“Your performance review came in last week,” he said. “You did well.”
That surprised me. “Really?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I don’t mollycoddle my students,” I said. “I just figured that that might have counted against me.”
“Students very often appreciate when a teacher is straight with them,” he replied. “That was actually in one of your student’s reviews…word for word.”
“That’s gratifying.”
“You should be pleased,” he continued. “Your lectures were always strong, and your students did very well in their finals.”
“I heard.”
“I can only imagine that it had something to do with the number of assignments you gave them.”
“It’s the best way to keep them on their toes.”
“I like your style,” Dean Mueller said decidedly. “Which is why I offered you a permanent position here at the university. I was surprised to be told that you hadn’t accepted it yet.”
I hesitated. “I don’t know if I’m staying in the States for much longer,” I admitted.
“This is a good position, Chance,” he said. “If you work hard, you’ll be looking at tenure in a few years.”
“I understand, and I appreciate the offer, but I don’t really know if I’m made to stay in one place for any period of time.”
“I’ll need your answer by Monday.”
“Understood,” I nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
Dean Mueller nodded, shook my hand, and walked off the stage with the dispersing crowd. I looked around for Lindsey, but she had disappeared. I was walking through the rows of chairs when I turned to the left and came face-to-face with Natalie.
She was holding a small bouquet of flowers and was standing beside her parents, who were looking proud as punch. We both hesitated awkwardly at the run in, but it was too blatant a meeting to try and avoid her now. So instead of turning and running, which is what I would have preferred to do, I stood my ground and gave her a small nod.
“Congratulations.”
Her answering smile was beautiful but sad, and I wanted to kick myself for causing the pain on her face. “Thank you.” She nodded, as her parents eyed me curiously. “Mom, Dad…this is one of my professors.”
Gulping back my discomfort, I turned to Natalie’s parents and smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you both,” I said, shaking both their hands. “You must be so proud. You have an exceptionally talented daughter.”
“We know,” Natalie’s mother nodded.
I realized that Natalie took after her mother in looks. Mrs. Raisman had the dark hair and the blue eyes that she had passed on to her daughter.
“Natalie has told us so much about your class,” Mrs. Raisman continued. “She said you were one of her favorite lecturers.”
“Well, she was one of my best students,” I said, trying to keep my remarks generic and detached. “Her assignments were always well researched and well written.”
“That’s our Natalie,” Mr. Raisman nodded.
“It was very nice meeting you, but I should get going,” I said.
Natalie looked a little disappointed, but I avoided her eyes and headed towards the exit. As I walked away, I heard snippets of the conversation Natalie was having with her parents.
“He’s quite young to be a teacher…”
“What’s his name?”