The Ravens by Jackie Jacobi

Author:Jackie Jacobi
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781685130329
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2022-09-22T00:00:00+00:00

JOSS

I kick the pentagram away from Foster’s classroom door with the side of my sneaker. Mei’s right. Charley’s doing rituals without us. But if she thinks some spell is going to stop me, she’s dead wrong.

Foster’s door is wide open, but the lights are dim and the shades pulled down. For a second, I think I’ve missed him, but no, there he is, plain as day, sitting at an empty student’s desk. The smart board is on but muted. Classic old man move. Subtitles and no sound.

Mr. Foster holds the remote in one hand and scribbles notes with the other. He has reading glasses on top of his head and wears his stupid book tie over a green button-down shirt.

He looks so innocent.

What if Charley’s been right all along?

Maybe he’s just a regular man. Maybe he’s just a boring as hell, old as time English teacher. My friend Charley’s dad, doing ordinary prep work for his classes. I almost turn around to leave. But I only have a split second to decide and my body moves without me. Because handsome or not and nerdy or not and nice or not, Brynn told me something. She told me something about him and I believe her.

“Mr. Foster?”

He jumps.

I shut the door. Just me and him. Him and me.

“Sorry,” he gestures at the screen. He’s watching the film version of Macbeth that my English teacher already showed my class last week. “I was very focused. Come in, Jocelyn. How can I help you?”

“Charley says you do SAT tutoring.”

“Maybe you can help Charley with the math and she can help you with the English.”

“I want a teacher to help me. I’m trying to get into MIT. For engineering. I need to get the English way up.”

“What kind of engineering?”

“Aerospace.”

“Wow! That’s very specific.”

I’m sweating. The school has almost no heat, but there’s still disgusting sweat dripping down my face and onto my neck.

“So, do you do private tutoring?”

My voice is clear and confident, despite all the sweat.

“Alright, then, Jocelyn. There’s a specific prep book that I’d like you to —”

“Oh, yeah? Which one is that?”

I take out my phone and pretend to open a browser to look for the book. Switch on my video camera instead. Draw closer to him. Shaking.

Touch me. You go ahead and touch me, you sicko.

“I like the official SAT —”

“Thank you, Mr. Foster.” Closer. Closer. I stand right next to him. I video his hands. He looks at me. I see it in his eyes. I’m powerful. I’m a force. I’m-

The door bursts open.

“Hey, Mr. Foster!”

“Well, hello there, Khadija.” Mr. Foster says. “Why aren’t you at lunch? Actually, why aren’t either of you at lunch?”

“When are we getting our quizzes back?”

“I hope tomorrow.”

“Did you grade mine? You said you’d do our class first this time.”

He laughs. “Get to lunch. Both of you!”

“The book?” I say to Mr. Foster. “Go ahead, Khadija. I’ll catch up.”

“You know what? I’m sure Charley has it. You can borrow hers instead of buying one. Sound good?”

I’m at a loss for words.

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