I put on a tough front for him. Last thing I need is for him to worry our parents, though they might do that anyway.
“I can’t keep up with inflation on my teacher’s salary alone. Besides, this town’s middle school was desperate for a teacher, and the listing was up for months. I was practically a shoe-in. I can do some good here. It’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure it’s not because of—”
I stop him before he can go any further down that road, ignoring the tightening of my gut. “It’s notjustthat.” I’d rather not talk about my private life too in-depth with my little brother, not when this’ll be the last time I see him for a while. Really, why get down in the dumps if I can avoid it?
I place a plant I brought with me on the windowsill, a parting gift from my sweet mother. She’s always had a green thumb, but me? I kill every plant I touch. I didn’t tell her that. It’s already drying up, no matter how much I try to water it. “I’ll make do.”
Everett is busy inspecting my door and testing its worn hatch lock. “Hm. You should see if you can’t get an energy lock. When do you start work?”
“Next week, but tomorrow I meet the principal. And it’s Back-to-School Night.”
“St. Morgan’s a skidmark on the map, you know. I looked into it.” He toys with a broken cabinet handle. “Bunch of poor farmers, a few banks and bars, only one SuperMart. More churches than businesses. Lutheran, Presbyterian, Catholic—surprised there aren’t pistol duels at high noon.”
“I know, Everett, I was in the car with you while we were exploring. Remember?”
“I’m telling you, nobody interesting comes from this place.”
“Living in a city filled with skyscrapers doesn’t automatically make you interesting,” I correct him and usher him away from my poor fish before he can traumatize them further. “There’s a grocery store, a post office, and Wi-Fi. That’s good enough for me.”
Everett heads to the door as he zips up his hoodie. “All right, if you say so. Do you need anything else before I head out?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“You said fine again,” Everett points out. “Ausha told me that fine means anything but fine when women are involved.”
“Only if the girl saying it is the one you’re dating.” I practically shove him out the door. “And thankfully, you’re her problem, not mine. Now get going. I don’t want you falling asleep at the wheel.”
“It’s a ten-hour drive.” Everett grins. He’s not very tall, like me, but he’s stocky, and when he doesn’t want to move, he won’t. For now, he lets me push him around. “I’ll make it in seven, easy.”
“Very funny.”
“I know, right? Comedy genius.” Everett opens the door and pauses. “Are you sure you’re gonna be okay? I could tell Ma I’m staying a few extra days. Make sure you’re settled in.”
My brother isn’t usually one to be so generous with his time, and with wedding on the horizon and a baby on the way, he’s got enough on his plate right now. I know he’s concerned. This will be the farthest we’ve ever been apart, and though he hasn’t admitted it, I can tell by the gentleness in his tone he’ll miss me. I’ll miss him too. I take a moment to appreciate how perfect a blend he is of our parents, Mom’s gorgeous brown complexion with my dad’s dimpled cheeks. My favorite pain in the ass.
“I’ll be fine.” His skepticism earns him a light shove on his shoulder from me. “I’ll beall right, I swear, I’m just nervous about tomorrow, and I need to settle in. I’ll probably take a bath, read a book, watch TV.”
“Not sure that school is ready for you,” Everett says with a wry smile. “Big city teacher in a tiny town? You’re gonna get in trouble.”
I don’t answer, resorting to pulling him into a hug instead. “Text me when you get home, okay?”
“I will.” He shuts the door behind him.
I open it to call out a final time. “And don’t speed!”
“I won’t!” he promises as he heads down the stairwell.
And just like that, I’m alone for the very first time. It takes a few minutes to sink in, that I won’t be hearing my brother, his girlfriend, my parents, loud music, jokes, laughter, or the delicious smells of my mom’s cooking just by walking through a door.
I’ll have to do it all myself. I could’ve taken Everett up on his offer to stay longer, but I want him to get home. Mom was especially weepy when we drove away. She’ll be better with her baby under her roof again, and he’s the best one to distract her from my absence.
With another heavy sigh, I shut the door and look around my quiet apartment. Everything is a shade of ivory or brown with nothing in between. That’s all right, though. I’ll give it some color in time.
I try to push away my brother’s warning. Small towns, averse to change? That’s a stereotype I’ve got to overcome. Everyone I’ve met, whether picking up fresh groceries to stock my fridge or taking my brother to breakfast at Kitty’s Corner, a local diner down the street, has been warm, friendly, and curious.
I can make a difference here. And what’s more, I can afford it with a significantly lower cost of living. There was a big to-do back in New Carnegie about a shortage of teachers and some headlines about a teaching exodus, but if the city wanted to keep its instructors, it should’ve paid us more. Seeing as I’ve barely made a dent in my student loans after nine years of teaching elementary school, I’m ready for a pay bump in practice, if not in number. If I can’t get a raise, I can lower my bills. That’s why St. Morgan made sense.
