I don't know. It just seems different. It's growing."

"Didn't you see it on the train from Seattle?"

"No. I had my nose in a book."

"Pay more attention next time," Andy said. "If you keep sticking your nose in a book, you'll miss more than the growth of a city. The world is changing, my friend. Be a part of that change. Don't just read about it."

"Thanks, 'Dad.'"

"I'm serious, Kevin. A smart guy like you should be making things happen."

"I
am
making things happen. I'm just making them happen in a small town."

"Yes, I know. Maude told me. Congratulations on your promotion."

"I detect a whiff of sarcasm, Mr. Reporter."

Andy laughed.

"I meant no offense. I'd have done the same had I a woman like Sarah waiting on me. I just think you should keep your mind open to other opportunities. I am."

"Is that why you spent thirty minutes talking to the publisher of the Spokane paper?"

"I didn't kill an entire day just to listen to hot air."

Kevin chuckled. He knew that much. He knew Andy hated political speeches, even when the speakers spoke about something as important as the national forests, but he figured he had been driven to go to Spokane by more than a desire to network with others in his field.

"Did you accomplish anything?"

"I did. I learned something. I learned that the paper plans to replace its city editor soon. The publisher advised me to stay put through July."

Kevin started to talk Andy out of going when he again recalled his grandfather's story about the
Standard
building during the Great Fire. He decided to keep quiet.

Andy sipped his whiskey and stared at Kevin. He looked at him thoughtfully for nearly a minute before breaking into a smile.

"What about you, Mr. Johnson? What grand plans have you for the summer? Should I stick around for an August wedding?"

Kevin laughed.

"Things aren't moving that fast, but they are progressing nicely. We had a breakthrough of sorts the other day."

"What kind of breakthrough?"

"We more or less assuaged each other's worst fears."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for her part, Sarah told me that she'd consider living away from her family for the rest of her life. I have no desire to move to Indiana."

"I see."

"For my part, I told her that I was madly in love with her."

Andy laughed.

"That'll put her at ease seven days a week. Well done."

"The best part is that it's true," Kevin said. "She makes my head swim, Andy. Telling her that I loved her was one of the easiest things I've ever done."

"I'll bet it was. Does your profession of love for a woman who lives in Wallace mean you intend to remain in Wallace?"

Kevin frowned as he thought of how best to answer the question. He still hadn't worked out a timeline to his summer, though he had circled June 22 and July 22 in the calendar he stored in his head. He didn't want to ponder an August wedding or an August anything. The date of the next full moon, August 20, was the date of the fire.

"It means I love her, that's all. I don't know what I'm going to do. I just know that I'm not going anywhere without her. That's why I accepted Morrison's offer. I knew Sarah had already committed to another year and wasn't planning to back out of her commitment."

Andy lifted his glass.

"Here's to contentment," he said. "May we both find it in spades this coming year."

Kevin clinked his glass and downed his drink. The pleasurable moment didn't last long.

"Well isn't this nice," a man with a whiny voice said. "Our brilliant science teacher and ace reporter celebrating contentment."

"What do you want?" Kevin asked as he turned to face Preston Pierce.

The banker stood between his thugs a few feet away. He smiled at Andy and then at Kevin.

"I think I made that clear a few days ago, Mr. Johnson. Imagine my surprise when I learned that you were planning to return to the school next year."

"What's it to you? It's none of your business what I do."

"Oh, but it is. Everything in this town is my business."

Andy stared across the table.

"He's not worth it, Kevin. Let's go."

Kevin looked at Andy, then at Pierce and his hired help, and finally at more than a dozen saloon patrons who had gathered nearby. He could see two of the spectators exchange cash, as if betting on a fight they expected to see and Kevin genuinely hoped to avoid.

"OK."

Kevin watched Andy put a bill on their table, get up from his chair, and head for the door. He followed suit but found his path blocked. Thing One and Thing Two had allowed Andy to pass but closed ranks when the teacher approached.

"Excuse me," Kevin said.

"I don't believe you've been excused," Pierce said.

"I'm warning you, Pierce. Call off your dogs."

"Did you hear that, Benjamin," the banker said to the larger bodyguard. "Mr. Johnson called you a dog. He called you one, too, Sylvester."

"Get out of my way," Kevin said.

He tried to push his way between the thugs but didn't get far. Each grabbed an arm and pushed him back.

Kevin looked over the shoulders of his nearest adversaries and saw Andy nod in the distance. He couldn't read body language as well as high school science papers, but he suspected that his friend had given him the OK to act. He turned to face Benjamin.

"You know something, Benny?"

"What?"

The big guy smiled, revealing years of dental neglect.

"I'll tell you," Kevin said. "School got out on Tuesday. Do you know what that means?"

"Why don't you tell me, smartass?"

"It means that I don't have to be a role model until September."

"Who cares?"

"You should care," Kevin said. "Because if I don't have to be a role model until September, then I can throw the first punch in June."

Kevin didn't wait for Benjamin to do the math. He hammered him in the face and followed with two kicks to the ribs. The second blow sent the big man into an unoccupied stool by the bar.

Sylvester went after Kevin immediately and landed two punishing blows to the stomach. He followed with a punch to the face and another to the neck, but he didn't have the opportunity to put him away. Andy tackled the aggressor from behind just as he moved toward Kevin again. Within seconds the short, stocky reporter had the short, stocky thug in a chokehold.

Suddenly liberated from Thing Two, Kevin returned to Benjamin, who had picked himself up from the floor and now charged at the teacher like a bull. He stepped aside and tripped the big man in full stride, sending him to the floor again. Kevin jumped on him while he lay prostrate on the hardwood. He got in a few hard punches to the back of the neck before Benjamin rolled over and the two commenced a wrestling match that lasted more than a minute.

Andy had an easier time with Sylvester, turning him around and hitting him twice in the belly and once in the jaw. The latter blow sent the small man flying into a square table, where four miners had just begun to enjoy large mugs of beer. When the table overturned and the glass mugs shattered on the floor, the miners went not after Andy but rather Sylvester.