Sooraya and Kyle: the realities of teaching

[xp_dust]

 Sooraya and Kyle talk about the pitfalls and joys of teaching history. 

"I recently found this green tea with different citrussy fruits. I've liked it a lot." Sooraya put the tea pot with its traditional cosey on the table, careful to prevent spilling anything on the papers or laptop. "It 's like it doesn't have that artificial flavor you sometimes get with fruity tea's." 

 

Kyle waved his phone.  "The one you texted me the label? I'm into it."  He had set a box from a local bakery on the table, scones both sweet and savory. One of the great benefits of dating Terry, he didn't quite understand the appeal of the entire afternoon tea ritual, but a nice drink and snacks, he was absolutely about that.  "All vegetarian, dibs on one of the cheese scones though."  He snipped the twine with a claw.  "Didn't even blink at me when I walked in, gonna add this to the list and send Clarice in for a order, if they don't blink at purple, we can toss them on the catering list too." 

 

"I never say no to good scones, especially if they come from a mutant-friendly place..." Sooraya fell silent, going back over the word she had just used. "You know... mutant-friendly is actually a sucky term... feels like just taking the minimum that should be expected." She paused again, giving a brief shake of her head and pulling out her chair. "Sorry, that's a totally different topic. And we already have enough on the list today."  

 

"Oh man, yeah, I do not have enough time or brain cells to try to work through the language we use about that today."  Kyle set one of the scones on a plate.  "Man, that GED history class I've got had a whole fight over mutant inclusive language too. Exhausting."

 

"How is that class doing, by the way? I think you mentioned many were getting pretty close to their testing dates." Sooraya shifted topics as she selected a scone of her own and put it on a plate. 

 

"I mean most of the same. The in person group is pretty on target, the remote group is always a little behind but that's like, adults who have jobs or other stuff, I always build in extra time in the schedule for that."  Kyle scooped tea into a little metal ball, dropped it into a mug and poured hot water over.  "I get to drop 'actually the US kinda sucked during World War II on them next week, and I am so not looking forward to that shit.'

 

 "Uh yeah, that is gonna blow some minds. The Greatest Generation turned upside down." Sooraya snorted a little. "I hope you have fire extinguishers at the ready."  

 

"Most of the time they kinda know, but the details just fuck people up. You lay "Hey we threw an entire population of citizens into internment camps" down, people start worrying we'll do it again." Kyle's mood had sobered, and he played with the little tea strainer.  "Never fun, because I can't even give people hope it won't happen. They know about Genosha, it was all over the news. It becomes 'it could happen here' for a lot of people."

 

"It's not just the older kids... it's the younger ones too, middle school age..." Every trace of mirth that might have been in Sooraya's voice had vanished. "When they learn the realities of a group of people being set aside as dangerous, being discriminated or being locked up... they almost immediately make the link with their own situation or their families if they haven't manifested."

 

"Yeah, it's just with the adults - every time I fill that little detail in..."  Kyle dunked his tea strainer a few times, and let his claws snag on the tiny links of the chain.  "At this point I just have one of our volunteer therapists on call. I can usually guess who is gonna end up crying and who is gonna get mad, and who is gonna go hardcore into volunteering.'"  He barked a dark laugh.  "Every time I do this, we get someone down at the center going "how can I help?" but that's not how I wanna get volunteers."

 

Sooraya's lips twisted wryly. "With the kids I work with... your students... we can't protect them from the ugliness of the world... only equip them to deal with it the best we can. Kinda bitter sometimes." 

 

"Self-defense isn't just punching."  Kyle agreed.  "We'll get three or four showing up in those classes, and in the legal rights seminars Angelo does."  He took a sip of tea, tested it, and then drank half the cup.  "You win, you found a tea I will actually buy for myself and actually drink on a regular basis."

 

"At least one victory I can count today." Sooraya gave a smile that was still a little wan, sipping from her own tea. "This brand has some other flavors you should really try as well. The one with cranberries is great. "I hope the English classes are a little less 'risky'... oh, I totally forgot to mention... those books you recommended... They were a hit with Josie. And I actually convinced her mom to start reading to her a bit, even if Josie is nearly twelve. She seems to like the time together." 

 

"Oh rock on, those are fun books, and great for that age group. I've got a couple more rec's if she finished that series."  Kyle agreed.  "English is easier, because I can like, give and take, serious reading, fun reading with a purpose, and I can give people a break. History, nope, fuck it, it's all just just wars and people suck. I mean it's not but damn, it feels that way."

 

"It's important people learn that, but it'd be nice if there was more time to sometimes explore the less heavy or even funny parts of history. I try to make sure of that with the younger kids, since there is a bit more space there, but once they hit high school level..." Sooraya frowned a little. "I especially like to explore the little things from daily life with the kids. Really try to create a picture of what people's lives might have been like. I am kinda hoping I can steal the community center's kitchen for a bit next week and try to make one of Mrs. Crocombe's recipes with a small group." 

 

Kyle shut his eyes for a moment, and then shook himself with a laugh.  "If I google that, is it gonna be a middle aged lady teaching people how to make really old food from the 1800's? Is that the one you were showing me during comms downtime?"  He pulled out his phone and tapped away. "Oh, yeah, that's her. That's a great idea. If you want, I'll come sous chef for you."

 

"You know, that might be a good idea. Between the two of us and the fact I'm gonna try to do as much by hand as possible, the kids can get more hands on then I was thinking at first." A mischievous grin crossed Sooraya's face as she added: "Any chance I can convince you to wear a cap and apron so you can play Annie Chase the scullery maid?" 

 

"Absolutely not."  Kyle said, with a chuckle.  "But if you help me get it, I'll wear the butler's outfit. I've got most of a tux, just not the gloves or maybe the shiny shoes."  

 

"So you want to be Mr. Lincoln?" Sooraya laughed as well when she added: "That's the Audrey End House butler in the series. According to Mrs. Cromcombe a good strong Christmas punch is appropriate for him, but not for Annie." 

 

"I think that's the guy. Tux, formal, dead handsome for a older British dude..."   Kyle said, agreeably.  "I won't try the accent though. You should ask Marius what it sounds like when I try his, but I'll do the tux. Maybe.." He drawled out the word.   "Maybe I might skip the shoes. Totally improper, but I'd bet your Mrs Crocombe would appreciate the practicality of not ruining expensive dress shoes when your toes do this."  Kyle wiggled his sandal-clad foot at Sooraya, with toenails a little more unruly than usual. 

 

"Old Mrs. Crocombe would probably throw shade about the hygiene of the kitchen, but this Mrs. Crocombe..." Sooraya grinned. "... can see the practicality of it. You know, I have the Audley End cookbook in my office. How about I go grab it and I'll show you my ideas?"  

 

"Shade, not having to buy a lot of shoes, I bet she'd be conflicted."  Kyle got himself up. "We'll record it, it'll get some laughs out of my high school history set and then I can just ease them into 'so what was it like before the Civil War but after 1812." 

 

Sooraya quickly gathered her things and rose as well. "Perfect. I'll show you what I have for my costume as well. This is gonna be great!" 

 

Comments

[xp_catseye]

Aw, community center shop-talk is always nice.


"Any chance I can convince you to wear a cap and apron so you can play Annie Chase the scullery maid?"

Sooraya no

Only Terry can ask that