Philippa Taylor

Chapter 3 - Extra Revision

Wednesday 19th November (2014)
Mr Carter and Mr Travis (another maths teacher) came and stood next to me, the three of us were talking about how Mr Carter has done extra revision 5 weeks in a row, I turn back round to see if the girls are here yet and Mr Carter brings my attention back and shouts my name, so I turn round and he says,

"Have you had your hair dyed Philippa?"

I said yeah, to which he replied,

"Ohh right, it looks nice"

I just said thankyou (which is all i could get out because I was screaming inside) at which point he turned on his heel and went back into his classroom, but I stayed in the corridor, waiting for Nancy and Billie to arrive.

Soon enough Mr Carter came back out and the girls finally got there. I was walking up to Mr Carter with a pleading voice as I said "sirrrrrrr" and he just turned and looked at me. Just as I was about to speak again, Mr Travis jokingly imitated what i said.

"Shut up, Travis" I said back with the same humour - sarcasm.

I turn back round to Mr Carter and say,

"Please can I come in your room?"

"You're very welcome to, but i don't want to get shouted at by Mr Travis, you're meant to be with him today" he whispered.

"He wouldn't know though, he'd just think i'd gone home".

He then snatches my work book out my hand, laughing at me whilst he looks through it,

"This is way too difficult for you. I think it's best I teach you this as I am your main teacher" he shouts loud enough for Mr Travis to hear.

"I know why do you think i'm here," I reply just as loud - going along with whatever he's doing as I was laughing.

He starts to laugh and says he was joking, explaining he had to cover for himself in case Mr Travis realises i'm in the wrong room.

"Go on then, sit yourself down. I'll be over in a minute to help you." he says still laughing.

I start working in the book and straight away get stuck on a question, not wanting to pester him I ask the girls instead. Half way through the questions, he interrupts and asks what's I'm stuck on, so I go over to his desk and he says he'll work it out and find an easy way to explain it.

Throughout the session he kept on coming over to me and asking if I was okay, he made sure he came straight over if I ever put my hand up. I stopped and thought for a second about why he was so keen to help me, apart from the fact that Joe's my brother. I started to look at him in a different light - a light that wasn't just my teacher.

I noticed that there were a group of students at the back that were so disruptive, playing music, shouting and laughing. It was clear Mr Carter was getting annoyed. After repeatedly telling them to stop he said,

"Listen, you don't have to be here, if you want to go, go!"

One of the students, who I think Mr Carter had taught the year before (so they knew each other well) replied,

"Sir, if you keep speaking to me like that we're gonna have to take this outside." He said jokingly.

Mr Carter laughed slightly, saying,

"They'll be no need for that..."

After the conversation was repeated, with the student asking why it wasn't needed, sir said,

"Because i'd crush you."

In my head I was screaming from the chillness and mature response, it killed me. Now I won't lie, this is the point in time where I realised he wasn't just an immature schoolboy - he was a man.

After a while, and after he helped me with many more questions, I started to pack up my things as I said,

"Ahh, ive got to go to James' 17th now"

Mr Carter immediately asked,

"Who's James?" he said almost worried or concerned.

"My cousin."

I cant help but think, why would he care who James is? Then I had the thought that he could of been jealous if i'd said it was my boyfriend.

After i'd packed up, I said I was off and said bye, Mr Carter said bye and I thanked him for helping me. He instantly replied with a smile,

"It was my pleasure, have a good weekend... oh and Philippa, Wise Tiger will be waiting for you..."

"Oh god Wise Tiger?...Of course it will be, bye Sir" I laughed whilst leaving.

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On my way to the restaurant for James' birthday, all I could seem to think about was the extra revision session, why was Mr Carter being protective off me, why was he being like that? I decided to tell my Mum what had been going on. She knew Mr Carter from when Joe had him, so she knew how nice he was. I told her that I had a tiny crush and she just laughed, telling me she used to fancy all the teachers when she was at school. As always I have to spill to Nancy and Billie, As I get to the restaurant I excuse myself to go to the toilet and ring them up,

"Did you see what happened in that session..."